BIG NEWS!!! It's happening!

Back in like 2005 or so, when I started writing what ended up being a crazy 130,000 word monstrosity,  I had no thoughts of my writing future. I was just writing cause I had an idea and it sounded interesting and it was fun. I just wanted to see if I could do it. If I could write an entire book. And I did. It sucked--I later realized-- but I'd done it. It was then I realized I wanted to share my words with the world. I liked that people enjoyed the story I came up with. It made me feel really good and I wanted to keep doing it. Keep getting that high.

So I kept writing, and took each step I had to take to get myself where I needed to be to make this new dream a reality. I read, I learned, I made mistakes. But I never stopped moving forward. I kept on working. I knew my dream would come true if I just kept working hard. I could only get better, right? And getting better would get me where I wanted to go.

I knew 2013 was going to be a good year. On New Year's day came an offer of representation by my now agent Brittany Booker, for my new book- Try Me On for Size. It's really an amazing feeling when someone else believes in your book as much as you do. This book is different than anything else I've ever written, and it really shows my voice and style. Its sassy and sexy, but funny and heartwarming...and let's not forget dramatic. She sent it right out on submission, and it garnered lots of requests. But the rejections were all the same. So we made some changes. And that did it.

I'm so so proud to announce I have signed a TWO BOOK contract for Try Me On for Size and it's sequel, titled Size Matters, with Abby Zidle of Pocket Star, an imprint of Simon & Schuster!! TMOFS is estimated to release in summer of 2014 :) So so excited!!

The eternal question: Treebook vs. Ebook??

I make absolutely no attempt at hiding the fact that I ADORE ebooks and ereaders. For me, it made reading easier and more convenient. I love the size of the device and what it gives me. But I also love paperback and hardcover books. Reminds me of being a kid and snuggling up in my hot pink vinyl beanbag chair and reading.

I just love books...no matter how I read them.

Hubby bought me a hardcover for my birthday. It is the fifth book in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. I am a huge huge fan of Ann Brashares, so when I heard this book was out, I had to have it. But digital wasn't good enough. I know I will read this book again. I just need to have a physical copy.

But part of me really wants the entire series in digital format too....it's just so much easier to read than holding the heavy hard cover.

Do you own any books in both formats???

And don't forget to sign up for my Blog Event!! Button is on the right hand side!!!

Kids say the darndest things!!

I just had to share this conversation with my son. He's 3.

Me: (I'm laying on the couch reading a book on my Sony Reader and he comes over trying to climb on me.) Careful E, I'm reading my book.

E: That's not a book.

Me: What is it then?

E: A silver thing.

Me: See, it's got words. It's a book.

E: A book doesn't have buttons. (He leaves and comes back with one of his books.) See, no buttons.

And then of course smarty pants Miss J (my 8 y/o comes over with a different book.) "This book has buttons." (It was one of those kids books with sound buttons to press at certain times during the story.)

As much as I adore my reader and the ease of digital media, I'm glad my kids have appreciation for paper books. I really would hate to see them disappear. Funny little reality check..... :)

Ps...The Very Hungry Caterpillar is his favorite book! :)

And make sure you stop back tomorrow!!!!!!!!! I have a FABULOUS guest blogger stopping by!!! She is my hero!!

Warning......I need to rant here.....

I am so so so so so so sick and tired of hearing/reading that people "Don't like eBooks." And "I love the feel of a book in my hands." "I love the smell of paper." "I can't snuggle up with an eReader."



First of all, ebooks are here to stay, so let's just deal with it, people! LOL! The world's technology is growing...fast. If you don't get on board, you will be left behind. Everything is going digital- music, movies, books. It's just the way it is. Am I completely happy that physical media will one day be a thing of the past? No, not entirely. But it is what it is and there are far too many supporters of digital media to halt the progression. Look at music....do you know even one teen who owns a cd player anymore?? I sure don't. They all have ipods. Their entire music collection is digital.

I didn't know much about digital publishing when I inked my initial deal with Lyrical Press, a primarily digital publisher, almost 2 years ago. But I quickly learned. And as soon as I could afford one, I got a digital book reader. And I adored it from moment one.

It is completely easy to read, so enough complaining about eye strain. E-ink technology is fantastic...just like looking at a real book page. If the reader plans to read entire novels on a computer screen or iPad, yeah that would cause some eye strain, but not the dedicated eReaders. They are completely easy on the eyes.

They are convenient too. I love taking mine to the gym. No way would I be able to hold any kind of paper book and walk on the treadmill. With the eReader, I can leave it on the ledge and when I need, quickly press the page flip button. The ability to change the font size is a huge plus too, especially when I switch to the elliptical and do more bouncing. The larger font allows me to still be able to read.

You can't snuggle up with an eBook??? How easily can you "snuggle" with an 80-pound, 6-1/2" x 9" hardcover?? Okay, so 80 pounds is an exaggeration, but you get what I mean. Those suckers are heavy and I have a REAL hard time holding one and laying in bed with it. But my eReader, so light and thin, and there is not one moment that I get a cramp in my hand from holding it.

And "the smell of paper"? Really? Let's just think a minute about ALL THAT PAPER. All those trees....all the people who don't recycle magazines and newspapers when they're through. All the books that I imagine get tossed in the garbage. It's beyond time to Go Green. And it needs to be done in every little place we can. Many eReaders have the capability to download newspapers and magazines, limiting the paper we waste.

Okay...I think my rant is done. :)

Hollywood has recognized eBooks!

The other night, hubby and I watched "Date Night" with Tina Fey and Steve Carrell. Good movie!! But I was so incredibly impressed that one scene in the movie used a Kindle!!! Yay for Hollywood!!!!

Seems more and more, digital publishing is getting it's props. And this is so wonderful!!! With every passing nod, eBooks are gaining more and more recognition and support. It is being brought in front of people more and like in the movie, showing that regular everyday people are using the technology. In the movie, the Kindle belonged to a cab driver.

Digital publishing is here to stay, regardless of what some people may think. :)

Ebook Appreciation Week!!!

Hello guys!! I am guest blogging over at Domestically Challenged today! Please stop on over! Shandy is great and she is dedicating an entire week to ebook awareness!!!! Go Shandy!

And I'm giving away a digital copy of A Bitch Named Karma!!! Wooo Hooo!!!!!

Dealing with mixed emotions...

I've been using the library since I was old enough to sign my name on the card (back when you still had to do that). And in my circle of girlfriends, swapping books is the norm. If I read a great book that resonates in me, of course I want to share it. In today's economy, we can't all afford to rush out and buy every book we want to read and there are tons of people who cannot afford to buy even one book. Without libraries and friends, some people, including children, would not be able to read at all.

But now I'm stuck.

These practices are found to be completely acceptable........but not in the ebook world.

I am soon to be published as an ebook author and I fully support digital media. I bought a Sony Reader and I buy more books now than I have in years. But I hear so much about how wrong it is to share ebooks.

We ran into this years ago with digital music sharing (remember that lil' site called Napster??). Geez...when we were kids, I can't even tell you how many mixed tapes I had that were songs other people taped off their tapes for me or taped off the radio. We all did it...no one was making money off it...we were just friends sharing what we had.

I am 100% behind authors, and all artists, getting the money that they are due...always have been. And of course I want to reap the benefits of all my hard work. This is my career...I want to be successful. But I find myself stuck in the middle here.... If feels hypocritical of me to say "Sharing ebooks is evil!" when I myself have borrowed treebooks (paper books) from the library and from friends for as long as I can remember.

Does anyone else feel as conflicted as I do???

Irritated and hurt and just plain angry...

Just participated in an online debate on Facebook about digital publishing with three fellow writers (who I know in real life) who claim to be my friends but completely shun eReaders and all forms of digital publishing. Well, gee, thanks guys....I guess that means I can count on you for ZERO support when my book is released as a digital book later this year.

If someone wants no part in digital media, fine, do what you want. I like paper books just as much as the next person, but I have accepted the fact that publishing is changing.

Technology is happening...you can't sit back and refuse to take part in it...if you refuse today's advances, you may as well reject yesterdays advances, like computers, the internet, telephones, microwaves, tv, refrigerators, even cars! It's hypocritical to say the advances of the 21st century are crap, but things we have come to know as life, advances of our grandfathers in the 19th and 20th century, those are okay.

Let's face it, digital media is here to stay. Look at music....do you think kids are going to one day shun the ipods they've known for years and years?? No, of course not. And it's all just getting bigger and better. I think that's exactly what will happen with eReaders.

I know I can't change people's minds...they'll think what they want to think, but why such negativity? Like I said....our world is built on technology...is all of it great, no, but why are digital books considered evil??

I kissed the feet of technology the day my ePublishing contract arrived...and in an email, no less. So a question to all these anti-ebook people....should I have never submitted to a digital publisher? Should I have turned down a contract for my book....a contract for the electronic publishing of my novel, my baby, the project I dedicated so much if my time to? Should I have rejected the chance to start my career???? Just curious as to what the eBook scoffers would say to those questions.

All I'm asking for is a little bit of open-mindedness. This "nope, nadda, NEVER gonna do it" attitude does not work for me....in regard to eReaders or anything else in life.

Got my Sony Reader!! Yay!

Hubby outdid himself this year and presented me with the Sony Reader Pocket for Christmas!

I'd played with them in the store, but honestly, I was not really prepared for how cool it would feel to hold one in my hands...not attached to a cord or a stationary post in the store. It felt so nice!!! :)

Of course I right away bought my editor's book...the one I'd been wanting to read forever!! And then I ran into trouble. The Sony software is HORRIBLE!! With some extremely helpful advice, I downloaded a different program and now I am up and running! Haven't started reading anything on it yet though....still have some library books I need to finish!!

So I need to know all your best tips and tricks and the best ways to save on ebooks!! My editor sent me a link to Harlequin...they're giving away a bunch of free ebooks! I was so so excited to have a bunch of books uploaded to my Reader! Please share your experiences with the Sony Reader, regular or pocket edition. I read mostly great reviews on it....a few bad ones...but you can't please 100% of the people 100% of the time.