tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78967003990282332412024-03-12T23:03:43.061-04:00Katie O'Shea BooksKatie O'Shea BooksKatie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-68801044644346674732016-12-06T08:05:00.000-05:002016-12-06T08:05:29.491-05:00I HAVE AN ANNOUNCEMENT!!! + GIVEAWAY!<div style="background-color: white; direction: inherit;">
<div style="color: #222222; text-align: left;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="352" src="//giphy.com/embed/S8VYWWv0nJoMU" width="480"></iframe></div>
<div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/taylor-swift-S8VYWWv0nJoMU">via GIPHY</a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am SO excited to write this blog post. This is a post that
I have been looking forward to writing for a really <b>really </b>long time.
A blog post I have been dreaming about one day writing. These types of posts
from other writers always inspired and encouraged me when I was in the depths
of the query trenches, so I'm honestly beyond excited to now be able to write
one of my very own. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">I am excited to announce I
HAVE AN AGENT</span></b><span style="font-size: large;">!!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; direction: inherit;">
<div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="267" src="//giphy.com/embed/WA9o6wSTs6O4g" width="480"></iframe><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/taylor-swift-excited-yelling-WA9o6wSTs6O4g">via GIPHY</a>
</span></div>
<div style="color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
I still can't believe it. The last few weeks have been an
exciting whirlwind, to say the least. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<br />
<b>
And to pay it forward, I'm going to be giving away a <u>query critique</u>--more
details below! I'm also having a <u>book giveaway</u>, which you can
enter </b><b>on my Booktube channel--m</b><b>ore details at the end of this post!</b><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<b><br /></b><b>This blog post is much more detailed if you're interested in the full story and information on the journey--but here's my announcement video if you want to see both! </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hvhP0edpaqk" width="560"></iframe><b>
</b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<u>So, obviously, this did not happen overnight</u>. Oh no, not by
any means. So here's a little bit about my journey. If you're a writer, I hope
this will inspire you and encourage you to keep writing and to keep trying no
matter what. <3 <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<br />
<b>
Note: This is going to be a long post, so if you're more into the destination
than the journey, you can scroll to the end to enter the giveaway and see who
my agent is!</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Journey</span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p><b><u><span style="color: #222222;">Book One--The Plot-less One</span></u></b></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
I started writing my first novel in college. It was the
first book I started and I am really proud that I finished it. But, as my mom
and my best friend pointed out after reading it...the writing was good but it essentially had no plot.
They were completely right of course, so off in a drawer that manuscript sits,
never to be revived again. It's not that I don't think I could revive it, but
that I'm really not interested in the story anymore. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<o:p><b><u><br /></u></b></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<o:p><b><u>Book Two: The Epic Sci-Fi</u></b></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
So then I had an idea for my next book, but as it happened, I
was just about to start law school. But I figured, hey, I'm always going to be
busy, and made writing it a priority. That was my YA Sci-Fi. I wrote it during
the first year of law school...a good chunk of it during the lead-up to finals
time, which generally seemed to be my most productive writing time
#studyingprocrastination. After that, I revised it and had some awesome friends
beta read it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
From there, I won a few random contests from author giveaways,
including a full critique of the manuscript from an incredible agent, which was
so exciting. Meanwhile, I became more involved in the writing community on
Twitter and met other writers through various contests, my local
writing group in Atlanta, and some awesome writing retreats. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
So after doing lots of revisions and tons and tons of
research on querying and agents, in 2013 I started querying. Oh querying. For
the non-writers, querying is when you send agents a "query letter,"
which is basically a cover letter about your book that has to be super catchy
and make the agent read on to your sample pages or whatever other materials the
agent has specified to send, such as a synopsis. Agents get hundreds of
unsolicited queries so you really have to stand out to them in their
"slush pile." So when I started querying, I got a lot of rejections but
some requests for a full and a partial of the manuscript too, which was really
exciting. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<b><u>Pitch Wars #1</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
And then I heard about <a href="http://www.brenda-drake.com/pitch-wars/">Pitch Wars</a>, a contest run by
the incredible <a href="http://www.brenda-drake.com/">Brenda Drake</a>,
who is essentially the Fairy Godmother to the writing community. Pitch Wars is
basically the writing contest of all writing contests. Published/agented
authors, editors, or industry people choose a writer to mentor, read their
entire manuscript, and offer suggestions to make it even better. There's then
an agent round where each of the mentees' pitches and short samples are posted
for agents to request. But the best part of Pitch Wars is the incredible
writing community, as I soon learned. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<br />
I met so many people through Pitch Wars and I had no idea at the time how
important they would continue to be in my life. Beyond that though, I was so
excited because I was selected to be mentored on a team as an alternate. I
worked with an amazing mentor who made such incredible suggestions on improving
my book even more. And I met <a href="http://dcmorin.blogspot.com/">Dannie
Morin</a>, who was my unofficial mentor and talked up my book to the mentor who
selected me. I never could have imagined how much meeting Dannie would
influence my writing career. She is the absolute best. More on this
later. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<br />
During the time when my mentor and I were working on revisions for Pitch Wars, I
also got an edit letter back from the agent who was reading my full manuscript
from the contest I'd won. The edit letter was so incredibly helpful, and had
suggestions on how to make the book even better. So I officially went back to
the drawing board and started even more revisions. At one point, I even just
opened up a blank document and started rewriting the book from scratch. I went
on more writing retreats with my Atlanta writing group where we joked that we
completely tore the book apart and broke it and then figured out how to put it
back together. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<b><u>The Writing Clubhouse</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<br />
Also, during this time, shortly after Pitch Wars, Dannie put out a call on her
blog/Facebook saying she was going to be starting a writing group and if people
who she had selected in contests or that she had mentored wanted to join to let
her know. I immediately jumped on her offer and joined what became the most
amazing writing group ever--The Writing Clubhouse. Our numbers have grown
throughout the years but the group has remained an incredible support through the ups and downs of the writing journey. We have once a month Skype
meetings and they have helped and supported me so much through the writing
times, the not writing times, the querying times, the revision times,
everything. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<b><u>Pitch Wars #2</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<br />
So then it came time for another year of Pitch Wars. And I had revised and
revised that book a billion times. I submitted it to Pitch Wars and I got a lot
of requests from mentors who wanted to read the full manuscript. It was so
encouraging and I was really hopeful I'd get in that year and be mentored...but
I didn't. The announcement day was definitely disappointing until some of the
wonderful mentors who had read my full book reached out to me on Twitter and
via e-mail and told me how much they loved my book. Several of them told me
they didn't choose it because they thought it was query ready and they didn't
have suggestions on how to mentor it for two months. So that was incredibly
encouraging and I went off to the query trenches once again, this time feeling
really hopeful. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<br />
BUT....it had now been a few years that I'd been revising this book and now the
market for YA science fiction was really really tough, as I soon found out. Once again, I had a few requests, but after six months of querying to no avail (after *years* of revising that book), I was really burned out on that book and decided to set it
aside for the time being earlier this year.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<br />
So once again, I was looking at the calendar and seeing that Pitch Wars was
going to be coming up again. I knew I really wanted to enter something into
Pitch Wars because it is honestly the best contest there is. But as the months
went on, I was really busy at work and also still really burned out from
querying. As Pitch Wars grew closer and closer, it became very clear I wasn't
going to have time to write something completely new and be able to submit it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; text-align: center;">
<b><u>Book Three: The Funny One I thought Only My BFF & I Would Like</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222;">
<br />
BUT...I did have this other book on my computer. Wait, what other book? Oh,
that book that I started before fall law school finals my second year of school
#studyingprocrastinationstrikesagain. </div>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; direction: inherit;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="217" src="//giphy.com/embed/ct387PQj5QHv2" width="480"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/taylor-swift-gif-study-life-hard-ct387PQj5QHv2">via GIPHY</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Why study when you can just write instead?</i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
This book was a YA Contemporary and completely different
from the YA Sci-Fi in every way. So different in fact, that I didn't think
anyone would really like it. I have a note in my journal from back when I first
started writing the book, which I always just referred to as Summer Book. I
wrote about how I wasn't really writing the book to try to get it published
because I didn't know if anyone would like it, but that I was just writing it
for me and for one of my best friends, Megan, because I knew she would like it
and find it funny. And I thought it was a very David Levithan thing to do, to
write a book for your friends, as he does with his Valentine's Day stories for
his friends. As many of you know, David is my favorite author, so I just wrote
the book to write the book and because I liked it. Also, for the record I
noted that the book reminded me of the Red album by Taylor Swift, hence the
Taylor Swift references in the book and all the Taylor Swift gifs here.
:)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But then things got busy again with school and I was still working on the other
book, so I let the book sit, until...finals time spring semester of my second
year of law school. Seriously, that became an actual thing I did--writing
during finals. So then I revised the rest of the book and finished it at the
beginning of the summer and gave it to said bestie Megan and my mom to
read. I had definitely set out to write a happy, completely upbeat light
summer contemporary. This did not happen. One of the characters had to go to
rehab in that draft and another one died in an unrelated boating accident.
Which goes to show how terrible authors really are (we live on the tears of
readers as you may know). ;) Megan loved the book and got all of the jokes
and thought it was funny, and I was like YAY! But again, I didn't really think
of querying it or doing anything with it. (No surprise, my mom also liked it).
So I just let it sit and gather dust on my computer while I focused all of my
attention on the YA Sci-Fi book. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Pitch Wars #3: Third Time's The Charm</u></b></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b5FajQbrYrI/WC0TWmkqpwI/AAAAAAAAA5M/n7c5Ax_XWwQkCcvL9_wmv4Rw35pTrq1RgCPcB/s1600/PitchWars-Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b5FajQbrYrI/WC0TWmkqpwI/AAAAAAAAA5M/n7c5Ax_XWwQkCcvL9_wmv4Rw35pTrq1RgCPcB/s320/PitchWars-Logo.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Flash forward to July of this year and Pitch Wars was About
To Start. I spent a few very intense weeks revising the book because after some
deliberation I wanted to make the book less dark and more upbeat. I completely
rewrote the ending and then selected several awesome mentors to submit it to
for Pitch Wars. I also won critiques from several different mentors of my query
and first pages and was absolutely floored when I got such incredible, positive
feedback from them. Once I submitted, I immediately got requests from several
mentors to send them the full manuscript! I was so excited, but cautious given
that I'd had lots of full requests from Pitch Wars the last time, too. And then
I waited. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Those weeks felt very, very long. BUT I went on TWO writing retreats during the
waiting time. The first with some wonderful friends from the Writing Clubhouse!
YES! After all those years, we got to meet up in person for an awesome writing
retreat in Boston! And then I went on another writing retreat the next weekend
with my local writing group in the mountains and that was wonderful also! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Pitch Wars 2016 Mentee!</u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
And then the Pitch Wars Mentee picks were announced and I discovered I WAS ON
THE LIST OF MENTEES!!! After three years of submitting to Pitch Wars, I was an
official mentee! I literally had to look at the list like ten times before it
sunk in. And my mentor was the incredible <a href="http://nikkiroberti.com/">Nikki Roberti</a>!!! I was soooo excited! Nikki
and I instantly clicked and we soon started communicating exclusively in Taylor
Swift gifs, aka she was the perfect mentor for me. On top of that, there was an
absolute outpouring of support and congratulations from the writing
community, the other mentors who had read the full, and friends, and it was
absolutely so heartwarming. <3 <3 <3</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then we revised...in addition to having the craziest month of my life at work and taking a two-week vacation to Hawaii, so yeah, it was some busy times. But we revised, and then revised in Beast Mode, and then listened to lots of motivational Sia (Unstoppable is a great go-to track to hype yourself up for revisions). The last several weeks of Pitch Wars were PRETTY INTENSE to say the least. But Nikki was the best and always believed in me and encouraged me to keep going! Funny enough, in the end we basically ended up taking out many of the revisions I had done prior to the start of Pitch Wars and making the book a bit darker again (though no one dies still). The good thing was I still had the original scenes on my computer so I was able to modify them and then implement Nikki's genius ideas to improve and polish the book even more.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="256" src="//giphy.com/embed/BnSlGqZflKaLS" width="480"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/taylor-swift-BnSlGqZflKaLS">via GIPHY</a><br />
<br />
<b><u>Pitch Wars Agent Round</u></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Then before I knew it, the Agent Round was upon us! I was really excited to get several requests from incredible agents--it honestly blew me away. And then Nikki told me that she also got an agent ninja request where an agent reached out to her on Twitter via Direct Message! The agent said he was interested in a partial of my book when the Agent Round opened up to other agents beyond the official Agent Round agents. I was instantly like AHHHH and super excited. I followed the agent on twitter and soon he also sent me a wonderfully kind message requesting I send the first 50 pages. I was so excited and instantly just got a great vibe from that agent. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So then came the day that we were able to send out our requested materials and begin to query (ahhh!). It was so exciting but also nerve-wracking. I hadn't queried this book at all before Pitch Wars so I didn't know how it would do out in the mysterious Agentland. The next day after we could send out materials, it felt like so many people had a bunch of requests from other agents to send them fulls and some people even had offers already!! I was really excited for them, but also refreshed my inbox more times than I realized was possible.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Was my inbox functioning? Why was I not getting any e-mails? I settled in for a long wait and tried to pretend I was being patient while also refreshing my e-mail every 30 seconds. But from querying twice before for long long periods of time, I knew the drill and that it could be months and months before I heard back. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
That weekend was absolutely silent and I didn't hear anything back from anyone. Again, was my e-mail functioning? ;) The next week I expected that I would get some rejections but didn't expect to hear back from anyone soon at all. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>The Call</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
BUT THEN I GOT AN E-MAIL. I had to do a double take because it was one of the Pitch Wars agents who had requested my full and she wanted to have A Call. Other writers will know that I absolutely freaked out at this e-mail. WAS THIS REALLY HAPPENING? And only days after I had sent out my fulls? WHAT? I tried to be cautiously optimistic, not sure if perhaps the call might be an R&R (Revise & Resubmit). I set up a call for the next day and freaked out with Nikki. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Nikki, being the amazing mentor she is, had a call with me that night and prepared me for the call and gave me sample questions I could ask the agent. I also happened to have a writing group meeting with my Writing Clubhouse that night so it was super helpful to talk everything over with them and celebrate as well.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
That night I got no sleep at all. I was literally so nervous and excited. The next morning I had what turned out to be The Call! Agent A was offering ME representation!!! I was so excited but I managed to keep it cool on the call. Agent A was so wonderful and had such great comments on my book. It was obvious how much Agent A loved the book and the characters and it was all so exciting and incredible. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Offer of Rep #1</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I could not believe I had AN OFFER OF REPRESENTATION from an agent after all that time! My dreams were finally coming true. It felt both like everything was happening really quickly and also like it had been a really long time coming.<br />
<br />
When I got the offer I basically just kept texting my friends
and asking them if it was real life. </div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//giphy.com/embed/Lgb9p7eXSEcp2" width="480"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://giphy.com/gifs/is-this-real-life-david-after-dentist-Lgb9p7eXSEcp2">via GIPHY</a></div>
<br />
So after the call I was able to do that thing I had only ever heard about where you e-mail the other agents who are considering your book and let them know you have an offer of representation. I let them know that I wanted to get back to the offering agent within two weeks.<br />
<br />
AND THEN I GOT A BUNCH MORE REQUESTS FOR FULLS and I was like but wait, is this real life though? The two-week period fell over Thanksgiving, so several agents ended up stepping aside because of time constraints, but so many others requested the full and it was so exciting. Over the next two weeks, I received the loveliest e-mails from agents I could have imagined. Everyone was so complimentary of the book and the writing and thanked ME for allowing them to consider it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Offer of Rep #2</u></b></div>
<br />
And then the Friday after I got the offer from Agent A, I had a missed call. I stared at my phone. Surely it was just a random number? I'd had a few other random calls earlier in the week. BUT THEN a voicemail message popped up and my heart stopped. I quickly listened and discovered it was a voicemail from Agent B, the agent who had originally been a ninja request and reached out to Nikki and me on Twitter! Earlier in the week, Agent B had e-mailed and said he finished the first 50 pages and that he was, I quote, "Dazzled" and asked that I send the rest of the book immediately. I texted my best friends and my mentor, beyond excited that I had managed to "dazzle" an agent--WAS this real life?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//giphy.com/embed/l0K4c8bZHJzDCmg6Y" width="480"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/iheartradio-2015-iheartradio-music-awards-iheartawards-l0K4c8bZHJzDCmg6Y">via GIPHY</a></div>
<br />
Agent B said he had just finished reading my book on the train and wanted to have a discussion about the book and my career!!! I was instantly so thrilled. I had felt a connection with Agent B from the start and had really really hoped that he would love the book and offer. I immediately e-mailed and let Agent B know I could get on a call. Then within the hour I had The Call with Agent B! It was so exciting and I loved how Agent B had a strong personal connection to the book. Agent B also had incredible ideas for revising the book and was so wonderful.<br />
<br />
As soon as I hung up, I messaged Nikki and my best friends with how excited I was. But I also instantly felt the existential crisis of having two offers from two very wonderful agents and not wanting to have to let either of them down after they had said such wonderful things about my book.<br />
<br />
I spent the next week doing a lot of thinking and heard back from other incredible agents with such positive feedback. It was a tough decision because Agent A's clients absolutely loved Agent A and Agent B's clients raved about Agent B and said Agent B was a "dream agent."<br />
<br />
I ended up having another call with Agent B after Thanksgiving. Once again, I just felt like I clicked so well with Agent B. Agent B had great revision ideas in mind for this book, really loved and understood the characters and my vision, and also had my long-term writing career at the center of his focus. (From there, in a classic lawyer move, I managed to write up about four pages of questions on a one-page agency contract, which ended up probably being the most stressful part of the whole process).<br />
<br />
The next day I scheduled a call with Agent B and was so, so excited to accept his offer of representation...Which brings me to the Agent Reveal portion of the blog post:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
___________________________________________</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">My Agent!</span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>I am beyond thrilled to announce I am now represented by the
incredible <a href="https://www.curtisbrown.com/agents/literary-agent-steven-salpeter/">Steven
Salpeter</a> of Curtis Brown, Ltd.!! </b><br />
<br />
I am so thankful to each of the agents who considered my book and to the other agent who offered me representation.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
But I am SO excited to be able to work with Steven and to be represented by such an incredible literary agency!! As I discussed above, Steven is a dream agent, and all of his clients raved about him. He really gets my vision for the book and has a deep and nuanced understanding of the characters. I'm so excited to work with him and continue on this amazing writing journey! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zPi9VlEnjJI/WERtOG8e4ZI/AAAAAAAAA5g/DtszgsFskGgsHXvJIL1JeYs_a7sdjf5_ACLcB/s1600/IMG_6987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zPi9VlEnjJI/WERtOG8e4ZI/AAAAAAAAA5g/DtszgsFskGgsHXvJIL1JeYs_a7sdjf5_ACLcB/s400/IMG_6987.JPG" width="291" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Signing the agency contract!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Query Critique Giveaway & Book Giveaway!</span></b></u><br />
<br /></div>
I have had SOOO many people help me along the way, and I want to pay it forward to other writers by giving away a <b>query critique</b>. Click on the Rafflecopter widget below to easily enter! I'll also be doing a blog post with tips on How to Get a Literary Agent, so be sure to follow my blog and social media so you don't miss that!<br />
<br />
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="dc9c360b9" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/dc9c360b9/" id="rcwidget_uu5g91i1" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
<br />
<br />
You can also <b>enter to win a free book</b> on my Booktube channel! If you aren't a writer yourself or aren't yet at the query stage this is another way I want to celebrate you for all of your support! Click on my video below to enter the giveaway by leaving a comment on YouTube on that video.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-KGWuiooVK8" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<br />
<!-- Begin MailChimp Signup Form -->
<link href="//cdn-images.mailchimp.com/embedcode/classic-10_7.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"></link>
<style type="text/css">
#mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; }
/* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */
</style>
<br />
<div id="mc_embed_signup">
<form action="//blogspot.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=895069718949b57e7776a5918&id=9e78e93d64" class="validate" id="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" method="post" name="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" novalidate="" target="_blank">
<div id="mc_embed_signup_scroll">
<h2>
Subscribe to my author newsletter to be the first to hear future book news!</h2>
<div class="indicates-required">
<span class="asterisk">*</span> indicates required</div>
<div class="mc-field-group">
<label for="mce-EMAIL">Email Address <span class="asterisk">*</span>
</label>
<input class="required email" id="mce-EMAIL" name="EMAIL" type="email" value="" />
</div>
<div class="mc-field-group">
<label for="mce-FNAME">First Name </label>
<input class="" id="mce-FNAME" name="FNAME" type="text" value="" />
</div>
<div class="mc-field-group">
<label for="mce-LNAME">Last Name </label>
<input class="" id="mce-LNAME" name="LNAME" type="text" value="" />
</div>
<div class="clear" id="mce-responses">
<div class="response" id="mce-error-response" style="display: none;">
</div>
<div class="response" id="mce-success-response" style="display: none;">
</div>
</div>
<!-- real people should not fill this in and expect good things - do not remove this or risk form bot signups-->
<br />
<div aria-hidden="true" style="left: -5000px; position: absolute;">
<input name="b_895069718949b57e7776a5918_9e78e93d64" tabindex="-1" type="text" value="" /></div>
<div class="clear">
<input class="button" id="mc-embedded-subscribe" name="subscribe" type="submit" value="Subscribe" /></div>
</div>
</form>
</div>
<!--End mc_embed_signup-->
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Thank You!</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
Finally, thank you so much to everyone who has supported me along the way. A huge thanks to Brenda Drake for connecting Steven and me, to my wonderful Pitch Wars mentor Nikki, to my writing groups both locally and my Writing Clubhouse, to the Pitch Wars 2016 Mentees (keep going I know we will all get there and I am cheering for each of you), to all of the wonderful writers I have met along the way, to my friends and family who have given me such tremendous support, and to anyone else who has ever read my book, critiqued my work, or supported/encouraged me in any way. I am truly so thankful to each and every one of you, and I could write an entire post just filled with my thanks.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//giphy.com/embed/28XVGIraFzKKI" width="480"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/taylor-swift-thank-you-28XVGIraFzKKI">via GIPHY</a></div>
<br />
I can't wait to see where this journey takes me, and I'm so glad to have you all on my side cheering me on.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3eR_YdK-Dw8/Ube8bZwOrBI/AAAAAAAAARI/oxYK0ShyQX8EFeumCAU9zehET80ZIRDPwCPcB/s1600/Katie%2BSignature_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3eR_YdK-Dw8/Ube8bZwOrBI/AAAAAAAAARI/oxYK0ShyQX8EFeumCAU9zehET80ZIRDPwCPcB/s200/Katie%2BSignature_edited-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-40712569233860113272016-11-16T21:23:00.000-05:002016-11-16T21:23:14.881-05:00THE FRIEND ZONE HYPOTHESIS & Pitch Wars 2016!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b5FajQbrYrI/WC0TWmkqpwI/AAAAAAAAA5E/fkizFN4J9PYz6jl9amXEP1v-tcuSDxMSACLcB/s1600/PitchWars-Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b5FajQbrYrI/WC0TWmkqpwI/AAAAAAAAA5E/fkizFN4J9PYz6jl9amXEP1v-tcuSDxMSACLcB/s320/PitchWars-Logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="color: #222222;">Hi everyone! It's been a minute since I wrote a new blog post! I've mostly been doing a lot of vlogging on my YouTube "Booktube" channel, which you can <u><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/KatieOSheaBooks" target="_blank">check out here</a></u> if you'd like! And I've been doing a lot of writing! Which brings me to this post!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="color: #222222;">I was selected as a 2016 Pitch Wars mentee!! (AHHHH!!!) Pitch Wars is an incredible writing contest hosted by Brenda Drake, who is basically the Fairy Godmother to the writing community. You can learn more about <u><a href="http://www.brenda-drake.com/pitch-wars/" target="_blank">Pitch Wars here</a></u>--and if you're a writer I highly encourage you to check it out and enter next year! It is seriously everything I could have hoped for and more. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="color: #222222;">If you've entered in the past, KEEP TRYING. This was my third year submitting to Pitch Wars. The first time I was selected as an alternate with a different book, the second time I got great feedback from incredible mentors who told me to go straight to querying with a revised version of that book, and this year I got to work with my mentor soulmate <u><a href="http://nikkiroberti.com/" target="_blank">Nikki Roberti</a></u> with a new book. Seriously she is the best and we communicate exclusively in Taylor Swift gifs. It is everything. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="color: #222222;">I am going to do a more extensive post on the Pitch Wars experience, but for now, I just wanted to give a quick update of what I've been up to and tell you a little bit about my Pitch Wars book! </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="color: #222222;">It's called THE FRIEND ZONE HYPOTHESIS and it's a funny and heartfelt YA Contemporary.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.85px;"> The pitch is below and you can check out my official Pitch Wars agent round entry on Brenda's site to read a sample of the first chapter!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.85px;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><i>When his nerdy sidekick swipes a copy of Cosmo claiming it holds scientific secrets to winning any girl’s heart, seventeen-year-old Mikey launches an experiment to transform his status from best friend to boyfriend. One problem: Jessica Sterling is a variable who can’t be controlled.</i></span><br /><span style="color: #222222;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="color: #222222;">Read a sample of the first chapter <a href="http://www.brenda-drake.com/2016/11/pw-354-young-adult-contemporary-friend-zone-hypothesis/" target="_blank">here</a>! </span><u style="color: #222222; font-size: 14.85px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/katiesoshea/summer-book/" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">See my inspiration board on Pinterest!</a></u></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
More very soon!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3eR_YdK-Dw8/Ube8bZwOrBI/AAAAAAAAARI/oxYK0ShyQX8EFeumCAU9zehET80ZIRDPwCPcB/s1600/Katie%2BSignature_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3eR_YdK-Dw8/Ube8bZwOrBI/AAAAAAAAARI/oxYK0ShyQX8EFeumCAU9zehET80ZIRDPwCPcB/s200/Katie%2BSignature_edited-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, serif; font-size: 14.85px;">
<br /></div>
Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-41364820255867186412015-08-15T15:18:00.001-04:002015-08-15T15:18:12.622-04:00Pitch Wars 2015 Mentee Bio: Katie O'Shea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--pQBnoNtshQ/Vc-DsvQ7YOI/AAAAAAAAAyg/XEKJLAxoFBI/s1600/Katie%2BBio%2BPicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--pQBnoNtshQ/Vc-DsvQ7YOI/AAAAAAAAAyg/XEKJLAxoFBI/s200/Katie%2BBio%2BPicture.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Hi everyone! My name is Katie O'Shea and if you've found this post, there's a good chance you're a part of <b>Pitch Wars</b>--either as a mentor or a hopeful mentee! It's very nice to meet you! (For anyone else not in the know, check out what Pitch Wars is </span><a href="http://www.brenda-drake.com/2015/08/pitch-wars-submission-window-enter-now/" target="_blank">here on the wonderful Brenda Drake's website</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">!)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A few things about me:</b> </span>I write YA and I also love to read YA--my favorite author is David Levithan. I talk about how much I love books on BookTube (the corner of YouTube for book lovers) at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/KatieOSheaBooks" target="_blank">KatieOsheaBooks</a>. I love my community of amazing people from around the world who love reading as much as I do. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">When I'm not reading or writing (or working) you'll probably find me spending time with friends and family, listening to music, dreaming, laughing, traveling, eating cupcakes, or taking pictures and documenting life in my scrapbook. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I'm a big fan of social media so send me a tweet and say hi @ktoshea! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Other fun facts: I once went to Italy--for lunch. I won a writing competition hosted by the Grammy Foundation and attended the Grammy Awards. And I performed violin in the International Olympic Committee Opening Ceremonies at age seven. </span></div>
<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A few things about my Pitch Wars book: </span></b>It's a YA Sci-Fi Inception with diverse characters, psychological warfare, and romance. Below is a little pitch :)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span>
<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Beneath the former Blue Ridge Mountains is a warrior with a secret that could kill her—and everyone she knows. In Crissa’s world, dream control technology has turned dreams deadly. When Tristan infiltrates her mind, is he controlling her, or can Crissa trust him with her life—and her heart?</i><br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></i>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">You can also check out my <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/katiesoshea/tsd-inspiration/" target="_blank">Pinterest board with book inspiration and pretty pictures here</a>!</span></span><br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></i>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">A few things about why I'd be an awesome mentee:</span></b> Writing is my passion and I am willing to continue to work so hard with a Pitch Wars mentor to make my book as polished and amazing as it can be. I am up for revisions big or small, killing off characters, plot changes, etc. I will trust you as a mentor and listen to your advice. I want to learn from you and absorb all of your wisdom to apply it not only to this MS, but all of my future ones as well. On top of that, I'd love to have a mentor who becomes a friend for life. I've met so many amazing people through Pitch Wars and I'm all about keeping in touch and building those relationships.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><b>A few gifs, for awesomeness:</b> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="197" src="//giphy.com/embed/nXOds9I8K8gUg" width="480"></iframe><br />
Hey There!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="giphy-embed" frameborder="0" height="325" src="//giphy.com/embed/dHBVpEUKtEfJe" width="480"></iframe><br />
Thank you for checking out my bio! Ok, let's be friends then, shall we? :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hs_jlRfsbBA/Vc-LVcE2r9I/AAAAAAAAAy4/0eDsocGRm34/s1600/Katie%2BSignature%2BMini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hs_jlRfsbBA/Vc-LVcE2r9I/AAAAAAAAAy4/0eDsocGRm34/s200/Katie%2BSignature%2BMini.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-58444021639082378022014-12-05T00:13:00.004-05:002014-12-05T00:23:15.295-05:00Holiday Book Giveaway + Top 8 Gifts for Book Lovers!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M0C8N49tg_w/VIE5rFeRMnI/AAAAAAAAAts/vy7y2XvOWkY/s1600/Holiday%2BGift%2BGuide%2BBook%2BLovers%2BThumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M0C8N49tg_w/VIE5rFeRMnI/AAAAAAAAAts/vy7y2XvOWkY/s1600/Holiday%2BGift%2BGuide%2BBook%2BLovers%2BThumbnail.jpg" height="231" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Hey Everyone! I'm so excited to be giving away TWO copies of MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME, edited by Stephanie Perkins and featuring so many amazing authors! Enter the corresponding giveaway below depending on if you live in the U.S. or are international.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y0CMsk9SmS4/VIE-z_RsqhI/AAAAAAAAAt8/CFb7VDnGyBw/s1600/20309175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y0CMsk9SmS4/VIE-z_RsqhI/AAAAAAAAAt8/CFb7VDnGyBw/s1600/20309175.jpg" height="320" width="197" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/---rqVR8t4CU/VIE-8icBY7I/AAAAAAAAAuE/VmmSbKwMyR8/s1600/22914373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/---rqVR8t4CU/VIE-8icBY7I/AAAAAAAAAuE/VmmSbKwMyR8/s1600/22914373.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>About My True Love Gave to Me</b>:<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13.6000003814697px; line-height: 15.4559993743896px;"><i>If you love holiday stories, holiday movies, made-for-TV-holiday specials, holiday episodes of your favorite sitcoms and, especially, if you love holiday anthologies, you’re going to fall in love with MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME: TWELVE HOLIDAY STORIES by twelve bestselling young adult writers, edited by international bestselling author Stephanie Perkins.</i></span><br />
<br />
Be sure to check out part one in my Holiday Gift Guide series below on my YouTube Channel: Top 8 Gifts for Book Lovers!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VE1UZ1x5YJo" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">U.S. Residents Enter HERE:</span></b><br />
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="dc9c360b2" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/dc9c360b2/" id="rcwidget_a56awcko" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">International Residents Enter HERE*:</span></b><br />
*Please note you must live in a country where Book Depository ships to with free delivery--check the list here: http://www.bookdepository.com/help/topic/HelpId/27/Countries-we-ship-to-with-free-delivery#helpContent<br />
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="dc9c360b3" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/dc9c360b3/" id="rcwidget_lvw5o804" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-4279525130327958282014-03-31T20:54:00.001-04:002014-03-31T20:54:31.829-04:00Join the April #WriteFit &/or #ReadFit Challenges! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/XbGWeIA15R8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>I'm back with a challenge for you!</b> Remember in October
when I did #WriteFit & #OctoWriMo? Well, it's a new year and time for a
new challenge, hence: the April #WriteFit & #ReadFit challenges! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Watch the intro video above & get all the details below!
I hope you'll join me on this month's challenge!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I challenge you to join me and write & exercise
(#WriteFit) or read & exercise (#ReadFit) in the month of April!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
This is a great way to do more of what you love: reading, writing, revising,
etc. while also being healthy and exercising. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
It's Easy!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
1. Leave a comment below letting us know if you're going to #WriteFit or
#ReadFit and what your goal is!<br />
You choose your goal and how often you want to read, write, revise, outline, etc.
each week and for how long, and the same for how long and how often you want to
exercise. Anything you want can count--a 15 minute walk, an hour-long yoga
class, etc. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
2. Share the video or make your own telling everyone about your goals and that
you're participating in the challenge in the month of April and invite them to
participate too!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
3. During the month of April, tweet your progress whenever you read, write, and
exercise with the hashtag #WriteFit or #ReadFit. I.e. I wrote 500 words today
for #writefit and went on a 15 minute walk (or, I read one chapter of The Great Gatsby)! Check out how everyone is doing and
support the rest of the community in reaching their goals, and make some new
friends along the way!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3eR_YdK-Dw8/Ube8bZwOrBI/AAAAAAAAARI/I2p1MKkyynw/s1600/Katie+Signature_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3eR_YdK-Dw8/Ube8bZwOrBI/AAAAAAAAARI/I2p1MKkyynw/s1600/Katie+Signature_edited-1.jpg" height="160" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3eR_YdK-Dw8/Ube8bZwOrBI/AAAAAAAAARI/I2p1MKkyynw/s1600/Katie+Signature_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-55104538871511557262014-02-14T01:52:00.000-05:002014-02-14T01:55:56.705-05:00Happy Valentine's Day! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1I5kneruDX8/Uv28wNFBSLI/AAAAAAAAAes/hMhNI431GAc/s1600/Happy+Valentine's+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1I5kneruDX8/Uv28wNFBSLI/AAAAAAAAAes/hMhNI431GAc/s1600/Happy+Valentine's+Day.jpg" height="427" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I hope you have a wonderful day filled with love & books! <3<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gtOBnkPa4JQ/Uv29f_a8mpI/AAAAAAAAAe0/oaNhI0Mgh-Q/s1600/Katie+Signature+Mini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gtOBnkPa4JQ/Uv29f_a8mpI/AAAAAAAAAe0/oaNhI0Mgh-Q/s1600/Katie+Signature+Mini.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-13358897699155166222014-01-31T11:33:00.000-05:002014-01-31T11:40:47.363-05:00My Year in Reading 2013!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PqFOVh1_bwA/UuvR4u-jmRI/AAAAAAAAAeE/xjLkQb88rgI/s1600/2013+books+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PqFOVh1_bwA/UuvR4u-jmRI/AAAAAAAAAeE/xjLkQb88rgI/s1600/2013+books+2.png" /></a></div>
<br />
Though this post is late in comparison to other peoples' year in review posts, we all love hearing about books people loved at any time of year, right? :)<br />
<br />
It's crazy to think that it's already... a month into the new year--2014 is going to be a huge year, in law school things alone (read: I have to take the Bar Exam--eep!). But there will also be other fun things like...Bar Trip (hopefully to Paris!)! But before we get on to 2014, let's take a look back at my favorite books of 2013.<b> </b><b>I read 42 books this year</b>--and am halfway through many more (Bleak House slowed me down quite a bit, but is SO good).<br />
<br />
Author and friend <u><a href="http://laurenmorrill.com/2013/12/11/my-year-in-reading-2013/" target="_blank">Lauren Morrill did a post</a></u> with her year in 2013 and awesome book superlatives, which I loved (you should check it out!), so I'm copying her idea and giving you the books that I adored this year and superlatives too! :) (This post became really long, so I'll put the superlatives in a separate post--be on the lookout for part 2 next week!)<br />
<br />
First, this is kind of the breakdown of <b>my reading this year in terms of categories</b>:<br />
<b>Number of Adult Books</b>: 12<br />
<b>Number of NA Books</b>: 8<br />
<b>Number of YA Books</b>: 21<br />
<b>Number of MG Books</b>: 1*<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
*I am counting Stargirl as MG though it's really on the line with YA. It kind of blurs between upper MG or lower YA.<br />
<br />
<u><b>My Favorite Books I Read in 2013:</b> </u><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uUVJ7rASTcM/UunNBfHLm6I/AAAAAAAAAcE/ZLURE_uUzfM/s1600/My+Life+Next+Door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uUVJ7rASTcM/UunNBfHLm6I/AAAAAAAAAcE/ZLURE_uUzfM/s1600/My+Life+Next+Door.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>My Life Next Door</b>: My best friend Megan recommended this book and I just absolutely loved it. It was such a great contemporary YA. I will read everything Huntley Fitzpatrick writes. And can we just talk about how GORGEOUS this cover is?? </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://thecreativeactionnetwork.com/7584&ref=recoveringtheclassics.com#product-5" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1Tl9LpmyEOI/UunUstys66I/AAAAAAAAAdM/cEEiOLNVoNU/s1600/Tale+of+Two+Cities.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thecreativeactionnetwork.com/7584&ref=recoveringtheclassics.com#product-5" target="_blank">This beautiful cover design available here: http://thecreativeactionnetwork.com/7584&ref=recoveringtheclassics.com#product-5</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li><b>A Tale of Two Cities</b>: I admit, I was not a fan of this in high school. I thought it was so dry! But re-reading it now, I found it to be just so incredible. I have been on a big Dickens kick this year, following this up with Bleak House, a tall order. But I have found such a new appreciation for Dickens and his ability to weave a story together. It actually reminds me a lot of what I love about David Levithan, in a way, because his stories are all about connections between people and he interweaves the characters so beautifully. I listened to the audio book and it was just incredible and moving. If it's been awhile, I highly recommend re-reading this because it's great. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8hsLKVYxQf4/UunVAHwHcaI/AAAAAAAAAdU/p2aPWOy_dc8/s1600/Lolita.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8hsLKVYxQf4/UunVAHwHcaI/AAAAAAAAAdU/p2aPWOy_dc8/s1600/Lolita.jpg" height="320" width="207" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><b>Lolita</b>: My English major friend recommended this book to me and I was kind of like hmm because obviously the subject matter is rather controversial, but let me tell you, this book was incredible. The writing was just so unique and it became probably one of my favorite books ever. </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/barnes-noble-leatherbound-classics-pride-and-prejudice-jane-austen/1106658784?ean=9781435127449" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4TEwZol2zgg/UunVTKlccqI/AAAAAAAAAdc/HMu8tuzwPj8/s1600/Pride+and+Prejudice.JPG" height="320" width="217" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/barnes-noble-leatherbound-classics-pride-and-prejudice-jane-austen/1106658784?ean=9781435127449" target="_blank">B&N Collectible Edition, available here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/barnes-noble-leatherbound-classics-pride-and-prejudice-jane-austen/1106658784?ean=9781435127449</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><b>Pride and Prejudice</b>: Oh P&P, you will forever be one of my favorite books. This was a re-read, and every time I pick this book up, I find something new in it and love it even more. The characters and story are so familiar and wonderful it's like coming home. </li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DkTKhaSpLb0/UunPJfCbEJI/AAAAAAAAAcc/gCnEcaTFDDM/s1600/Meant+to+Be.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DkTKhaSpLb0/UunPJfCbEJI/AAAAAAAAAcc/gCnEcaTFDDM/s1600/Meant+to+Be.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><b>Meant to Be</b>: This book can be summed up in a few words: swoon, London, red hair. Haha. I just adored it. This book is by my friend, Lauren Morrill, who is wonderful and so is this book! I actually had this on my TBR before I even met Lauren. I love travelling, and I took a trip to London with my high school, so it was cool to read about that. It was just such a fun and romantic read :) I love the cover too. </li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qJieQXJkk_o/UunVmSibh4I/AAAAAAAAAdk/7BwAfdQKe6s/s1600/The+Evolution+of+Mara+Dyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qJieQXJkk_o/UunVmSibh4I/AAAAAAAAAdk/7BwAfdQKe6s/s1600/The+Evolution+of+Mara+Dyer.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><b>The Evolution of Mara Dyer</b>: Let's just talk about the fact that Michelle Hodkin is kind of an evil genius :) (she's also incredibly sweet). This series is such a mind trip. This is the sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, which was also amazing, and it just brought such another level to the story. I still don't even know what's happening. Also, Noah Shaw--a swoony British character. Just saying. </li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P36NgbijL90/UunQO2Xw-mI/AAAAAAAAAck/UdfaF8WyGME/s1600/Allegiant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P36NgbijL90/UunQO2Xw-mI/AAAAAAAAAck/UdfaF8WyGME/s1600/Allegiant.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><b>Allegiant</b>: (No spoilers) This book. If you haven't read it or the rest of the Divergent series, go do that now and then come back ;). It's seriously so incredible, a YA Dystopian coming to theatres near you soon. Admittedly, a good chunk of this installment was a bit slow for many readers, including myself, but it all came together for me in the end in such a brave and bold way that I absolutely loved. Veronica Roth won some major author cred with this one.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mD6ChXG4Ac0/UunQrXR-XXI/AAAAAAAAAcs/imT4SmPkOe0/s1600/Gatsby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mD6ChXG4Ac0/UunQrXR-XXI/AAAAAAAAAcs/imT4SmPkOe0/s1600/Gatsby.jpg" height="320" width="209" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><b>The Great Gatsby</b>: I did an entire <u><a href="http://katieosheabooks.blogspot.com/2013/07/summer-reading-list-2013-great-gatsby.html" target="_blank">blog post</a></u> last year on why you should read Gatsby. I did not appreciate it anywhere near enough in high school, but now that I've re-read it, it's one of my favorite books ever. The language! The writing! It's just so gorgeous. What a story. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Ez8g9D2Lg8/UunVqqXcP5I/AAAAAAAAAds/49pvrLwEf6E/s1600/The+5th+Wave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Ez8g9D2Lg8/UunVqqXcP5I/AAAAAAAAAds/49pvrLwEf6E/s1600/The+5th+Wave.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><b>The 5th Wave</b>: This book was incredible. Gripping, fast-paced, unique. Everyone was talking about this book in 2013, and I was initially off-put by the fact that it involved aliens. I was like ugh I don't like books about aliens...but then I read it and was totally blown away. Don't judge a book on it's subject matter, eh? I seriously recommend this one. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K6_Uhns0x6g/UunV4qqX_XI/AAAAAAAAAd0/syR566Nw7ZE/s1600/Love+is+the+Higher+Law.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K6_Uhns0x6g/UunV4qqX_XI/AAAAAAAAAd0/syR566Nw7ZE/s1600/Love+is+the+Higher+Law.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><b>Love is the Higher Law</b>: I will love everything David Levithan ever writes. It's just a fact. This is his book about September 11th, and it is so incredibly moving and heartbreaking. You will probably cry on this one. It took me a long time to read just because I would cry after each chapter pretty much, but it was so incredible and so worth it. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8mzR5LmjXNY/UunS-ITimNI/AAAAAAAAAc0/Nojb48a-u5A/s1600/Parallel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8mzR5LmjXNY/UunS-ITimNI/AAAAAAAAAc0/Nojb48a-u5A/s1600/Parallel.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><b>Parallel</b>: I really enjoyed this book because it was set in the Atlanta suburbs at a magnet high school--just like where I went to school! It was so incredibly cool because it literally felt like that school could have been my own. The book was so true to my experience (minus the fact that I was not having parallel reality problems in high school). The main character also went to Yale, where I attended during a summer session, so it was kind of my perfect book. Plus the author, Lauren Miller, is an attorney. She was so nice and came to our book club, where we discussed the fact that I am basically her doppelganger ;) This was such a cool book, and I really enjoyed it. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<b>What were your favorite books of the year? What books are you most looking forward to reading in 2014?</b> I'm always on the lookout for another great read so please share in the comments below! :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gPZHjgiw0c8/UunNJI4K1aI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/tLg7ZqdNdXY/s1600/Katie+Signature+Mini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gPZHjgiw0c8/UunNJI4K1aI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/tLg7ZqdNdXY/s1600/Katie+Signature+Mini.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-13336606535776143832014-01-21T19:16:00.001-05:002014-01-29T23:55:36.899-05:00How to Make a Facebook Author/Writer Page: A Step by Step Guide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KatieSiutaOShea" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8lENjz91I4w/Ut8NTMQgYEI/AAAAAAAAAbo/BtLtkFpnKDU/s1600/Katie+O'Shea+Facebook+header.png" height="273" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Hey everyone! Sorry for the sparseness in blog postings--law school finals. Yeah.<br />
<br />
I have much to update you on, including the awesomeness of #PitchWars, hosted by the wonderful <u><a href="http://www.brenda-drake.com/" target="_blank">Brenda Drake</a></u>, but for now I shall say I made it onto a team and have had the awesome experience of being mentored by <u><a href="https://twitter.com/RaeAChang" target="_blank">Rae Chang</a></u>! I couldn't be more excited!<br />
<br />
My "unofficial mentor" is <u><a href="http://dcmorin.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Dannie Morin</a></u> who is also incredible and inspired this post because she advised her team to make Author/Writer Facebook Pages if they didn't already have them. I set one up, which you can find <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/KatieSiutaOShea" target="_blank">HERE </a></b>(I used to work at an ad agency as a social/emerging media associate) and then saw some tweets that not everyone knew how to make a Facebook Author Page, so I decided to make a post with a step-by-step guide (btw this can be applied to other Facebook Pages as well).<br />
<br />
<b><u>Why have an Author/Writer Facebook Page?</u></b><br />
<br />
<b>If you're published or already have an agent</b>, it's a no-brainer--to connect with your readers on a platform that they're probably constantly on. Just like you have your blog, your twitter, tumblr etc. it's another social platform that's key to be on. <i><b>Facebook is great, and in my opinion one of the best social media platforms for authors, because your post doesn't disappear within minutes in a flurry of tweets, and people don't have to seek it out by going to your blog either.</b></i> Facebook has made it oh so convenient to follow authors without even leaving your home page, the posts just appear right alongside those from your friends. You want to put yourself in front of your readers, and this is an easy and effective way to do it. (*Caveat, of course not all of your readers are on Facebook, so have a social media presence on as many sites as you feel comfortable managing)<br />
<br />
<b>If you're an aspiring author,</b> you may be wondering whether you should set up a page now or wait until after you're agented. Dannie's advice is clearly to go ahead and do it now, and I completely agree. You have the option to set it up as a "Writer" page, rather than an "Author" page, which can be changed once you get that publishing deal ;). As to why? Same reasons as above--to connect with other writers, potential readers, and start building your "brand." Same reasons also that you're probably cultivating that Twitter presence and blogging. Agents are mentioning the importance of a social media presence more and more, and this is one of the key elements.<br />
<br />
<b>Second, just because you aren't published doesn't mean you're not a </b><i><b>writer!</b> </i>Don't think of it as a "fan" page, but as a way to connect with people and share about your writing, your writing process, and the journey. It's not about PR and trying to promote yourself, it's about connecting with people with similar interests and creating value with the content you post--things that will be of interest to people who "Like" your page. Post helpful writing articles, book pictures, what you're reading, pretty much what you post on your other social platforms, and engage with the community.<br />
<br />
Ok, so hopefully I've convinced you....on to:<br />
<br />
<b><u>A Step-by-Step Guide to Making an Author/Writer Facebook Page:</u></b><br />
<br />
1. Don't worry, it's really pretty easy! :)<br />
<br />
2. Log in to Facebook or sign up for an account if you don't already have one. The Facebook Author Page is going to be an extension of your existing account so there's no need to make another account unless you really want to for some reason (you'll still be able to post separately from both and it's easier to just have it all in one place in my opinion).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qU1yLZKURWI/UquusPZSR9I/AAAAAAAAAX0/FvvdFqSpbqk/s1600/Sign+up.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qU1yLZKURWI/UquusPZSR9I/AAAAAAAAAX0/FvvdFqSpbqk/s1600/Sign+up.png" height="126" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
3. On the Facebook home screen there should be a pages tab on the left sidebar with an option to "Create Page" (mine looks a little different now since I've already created one, but below is the example of the sidebar). If you don't see this, alternatively look for the little gear in the top right hand corner. Click on it and select the "Create Page" option there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-egjxJCorpy8/UquzCQrkaVI/AAAAAAAAAYA/_lkktKiGGY8/s1600/Home+Screen+Sidebar.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-egjxJCorpy8/UquzCQrkaVI/AAAAAAAAAYA/_lkktKiGGY8/s1600/Home+Screen+Sidebar.png" height="320" width="181" /> OR<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K_ObicMua-U/Uquz5_vWobI/AAAAAAAAAYM/hu0jj0RiEQM/s1600/Gear.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K_ObicMua-U/Uquz5_vWobI/AAAAAAAAAYM/hu0jj0RiEQM/s1600/Gear.png" /></a></div>
<br />
4. This should take you to a page like this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bqWkzOxIx9U/Uqu0lUIWVAI/AAAAAAAAAYU/DcGLIK-zKlw/s1600/Create+Page.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bqWkzOxIx9U/Uqu0lUIWVAI/AAAAAAAAAYU/DcGLIK-zKlw/s1600/Create+Page.png" height="197" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Select "Artist, Band, or Public Figure."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
5. You'll be prompted to "Select a category": choose either Author or Writer from the drop down menu. (FYI I chose "Writer" for now since I'm not yet published, and you can modify this later). Below that enter the name of the page, most likely your name (can also be changed later), and click "Get Started."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0KiWSJWVBeM/Uqu1Gs1ta0I/AAAAAAAAAYc/dPkmYOGod58/s1600/Select+Category.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0KiWSJWVBeM/Uqu1Gs1ta0I/AAAAAAAAAYc/dPkmYOGod58/s1600/Select+Category.png" height="320" width="258" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
6. Add a short description and website:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mcl_SQVWhAI/Uqu6nAh3O5I/AAAAAAAAAYs/6slwIyvpp_Y/s1600/Set+up.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mcl_SQVWhAI/Uqu6nAh3O5I/AAAAAAAAAYs/6slwIyvpp_Y/s1600/Set+up.png" height="177" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
7. Choose a professional profile picture:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lenjf6Xowro/Uqu7DNYme0I/AAAAAAAAAY0/NtbT13Rcsgs/s1600/Profile+pic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lenjf6Xowro/Uqu7DNYme0I/AAAAAAAAAY0/NtbT13Rcsgs/s1600/Profile+pic.png" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
8. Add a link to your Facebook profile home screen "favorites" (or favourites if you're using British Facebook) area in the left sidebar, for easy access, which I recommend:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vqQvGUtjv2c/Uqu7h8xl-TI/AAAAAAAAAZA/PNRpFXX98_A/s1600/Favorites.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vqQvGUtjv2c/Uqu7h8xl-TI/AAAAAAAAAZA/PNRpFXX98_A/s1600/Favorites.png" height="175" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
9. Skip the reach more people/advertise option for now. You can always choose to do that at a later time, and it's a bit more complicated + $$.<br />
<br />
10. You're DONE! Welcome to your brand new Facebook Author Page!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QXa-IZcwXvA/Uqu8QyZ_8HI/AAAAAAAAAZI/QcE1Y4JvQMI/s1600/Katie+O'Shea+Facebook+Page.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QXa-IZcwXvA/Uqu8QyZ_8HI/AAAAAAAAAZI/QcE1Y4JvQMI/s1600/Katie+O'Shea+Facebook+Page.png" height="276" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
From here you can customize your cover photo, add posts, pictures, and other content just as you would for your regular Facebook profile. You can easily click to invite your current Facebook friends to "Like" your page as well!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I hope that was helpful! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Feel free to leave me a comment if you have any questions</b> on other things you'd like to know how to do with your page or if you get stuck! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><u><a href="https://www.facebook.com/KatieSiutaOShea" target="_blank">While you're over on Facebook, I'd love it if you "Liked" me too! <3 </a></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gPZHjgiw0c8/UunNJI4K1aI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/tLg7ZqdNdXY/s1600/Katie+Signature+Mini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gPZHjgiw0c8/UunNJI4K1aI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/tLg7ZqdNdXY/s1600/Katie+Signature+Mini.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-23519857452970235492013-10-01T18:48:00.001-04:002014-01-29T23:55:58.721-05:00October #WriteFit & #OctoWriMo Challenges + Signed Book Giveaway! It's October! A new month, time for a new challenge, or in this case, two. Read below for more info on the October #WriteFit Challenge, as well as #OctoWriMo, and enter a celebratory giveaway for a chance to win a signed hardcover of one of the hottest 2013 YA reads! Accept one challenge or both :) Game on.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>#1: October #WriteFit Challenge! </b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9w5V_PSMnLE/UktSs68crrI/AAAAAAAAAW4/G8oxe6RU3pE/s1600/October+%23WriteFit+Challenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9w5V_PSMnLE/UktSs68crrI/AAAAAAAAAW4/G8oxe6RU3pE/s1600/October+%23WriteFit+Challenge.jpg" height="275" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">What is #WriteFit?</span></b><br />
<br />
#WriteFit is something my BFF and fellow writer <u><a href="https://twitter.com/jessimesparza" target="_blank">Jessi Esparza</a></u> came up with a few months ago and a small group of writer friends participated in. Jess pledged to write every day and exercise at least five times a week. We each submitted our word counts and exercise for the day on Twitter using the #writefit hashtag. And after two months we got this awesome tweet:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3GWZmgAGraA/Ukr04vIcLCI/AAAAAAAAAWU/EMEN4RNqBdI/s1600/Jessi+WriteFit+Tweet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3GWZmgAGraA/Ukr04vIcLCI/AAAAAAAAAWU/EMEN4RNqBdI/s1600/Jessi+WriteFit+Tweet.png" /></a></div>
<br />
How awesome is that?<br />
<br />
I didn't really jump into #writefit until the end because I was all...I'm so busy, I'm in law school, etc. etc. So now, enough of the excuses, I'm taking over #writefit this month and accepting the challenge! I hope you'll join me!<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">How do I #WriteFit? </span></b><br />
<br />
It's EASY! All you have to do is:<br />
<br />
<b>1. Write something every day! </b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Aim for at least 15-30 minutes if you can, but work with your schedule and be flexible. </li>
<li>It doesn't have to be a novel! Write in your journal, write a letter to your mom or your BFF, write a poem, a blog post, a short story, just write something! </li>
<li>It doesn't even really have to be "writing." Some of the people who've already signed on are in the revising stage and have committed to instead spend time revising every day. Revise or send out queries. Do whatever works for you!</li>
</ul>
<div>
<b>2. Exercise at least 5 times a week!</b></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Again, there's no time limit--do what fits in your schedule, but aim for maybe 30 minutes a day.</li>
<li>Do what you like! Yoga, running, biking, taking a walk, playing a sport, all free game! </li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<b>3. Tweet me your progress using the #WriteFit hashtag on Twitter!</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The best part about #writefit was the community and the accountability that came with signing on to do something like this and making it known to other people. It made me wake up a little earlier to work out and take the time to write, even just a little bit each day. </li>
<li>Help keep others accountable! A few times I noticed that Jess hadn't put up her word count for the day yet and I'd tweet her to remind her/nudge her to stick to the goal :) Soon enough we'd get a word count tweet back. Yay!</li>
<li>Measure your success! If you <b>tweet me your word counts <u><a href="https://twitter.com/Ktoshea" target="_blank">@KtOshea</a></u></b> with the #writefit hashtag and how many minutes (or miles if you like) you work out, I'll keep track of them in a spreadsheet so we can see our collective progress at the end of the month!</li>
</ul>
<div>
It's 30 days. We're all busy. But let's do this anyway for a happier and healthier life :) </div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>#2 #OctoWriMo Challenge</b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R9yF1Fy5GCc/UktS-GvbSMI/AAAAAAAAAXA/3D6F7xHVE9k/s1600/%23OctoWriMo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R9yF1Fy5GCc/UktS-GvbSMI/AAAAAAAAAXA/3D6F7xHVE9k/s1600/%23OctoWriMo.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">What is OctoWriMo?</span></b><br />
<br />
It's like NaNoWriMo, the <u><a href="http://nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">official National Novel Writing Month</a></u>, except one month earlier! Basically once I committed to do the October #WriteFit challenge, I was stumped about what I should write. I wanted to save my NaNoWriMo novel idea for November, so I decided to start a different new novel that I've had kicking around in my head for awhile now (yes, that means I'm going to try to write two new novels in two months. In law school. I know. I'm crazy). So I figured, why wait until NaNo to write a novel, when I can write one now and make my own NaNoWriMo like I blogged about <u><a href="http://katieosheabooks.blogspot.com/2013/02/making-your-own-nanowrimo.html" target="_blank">here</a></u>!<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">How do I participate in OctoWriMo? </span></b><br />
<br />
<b>1. Start writing a novel and don't stop until you've hit at least 50K words!</b><br />
<ul>
<li>The goal for NaNo is to write 50,000 words in one month (as a technical matter for NaNo you're supposed to start a brand NEW novel, not work on an existing one, and I'll be starting a new one, but hey, I won't tell if you just add 50K to an existing project ;) ). You may not have a finished novel, but you'll have something novel-length. And while it'll just be a messy first draft that will need to be revised, it'll be this awesome thing that didn't exist one MONTH beforehand :)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>2. Tweet your progress using the #OctoWriMo hashtag on Twitter!</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Share your progress and success! <b>Tweet me your word counts <u><a href="https://twitter.com/Ktoshea" target="_blank">@KtOshea</a></u></b> with the #OctoWriMo hashtag, and I'll keep track of them in a spreadsheet so we can see our collective progress at the end of the month!</li>
</ul>
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">30 days. Accept one challenge or both. Join the fun. Spread the word. Write like crazy. :) </span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>#3 Celebratory October #WriteFit & #OctoWriMo Signed Book Giveaway!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span>
Ya'll are hopefully going to be doing a LOT of writing this month, either through #WriteFit or #OctoWriMo, or maybe just on your own this time, and to celebrate you deserve a giveaway! Enter below for a chance to win a <b>SIGNED HARDCOVER of THE FIFTH WAVE by Rick Yancey</b> (which is an amazing book)!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7QJk8iM7dks/UksLDz9QxeI/AAAAAAAAAWk/jqME3uxF3Bk/s1600/IMG_5998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7QJk8iM7dks/UksLDz9QxeI/AAAAAAAAAWk/jqME3uxF3Bk/s1600/IMG_5998.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>The giveaway is U.S. only (sorry! expensive shipping!). The winner will be contacted by email after the deadline and announced on the blog! *You don't have to participate in #WriteFit or #OctoWriMo to enter the giveaway!<br />
<br />
About the 5th Wave:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd,
only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the
4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.</i><br />
<i>Now, it's the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch
of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the
countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth's last survivors.
To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker.
Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie's only hope for rescuing
her brother--or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and
despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or
to get up.</i></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/dc9c361/" id="rc-dc9c361" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>
</div>
<b><br />I'm so excited to embark on these challenges with you all! Leave me a comment and let me know if you're joining in the fun! Now go get writing!! </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gPZHjgiw0c8/UunNJI4K1aI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/tLg7ZqdNdXY/s1600/Katie+Signature+Mini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gPZHjgiw0c8/UunNJI4K1aI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/tLg7ZqdNdXY/s1600/Katie+Signature+Mini.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-52314999177587307922013-08-29T00:26:00.001-04:002013-08-29T00:27:07.916-04:00Decatur Book Festival 2013: YA Author Spotlight<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mtM71vssEPQ/Uh7H6mgv5xI/AAAAAAAAAUk/-a99OUZhH1U/s1600/2013+DBF+Logo+Hor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mtM71vssEPQ/Uh7H6mgv5xI/AAAAAAAAAUk/-a99OUZhH1U/s320/2013+DBF+Logo+Hor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>The annual Decatur Book festival is THIS weekend!</b> You do not want to miss the amazing lineup of authors, including the incomparable David Levithan, Michelle Hodkin, and Lauren Morrill + SO many more. There is something for everyone at this incredible book festival. For YA fans in particular there are incredible panels and book signings taking place on Saturday and Sunday, August 31st and September 1st, 2013 i<u><a href="http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2013/about-dbf/directions.php" target="_blank">n the Decatur Square</a></u> in Georgia. </div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">
<b>You can see the full list of YA authors <a href="http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2013/authors/authors-by-genre.php?g=25" style="text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">here</a> and the panel schedule <u><a href="http://www.decaturbookfestival.com/2013/schedule/print-ready.php" target="_blank">here</a></u></b>.<br />
<br />
<b>You can find a handy Twitter list </b>I created with all of the YA DBF 2013 authors in one place <u><a href="https://twitter.com/Ktoshea/lists/dbf13-ya-authors" target="_blank">here</a></u>!<br />
<br />
<b>Pro Tip: there is an amazing <u><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ajc-decatur-book-festival/id553688071" target="_blank">iPhone app</a></u></b> for the festival with all of the authors, schedules, locations, etc. You can even mark the events you want to attend and create your schedule for the weekend. </div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">
Some of the authors I am looking forward to in particular are as follows (but honestly, they are all so incredible it's hard to list just a few):</div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">
<br />
<b><u><a href="http://www.rickyancey.com/" target="_blank">Rick Yancey</a></u></b>, author of 2013 Must-Read, The 5th Wave:<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FkgXaHMB7Bw/Uh7Jcd6KQDI/AAAAAAAAAUw/dTLw9w8q7y0/s1600/The+5th+Wave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FkgXaHMB7Bw/Uh7Jcd6KQDI/AAAAAAAAAUw/dTLw9w8q7y0/s320/The+5th+Wave.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><u>Leigh Bardugo</u></b>, author of the incredible fantasy Grisha Trilogy beginning with Shadow and Bone:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VjQ0Zg8LQmE/Uh7KN3JMjoI/AAAAAAAAAU4/t2aCk-Ts-EI/s1600/Shadow+and+Bone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VjQ0Zg8LQmE/Uh7KN3JMjoI/AAAAAAAAAU4/t2aCk-Ts-EI/s1600/Shadow+and+Bone.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><u><a href="http://www.michellehodkin.com/" target="_blank">Michelle Hodkin</a></u></b>, author of the hauntingly amazing Mara Dyer series:</div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oihrRqlcLuI/Uh7LB14e2II/AAAAAAAAAVE/wcZhSOLyj_g/s1600/Mara+Dyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oihrRqlcLuI/Uh7LB14e2II/AAAAAAAAAVE/wcZhSOLyj_g/s1600/Mara+Dyer.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><u><a href="http://www.davidlevithan.com/" target="_blank">David Levithan</a></u></b>, author of too many incredible books to name:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7bvZpwdgACQ/Uh7Lv9rEEdI/AAAAAAAAAVU/bod9b8S9kFY/s1600/Every+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7bvZpwdgACQ/Uh7Lv9rEEdI/AAAAAAAAAVU/bod9b8S9kFY/s320/Every+Day.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><u><a href="http://laurenmorrill.com/" target="_blank">Lauren Morrill</a></u></b>, author of the incredibly swoony Meant to Be:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9rFbHVwqD_0/Uh7MHBnA05I/AAAAAAAAAVc/l3Z_DcSaNWQ/s1600/Meant+to+Be.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9rFbHVwqD_0/Uh7MHBnA05I/AAAAAAAAAVc/l3Z_DcSaNWQ/s320/Meant+to+Be.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<br />
And, as I said, this is by no means an exhaustive list! There are so many other great authors so be sure to check out the full list above!<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">
<b>Finally, last year DBF was incredible</b>. I meant to blog about it but...law school...so here are some picture highlights now, hopefully better late than never.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ix4FP45oDpI/Uh7FuVGh5CI/AAAAAAAAATc/J5EfKKtyHFU/s1600/IMG_4126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ix4FP45oDpI/Uh7FuVGh5CI/AAAAAAAAATc/J5EfKKtyHFU/s320/IMG_4126.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
David Levithan reading from his new book, Every Day. Incredible.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FfFYop-DTxA/Uh7FwFNNjzI/AAAAAAAAATk/_4dVIsOfpuA/s1600/IMG_4135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FfFYop-DTxA/Uh7FwFNNjzI/AAAAAAAAATk/_4dVIsOfpuA/s320/IMG_4135.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Meeting David Levithan with fellow writer and BFF Jessi!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xsSFNLOLNI0/Uh7GOVAmpbI/AAAAAAAAAT8/zsu2FF304q0/s1600/IMG_4153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xsSFNLOLNI0/Uh7GOVAmpbI/AAAAAAAAAT8/zsu2FF304q0/s320/IMG_4153.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Finally meeting the amazing Susan Dennard (Something Strange & Deadly) and hanging out + cookies (obviously).</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7CjsgeFen1Y/Uh7GNRNJG1I/AAAAAAAAATs/LYRaimeMZIs/s1600/IMG_4154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7CjsgeFen1Y/Uh7GNRNJG1I/AAAAAAAAATs/LYRaimeMZIs/s320/IMG_4154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Catching up with Pinterest buddy Jessica Khoury, author of Origin!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_BBff6uL7PI/Uh7GOKtBYuI/AAAAAAAAAT4/RkugPuylZ14/s1600/IMG_4155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_BBff6uL7PI/Uh7GOKtBYuI/AAAAAAAAAT4/RkugPuylZ14/s320/IMG_4155.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Laughing at pretty much everything Dan Krokos (False Memory) said--seriously hilarious on Twitter and in person. :)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-azOVAmmrv8A/Uh7GPzrlTPI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/NANMoKpiN3M/s1600/IMG_4156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-azOVAmmrv8A/Uh7GPzrlTPI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/NANMoKpiN3M/s320/IMG_4156.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And meeting the incredibly sweet and awesome Sarah Maas, author of the kick-butt series, Throne of Glass!</div>
<br />
<b>Be on the lookout for some exciting book giveaways </b>soon as well!</div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0976563); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(191, 107, 82, 0.496094); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Noteworthy; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px;">
<b>Leave me a comment and let me know if you'll be at DBF</b> this year and what authors you're most looking forward to seeing!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WqKOl5jPdjM/Uh7LHH0hC1I/AAAAAAAAAVM/x_4r6lE9XS8/s1600/Katie+Signature+Mini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WqKOl5jPdjM/Uh7LHH0hC1I/AAAAAAAAAVM/x_4r6lE9XS8/s200/Katie+Signature+Mini.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-80788614763893677352013-07-08T14:15:00.000-04:002013-07-08T14:15:52.338-04:00Summer Reading List 2013: The Great Gatsby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxN59PzEY_4/UbfCf0tNMoI/AAAAAAAAAR8/0un2jwfRfnw/s1600/The+Great+Gatsby_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxN59PzEY_4/UbfCf0tNMoI/AAAAAAAAAR8/0un2jwfRfnw/s400/The+Great+Gatsby_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Hello again</b>, Internet, friends, fellow writers and readers! So sorry for the absurdly long break in blogging--the second year of law school does that to you, as it turns out. So much has happened since I last blogged--I finished my second year of law school and am now officially a rising-3L (how?!), I...attended the GRAMMY awards (yeah that was amazing--a separate post on that to come), I started writing my third book, and a million other things. But for now, to keep it short(er) and sweet, I'm sharing with you the first book on <b>my 2013 Summer Reading List</b>! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Throughout the summer</b>, I'll be updating you on what I'm currently reading, and I'd love for you to <b>share what you're reading</b> <b>in the comments</b> below! One can never have too many great book recommendations, right? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You can also check out my to-read list, my current reads, and the books I've read and my ratings of them on <u><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5072005-katie" target="_blank"><b>my GoodReads profile</b></a></u>. I'm hoping you've all heard of GoodReads (basically it's a social media site for book lovers where you can organize books you've read and want to read into shelves, check out what your friends are reading, and read reviews from book lovers v. Amazon.com randos who are probably related to the author or tend to either vaguely love a book or hate every book ever written--right?). If you love to read, it will complete your life. Seriously, I can't say enough good things about GoodReads, go sign up and add me as a friend! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Without further adieu, the first book in my Summer Reading List is none other than: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><u>Top Ten Reasons The Great Gatsby Should be on Your 2013 Summer Reading List</u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>1. The Movie Just Came Out</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>2. This quote:</b> <i>"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, <b>I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer</b>."</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-diTC5ruRJb0/Ubfaz75BOFI/AAAAAAAAASM/W69gknxdY7Q/s1600/IMG_4903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-diTC5ruRJb0/Ubfaz75BOFI/AAAAAAAAASM/W69gknxdY7Q/s320/IMG_4903.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There are so many gems in Fitzgerald's lyrical writing. Each sentence demands to be savored slowly, each word appears to have been carefully selected to evoke an emotion. But this sentence in particular in Chapter One could easily be passed over, but it rings so true, particularly during this time of year. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Summer is so often written about because it is a time of re-birth, of new beginnings, of freedom. Fitzgerald captures the entire season so effortlessly with this one sentence that many readers likely skim over. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This particular sentence also caught my eye because my current work-in-progress, my third book, is all about summer functioning as this time of life beginning over again and freedom. More on that another time ;).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>3. You (probably) didn't appreciate it in high school</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i>"But I took AP Lit and AP Language and I was so literary in high school!"</i>...I'm just saying, you probably didn't appreciate it enough. (If you're in high school now--read it anyway, enjoy it, appreciate it as much as you can, then read it again in four years and see the difference). This has been my experience, anyway, and the experience of many of my friends. I was horrified to find that I rated Gatsby 2/5 stars on Goodreads from my first read of it, when it is now absolutely one of my favorites and hands down 5/5 stars for me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>4. You've read The Beautiful and Damned </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Fans of other Fitzgerald works, such as The Beautiful and Damned, will love Gatsby even more and appreciate Fitzgerald's writing evolution. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>5. <u><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw9Au9OoN88" target="_blank">This video</a></u> from John Green</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A separate post will need to be reserved for John Green's general brilliance, but this YouTube analysis of The Great Gatsby will make you appreciate the book so much more (and make your brain explode with knowledge and wit):</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/xw9Au9OoN88?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>6. A Classic is classic for a reason</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Only a select few books achieve "classic" status, and this is one of them because of the truly amazing writing and the portrait of the 1920s that Fitzgerald was able to craft in such a concise book.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>7. Check off one of the Top 100 best novels</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If you're into reading "the best" books from a list of top 100, <u><a href="http://www.modernlibrary.com/top-100/100-best-novels/" target="_blank">like this one</a></u> from the Modern Library, this will be on it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>8. Mix up your beach reading and take a break from the trashy novel</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Summer can be a great time to read fluffy beach reads, and who doesn't love those at times? But it's also great to mix it up and read something with great writing and substance. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>9. The writing is incredible</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I just can't even say this enough so I'll throw in another one of my favorite quotes:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">“In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among the whisperings and the champagne and the stars.” </span></blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>10. It's short and sweet</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
At only 180 pages in paperback, this book is a quick and satisfying read, perfect for summer. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>*Bonus 11th: The original cover is gorgeous*</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Thanks for reading this post and for reading with me this summer! Please share your summer reading list below! Let me know if you re-read Gatsby before the movie came out or if you're planning to now. Leave me your thoughts on the movie too!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
P.S. I'm going to be doing an exciting <b>signed book giveaway </b>soon by an awesome author, so stay tuned for that and subscribe below so you don't miss out!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ihktZjfCqco/Ube_CbfxMAI/AAAAAAAAARs/t9pBzzuQM48/s1600/Katie+Signature+Mini.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ihktZjfCqco/Ube_CbfxMAI/AAAAAAAAARs/t9pBzzuQM48/s200/Katie+Signature+Mini.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-69800698701806870582013-02-20T12:56:00.001-05:002013-02-20T12:56:54.950-05:00Making your own NaNoWriMo!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_226767078"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ol7M3O0ZNwg/USE_VMJnVJI/AAAAAAAAAP0/PFdpcVjzkAM/s400/NaNoWriMo.png" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/webbadges">http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/webbadges</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Hello blog world! I've missed you so!</b> The second year of law school has been pretty intense. But I come to you now from the other side--of fall semester at least, which is the hardest (allegedly). And that means I'm officially HALFWAY done with law school! Definite hooray.<br />
<br />
So as you may have guessed, that whole law school thing did not leave me terribly much time to write last semester. And it definitely did not allow me the time to do <u><a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a></u>. I'm guessing most of you bookish types already know what NaNo is, but for those who don't, it's National Novel Writing Month, where people from all over the world commit to writing at least 50K words in a month for a new novel.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_226767084"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JHxnABS7WCI/USE_t05cdeI/AAAAAAAAAP8/YSmdFseELRI/s200/NaNoWriMoBadge.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/webbadges">http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/webbadges</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b>Which is awesome. </b><br />
<br />
<b>But you know what's not awesome? Finals. Law school finals.</b> And as it happens, they just happen to fall in that wonderful November/December time-frame, making NaNo all but impossible. Possible perhaps, but inadvisable for sure. <br />
<br />
So that brings me to this post. Because realistically, not all of us can do NaNo. There are other things going on that just get in the way sometimes or make November an inconvenient month. But that doesn't mean we can't make our own NaNo! <br />
<br />
Because the truth is you don't need to wait until November to start writing that book! NaNo is awesome for the support and community, but you can easily find great support out there during the other 11 months of the year.<br />
<br />
<b>So here are My Steps to Making Your Own NaNoWriMo!:</b><br />
<br />
<b>1. Plan your NaNo Timeline</b><br />
For some, this may be as simple as saying "March is going to be my NaNo and I'm going to write every single day and end up with an awesome 50K new novel! What what!" But for others, the law school people, the working and traveling, etc. etc. the schedule may be more of a challenge. But sit down and try to put 30 days on your calendar that you're going to commit to writing--it could be 15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, you just need to get your butt in a chair (and log off of Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook...etc.) and WRITE.<br />
<br />
<b>2. Now that you know WHEN you're going to write, think about WHAT you're going to write</b><br />
Plan out your idea in your head, in an outline, on post-it notes or iPhone notes--anything. I usually don't put much down, and I definitely don't outline out the whole story in advance (but I know some people do and that really helps them!), but I usually capture little snippets and ideas, sentences, character names, sometimes even full chapters that come to me and I jot them down. It'll help to at least have some idea of where you're going even if you don't know all the details yet.<br />
<br />
<b>3. WRITE! And Track Your Progress!</b><br />
There's really no way around it, you're going to have to sit down and write (which will eventually require getting off of allllll those social media sites and unplugging all the distractions). But that's the fun part! And while you're writing, track your progress so you can see just how well you're doing in reaching your NaNo goal. This could be as simple as keeping a note or excel spreadsheet with your word count each day or you could publish it on your blog or Tumblr to let everyone know how your progress is going. One of my best friends posted her daily writing updates on her Tumblr and it was great to see how she was progressing with her WIP and it also made ME want to write more as I saw her success!<br />
<br />
<b>4. Find that Support Group</b><br />
Go on a writing retreat, meet critique partners online, join a local book club, find writerly friends. Do whatever it takes! Part of the allure of NaNo is having that community of people all over the world that are pursuing the same goal as you. They're there to bounce ideas off of, answer questions, and provide support. But you can also find these people who will support you and your writing in months other than November. It's always great to have people you can run a draft by and bounce ideas off of, so take time to form those relationships and find those people who will help you (and that you can help in return).<br />
<br />
<b>5. FINISH your NOVEL!</b><br />
Keep going, keep going! Finish the draft and then CELEBRATE. You just wrote a NOVEL. That's kind of insane. :)<br />
<br />
<b>6. REVISE REVISE REVISE REVISE.....</b><br />
Once you're finished with your NaNo you will have a NOVEL. But it will probably be a really rough first draft version of a novel that will need lots of polishing over the coming months. This will be a long process, but in the end, your novel will be so much better than you ever knew when you started it. And it will be really freaking cool to say, yeah, I wrote a novel (or a second, or third) :). Trust.<br />
<br />
<b>If all else fails,</b> try to clear your November schedule for the next year to jump in with the Official NaNoWriMo crew (but until then, keep writing...really)!<br />
<br />
Hopefully I'll be able to join in the fun that is NaNo another year (post-law school finals)--I know so many people enjoy it and <u><a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/en/publishedwrimos" target="_blank">lots of published authors' books started out as NaNo Novels</a></u>! How cool!<br />
<br />
<b>Have you done NaNoWriMo? Have you made your own NaNo? Share your NaNo and writing advice below!</b><br />
<br />Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-10922094088858729752012-12-31T16:45:00.001-05:002012-12-31T16:45:30.712-05:00On Accepting e-Books into Your Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U8C4MjEApfY/UOH7f1ATE0I/AAAAAAAAAPU/2Z5ut9hcEsM/s1600/IMG_0045.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U8C4MjEApfY/UOH7f1ATE0I/AAAAAAAAAPU/2Z5ut9hcEsM/s320/IMG_0045.PNG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>I admit it, I was so against e-books.</b> I was of the "I will NEVER <i>never</i> <b>ever</b><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>buy or read an e-book camp. What betrayal to 'real' books!" But then...I did read an e-book. And shhhh...I LOVED it. Shhhh.<br />
<br />
There's always that gateway e-book that drags you down into the e-book world, I suppose. And for me it was Jenny Han's The Summer I Turned Pretty, which I had been wanting to read for ages and happened to be on sale on Kindle one day. And with my shiny new iPad and Kindle app and no e-books, I thought, fine. I'll try it. But I <b style="font-style: italic;">won't </b>like it.<br />
<br />
<b>But I was wrong.</b> I was so, so wrong. Because the truth is, e-books are awesome. If you haven't given e-books a try, I encourage you to do so.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>10 reasons you should read e-Books</b>:<br />
<br />
<b>1. They're so convenient</b><br />
If you're like me, you wish you could have a book with you at all times. Well you can. You can read your e-books on the go wherever you are. On your iPad or e-reader, on your laptop, even on your smartphone. So. Convenient.<br />
<br />
<b>2. They travel well</b><br />
If you're going on a trip--packing 10 books in your suitcase vs. storing 100 on your iPad or other e-reader? No contest. Save the luggage space and pack more shoes. ;)<br />
<br />
<b>3. They're the wave of the future</b><br />
<u><a href="http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2012/11/will-you-ever-buy-mostly-e-books-results.html" target="_blank">Author Nathan Bransford has done an awesome poll</a></u> the last few years asking people if they'll ever buy mostly e-books. And, not surprisingly, the number of people accepting e-books has been increasing every year. Embrace the change.<br />
<br />
<b>4. They're interactive</b><br />
E-books have lots of cool features. There are usually web and twitter links to the author's pages at the end of the book, which enables you to easily learn more and interact with the author. You can also highlight a word and have instant in-app access to the definition. Pretty sweet.<br />
<br />
<b>5. They're searchable</b><br />
Looking for a particular quote, character, or word? You can easily search and find a list of the pages with what you're looking for.<br />
<br />
<b>6. You can highlight and not feel guilty</b><br />
I never highlight in print novels, but with e-books, I don't feel bad about it at all. I like flagging my favorite lines and funny things the characters say. And it's also really cool to see what other people have highlighted in the Kindle version of the book.<br />
<br />
<b>7. They're cheaper</b><br />
Because you don't have those printing and distribution costs, e-books tend to be cheaper so you can buy and read even more of them on a budget! And there are always insane deals on Amazon where you can get e-books for $1.99. Everyone loves a great deal.<br />
<br />
<b>8. There are new cool features emerging</b><br />
There are so many different possibilities with e-books, from making them truly interactive, <u><a href="http://www.fastcodesign.com/1670294/write-choose-your-own-adventure-books-through-this-clever-html5-app" target="_blank">where the reader chooses what decisions the character makes </a></u>and the story comes out differently, to adding interactive media, to <u><a href="http://www.autography.com/index.php" target="_blank">apps that allow authors to sign e-books</a></u>. As e-books become even more mainstream, more features will continue to emerge.<br />
<br />
<b>9. They still support the author just like a "real" book</b><br />
Buying an e-book still gives money to an author, just as buying the print version does. As long as you're not pirating the book, you're still supporting the author and letting them continue to write and bring you more books.<br />
<br />
<b>10. You can always buy the original print version too--at least for now!</b><br />
If you really love the book that much and feel the need to have it sitting on your shelf, you still can! Hopefully e-books will just be a complement to traditional print books, because many people who love e-books still appreciate holding a real book in their hands too. Either way, I don't think traditional books are going away completely any time soon.<br />
<br />
<b>*11. Bonus 11th! Free public domain books!</b><br />
You can read your heart out by downloading free classics in the public domain. :) Search Free Kindle public domain books: <u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_13?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=public+domain&sprefix=public+domain%2Cdigital-text%2C233" target="_blank">Here</a></u>. Oh and there's always other random free books in the Kindle store too.<br />
<br />
<b>Happy e-reading!</b><br />
<br />
Have you embraced e-books in your life? Do you love them or still hate them?<br />
<br />Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-66188863945052780702012-12-17T21:45:00.000-05:002012-12-17T21:45:39.539-05:00The Writer's Guide to Beta Readers: Part 1<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uGccsQXshDQ/UM_U77-BCHI/AAAAAAAAAO8/UvuOfJuSF3g/s1600/IMG_2666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uGccsQXshDQ/UM_U77-BCHI/AAAAAAAAAO8/UvuOfJuSF3g/s320/IMG_2666.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A smiley face from Beta Reader Megan!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>What are beta readers? Why do you need them? What should you ask them? </i>My Guide to Beta Readers posts will cover all of these important topics for writers.<br />
<br />
<b>First of all, what is a beta reader?</b> They can be a member of a writing group or critique partner, a friend, family member, acquaintance, basically anyone who will read an early version of your book and provide you with honest and critical feedback. The point of betas is not to just tell you how awesome you are--although the encouragement they can provide is also helpful for beginning writers. The point of betas is to help you make your book stronger. They can point out to you all the things you can't see about your book because you're too close to it. The best betas will give you honest feedback and comments on things you can improve and also hopefully some encouragement to keep you going! <br />
<br />
I love <u><a href="http://lyndaryoung.blogspot.com/2012/07/5-things-writer-can-do-to-evolve.html" target="_blank">this quote from author </a></u><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><a href="http://lyndaryoung.blogspot.com/2012/07/5-things-writer-can-do-to-evolve.html" target="_blank">A</a></u><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 18px;"><u><a href="http://lyndaryoung.blogspot.com/2012/07/5-things-writer-can-do-to-evolve.html" target="_blank">ngela Ackerman</a></u> </span></span></span>regarding betas/critique partners: "You want them to love it and say it’s great, but what you NEED is for them to point out the problems." Nothing could be more true about the beta process, which is why it is so important you have betas that are absolutely committed to being honest with you. Brutally honest (hopefully not in a brutal way though--no need to kill dreams!)<br />
<br />
There are always a lot of "Do I need a beta reader?" questions out there. My take is definitely. Here's why I think they're the best and you should get some too:<br />
<br />
<b>Why they're the best</b><br />
<br />
I happen to have some of the best beta readers ever and I am so thankful for all of their feedback. The great thing is they all bring a different perspective to my book, but each one is still so helpful and committed. I've got some writer friends, some reader friends, some other friends, some family, and also some critique partners and authors to give me feedback, which makes for a great mix of advice!<br />
<br />
I must say though that my favorite (read: most hilarious) comments come from Megan, one of my best friends and my former college roomie--she basically knows me better than I know myself. Megan tells it how it is and is so blunt with the characters. For example, in one scene, character A is reflecting on how many times character B has saved her life. Megan, however, jumped in and said "Oh no, B. Questionable. I'll give you credit for one life saving, but not two. The other one totally doesn't count." Comments like these are really funny when they are addressed to the characters and they have Megan's enthusiasm for the book and the characters all over them. It also makes it much more fun to read through and revise because I get all her sidebars. <br />
<br />
ALL of my beta readers have been incredibly helpful in pointing out all the things I thought I said (but didn't) and helping me make my book what I intended for it to be in the first place. Then there are also those great suggestions and new ideas that make it even better than it was before. I really couldn't do it without their help! So that's why I definitely recommend you get some beta readers of your own.<br />
<br />
If you're ready to dive in, check out <u><a href="http://www.publishingcrawl.com/2012/12/05/finding-a-critique-partner/" target="_blank">this post on the Pub(lishing) Crawl blog on Finding a Critique Parner</a></u>!<br />
<br />
<i>Check back for part 2 of my beta readers series where I'll post a list of the questions I gave to my beta readers to help guide their critique. </i><br />
<br />
Have you gotten feedback from a beta reader or been a beta reader before? What did you find helpful? Any other tips for writers and beta readers? Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-75318247902054230922012-07-24T22:41:00.000-04:002012-12-01T14:50:11.512-05:00Writing Inspiration On Pinterest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://pinterest.com/katiesoshea/"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W3SWPEfErO8/UA86nLKf5WI/AAAAAAAAAN8/D6Ri7JwGh9A/s1600/Pinterest+Characters.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>I love Pinterest.</b> Gorgeous pictures on the visual social media pinboard inspire everything from recipes to fashion to travel destinations. Lately I've noticed many authors (including me!) use Pinterest for writing inspiration. <br />
<br />
<b>The awesome people at <u><a href="http://www.yahighway.com/" target="_blank">YA Highway</a></u></b> have even <u><a href="http://www.yahighway.com/2012/04/ya-authors-on-pinterest.html" target="_blank">compiled a list of authors on Pinterest</a></u>! <span style="background-color: white;">It's fun to see what they're pinning and get hints at future books. </span><span style="background-color: white;">And I would be remiss if I didn't point out the incredibly gorgeous and constantly updated </span><u style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/jesskhoury/?d" target="_blank">boards of Jessica Khoury</a></u><span style="background-color: white;">. You will seriously want to repin everything she pins.</span><br />
<br />
<b>When I saw Jessica's pin boards,</b> I immediately made <u><a href="https://pinterest.com/katiesoshea/" target="_blank">general story boards of my own</a></u>. I figured they might come in handy for future projects when I wanted character inspiration. What I didn't realize was that I would go to them time and again for my current WIP (work in progress)! Scrolling through the faces of people I thought would make interesting characters and finding ones that match my vision of characters in my book has been such a great resource. I've added a few characters in revisions and changed some features of others, necessitating adding to my visual inspiration board for the project. It's so cool to refer to a picture while writing and see "your character" in various situations and making different expressions. <br />
<br />
<b>Characters aren't the only inspiration you'll find on Pinterest</b>. Pictures of how your character might dress, the house they live in, the decor of their bedroom, where certain scenes take place, and much more<span style="background-color: white;"> are at your fingertips and ready to be pinned to inspiration boards.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://pinterest.com/katiesoshea/"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pkcSF7vlUPs/UA87uqeDU_I/AAAAAAAAAOE/nw0aNYKrkBg/s1600/Pinterest+Scenes.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Pinterest is the writer's playground for inspiration</b>. Whenever I need a quick writing break, it's the first place I go. It lets me recharge and gives me an instant burst of creativity. As Jessica said in <u><a href="https://twitter.com/jkbibliophile/status/225339075207512065" target="_blank">a recent tweet</a></u>, <span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 28px;">All it takes to launch a new story idea is a single, powerful image."</span></i></b></span><br />
<br />
<b>So what are you waiting for?</b> Go get pinning! Just file it under "book research time." ;)<br />
<br />
<b>Do you use Pinterest for writing inspiration?</b> What boards do you follow for story inspiration? I'd love your recommendations! Don't forget to <u><a href="https://pinterest.com/katiesoshea/" target="_blank">follow me on Pinterest here</a></u>!<br />
<br />
<b>Happy pinning & writing! </b><br />
<br />Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-66449058926533882382012-05-31T02:28:00.000-04:002012-12-01T14:48:22.285-05:00"Katie O'Shea Books" Writing Blog on Pinterest!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://pinterest.com/katiesoshea/katie-o-shea-books-blog/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0EzuE_DZT-M/T8cGvnjyd0I/AAAAAAAAAFs/HVcCjWG4BMw/s1600/Katie+O'Shea+Books+on+Pinterest.jpg" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pinterest.com/katiesoshea/katie-o-shea-books-blog/" target="_blank">https://pinterest.com/katiesoshea/katie-o-shea-books-blog/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<b><u><a href="http://pinterest.com/about/" target="_blank">What is Pinterest?</a></u> </b>(A quick lesson for those not yet in the know) :)<br />
"Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard. Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes."<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>And now people use Pinterest to showcase their blog </b>in visual form! (Or at least I am).</div>
<div>
<br />
<b>After reading some cool Pinterest articles</b> about people using the site for new things, (check out my new Pinterest board <u><a href="https://pinterest.com/katiesoshea/read-me-now-or-later/" target="_blank">"Read Me Now or Later"</a></u> for examples) such as <u><a href="http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/how-to-use-pinterest-to-get-productive-and-stay-motivated.html" target="_blank">creating boards to save articles</a></u> they want to read (hence the above), or even <u><a href="http://thenextweb.com/socialmedia/2012/05/08/this-pinterest-user-turned-her-account-into-an-online-cv-and-its-landed-her-a-job-offer/" target="_blank">creating digital Pinterest resumes</a>,</u> (Seriously! How cool!) I decided to do some creative Pinterest/Blog crossover-ing of my own.<br />
<br />
<b><u><a href="https://pinterest.com/katiesoshea/katie-o-shea-books-blog/" target="_blank">So I created a board on Pinterest just for this blog</a></u></b> where I will pin all of my blog posts for your easy viewing pleasure. It will be a fun way to check out the blog in a neat visual form and easily see what posts I've written about and you can re-pin them to share with your friends too! I hope you like the new idea!<br />
<br />
<b>Leave me a comment</b> below on what you'd like to see on the blog/Pinterest board and any cool ways you've been using Pinterest!<br />
<br />
Also since this is a Pinterest-themed post, I simply must give a <b>shout-out to "Pinspirational" <u><a href="http://jnkhoury.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">author Jessica Khoury</a></u></b> (her debut YA book ORIGIN comes out in September!) for amazing use of Pinterest. Check out <u><a href="https://pinterest.com/jesskhoury/" target="_blank">her awesome boards</a></u>, such as "Characters in Want of Story" and "Have Setting. Insert Story." for some truly inspiring pins that led to my own new boards "Quite the Character" and "Stories Happen Here." She also had the <u><a href="http://jnkhoury.blogspot.com/2012/05/arc-madness-giveaway.html" target="_blank">great idea of using Pinterest</a></u> to have people submit entries for an ARC (Advanced Reading Copy) giveaway on her blog where they repinned one of her pins and added a short story. Very creative! </div>
Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-6011691592859955152012-05-14T14:24:00.000-04:002012-08-17T23:48:00.894-04:00Summer Reading List Part 1!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b>Now that the dreaded 1L</b> (first year of law school) has finished up and I'm officially on summer break (hooray!!!!), it's time to read as many books as I can get my hands on! There are so many books I've been waiting to read that have finally come out (Insurgent for one!) and then there are some that have been on my to-read list that were put on the side during finals and the editing process of my book so I'm so excited to have some time to read them now! But I need MORE book recommendations from YOU! Let me know below in the comments what books you've read that you loved and what's on your summer reading list!<br />
<br />
<b>In no particular order</b> (because I still haven't decided which to read when) my summer reading list thus far:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062024043/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwlisapa-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0062024043" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UJYI0UE6Og8/T7Br_JpyePI/AAAAAAAAAE0/RDCyhI4tPA4/s320/insurgent.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<h3>
<b>Title</b>:<u> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062024043/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwlisapa-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0062024043" target="_blank">Insurgent</a></u></h3>
<b>Author</b>:<u> <a href="http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Veronica Roth</a></u><br />
<b>Genre</b>: YA--Fantasy<br />
<b>Release Date</b>: May 1, 2012<br />
<b>Series</b>: 2nd in series<br />
<b>Publisher</b>: HarperTeen<br />
<b>How I Got the Book</b>: Bought<br />
<u><b>GoodReads </b><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11735983-insurgent" target="_blank"><b>Description</b>:</a></u> "One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.<br />
<br />
Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so."<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Media</b>:
<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/NqfvAyuxPeU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b>Why It's On the List</b>: Veronica Roth's <u>debut book <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8306857-divergent" target="_blank">Divergent </a></u>was one of my absolute favorite books of last year and boy did it end with a bang. I've recommended it to tons of friends who have also loved it (and then hated me for making them read it before the next book was out). So I've been so excited to read the sequel which came out last week during finals. Ever since it arrived on my doorstep I've been dying to open it up and now that final are done I finally have the chance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/12926813-zoe-letting-go" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HBfI50Ce02Q/T7Bz7DANxuI/AAAAAAAAAFA/C0h9fM5is5Q/s320/Zoe+Letting+Go+Cover.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<h3>
Title:<u> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zoe-Letting-Go-Nora-Price/dp/1595144668/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337017274&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Zoe Letting Go</a></u></h3>
<b>Author</b>:<u> <a href="http://noraprice.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Nora Price</a></u><br />
<b>Genre</b>: YA--Fiction, Social<br />
<b>Release Date</b>: June 28, 2012<br />
<b>Series</b>: No<br />
<b>Publisher</b>: Razorbill<br />
<b>How I Got the Book</b>: ARC from Nora Price<br />
<u><b>GoodReads <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12926813-zoe-letting-go" target="_blank">Description</a></b>:</u> "<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">A girl's letters to her best friend reveal two lives derailed by anorexia in this haunting debut that's </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Wintergirls</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"> meets </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">The Sixth Sense</em><br />
<br />
<em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">It's not a hospital, a spa, or an institution. That's what they told me--that's what the brochures promised.</em><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">But no matter what the brochures promised, Zoe finds that Twin Birch is a place for girls with a penchant for harming themselves. Through journal entries and letters to her best friend, Elise, she tries to understand why she was brought there, and how she could possibly belong in a place like this. But Zoe's letters to Elise remain unanswered. She wonders why her best friend would cut her off without a word, reliving memory after memory of their beautiful, rocky, inescapable friendship. But everyone has secrets--including Zoe--and as her own fragile mental state hangs in the balance, she must finally learn to come to terms with what happened to Elise before she's able to let go."</span><br />
<br />
<b>Why It's On the List</b>: I first heard about Zoe Letting Go <u>on <a href="http://distraction99.com/tag/zoe-letting-go/" target="_blank">author Nova Ren Suma's blog</a> </u>as part of her 2012 YA Debut Interview Series and was immediately interested in reading the book. I tweeted author Nora Price to tell her how excited I was to read it and in a wonderful surprise she tweeted me asking if I'd like an ARC (Advance Reader's Copy). Of course I said yes and I'm so excited to get to read it even before it comes out this summer!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/8755776-city-of-lost-souls" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3_TNTy7w0c/T7B1bzaHyBI/AAAAAAAAAFI/b_5mL3wY0gI/s320/City+of+Lost+Souls.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3>
Title:<u> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/City-Lost-Souls-Mortal-Instruments/dp/1442416866/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337017316&sr=1-1" target="_blank">City of Lost Souls</a></u></h3>
<b>Author</b>:<u> <a href="http://www.cassandraclare.com/" target="_blank">Cassandra Clare</a></u><br />
<b>Genre</b>: YA--Fantasy<br />
<b>Release Date</b>: May 8, 2012<br />
<b>Series</b>: 5th in series<br />
<b>Publisher</b>: Margaret K. McElderry Books<br />
<b>How I Got the Book</b>: Bought<br />
<u><b>GoodReads <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8755776-city-of-lost-souls" target="_blank">Description</a></b>:</u> "<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?"</span><b><br /></b><br />
<b>Media</b>:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://2.gvt0.com/vi/S_FUJU3q9xY/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/S_FUJU3q9xY&fs=1&source=uds" />
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" />
<embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/S_FUJU3q9xY&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>
<br />
<b>Why It's On the List</b>: I've loved this series since the first book and the last one ended at such a cliffhanger. I'm so excited this one is finally out--just in time for summer! I can't wait to read what happens next!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/23228.Boy_Meets_Boy" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bgSZLoehj3I/T7B3yExd4dI/AAAAAAAAAFY/tfUEh4Z5oTI/s320/Boy+Meets+Boy.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3>
Title:<u> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Meets-David-Levithan/dp/0375832998/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337017344&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Boy Meets Boy</a></u></h3>
<b>Author</b>:<u> <a href="http://www.davidlevithan.com/" target="_blank">David Levithan</a></u><br />
<b>Genre</b>: YA Fiction--Romance<br />
<b>Release Date</b>: September 9, 2003<br />
<b>Series</b>: No<br />
<b>Publisher</b>: Alfred A. Knopf<br />
<b>How I Got the Book</b>: To-purchase<br />
<u><b>GoodReads <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23228.Boy_Meets_Boy" target="_blank">Description</a></b>:</u> "<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">This is the story of Paul, a sophomore at a high school like no other: The cheerleaders ride Harleys, the homecoming queen used to be a guy named Daryl (she now prefers Infinite Darlene and is also the star quarterback), and the gay-straight alliance was formed to help the straight kids learn how to dance.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">When Paul meets Noah, he thinks he’s found the one his heart is made for. Until he blows it. The school bookie says the odds are 12-to-1 against him getting Noah back, but Paul’s not giving up without playing his love really loud. His best friend Joni might be drifting away, his other best friend Tony might be dealing with ultra-religious parents, and his ex-boyfriend Kyle might not be going away anytime soon, but sometimes everything needs to fall apart before it can really fit together right.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">This is a happy-meaningful romantic comedy about finding love, losing love, and doing what it takes to get love back in a crazy-wonderful world."</span><b><br /></b><br />
<b>Why It's On the List: </b>Because there should be more books with gay main characters and I've been dying to read David Levithan so I figured I should start with his first book!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/10025305-clockwork-prince" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lnWx_YQYtfo/T7B3CKAedbI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/d4s7bG4IHBE/s320/Clockwork+Prince.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3>
Title:<u> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Clockwork-Prince-Infernal-Devices-Cassandra/dp/1406321338/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1337017381&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Clockwork Prince</a></u></h3>
<b>Author</b>:<u> <a href="http://www.cassandraclare.com/" target="_blank">Cassandra Clare</a></u><br />
<b>Genre</b>: YA--Fantasy<br />
<b>Release Date</b>: December 6, 2011<br />
<b>Series</b>: 2nd in spin-off series of The Mortal Instruments<br />
<b>Publisher</b>: Margaret K. McElderry Books<br />
<b>How I Got the Book</b>: Bought<br />
<b><u>GoodReads <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10025305-clockwork-prince" target="_blank">Description</a></u></b>: "<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-top: 18px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart."</div>
<b>Media</b>:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/GvNQ2xLWfRI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<b>Why It's On the List</b>: Victorian London. British accents/people. ;) And because for those who love the Mortal Instruments series it's a cool look into the past to see what happened before the series. It's a really cool setting and is very well done. I've been looking forward to reading this ever since it came out and I don't know how I haven't already!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Book_red;_question_marks.svg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7c/Book_red;_question_marks.svg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABook_red%3B_question_marks.svg" target="_blank">By Wikibooks_misscover.svg: *Gray_book.png: gingercoons PD-icon.svg: Various. See log. (Original SVG was based on File:PD-icon.png by Duesentrieb, which was based on Image:Red copyright.png by Rfl.) derivative work: Jon C (talk ) derivative work: Pixel Pixel - http://pl.wikibooks.org/wiki/Plik:Przyklad.JPG derivative work: Marek M (Wikibooks_misscover.svg;) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h4>
<b>You tell ME! </b><b>What else should I read this summer? What's on your summer reading list? Please share below in the comments!</b></h4>
<br />
<br /></div>
Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-29632400952077144112012-04-23T22:49:00.001-04:002012-08-17T23:39:32.720-04:00Why You Should Fail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b>You should fail </b>because it will all work out in the end. You just have to keep going.<br />
<br />
<b>I think everyone needs a bit of adversity</b> in their life. To be able to say they've failed. And failed. And failed. Because it is the people that try one more time that are the ones that will succeed in the end.<br />
<br />
<b>Everyone should have something that they fight for</b>. Something they care enough about to fight for. Something that they would risk everything for. Something that they maybe fail at first but keep fighting for. Because for every time you fail, someone else does too. But the difference is, you have to want it badly enough to pick yourself up again and keep fighting for it. And harder than before, because for every time you fail maybe someone else fails too. Maybe they don't keep going. Maybe they quit. Maybe that brings you one step closer to succeeding. But if you're the one to quit you'll never know. And you'll definitely never be the one to succeed.<br />
<br />
<b>So here's to everyone that fails</b>. Here's to those that fail again. And here's to those that will always keep failing because it means you'll always keep trying. And one day the ones that will risk it all and fail the most will be the ones to succeed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-28757293866204468802012-04-15T19:06:00.001-04:002012-05-31T17:22:22.189-04:00Dare Greatly: Putting Your Book Out in the World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://this-is-the-life2905.deviantart.com/art/dare-to-dream-207671554" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a-8X367bB0U/T4tKGM33epI/AAAAAAAAADM/wB7ThG8uySE/s320/dare_to_dream.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Source: <a href="http://this-is-the-life2905.deviantart.com/art/dare-to-dream-207671554">http://this-is-the-life2905.deviantart.com/art/dare-to-dream-207671554</a>)</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>I don’t think anything makes you more crazy</b> than writing a
novel. In what other profession would it be acceptable and encouraged for you
to be hearing voices in your head from your characters—encouraging them to talk
to you? In what other job do you try to create and temporarily live in some other world? When writing a
novel you go through this intensely personal experience for months or years,
pouring words onto the page and crafting each word, each sentence, each page
into something that you hope is great…or at least okay. The entire process drives
you crazy. You don’t want to write maybe because it’s agony, but the even worse
agony is not writing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>And then one day you realize that the time has come</b>. Your
novel is “done.” Or done for now. It’s time to let someone else read it and
give you feedback. It’s time for it to go out into the world. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>So you read it over one last time</b>, making sure everything is
how you want it—making sure you even like it at all. And this
reading confirms it—you love it, you absolutely love it. You’re so proud of
what you’ve done, that you’ve accomplished this. That you have just written—gasp—a
book! So you go and have it printed up and you give it to those initial few close
and trusted Beta Readers. You’re so excited for them to read it! You’ve been
waiting months for this very moment! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>But then when one of them says they’re about to start
reading</b> the first chapter, somehow the whole illusion shatters. “<i>Wait!</i>” you
think. “<i>Wait, you’re really going to do it? Now?</i>” and suddenly, you’ve never
been more unsure of yourself. "<i>Oh gosh! It’s so horrible. Don’t read it</i>," you
think. <i>"They're going to hate it, just hate it. They’re going to tell me it’s the
worst thing ever and it doesn’t have any chance at ever being published!"</i> And
then what will all of those last few months of writing have been for? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The vulnerability and the doubt wash in,</b> more powerful than
ever, and leave you feeling like all you want to do is throw up. You sit
anxiously by the phone, waiting for your Beta Readers to call--because surely they’ve read
the first chapter by now and don’t they have something to say about it? Oh
gosh, they probably haven’t called because it’s so bad and they don’t know how
to break it to you. <i>Don’t quit your day job</i> they’re secretly thinking as you
check to make sure you have reception for the hundredth time. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>It’s incredibly hard to create something</b>, to spend all the
time and effort working on it. But it’s even harder to share it with the world.
To embrace the vulnerability of it all and to put it out there for other people
to read and critique. Because they may hate it. But there’s that chance that
they won’t, that hope that maybe what you’ve done isn’t as horrible as you now
think (after all—wasn’t it just a few hours ago you had decided you loved it?) and
you’ll never know if what you’ve done is great or maybe someday could be great
if you never put it out there and try. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>"To create is to make something that has never existed
before</b>--there's nothing more vulnerable than that." ~ Brené Brown. So my
good <u>friend <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/torycuneo" target="_blank">Victoria </a></u>had told me to <u>watch <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame.html?source=twitter#.T4n4qMfuCf0.twitter" target="_blank">this TED Talk by Brené Brown</a> </u>a while
back, but I finally got around to watching it yesterday and it was amazing—just what
I needed to hear. It’s all about listening to shame and vulnerability and how
the most successful people embrace vulnerability because it is the birthplace
of innovation, creativity, and change. You <u>should <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_listening_to_shame.html?source=twitter#.T4n4qMfuCf0.twitter" target="_blank">definitely check it out here</a></u>.
And one of the main takeaways I got was that those who “dare greatly” are the
ones that embrace the vulnerability and dare to be courageous and put
themselves out there. These are the people that can succeed because they have
taken the risks. So here I am, daring greatly, and putting my book out there so
that maybe I can become something more, so that I can learn and grow, and so
that maybe I can create something that has never existed before. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>And then you do get the call—They don’t hate it!</b> They love
it too! Phew, you sigh in relief for a moment. Maybe I was right to begin with.
But then a few minutes later you’re back to….but what if they’re lying so they
don’t hurt my feelings?! Basically…writers can never be sane about things like
this, but you’ve still got to put your work out there and try. </div>Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-78372698345819927532012-04-01T22:21:00.001-04:002012-05-31T17:21:06.957-04:00The Writer’s Brain<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1985655234"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rx-N_Zmwiio/T3kIeZbFklI/AAAAAAAAADE/ujPSF_VTwsc/s400/Left+brain+right+brain.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #211922; font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/mercedes_benz_left_brain_right_brain_paint" target="_blank">Right brain: “I am the right brain. I am creativity. A free spirit. I am passion. Yearning. Sensuality. I am the sound of roaring laughter. I am taste. The feeling of sand beneath bare feet. I am movement. Vivid colors. I am the urge to paint on an empty canvas. I am boundless imagination. Art. Poetry. I sense. I feel. I am everything I wanted to be.”</a></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sometimes the writer's brain can feel like it's exploding--</b>with thoughts, ideas, emotions, words, creativity. Everything wants to burst right out of the writer's brain and onto the page. It reminds me of <u>the </u><a href="http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/mercedes_benz_left_brain_right_brain_paint" style="text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">beautiful Mercedes-Benz ad above</a> depicting the right brain erupting with color all over the page. The writer's brain can't be contained. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i>They’ll love it! They’ll hate it!</i></b><i> </i>The writer’s brain relishes in arguing with itself. During the
editing process and as I come closer and closer to sharing my novel with others,
this is something I have come to realize quite well. No sooner have you
thought: <i>They are going to love this. I
will be a published author one day</i>, than does your brain tack on <i>Maybe. Or maybe it’s terrible. No, they’re
going to hate it! What was I thinking? This is the worst!</i> And from there it’s
just a downward spiral. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Whoa there, writer’s
brain.</b> Calm down. Get off the emotional rollercoaster. There’s enough drama
in that book, we don’t need residual drama from you. But still, the rational part
of your brain probably does not prevail over the dash of crazy floating around
on the writer’s side. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>So how do you deal
with this</b> emotional and dramatic writer’s brain? In the end, you step away
from the computer, take a few deep breaths, and tell the writer’s brain to cut
it out. It doesn’t matter if everyone else hates the novel if you love it. You have to believe in your idea and what you’ve been working on—and presumably
you do if you’ve chosen to put so much time and effort into it. You have to
keep writing and pressing on through all of the chaos of writer’s brain, all of the
doubt that tries to creep in, and you just have to finish. In all likelihood, even if you do end up hating it in the end, you will have enjoyed the process and learned from it, and there’s so much
value in that alone.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The writer’s brain is
also impetuous and selfish</b>. Demanding and dramatic. <i>You must write now! </i>it clamors.<i>
Now! There’s no time to do that reading right now—I have an idea, I must get
the words out and onto a paper now!</i> it screams. <i>I am inspired! I must create!</i> Again, “Calm down, writer’s brain!” you
chide it, but it just jumps up and down eagerly, clamoring for attention like a
four year old on a pixy stix high. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Sometimes you need to
just go ahead and write</b> down whatever idea you have because it’s probably going to sit there and nag at you until you do--or worse, get lost back in the
black hole of your writer’s brain again. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Even though the
writer’s brain can be kind of crazy</b>, in the end it can also be kind of fun…after
all everyone needs a little eccentricity in their life, no? Besides, if the
alternative is engineering brain or something more drab from the left brain side, I think I’ll stick with the
creative writing brain. ;)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>In summary</b>: writers
are kind of crazy? But awesome.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Do you have the same problems</b> with writer's brain? How do you tame the craziness? </div>Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-81961850962221237602012-03-25T23:54:00.001-04:002012-08-17T23:09:44.741-04:00What’s in a name?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
**This is a blog post I wrote back on November 16, 2011 before I even had this lovely writing blog, but I was doing some more naming today and found it to be appropriate, so I decided to post it and add to it a bit with some more recent perspective.**</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_889271898"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Hello_my_name_is_sticker.svg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AHello_my_name_is_sticker.svg" target="_blank">By InverseHypercube (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b>Naming is annoyingly hard</b>. What’s in a name? Well, a lot. A
name can tell you quite a bit about a person/character. With a name comes history and meaning, and
can set the tone of a novel. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>So back in November</b>, when I was first starting to nail down all of the elements of my novel, I had been trying for days to come up with the perfect name for one of the main characters. Luckily the name for the primary character came to me instantly and
easily one night while I was falling asleep, but this other name put up quite a
struggle. I Googled, I brainstormed, I name generated, I crowd-sourced it on
Facebook, polled my friends, but still nothing was sticking. But finally, somehow I landed on one I like, or rather, I landed on two. By then I had decided I needed two
names for this character...of course. But with the perspective of the last few months, I know I settled on two that fit perfectly.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Reading <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1913463681">Divergent author Veronica Roth's post</a></b><a href="http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/2012/03/faqs-tobiasfour-and-names-we-choose.html" target="_blank"> about names</a> yesterday got me thinking more about the fact that I had gone with two names. As she discussed, names can be very powerful and when a character has multiple names, "this usually signals the beginning of some kind of transformation, or indicates that a transformation has already taken place." This is precisely what happened with my naming situation...so look forward to that. ;) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>But until I settled</b> on the fact that the character needed two names and what those names were, it was just creating a wall for me. I couldn’t
write anything more without knowing who I was writing about, and that started
with the name. I could already see the character in my mind and knew their personality
and physical description, the only thing that was evading me was the name. But after I got the name down, things fell into place nicely. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>For some of the other characters</b>, the names came easily, but for others, I went through the same process, trying to figure out what name best suited their personality. Luckily, none of the other names were as much of a struggle as that one character's. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>All of this happened right before finals</b>. Finals are always my best time for productivity it seems. I always want to write the most when it’s the most impractical. Maybe I'm a glutton for punishment, maybe I just
love a challenge. Despite exams being only two weeks away, I was in full-on
writing mode and loving every minute of it. The good news is that both finals and book writing went quite well, so it worked out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Back in the present</b>, after finishing my draft, I still had a couple of pesky name gaps where I had just left a blank and needed particularly some last names to be filled in (one of which was for that same tricky character as before!) so I had to get back on the name train--Googling, brainstorming, name generating, researching. But I think I finally found names that I'm really happy with and that have a lot of significance too, which is always awesome. I just don't know how parents do it though--naming is hard!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>How have your naming experiences been? </b>What are some of your favorite unusual names or favorite names of characters in books? I still particularly love Mara Dyer of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, and Peeta of The Hunger Games (speaking of which--wasn't the movie amazing??). Oh, and Jace from The Mortal Instruments Series. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-76784077735371613322012-03-19T00:06:00.001-04:002012-05-31T17:19:35.497-04:00Editing--on the Beach!<b>Let's be real</b>--if you're going to edit, it may as well be on the beach! But as it seems, Spring Break doesn't last forever, so now I'm back to the real world and law school.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ZEpLohk8Ik/T2atw_uYT-I/AAAAAAAAACQ/X2rS0zNr0gI/s1600/IMG_3559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ZEpLohk8Ik/T2atw_uYT-I/AAAAAAAAACQ/X2rS0zNr0gI/s320/IMG_3559.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>But editing on the beach </b>was pretty awesome. It was great to just have a whole week free where I could read, write, and relax.<br />
<br />
<b>Round 1 edits are complete</b>! So it was highly productive as well--I edited a huge chunk of my manuscript, all while enjoying the Florida rays (from the safety of the shade). Now I'm in the process of going through and working on round two of edits. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7eHNbrBaYss/T2av59XkcRI/AAAAAAAAACY/o1UHizIwL_M/s1600/File+Folders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7eHNbrBaYss/T2av59XkcRI/AAAAAAAAACY/o1UHizIwL_M/s320/File+Folders.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Taking a box of file folders on Spring Break isn’t weird, is it?</b>
Apparently not for me…because I brought it with me to hold my MS and told my mom it was filled with file folders so I could organize things (because I like to pretend
to be sneaky about working on my books). But she didn’t question that I would
actually have file folders to organize things on Spring Break. My life--just your typical writer/law student nerd. ;)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Where's your favorite place</b> to write or work on your book? If you could go anywhere to write where would it be? </div>Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-22087068638052807232012-03-17T18:28:00.000-04:002012-05-31T17:18:56.523-04:00Book Recommendation: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Can a book be this amazing?</b> It can.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8591107-the-unbecoming-of-mara-dyer" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gKdtvgYfZJk/T2UMCFfTvfI/AAAAAAAAACI/42lWVj6lq5I/s640/Mara+Dyer.jpg" width="420" /><span id="goog_907740537"></span></a><span id="goog_907740538"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>You should go read this</b> book now, if not yesterday. Because
it’s amazing. And you will love it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8591107-the-unbecoming-of-mara-dyer" target="_blank"><b>Synopsis:</b></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than
waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It can.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't
remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been
through, she can fall in love.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She's wrong.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I just love the style it’s written in with the: "It can" and "She's wrong.")</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_XXgY210es&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank"><b>The book trailer: </b></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/u_XXgY210es/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/u_XXgY210es&fs=1&source=uds" />
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" />
<embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/u_XXgY210es&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>But it’s so much more</b> than both of those: It’s mysterious,
it keeps you reading and wondering what could possibly be going on, it’s
original, it’s incredibly written, it’s spooky, but also romantic, one of the
characters is British (need I say more?), and it’s hilarious. How can it be all
of these things so wonderfully? You’re just going to have to read it to find
out. Seriously.<u> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unbecoming-Mara-Dyer-Michelle-Hodkin/dp/B0076TKU0I/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1332022757&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Go get it now.</a></u> I literally was laughing out loud while reading
parts of it, which is pretty rare for a book that isn’t trying to be a comedy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The title—amazing</b>. The name Mara Dyer? Love it. The cover—beautiful.
I won’t get into the fonts because I don’t want to nerd out on you too much
here. Noah Shaw—just yes (you’ll understand once you’ve read the book) ;). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Also I have a special place in my heart</b> for cool authors who
are/used to be lawyers—law school for the win—and <u><a href="http://michellehodkin.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Michelle Hodkin</a> </u>is one of the
few, the proud, representing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What’s even better is</b> that it’s a SERIES!! I love series, because
just when you find a great book, you are assured that yes, another one is either
out or on the way. I cannot wait to read the next book. Let’s just say the last
page of this one—amazing, perfect. But don’t peek and read it first!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The book has gotten tons of great praise </b>left and right, so definitely
check it out, you won’t be disappointed! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Have you read</b> The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer? What did you
think? What amazing books have you read recently?</div>Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-89272127257944624072012-03-04T23:10:00.000-05:002012-05-31T17:18:16.725-04:00The Novel Revision Process: Becoming Friends With That Red Pen<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9ULtVELZi0/T1Q6VlLbvwI/AAAAAAAAAB4/NRs6PdF9YC8/s1600/IMG_3290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9ULtVELZi0/T1Q6VlLbvwI/AAAAAAAAAB4/NRs6PdF9YC8/s320/IMG_3290.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>It’s hard to believe</b>, but it’s been three weeks since
I finished writing my second novel! Since then it’s been on to revising. Sitting
down with the huge stack of paper that is your manuscript can be kind of
daunting, but it’s also really cool to hold
that near-ream of paper and realize that you wrote that, that everything
on those pages is a result of all of those hours of writing. So after all the writing, comes all the revising. Finding the best
red pen is key here for all the marking up you’re going to be doing (Pentel
Sign Pen being my favorite).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Electronic v. Paper revision</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>For my first novel,</b> I didn’t print out a first draft, choosing instead to edit it all on the computer. I saved pushing print until I had gone through
and made all of those changes to save some trees. For this second one, however,
I’ve decided to sacrifice the forest (something I always feel guilty
about—sorry, trees!) and I printed out all those imperfect first-draft pages.
So I’ve been slowly taking my red pen to them and revising, and I must say I’ve
been enjoying doing that so much more. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>It’s easier</b> to see the words on the page
and flip around and see the bigger picture, for me at least. And I can scribble
lots of notes around on the page and play with word choices without actually
going in and making the changes. It also allows me to write longer notes in the
margins and at the end of chapters on things I want to tweak and incorporate. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The best thing</b> will probably be getting in that secret extra
round of editing when I go in to make the changes on the computer in Scrivener
(the MOST amazing writing tool ever..more on that another time). Just getting that extra pass over it and
having the whole thing fresh in my mind again before actually making the
changes I think will go a long way. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>So there are definitely perks</b> to the electronic revision
process, but right now I’m really enjoying being able to hold those pages in my
hands and stack them up. Seeing all the red marks and notes scribbled on the page
makes me feel like I’m really making tangible progress too. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The cool thing</b> though is how little it’s changing, even
throughout the revision process. All the ideas and scenes are kind of there so
far and I’ve just been doing minor edits that I didn’t bother to take the time
to do while writing because they would slow down the flow of ideas. Which
brings me to writing v. revising: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Writing v. Revising </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>I am generally biased </b>toward the process of writing and
don’t think of myself as particularly keen on editing. I’d much rather just get
the ideas out and enjoy the process of creating rather than the technical
nit-pickey editing process. I usually think of writing as the fun part and the
revising as the work. For my first book I really didn’t spend too much time
editing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>But of course</b>, this novel is different (hopefully better as
it comes with two more years of life and experiences) and what I’ve found is
that I really have been enjoying the revising process. It’s really cool to be
able to change things and to realize you aren’t limited to keeping what’s on
the page. You can tear out whatever you want and add things that may be more
true to who the characters developed to be in the end. Plus, I am very
detail-oriented, so editing is something that comes naturally. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Also the difference now</b> is a change in my frame of mind.
Rather than thinking of revision as a way to fix all the mistakes from the
first round, I’m approaching it as a way to improve and really make this the
best that it can be. It’s a cool opportunity to be able to tweak that
dialogue to say what it did in my mind the first time, or to add an extra scene
that might develop the characters or reveal some back-story in an important
way. So it’s kind of fun in its own way. Kind of like you’ve almost solved a
puzzle and if you can just fit the final pieces together you’ll reveal this
beautiful picture. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>But then of course </b>there are the other rounds of editing.
And the beta readers. And more editing. So by then the pieces get jumbled up a
bit more and need rearranging again. But hey, as Anne Lamott said in her book on writing, <u>Bird by Bird</u> (which you should read), you’ve just got to take it "bird by bird."* </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(*The explanatory quote from <u>Bird by Bird</u>: "Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years
old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he'd had
three months to write. [It] was due the next day. We were out at our family
cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by
binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the
hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm
around my brother's shoulder, and said. 'Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird
by bird.'")</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What’s your revision process </b>like? What are you working on
now? What have you found particularly helpful (or not) while revising? I’d love
to hear!</div>Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7896700399028233241.post-74191900780357986932012-02-29T21:13:00.001-05:002012-08-17T23:05:51.874-04:00Katie O'Shea Books: Welcome!<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Hey there.</b> Welcome to my writing blog and thanks for
checking it out. :)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Why do I write? </b>I write because it’s
something I have to do. Something I love to do. Something that’s in my soul and
that I can’t not do. Writing is so powerful and I love being able to create
something with my words and to share it and that’s what I want to do here with
you. Anyone who has read a great, an amazing book knows the power in words and
how much they can affect you and change lives. I love to create and that world
of writing is something that I want to be a part of, no matter on what level. I
write for me, but I’d love to share what I write with you, too.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_298775456"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Old_book_-_Timeless_Books.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_book_-_Timeless_Books.jpg" target="_blank">By Lin Kristensen from New Jersey, USA (Timeless Books Uploaded by guillom) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Basically, writing is this...making words come to life and creating another world on a page...kind of cool)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Ok but who am I?</b> Right, hello there. Let me introduce
myself then. I’m Katie O’Shea. Law student and writer extraordinaire…or just someone
who loves to write. I’m from Atlanta, GA and love the South (even though
Atlanta is secretly really the North…). I’m that overly-involved kind of
perfectionist that you’re not surprised to find in law school, but also fun and
creative and not too serious (maybe?). I absolutely adore music, the other half
of my soul. I’m the kind of spontaneous that could just get on a train and go
to Italy on a whim…for lunch…because I’m craving Italian food (and I did when
studying abroad in Paris)…I love to travel. Let’s see…I love trying new things.
I started baking cupcakes last year at the beginning of law school, but mostly
I just like to eat them (even though I hate cake…). And I just finished writing
my second novel! It’s a YA post-apocalyptic dystopian novel which I kind of
love and maybe you will too one day. I wrote my first novel when I was 20,
writing it little by little every night during college and it was a really cool
process and something that I loved…but that you will probably never see as it
was one of those self-indulgent first attempt kind of things. So if you want to
know anything else…just ask? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Why the writing website now? </b>After reading a couple of posts
from amazing authors like <u><a href="http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Veronica Roth</a> </u>about the importance of writers having
websites I figured it was time to take the plunge. As Veronica pondered in <u><a href="http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/2009/06/under-construction.html" target="_blank">one of her first posts</a> </u>pre-publishing career, “I haven't actually published
anything, so what on earth would I advertise on said website? My innate
awesomeness?” I too have not (yet) published anything so what to write about? I’m
just going to write about all those writer-ly thoughts that I always have and
the things I would write about if I were published. About two years from that post,
Ms. Roth had her first amazing book Divergent published (which you should
definitely check out if you haven’t read it already. Truly, you will love it.)
so I guess things worked out pretty well for her. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Being published </b>would be pretty awesome, but mostly I
just love to create and to write and that’s why I do, not to be published. If
that happens someday, I’m not going to lie I would freak out, but if not I’ll just
continue to love writing anyway. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>So welcome to my blog</b> (and to my crazy writer brain) where I’ll
be writing about writing and life. Thanks for joining me on this journey. I’d
love to hear from you and know what you’re thinking about, writing, reading,
etc. too so leave me a comment and let’s connect! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
Katie O'Sheahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07329492520702329774noreply@blogger.com0