• books,  madison,  writing

    Five Years Later, We’re Still Listening to our Mothers

    Five years ago, I met Ann Imig at Writers’ Institute, an annual writing conference held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. We connected at the coffee station in between sessions and decided to grab lunch at a little Mexican bistro called Chipotle. Ann was in a hurry, see. “I have go shopping,” she said. “My kids are with a babysitter and it’s my only chance.” Little did I know back then just how much Ann can accomplish while her kids are with a babysitter. What Ann needed to go shopping for that day was a dress to wear on stage as director of her very first Listen to Your Mother  show–a…

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  • blogging,  book launch,  books,  wisconsin,  writing

    I’m Baaaa-aaack, for a Blog Tour

    I can’t believe I haven’t blogged here in almost a year. It’s been a helluva year. Someday I’ll tell you about it or, more likely, I’ll write about it. But let’s just say that LIFE, with its highs and lows, has had me riding a pretty wild roller coaster since I last updated this blog. But I’m back this week to participate in the blog tour for the release of the LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER anthology, curated by my friend and fellow writing group member, Ann Imig! Stay tuned for more information later this week on the force that is Ann, the nationwide Listen to Your Mother show, and the…

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  • authors,  creativity,  Uncategorized,  writing

    No Excuses: My Writing Process

    Last week I featured author Una LaMarche as part of the #MyWritingProcess blog tour. Now it’s my turn. But be forewarned: my process is not a series of creative steps I follow to finish a project. Rather, my process involves karate-chopping excuses not to write on a daily and sometimes hourly basis.  Here are five of the most common excuses not to write and how I tackle them. Hopefully these tips will help some of you kick their asses, too. “I’m not inspired.” Here’s a secret: no one feels inspired all the time. Writing is a job that needs to be worked at steadily until it’s done. Would a carpenter say, “You know,…

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  • authors,  blogging,  books,  writing

    Una LaMarche on her Writing Process

    I’ve been asked to participate in the #MyWritingProcess Blog Tour, where writers from across genres and continents talk about how they write. Today I’m featuring the hilarious Una LaMarche, whose Sassy Curmudgeon blog was named one of Babble’s 100 best humor blogs of 2013. She also writes for the New York Observer. Last year, I read Una’s debut YA novel, Five Summers, and had a blast re-living my teenage summer camp days through the four main characters. Una has a new novel, Like No Other, coming out in July. It’s about forbidden young love–always a great premise–between a Brooklyn girl with a strict Hasidic upbringing and an awkward bookish boy.  Today I’m posting…

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  • books,  debut author,  giveaway,  publishing,  writing

    A Glamorous Vintage Giveaway

    The launch day for VINTAGE is almost here! On Tuesday, March 25, it will hit bookstore shelves and  e-reader screens everywhere. ***Pops champagne and sprays it all over everyone*** To celebrate the launch of VINTAGE, I’m running a Glamorous Vintage Giveaway this week for anyone who purchases the book. If you pre-ordered it months ago, it still counts, assuming you still have your receipt or other proof of purchase. The prize is a package including the following goodies, as pictured blow: A vintage Louis Vuitton “Looping” handbag. This is a mint condition item from my personal collection, shown in the picture at right. Classic brown leather with iconic monogram. Suede interior. Includes the…

  • books,  kids,  parenting,  seasonal affective disorder,  writing

    Perspective from a Picture Book

    One of the true delights of being a parent to a young child is reading picture books. It’s fun to read favorites from my own childhood like Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Caps for Sale, and pretty much anything by Dr. Seuss. But it’s even more fun to discover new authors and illustrators. Yesterday I was reading a picture book to my small son. The book was the adorable and beautifully-illustrated RAIN! by Linda Ashman, which came out earlier this year. I love the book because it’s all about perspective. A grumpy old man sees that it’s raining one morning and complains that he has to put on his “blasted…

  • creativity,  depression,  seasonal affective disorder,  the debutante ball,  writing

    Dragons and Daily Word Count Goals

    Today I’m over at The Debutante Ball, where I blog every Wednesday, talking about the unlikely link between dragons, seasonal affective disorder, and writing goals. Here’s a sneak preview: Winter is coming. No, this is not a post about Game of Thrones, though I do love me some dragons and wildlings. We’ll talk about the HBO medieval fantasy series some other time. Really, though. Winter is coming. Even though we’ve had some lovely fall days lately, I can feel the light waning, the change creeping in. The sun is getting further away, its warmth weaker. Sorry to be a downer, but this week’s topic is “seasons” of writing and productivity. This is a…

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  • debut author,  fashion,  publishing,  vintage,  writing

    I’m a debutante at 34

    Lately, I’ve been dusting off my dancing shoes and picking out the perfect string of pearls. Why, you might ask? Because I learned this month that I’ve been selected as one of five authors to join the Class of 2014 at The Debutante Ball, a blog for debut authors, now in its eighth season. Of course, at thirty-four, I’m a little old to be a real debutante, of the white dress and perfect pedigree variety. But apparent it’s not that old to be making a debut of the literary kind. Laura Ingalls Wilder didn’t publish her first novel until she was sixty-five. The Debutante Ball, a group blog on all things…

  • fiction,  giveaways,  vintage,  writing

    Vintage Cover Reveal and Giveaway

    I am beyond excited to share with you the cover for my debut novel, VINTAGE, which will be released on March 25, 2014, and is available for pre-order now at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, IndieBound, or your favorite bookstore.   When my publisher, William Morrow/HarperCollins, first shared the cover with me, I couldn’t believe that it looked almost exactly like the cover image I’d had in my head. I had always pictured VINTAGE with a shop window on its cover, since the story centers on a Midwestern vintage clothing shop and a group of women who eventually transform the store and each others’ lives. And now, I am so very…

  • books,  geekery,  gifts,  vintage,  writing

    Gifts for Book Nerds

    The best gift for a book nerd is, of course, a book. And giving books is easier than ever. Good, old-fashioned paper books are a classic gift and double as decor on a bookshelf when the recipient has finished them. But did you know that you can give specific titles to e-reader owners, too? Yep. Most titles for Kindle and Nook now have a “Give as a Gift” button that allows you to buy that specific book for your recipient. I love this instantaneous and eco-friendly approach to gift-giving. But let’s say you need a little something to go with that beach read or thriller or latest biography. Something appropriate…

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