Oops...She Did it Again (Anita Laydon Miller's Sophomore E-Book)

Anita Laydon miller is preparing her second novel for release within the next few weeks.

Do you remember the first time Anita e-pubbed?? Boy, alien twin, NORAD, adventure, garden of the gods, E.T. royalty?! Remember?!?!

This time, Anita is going girl and mystery. Check out the first chapter at her middle grade blog and I dare you to tell me that you don't want to read the rest of the book now.

Also, go back a few posts and join the conversation about reaching middle graders in today's world. We'd love to hear your thoughts! 

Look at What I Did...

I think this picture sucks, but it captures it enough. So, yup...I did it, I got another tattoo.

Thanks to my friend Britt (the one from the Katy Perry pics) for the absolute best birthday gift ever (which is in two weeks).

X Marks the Spot: How to Unplug

Every one of us has proclaimed an unplug at some point in our blogging career. Whether it's for an hour, twenty-four hours, or a week, an unplug can be a great way to get back on task and accomplish something.

When I have done week long unplugs in the past, I end up posting. This is because my platform is too fun and I get too much enjoyment out of our virtual interactions. Ya know?

Why is it so hard to click the X in the corner and move onto another task? Why is it so easy to sit here for hours reading blogs, facebook posts, and tweets? Hm??

Think about the treasure behind that X. So many hours off the internet that can be spent writing, reading, and living.

Oh, but blogging is just so much fun! Ugh.

Somehow that close button is just as elusive as the X that marks a bountiful treasure. If you have the inkling to unplug, just do it and revel in the time you create for yourself. Make sure to meander around the skull-shaped cave opening.

Note: this is not me unplugging. I am only exploring the feelings behind the contemplation.

They Say Things Move Slowly in the Publishing World

Are you signed up for the  Publishers Weekly newsletters? I receive the Children's Bookshelf edition each week to stay abreast on book deals, e-book news, and whatever else is going on in the kidlit world.

This week's edition included an article titled YA Series Making Fast Tracks, which discusses the frequency with which sequels are published. Publishers are allowing less and less time between installments in hopes of keeping readers interested. Too long of a wait and you lose the readership, they say.

I hope you read the article because if you think about it, this demand affects us more than it affects the reader's experience. If your publisher required you to pump out books as fast as James Patterson (without the writer horde to write for you), how would you deal?

I think the notion that readers do not keep interest over the course of two years is a bit absurd. When I discovered the Percy Jackson series, the first three books had been published. I finished the third book just in time for the fourth's debut, and then I waited a year for book five. Of course the wait was difficult, I NEEDED to know what happened to Percy, Annabelle, and Grover, but life needed living and took up the time between my visits to Camp Half Blood.

Similar story with The Hunger Games. I read the first book shortly after it was published, just as the first wave of hype hit book lovers. When Catching Fire came out, I took the day off from work. As book three approached, I was beyond excited. I had pre-ordered my copy seven months ahead of time. Over the three years that it took for  The Hunger Games trilogy to be published, my excitement never waned.

I think some publishers need a lesson in quality vs quantity.

Torn

I'm torn between writing several posts that are at the front of my mind and working on a substantial paper for class. Of course I have to chose the latter, but the aforementioned posts will come about soon.

I appreciate you folks coming here and commenting. I am going back to the days when I responded to every comment in the comment section. And so I am giving the first commentor the opportunity to chose a topic. Ask or say anything you'd like and start the conversation! No pressure.

Also, I'll share the song that is playing right now...



Raise your hand if you were expecting the song to be from Tori Amos.