Official Break for the Holidays!

See you guys after the New Year! Have a great time!
Do whatever it is that makes you happy!

And I'll leave you with this awesome picture of some of my brick collection.

If you have spare antique bricks around, please mail them :)

Five on a Friday

Happy Friday! I'm thinking I'll be sparse in the blog world over the next two weeks. It seems the cookies and the parties and the Rock Band may get in the way.

(Did you hear that Santa? We want Rock Band.)
(okay, I think Santa heard.)

Here are my five for the week:

1) I love running into writer pals in unusual places! I saw author/illustrator Mark Mitchell at my daughter's school pageant. It was one of those weird "you don't belong here" moments. Aren't those fun?

Me and Mark Mitchell. (Yes, it was cold in Austin. This was taken before we'd been sitting outside for an hour.)

2) If you have a minutes, please head over and read our TEXAS SWEETHEARTS Friday Round-up (including five kidlit goals you can set for over the holidays). And thank you so much for all the support!

3) I loved this post by Shelli R. Johannes on working with an agent. It is priceless. So if you have an agent or one day hope to have an agent, head over and read it!

4) I'm reading (and loving) I SO DON'T DO MYSTERIES by the amazing and cool Barrie Summy. Barrie is hilarious in person and just as funny on the page. I think it's such a neat thing to read books by your friends and "see" your friends in the books.
(and btw, this is a fun book to buy for that later elementary/middle school gal on your list.)

5) My favorite holiday movie: JINGLE ALL THE WAY. If you haven't seen it, you have to. I you have seen it, watch it again!

And have a great weekend!

Latest Featured Sweetheart!

Hey! When you get a sec, head over to the TEXAS SWEETHEARTS blog and check out our latest featured sweetheart! And while you're at it, why not recommend someone you know to be a featured sweetheart?

Thanks!

Moods of Books

So how is everyone doing on their reading challenges for the year? I set out to read 50 books and to date have read 83. Not all bad, is it? I figure I should be able to squeeze a few more in before the end of the year.

Have you noticed how some books stick with you way more than others (for a variety of reasons). I read one recently that, while very well written and overall a good read, totally disturbed me (and I knew it would). So I had to follow it up with a happy read.

My happy read suggestion for the day: MIKE STELLAR: NERVES OF STEEL by K. A. Holt

I've got my son reading it now. It's cute and witty and smart and just fills such a nice niche in the MG market. Kids in space. How cool is that. Kari (K. A.) has an awesome voice and an amazing grasp of clever simile use.
So in case you didn't get the message, it would make a great gift for that MG reader on your list (as would THE EMERALD TABLET and THE NAVEL OF THE WORLD of course).

I have two more serious books on my very near term reading list, and I know I'll be needing some happy books to read after those. Any suggestions?

Five on a Friday

I hope everyone's having a great Friday! I can't help but chuckle each time I watch the YouTube video I made on Tuesday. It's the smug look of satisfaction I give at the end that gets me each time. In case you missed it, you can watch it here.
But now the biggest question is what video can I make next. Any ideas (keep it clean)? Cause, you know, making videos is fun!

Okay, my five for the week!

1. I loved my first classroom Skype visit this week! Huge thank you to Beth Revis and her Creative Writing Club for having me!

2. A second huge thank you to Lauren in Arlington, TX for the awesome review of THE EMERALD TABLET! You can read the review here.
My favorite line:
"The Emerald Tablet by P. J. Hoover is definitely one of the best books I've read"
I tend to think Lauren has extremely good taste in books.

3. I've mentioned I'm revising book three (THE NECROPOLIS) and am totally addicted to cutting words. Word count has gone from 83K to 71K and I'm still at it. Sure, I'll add some back in...maybe.
I wonder if I can get the entire novel down to one perfect sentence.

4. If you haven't nominated someone to be a Featured Sweetheart for The Texas Sweethearts' Blog, email us today. Surely there is someone you know deserving. Someone who has really reached out and helped the kidlit world. I thought so!

5. I finished (on audio) THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher. I really enjoyed this one and would recommend it as the perfect book for both parents and kids (middle school and up) to read and discuss. It may be the best discussion book I've yet read.

Have a great weekend! De-clutter one place around the house. Or make some cookies. Or de-clutter and then make some cookies. And have fun!

Procrastination and Determination

Yikes! Two very different things. You might wonder why I'd post about both on the same day.
Yeah, I was wondering the same thing.

See, I wanted to relay a story about my 5 year-old daughter who is the most determined creature on Earth.

Her stapler broke and she said,
"But that's okay. I can push the staples through the paper and press down the ends."

And when I checked she had done ten perfect staples. She was determined and was not going to let a broken stapler get in her way.

So what excuses are you using to keep from moving forward?

And now on to procrastination. If you have under a minute, check out my latest video.

I embrace being a nerd.

Have a great week!

Five Reasons to bid in the Bridget Zinn Auction Today!

When you get a second, please head over to the TEXAS SWEETHEARTS blog to read about five reasons you should bid in the Bridget Zinn auction today!

Thanks!