Great news!

...at least, if you're ready for a ro-com set in a winter wonderland! The publication date of The Ex Games has been moved up to September 8. You can see the description here, or listen to the soundtrack and read the first chapter here. Then leave a comment in my guestbook and tell me what you think!

However, as it is 90 degrees here in Alabama (and we think that's nice and cool for July), I am having a little difficulty getting into the winter spirit. I just spent a terrific 4th of July down at the 44,000-acre lake where I grew up, which is also the basis for the setting of Major Crush and The Boys Next Door. There was a boat parade in the morning--here's an example with somebody dressed up like a hot dog, and in the background you can see one of the bridges that inspired Lori and Adam's bridge in The Boys Next Door.



That night we watched the fireworks over the lake. After using the "fireworks" setting on my camera, I am no longer impressed by this feature, but at the bottom right you can see the lights of hundreds of boats that watch the show from the lake (I have done that too, when I was a teenager, and it was awesome). Under the fireworks you can see the smoke from burning bushes. It is not a party in Alabama until something catches fire.



The 4th is over, but next week I'm going on the trip I look forward to every summer: the Romance Writers of America National Convention, where I see all my writer friends. If you live in the Washington D.C. area, you should definitely come to the charity booksigning next Wednesday night. I'll be signing Going Too Far, and you can meet other YA authors including Rosemary Clement-Moore, Melissa Marr, and our own Niki Burnham. Bring your mom, because Nora Roberts, Jennifer Crusie, Linda Howard, Allison Brennan, and my critique partner Victoria Dahl are always there, along with hundreds of others. If you miss me Wednesday night, you can come to the Pocket signing from 9:45 to 11:15 Friday morning (Going Too Far is published by MTV Books, which is a division of Pocket Books, which is a division of Simon & Schuster = the publishing industry is hopelessly complicated). And if D.C. is a world away from you, keep in mind that next July the convention will be held in Nashville.

After the convention, I have one more beach trip to go, and then my son goes back to school on August 10. So I guess the summer really is drawing to a close for me. How about your summer? What have you been up to? Do you feel like your glass of summery goodness is half-full or half-empty?

Non-required reading

Question: When is a Ro Com author not a Ro Com author?

Answer: 

Nah, it's not really a riddle! 

Survey says: when she's authoring her own fancy new hardcover novel, which, in the case of Aimee Friedman, is the upcoming Sea Change from Scholastic Point!

Aimee's book is the story of a girl who finds a magical kind of love at the beach over the course of one mysterious summer--the perfect book to toss in your tote on your way to your own fun-in-the-sun afternoon. This past Wednesday, Aimee hosted a book party at the beautiful Boat Basin Cafe . The weather co-operated, and it was the ideal balmy night to fete a book that celebrates the steamy, sexy atmosphere of a summer romance. That's Aimee on the left up there--isn't she purty?--next to me, and authors Lynn Weingarten and Claudia Gabel. Fun was had by all, and we talked books in between fruity cocktails and stories about boys. All in all, a perfect book party!

Summer is a great time to catch up on our easy, breezy, escapist reading (hence my copy of LA Candy sitting beside me on the desk AS WE SPEAK). OBVS, the Simon Pulse Ro Coms make for great beach reads, but what you might not know is that your fave Ro Com authors also write original stories that are one hundred percent vacation-tested, Micol-approved. 

Some suggestions (keep in mind that this list is in no way exhaustive):

1. Goddess Games by Niki Burnham: One summer at a spa that changes everything. Personally, I don't even care about the dramz--summer at a SPA? I'm there!

2. The Drama series by Paul Ruditis: because you know you need your HSM fix. 

3. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols: edgy + hot = sign me up!

Oh--and of course, don't forget Sea Change!

So, what are YOU reading this summer? 

*and PS: not to be too self-serving, but I'd probably be remiss if I didn't mention a certain other project out just in time for summer...

Ready. Set. Read!

“Call me Ishmael.”

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

“It was a drag queen’s worst nightmare.”

A good opening line doesn’t always mean that you’re in for an entertaining read, but it’s an auspicious start. It sets the tone. It pulls you into a story. It should give the reader an idea of what kind of book is in store. And it’s often the hardest part of a book to write.

Of the three lines above, two are classics and one is mine. Can you guess which one?

No. I did not write A Tale of Two Cities. But thank you for thinking I'm that old.

“It was a drag queen’s worst nightmare” is the opening line to DRAMA! The Four Dorothys. It’s my favorite first line that I’ve ever written. And I didn’t even write it. I "borrowed" it from a friend (with her permission) who responded with that quote when I told her the plot of the story. But how could I not use it? That line totally encapsulated the tone of the entire book series in just seven words. That’s a lot to ask from a sentence.

Which leads me to wonder if any of you have a favorite opening line? Either from books you’ve read or books you’ve written? Enquiring minds want to know.

Ye Olde Mailbag

One of the best things about being a writer? The letters. I've received letters and e-mails from all over the world with questions and comments about my books. Some questions show up in many of the letters I receive, so I'm betting other authors get them, too. For today's blog, a few answers:

1) Are You Your Characters? Or Are They People You Know?

No. Characters--at least in fiction--are figments of the author's imagination (see your Merriam-Webster for the definition of "fiction.") Speaking for myself, there may be facets of people I've met in the characters I've created, or there may be snippets of conversations I've overheard worked into a character's personality, but that's the extent of it. If an author wants a career--that is, they want to write multiple books, year after year--then they need to create a variety of characters with a range of personality traits. It'd get boring writing (or reading!) about the same characters forever. Plus, wouldn't it be awful if authors WERE their characters? Think about some of Agatha Christie's murderers. Or Stephen King's demented villains.

2) Do You Design The Covers Of Your Books?

Nope. Folks with backgrounds in graphic design, art, and photography do that. The wonderful Amy Saidens does the covers for the romantic comedy line. She has talents most authors don't!

3) Why Did (Such and Such Character) Do Something So Stupid?

There are several answers to this question, so take your pick: a) Because perfect characters are boring; b) Because normal people make mistakes; c) Because it made the story more interesting; d) Because if the character hadn't made that mistake, they wouldn't have discovered XYZ.

4) Can You Name A Character _________ ? And Give Her A Boyfriend Named ____________ ?

If I do, it's coincidence. But thanks for the suggestion. (And hey, if you have characters and a story in mind, maybe YOU can write it! Why not?!?)

Too close for comfort

I have never blogged about this because my close call doesn’t seem close enough to be a close call. But just today another online article was posted about Flight 1549 that crashed into the Hudson River in New York City last January. It will not leave me alone, so I’m going to blog about it and get it off my chest.

That was my flight.

No, I was not supposed to be on it that day. No, I had not been on it the day before. I was not supposed to be on it the following day. I was supposed to be on it in two weeks.

Two weeks after the crash, I flew to New York to see my BFF from high school, attend a writers’ conference, and meet Editor Mike. My flight back was supposed to be Flight 1549 from LaGuardia to Charlotte; in Charlotte I would pick up my return flight to Birmingham.

On the day of the crash, I was watching the news reports when my husband called from the road. He’d heard about the crash on the radio in his car and wanted me to tell him more about it. He really empathized with the victims because he flies so often from Birmingham to Charlotte and from Charlotte all over the country. He wanted to make sure the passengers were okay.

In the back of my mind I was thinking...Charlotte? LaGuardia to Charlotte? Naaah... And then when I logged onto my computer, I had an e-mail from U.S. Air: “Your Flight 1549 in two weeks has been changed to Flight 1548.” Translation: “We are sorry but your airplane is floating in the Hudson.”

Everyone I’ve told about this story has laughed with me about it. My BFF said the airplane floated right past her office in the Garment District. If I had been on it, she would have waited for me to be rescued and met me at the ferry with a latte. In addition to the two-weeks-out scenario, it’s easy to laugh about because no one was killed. The folks unlucky enough to have been on this flight were as lucky as possible.

I would not let this or the French crash stop me from flying. They say it’s safer than driving and I absolutely believe it. Still, I have to say, I was very nervous flying home. I was on the lookout for birds. And all around me, the other passengers seemed unconcerned. “What is the problem? We are on Flight 1548!”

Surely you have a better brush-with-death story than this. What’s your close call?

I Winnn!!!

What? You didn't know I was playing a game? Well, I was. And the game is called Blog On the Given Day. You see, our illustrious blog overseer Jenn assigns us days to blog (not out of a desire to control the world, but simply to spread out the goodness during the month). To win the game, I really need to blog on my given day (the 5th of the month). Jenn, being a benevolent overseer, is clear that our given day is a roundabout number. Hitting somewhere nearby -- for me, say, the 7th or the 3rd -- would be just fine.

Today, I win by hitting the bullseye -- today is June 5th! Yay me. [I thought it was the 6th, and I was one day off, so this is probably a much sweeter moment for me than anyone can truly understand.]

I have missed two months in a row completely, but this new bullseye clears my record and I can do the victory dance (at least, by my rules, I can). So picture me (on second thought -- don't) doing the victory dance on the blog goal line.

This may seem to be a post without a relevant topic (something I personally loathe), so let me connect my uber-extravagant-cool-bullseye win with a point: set your goal, and celebrate when you make it.

Just for example, if you graduated or are graduating in the past or upcoming few weeks: celebrate. And not just the cap and gown, listen to the speakers kind of celebration. Nope. I want you to celebrate in the way that means the most to you. Outside celebration and recognition is wonderful -- really, I got a bike for my high school graduation (never used it because I am the world's most dangerous bike rider), lots of cash, and some fun graduation parties (and I soooo don't count the family party). But that was other people celebrating their relief/joy that I had met one of the big milestones for entering adulthood.

Graduating high school meant I was eligible for college, of course, but also that a larger job market was now available (I was only 17 when I graduated, and didn't turn 18 until I was already a freshman in college). That I was, in essence, soon to be off my parents' tax forms and grocery list. My parents and relatives could breath a sigh of relief that I'd completed twelve laps on the way to being an adult (I didn't go to kindergarten, though I wish I had).

Looking back, I can fully appreciate that sense of relief, especially since I have now managed to get all three of my children into the fitful world of adult responsibility, and two of them are not listed on my tax forms any longer.

But what I remember most, is what I did to celebrate for myself -- I agreed to help my aunt (whose Navy husband was deployed for six months), by being her "au pair" for the summer. I traveled by bus from New Castle, Delaware to Jacksonville, Florida -- alone (full disclosure -- my mother and aunt made all the logistical arrangements, as I was a complete traveler-doofus still).

My Aunt Patty made sure I had plenty of beach and reading time, but I helped out by overseeing and being a second pair of hands to take care of my cousins, who were 5 and 18 months. We even took my older cousin, and another 5 year old cousin to Disneyworld (in Florida...in August...which is why DH and I took our kids to Disney in January when we went). It was the perfect break for bookish, shy, and timid me. I have to say it prepared me for college in a way I didn't appreciate at the time.

Behind me were the days of school buses, class bells, and a set schedule. Ahead were the responsibilities of getting myself up and out for classes (and really, the hardest part was sometimes tearing myself away from the 24 hour Pinochle game going on in the dorm lounge...blush...cringe.)

And for that summer, I reveled in winning the high school game. Getting the diploma. Getting into college. And having an entire summer at the beach with an aunt and two cousins I adored.

So -- whatever you won recently, remember to award yourself a prize that has nothing to do with other people's joy/relief. It's okay if it is being a family au pair (I loved babysitting my cousins, but this was a step up from that). Or, like my husband did, taking a week long beach camping trip with just your peers. It doesn't matter if your personal celebration is small or grand. You just need to thank yourself when you set a goal and *you* make it!

Enjoy the summer!

Kelly

Pub Story: Erin Downing

One more thing from me on Pub Day for Drive Me Crazy....

The lovely Reviewer X has this cool thing going where she posts stories about how writers got their start - in their own words. A new story pops up every Tuesday, and they're all really, really different and incredibly interesting. Want to know how I went from reader to book editor to writer-without-an-agent? Check this out.

Drive Me Crazy...out tomorrow!

Hey everyone. You may have seen that I've been running a little contest to win copies of Drive Me Crazy, my next Simon Pulse Ro Com, that is in stores tomorrow! (Head over to my website if you missed the contest...it ends tomorrow.)

I asked people to tell me about their favorite romantic comedy and why they love it. I got SO MANY responses from very passionate readers. In order to help readers who are somewhat new to this line, I thought it would be fun to post some of the responses here so you can see what other people love about these books. (Note: This is definitely not every response - this is just the tip of the iceberg!)


PROM CRASHERS
“I like the whole idea of crashing proms…and the fact that they get to go to so many proms!”

“It’s the only multiple-love interest ro com I've ever read that has an ACTUAL question of which cute boy the heroine will end up with. In fact, I was genuinely surprised (but very pleased) that Emily ended up with [?]…Not to mention that her friends and all the crashing of proms was totally awesome.”

MAJOR CRUSH
“I really loved this book because the two characters, Drew and Virginia, are so different, but they still manage to get along in the end…I love Jennifer Echols style of writing.”

“Because I love the hate-love relationship that goes on between the two main characters, Virginia and Drew”

“The book never fails to make me laugh, and I've read it at least three times.”

“The extreme sarcasm and band geek boy.”

BOYS NEXT DOOR
“The characters are great…the entire book was dripping with dramatic irony that just made me want to scream at the characters in the book, to let them know the truth so they don't screw it up!...Basically, I finished, flipped the book over, and started again.”

“It is the most heart wrenching, adorable, and best book I have ever read!!! … It was the sweetest love story I have read and I could just babble on about how I loved it but I think I will stop here.”

“It’s a real page turner, the whole plot keeps you hooked, you like don't wanna put the book down and it’s really interesting. The plot has all these twists and turns and you're just like OMG!”

“One of the main reasons is that I don't really like summer (actually, that's kind of an understatement), I'm more of an Autumn/Winter, rainy-day type girl but this book actually made me excited for summer…plus, the characters were awesome, funny and relatable.”

HOW NOT TO SPEND YOUR SENIOR YEAR
“It's just so funny and well-written…it was a very original plot.”

“I thought that the romance was handled in a fresh and clever way.”

“It had a good romance element but was also very funny. The characters were very realistic. Very original too.”

(I think I maxed out on images...check out the covers for the books below in the right sidebar!)

ANIMAL ATTRACTION
“I could relate to Jane's character and I loved the idea of Radio Karma…Animal Attraction gives me so many laughs whenever I pick it up.”

SEA OF LOVE
“It was really sweet and quirky at the same time. You just had to feel happy.”

A NOVEL IDEA
“I love to read, so I like that she uses a book club to get guys!”

GETTIN' LUCKY
“I like how the main character Cass Parker is totally together and how she doesn't let the fact that she broke up with her boyfriend bother her.”

RIPPED AT THE SEAMS
“It was one of those books you couldn’t put down until you were done. Very funny and interesting.”

CUPIDITY
“Because I love Greek mythology and that's what it's plays on.”

What your favorite???

School Visits Rock!

My favorite parts of being a YA author are getting to work in my pajamas, receiving email from readers, hanging out with cool authors, and visiting schools.

Today I got to visit Grantsville Middle School in Utah, along with 5 other authors, an illustrator, and a photo journalist. Right when I walked through the doors, I was pleasantly surprised to see a lovely young lady holding a "Wendy Toliver" sign like chaffeur drivers do at airports. Kyra took me around the whole day, letting me know what to expect and keeping me from getting lost. First up was a delicious dutch oven lunch in the library, followed by an assembly in the cafeteria where the talented Jessica Day George (of Dragon Slippers fame) had the students in stitches when she explained that her 8th grade teacher told her she was such a great writer she could just quit school. Which didn't go over too well with Jessica's mom, needless to say.

Next I was taken to a classroom where I gave a talk to two separate groups of students. They asked some great questions and I hope they learned something from me, or at least were somewhat entertained by my sleep-deprived presentations. I had a personal first when one of the guys offered to be my agent. Finally, we had a book signing in the gym. In addition to books, I signed countless bookmarks, pieces of paper, foreheads, and hands. It was a wonderful day and I'm thrilled to have been a part of it.

Frequent Flyer

Look up and wave, y’all. If you’re on the East Coast, chances are good that that’s me flying overhead in a commercial jet. I’ve been doing a lot more flying ever since I moved to an island. Thankfully, Bermuda is only a short jaunt home to New York/New Jersey—less than two hours! You could burn that much time sitting in traffic on the way to the Lincoln Tunnel!

My husband (then fiancé) and I had never been to Bermuda until we were flown out here for his job interview close to two years ago. I remember how unconvinced I was when other ex-pats living here told me that we’d be taking plenty of trips “off-island” as the often-used term goes. I doubted, because it sounded like an expensive lifestyle. But they were right. Once in a while, it’s good to take a breather from a 21-square mile nation in the middle of the lonely Atlantic Ocean. There’s family to visit, weddings to attend, and—as is the case next week—the book expo (BEA) to dive into.

(landing in Bermuda)

Once upon a time, I didn’t mind flying. I never even flinched during bad stretches of turbulence. It just felt like a bumpy bus ride to me. In fact, I was usually the one helping nervous flyers feel at ease. I used to love flying so much that I thought about taking flying lessons. But last month’s flight to Atlanta changed all this. The pilot was horrible, saying alarmist things like, “There’s going to be a rough patch for the next 15 minutes—I hope we get through it.” I kid you not. I literally had to search my iPod for gospel music to calm myself down. All the passengers were tense and quiet until we touched down.

This new fear of flying has got to go. I have to “shake it off” like Mariah Carey. I can’t very well swim across the Atlantic. And, for that matter, I can’t swim very well--across the Atlantic or across a pool. When I was moving here, my geographically-challenged great aunt asked if one can drive to Bermuda. That’s a Guinness World Record bridge if I’ve ever heard of one. So, like we say in Jersey, “whaddayagonnado?” No other way around it.

So, hope to see you at the book expo next week. But for now, gotta fly!

Drive Me Crazy!

Hey hey! Contest Alert!

In less than 3 weeks, DRIVE ME CRAZY, my next Simon Pulse Romantic Comedy will be on shelves. Exclamation point. I am SO excited about this release, since it's about all my favorite things: summer love and the lake and a hilarious road trip and, of course, friends.

To celebrate the release, I want to give 3 lucky winners a signed copy of Drive Me Crazy AND Prom Crashers or Dancing Queen - your choice.

HOW DO YOU WIN? Send me an email at erin (at) erindowning.com and tell me what your favorite romantic comedy book is (by any author), and a teeny little explanation of why you like it. I will draw 3 winners on June 2, when Drive Me Crazy officially goes on sale.



PS: I might post some of the responses here, to butter up my fellow authors' egos. We'll see.

Later,
E.

Bad Work Habits

All of us have sloppy/bad/lazy work habits, though writers are, on the whole, rather notorious for them. I have friends who write in their bathrobes and clean their desks once a year...maybe. Others I know write for days without showering when they're on a tight deadline. Grocery shopping and housecleaning often go by the wayside when time is tight. Me, I've spilled soy sauce into my keyboard while trying to eat sushi and type at the same time (and learned my lesson, as I had to remove every key from the keyboard to clean up that particular mess!)

But the guys in this office in San Jose, CA, win the prize. I don't know a single writer whose work habits have required the services of a hazmat team, nor do I know anyone whose inattention to cleaning resulted in seven people being sent to the hospital. I don't know about you, but if I go to all the effort of carting food somewhere--like, say, an office--I don't let it go to waste. This story makes me wonder just how much food--and what kind--these workers left!

What are your worst work habits? Do they get worse when you're on deadline or have a project due? (And have you ever required the services of a hazmat team?!)

I was on the road last week, and had a fantastic time with Florida Library Association at their annual conference, where I talked to librarians about creating fun programs for teens. You can bet that when I arrived home, I cleaned the fridge!

A book for all seasons

A lot of the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies are published about two months before the season in which they're set. For instance, Jamie's Valentine's Day book appeared in December, and Catherine's Christmas book came out in October. That's because Simon Pulse figures you want to read a seasonal book.

My books are no exception, and I recently realized that when my fourth book comes out, I'll have a book for every season! Here they are:

Summer: The Boys Next Door

A high school junior pretends to date the boy next door to catch his older brother, her childhood crush. This novel is set on a beautiful lake in Alabama, much like the one where I grew up. It begins a few days before Memorial Day and lasts until the middle of June, so if you love those seasonal books, you'd better hurry for this one! You can read more about it here or sneak a peek here.

Fall: Major Crush

A beauty queen turns band geek in a small Southern town. I was not a beauty queen, but I was the first female drum major of my high school marching band. I love fall, I love school, I love football, and I LOVE BAND. If that back-to-school feeling excites you too, this book's for you. Major Crush is also my first published novel, and I will always have a soft spot for it (and the hero, Drew). You can read more about it here.

Winter: The Ex Games

A snowboarder challenges her ex-boyfriend to a battle of the sexes on the slopes. It's coming out this October 6, just ahead of winter, The X Games, and the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Mark it on your calendars to get you in the mood for cheering on your favorite chick-athletes! You can read more about it here.

Spring: Going Too Far

Published by the MTV Books side of Simon & Schuster rather than the Simon Pulse side, this novel is about a seventeen-year-old who avoids prosecution for a high school stunt by spending spring break on night patrol with the nineteen-year-old rookie cop who arrested her. It just came out in March, and I feel very happy and VERY grateful to all the readers who bought it, because it's already in its third printing. You can read more about it here, or listen to the soundtrack and read the first chapter here, or see what book bloggers have said about it here.

As for writing books seasonally--I never seem to do this. I wrote the summer and spring books in fall, the fall book in winter, and the winter book in summer. And I'm not a seasonal reader, either. Right now, personally I'm not looking for a book set in the late spring or the summer to get me in the mood for the beach. I'm simply on the hunt for the next great story. If a novel were able to transport me from Alabama's tornado season into the dead of winter (somewhere else, because Alabama does not have a dead of winter), I would admire the author and think that was pretty cool. How about you?

A New Book and a New Reader

Forgive me RoCommers, it's been months since my last on line confession. (Can you pick out the writer with the Catholic uprbrining.) Anyway, I apologize for my digital silence, it is unintended. Since we last spoke I had a Ro Com published (Sea of Love, I think my best, but who am I to know) and I wrote what feels like a thousand tie-in books. All those deadlines are what kept me from the blog. (Lame excuse I know.)

Anyway, I have just started a new book and am struggling with the first chapter blues. I wonder how the other authors feel about this situation. I've written the first chapter. I really like it. But I don't love it. It's all a matter of voice and POV and it's the reason I tend to write my first chapters like 75 times. Am I alone in this. I re-write it and re-write it until one day it kind of hits me that - yes, there's the voice. It's frustrating and a little fun.

I've also had quite a literary thrill lately. My fourteen year old son actually read one of my books. Years into this and he finally thought, "I'll check this out." I've never been so thrilled/scared in my life. And at the end, he said he loved it. And I was thrilled, but also wanted to add "Why do you say that like you're surprised?"

I promise, I'll write more to catch up. Hello again to all.

I got to see novelists Mary and Carol Higgins Clark this week!

When I heard that the amazing mother-daughter suspense writers, Mary (left) and Carol (right) Higgins Clark, would be visiting a Northern Utah high school as part of the Davis Reads program (Davis County Libraries), and that it was FREE, I emailed some friends in my writing groups, saying, "I'm getting a babysitter and I'm so there!" I'm glad to report that seeing this lovely pair of novelists in person was worth every penny of the babysitting money.

I was impressed that every novel these authors have written (28 for Mary and 10 for Carol) have been best-sellers. I bet not too many other authors can say that. I loved hearing about their journeys to becoming successful authors (Mary was a young widow raising five children), how Carol used to type her mother's manuscripts for her and learned a lot about writing from doing so, and their charming and thorough answers to their fans' questions.

When discussing the craft of writing suspense, Mary said she likes to invent a main character who's ripped out of her everyday life (like picking her daughter up from school) by something beyond her control (such as a man hiding in the backseat of her car). She likes that the character is easy for the reader to relate to, someone who could, let's say, be the reader's niece. One day, Mary's editor was trying to convince her to have "the bad guy" be hiding in the closet instead of under the bed, where Mary had put him. Mary got a collective giggle from the crowd when she said, "Having a strange man under the bed is every woman's greatest fear ... or hope."

If you get the chance to see a live presentation by one of your favorite authors, I hope you'll go for it. And in particular, if Mary and/or Carol Higgens Clark (who are both published by Simon & Schuster, btw) are ever in your neck of the woods, be there.

P.S. These awesome photos were taken by Dimitria Van Leeuwen.
P.P.S. If you live near St. George, Utah, I'll be at the Barnes & Noble at Red Cliffs Mall at 3:00 this Saturday and would love to meet you!

Flashback Fever

It’s revision time in my neck of the woods (Sooo excited about PERFECT SHOT—isn’t the cover fantastic??). PERFECT SHOT is my standalone debut so I very much feel like a newbie going through the whole editorial process.

Yes, another opportunity to check my ego at the door and take a cold hard look at the issues with my writing. In so doing, I realized just how much of a flashback freak I am.

Funny thing is, when I’m talking I really do make a lot of references to the recent past. I’m starting to understand why my husband cuts me off as I’m babbling about my news of the day.

“Focus,” he likes to say when I detour to a sidebar or back story.

I’ve always been fascinated by oral storytelling. It truly is an art form. I used to think I was a heck of a storyteller. Mostly because my younger sister Golda always told me I was. When I’m sketching a verbal picture for her, the girl can actually see it. Her eyes widen and whatever I’m recounting seems to come alive before her eyes. Sometimes you can even catch her eyeballs scanning said image.

Golda allows me to go into delicious details. And probably because she’s such a supportive audience, my tales have the freedom to unravel more vividly than with any other listener.

It’s the opposite scenario with my older sisters. When we get together, the storytelling battle royal commences and the competition to be heard is fierce. Everyone talks at the same time, and if you can’t keep up…oh well. What usually happens is they interrupt, force a subject change, drown out my voice—you name it. Because of birth order (or passive tendencies), I have to settle for telling tales that are abridged or ill formed.

And then there’s my husband. “Focus,” he’d say. “What happened next?”

But I don’t take this to heart. Number one, I admit I do go off on a tangent a lot of times. And secondly, I know my hubby isn’t one for suspense. He just wants to know the upshot. What settles him is if you preface your “unexpected blackout” story by assuring him, “The lights are now back on.”

Flashbacking will be a tough habit to break—mostly because it’s the way my mind works. The trouble is, I feel I’m shortchanging the listener if I don’t inform them about the history of something. I always feel like there’s a back story to the story. And sometimes there’s a back story to the back story...

Somebody stop me!

We've got the scoop!

Look for these new Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies coming soon! ♥

***COMING IN JUNE***

Drive Me Crazy
By Erin Downing

Three friends kick off the summer with an unforgettable road trip. Destination: true love!

Kate’s tote is packed and she’s ready for a road trip! She and her two best friends, Sierra and Alexis, are geared up for a week of fun and freedom on the road to their family lake houses in Love, Wisconsin. Best of all, when Kate reaches Love, she’ll be reunited with Lucas, with whom she shared a steamy end-of-summer kiss last year. Kate can’t wait to see Lucas again and pick things up exactly where they left off.

Then Kate gets some seriously bad news: Alexis’s sarcastic, condescending, hot-but-he-knows-it cousin is crashing the girls’ road trip. Adam bugs Kate in every possible way. Now Kate just wants to get the road trip over with so she can spend the summer in Lucas’s arms. But the road to Love is full of surprises…

***COMING IN AUGUST***

Love Off Limits
By Whitney Lyles

Breaking up is hard to do!

Natalie should be the happiest girl in the world, dating Jeremy who is totally hot and perfect by everyone’s standards. But something just isn’t right. The seemingly flawless couple has been dating since freshman year, and now Natalie fears the spark may be fizzling…at least on her end. But she’s not sure if breaking up is the right thing to do.

Being such an expert in love (or so people think), Natalie gets coaxed into writing a romance column for the school newspaper. And soon she finds spending time with her editor, Matt, to be way worth the work. It seems like the answer’s staring her straight in the face. Dump Jeremy and go out with Matt. There’s just one catch; Matt is Jeremy’s best friend, and dumping your boyfriend to date his closest friend is just wrong…right?

***COMING IN OCTOBER***

The Ex Games
By Jennifer Echols

Brace yourself for the battle of the exes...

Hayden and Nick used to be a hot item, but their brief affair ended with a highly publicized break-up. Now the two are “just friends,” excluding the occasional flirtation.

When Hayden wins the girls’ division of a local snowboarding competition, Nick is unimpressed, claiming that Hayden wouldn’t have a chance against a guy. Hayden calls Nick’s bluff and challenges him to a head-to-head boarding contest. Their mutual friends quickly take sides, the girls on Hayden’s and the boys on Nick’s, making for an all-out battle of the sexes. This friendly competition is bound to get heated--and if they’re not careful, they might end up igniting some old flames.

***COMING IN DECEMBER***

Perfect Shot
By Debbie Rigaud

Who doesn’t want to be a cover girl?

London Abrams’s first love is volleyball, so why is she a contestant for an online modeling competition? Answer: Super-hottie, Brent St. John. London spotted Brent signing in contestants at the store, and she got in line simply to say hi. She never thought she’d make it into the competition!

London’s now up against fourteen hungry fashionistas willing to do whatever it takes to win. But all she wants is to win Brent’s heart…but the money prize couldn’t hurt. If London plays this right, she can win the contest, the boy, and the cash. GAME ON!

Shoppling list!

Here’s a complete list of the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies published so far. They’re all still available in bookstores--if you don’t find them on the shelves, ask the store to order them for you. Happy reading! ♥

How Not to Spend Your Senior Year
By Cameron Dokey

Rule #1: If at all possible, don't pretend to be something you're not. Specifically, don't play dead. Trust me on this one. I did it, so I should know.
Jo O'Connor has spent her whole life moving around. When it comes to new schools, there's not a trick in the book about starting over that Jo doesn't know. But life is about to teach her a new trick: how to disappear entirely.

Rule #2: Always expect the Spanish Inquisition, no matter what anyone else does.

They have to move again. Now. This very night. Jo knows better than to argue. Her dad is the key witness in a major case against a big-time bad guy. But Jo just can't resist one last visit to the school where she's been so happy. All she wants is to say good-bye. That can't cause any problems, can it?

Rule #3: Never assume you can predict the future.

Now Jo's one last visit has landed her smack in the middle of a ghost story. Specifically, her own. By the time it's over, she'll have a whole new set of rules about what's real, what's make-believe, and -- most of all -- what's important.

Royally Jacked
By Niki Burnham

Valerie's life is pretty good. While she's not the most popular girl in school, she does have decent grades, great friends, and a potential boyfriend. All a girl could want.Then her mother announces that (1) she's gay, and (2) she's leaving Valerie's dad for her girlfriend. Not what Valerie envisioned for her future. And just when Valerie is getting over this bombshell, her father tells her he's gotten a new job as protocol chief for the royal family of some obscure European country.

Valerie's world has come unglued. She can either stay in Virginia with her mom and her über-organized, veggie-burger-eating girlfriend, or go with her dad, leaving everything she knows for some place she's never heard of. Valerie opts to go, and quickly discovers that it was a mistake -- until she meets the prince, and all bets are off!

Ripped at the Seams
By Nancy Krulik

There's a new fashion designer in town, and "Fashion Don'ts" have never been more in style!

Sami Granger is fresh off the bus from the Midwest when some crazy person in the bus terminal warns her that life in New York City won't be what she always dreamed of. But Sami's determined to make it in an industry that is notoriously hard to break in to. Nothing she ever learned in her small town can prepare her for her first job working for a hot-shot designer: He steals her designs!

Now the only place that will hire Sami is a trashy lingerie store that she's too embarrassed to tell her old-fashioned father about. Will a visit from her father land Sami on the catwalk, or out on the sidewalk?

South Beach Sizzle
By Suzanne Weyn and Diana Gonzalez

Is Enrique trying to win her over -- or just trying to win?

Road trip! Lula Cruz has her last summer before college all mapped out. She's checking out of NYC and checking in to the sizzling hot "SoBe" scene with her best friend, Jeff.

When their day jobs get to be a drag, they spice things up by entering a local band contest. And spicy it is! Turns out that the hottie Lula keeps running into is also her band's toughest competition! Enrique might seem like the perfect guy, but as things heat up Lula has to wonder: Can she trust her biggest rival with her heart?

 

Cupidity
By Caroline Goode

Dating in high school is like reality TV. It can get pretty surreal.

Between the strict social ladder (geeks' lockers left, jocks' to the right), and silly, pointless rules (no hand-holding, no kissing, no breathing!), high school is the single worst place to find a boyfriend. And Laura Sweeney is no exception. She hasn't had a date since...well, ever.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. So Laura is calling in the big guns. She needs guidance. A proven "get the guy" strategy.

Luckily she knows exactly the expert to call. He's a matchmaking mastermind who actually has the bow and arrow to prove it. Let's just call him...Cupid.

Spin Control
By Niki Burnham

Valerie Winslow never thought life in the tiny country of Schwerinborg could be so great.

But then she never thought she would be dating the prince of Schwerinborg either! Georg, a real prince, is also her first real boyfriend.

And then everything falls apart. Georg's decided they need to cool off for a while and her dad's sending her back to Virginia to visit her mom.

Valerie's bummed -- until she decides to go out with her old crush, David Anderson. David may not be a prince, but maybe he'll take her mind off of Georg -- or will he?

 

She’s Got the Beat
By Nancy Krulik

SHE BANGS! SHE BANGS!

Miranda was the quiet type...until she moved to Austin. Home of the hippest college rock bands, Austin, Texas, is a scene. And Miranda is dying to break out of her small-town shell. So she decides to do something totally un-Miranda: learn to play the drums.

When crashing the cymbals, the girl's a wild child! Plus there's a perk to her new gig: a cute bass player. Unfortunately Mr. Bass Man isn't exactly looking for love. Can this rocker chick change his tune? Or does finding her own rhythm mean sacrificing true love?




30 Guys in 30 Days
By Micol Ostow

Practice makes not-quite-perfect

Claudia Clarkson just cut the cord from her high school love-you-forever boyfriend. Sure, she misses Drew. But with so many eligibles on her new college campus, why study ancient history?

Problem is, Claudia's lived in la-la-loveland for so long that she's completely forgotten how to meet boys -- and how to flirt.

Then her roommate proposes a solution: Meet one new guy every day for thirty days. Consider it "target practice" for when Mr. Perfect comes along. Claudia's game, but she definetely hasn't got game. In fact, Flirting 101 could be her toughest course to pass...

Animal Attraction
By Jamie Ponti

The Season of (No?) Love

Jane's life is one giant Conspiracy, with the whole world plotting to keep any chance of romance far, far away. Her social history (17 years, 0 boyfriends) is proof positive of that. But this summer, she's determined to crank it up.

Jane's snagged a gig at the local theme park as part of the star attraction -- the Mermaid Show. But then the Conspiracy strikes, and she ends up starstruck in a furry beaver costume all day long. Hard to breathe, let alone flirt....Can Jane figure a way out of the beaver suit and into the arms of her summer love?

A Novel Idea
By Aimee Friedman

Required reading has never been so hot.

Once upon a time there was a Brooklyn hipster named Norah. Unlucky in love, and short on extracurriculars for her college apps, Norah decided to start a book group. She knew the perfect locale -- a local indie bookstore with a crush-worthy cutie manning the soy latte counter.

When the first meeting arrives, Norah gets a page-turning surprise. The attendees may be bookish, but there are also a few hotties! Most noteworthy: sweet, literary James. He's like a modern Jane Austen hero.... Only, how to snag him?

Ever the romantic heroine, Norah devises a secret plan. And if it works, Norah may just find her "Happily Ever After" love story. The End.

Scary Beautiful
By Niki Burnham

Chloe Rand's life is great.

She has a serious boyfriend, she's about to start her junior year of high school, and she has a tight group of girlfriends. But when her boyfriend moves across the country and decides the long-distance-relationship thing just isn't for him, Chloe's devastated. Worse, she soon learns that when you're the prettiest girl in school and totally unattached, everyone starts treating you differently. Girls don't trust you, guys aren't sure what to make of you, and everyone assumes you're either spoiled, dumb, or both.

Chloe realizes that she's been living the last few years in a bubble and decides to do something about it. But when she falls for Billy, a total geek, will it make her situation better...or worse?

Getting to Third Date
By Kelly McClymer

Could a forgotten cutie be Katelyn's newest catch?

Katelyn Spears is a firm believer in the two-date rule. First dates are so awkward; every guy deserves a second chance. But a third? Not unless he's got serious Romeo potential.

Enter Tyler. Tyler thinks Katelyn's rule is too harsh. He dares her to go back through her Little Pink Book and grant a third date to all the two-date duds. Oh, and she should report back to the whole school via her newspaper column.

Standing by her policy (and determined to prove Tyler wrong), Katelyn makes a few phone calls. But will any of her old flames rekindle a romance?

Dancing Queen
By Erin Downing

Who needs Prince Charming if you've got a rock star?

It's official. Olivia is a superfreak. Sure, she may have landed the hottest internship at an übercool TV music station. And yes, she's chilling with A-listers in London all summer. But when she meets her very first pop star, she gets caught in a revolving glass door and falls smack down on her bum -- all in one quick motion.

Luckily, Rocker Boy thinks Liv's quirks are adorable. He takes her clubbing at the hippest spots! Liv may be clumsy on solid ground, but on the dance floor she sparkles. The summer's just begun and she's already captured the spotlight -- and a celeb's heart, too. Now if only she was sure he's the right guy...

 

Major Crush
By Jennifer Echols

Marching to the beat of a different drum...

Tired of the beauty-pageant circuit, Virginia Sauter tosses her tiara, pierces her nose, and auditions for the most unlikely of roles -- drum major of the high school marching band.

Virginia wins, but is forced to share the title with Drew, whose family has held the position for generations. Sure, Drew is hot, but because of his superior attitude, he and Virginia are constantly arguing. That is, until they share more than just their half-time salute...

But as the drum major's heated competition turns to sizzling romance, explosive rumors threaten everything -- including the band's success. Love seemed to be a sure hit, but Virginia and Drew may be marching straight into disaster.

Do-Over
By Niki Burnham

When it comes to love, how many chances do you get?

Girl meets prince. Girl loses prince. Girl gets prince back -- right? Well, that's what Valerie is hoping. She's back in Schwerinborg after spending some time with her mother in the good ol' US of A, and hopes that sparks are still flying between her and Georg. At first it looks like things are going great, until a ski trip to the Alps has Val and Georg's romance hitting some moguls. Could Val's love life be heading for a face-plant?





Love Undercover
by Johanna Edwards

True love needs no disguise.

Kaitlyn Nichols craves a little mystery and mayhem in her life. Having a top-secret agent for a father should do the trick, but unfortunately Dad is no 007, and danger is nowhere on the horizon.

But all that changes when Mr. Nichols brings home Blaine, a seventeen-year-old hottie who’s about to enter the Witness Protection Program. Suddenly Kaitlyn’s in the perilous position of protecting the cutest guy she’s ever met!

When Dad enrolls Blaine in her high school, it’s up to Kait to detect the girls who want him... and the guys who want to kill him. Meanwhile, Kait’s about to discover that there’s one thing she can’t protect--her heart...

Prom Crashers
By Erin Downing

Will you go to the proms with me?

It was love at first sight for Emily and Ethan. But then Em lost his number, and with it, lost all hope of finding a real boyfriend before the end of senior year. All she knows about Ethan is his first name, that he has a super-cute smile, and the fact that he’s going to a prom this month. Which high school? That’s anyone’s guess...

Em enlists the help of her three best friends, who quickly score some formalwear and hail a limo. Together, Emily, Charlie, Max, and Sid vow to find Ethan, to find a cure for senioritis, and most importantly, to find true love--one hilarious prom night at a time.


Gettin' Lucky
By Micol Ostow

Looking for love in Las Vegas...

Cass Parker is a big believer in luck, fate, and all things karmic. So she’s devastated when she walks in on her supposed best friend macking with Jesse, the guy she’s in total "like" with. Talk about bad karma. Vegas is just full of cheaters, she concludes, even the locals.

But Cass refuses to sulk. She finds new friends, and even gets invited to join their weekly poker night--totally casual and not-for-profit, of course. They seem pretty chill, and Cass definitely needs to get out more. So after consulting her horoscope, she gets in the game.

But when Jesse turns up for a final showdown, it turns out that Cass isn’t so good at bluffing--not when it comes to matters of the heart...

The Boys Next Door
by Jennifer Echols

Cute, available, and one cabin over.

Lori lives for summertime at her family's lake house. She spends all season wakeboarding, swimming, and hanging with her friends--including the two hotties in the cabin next door. With the Vader brothers, Lori's always been one of the guys.

But while Lori and the "baby" brother, Adam, are inseparable friends, she can't deny a secret crush on Sean, the older Vader boy. This year Sean's been paying Lori a lot of attention, and not in a brotherly way.

But just as Lori decides to prove to Sean she's girlfriend material, she realizes that her role as girl friend to Adam may be even more important. And by trying so hard for the perfect summer romance, she could be going way overboard...

In the Stars
By Stacia Deutsch & Rhody Cohon

Which do you follow: your head or your heart?

When Sylvie loses the diamond from her late mother’s ring, her best friend Cherise insists it’s a sign that love is about to enter Sylvie’s life. Yeah, right. Sylvie doesn’t believe in signs--she only star gazes through her telescope. But she also knows Cherise won’t drop it, so to humor her Sylvie agrees to date the next boy who asks.Sure enough, a new guy in school appears and Sylvie’s the object of his affection. Maybe Cherise was right after all? But when the sparks don’t fly and Cherise thinks she’s just scared, Sylvie ends up confiding in an old friend. Could finding the perfect guy be as rare as catching a shooting star?

 

Crush du Jour
By Micol Ostow

When a girl bites off more than she can chew...

Laine barely has enough time for herself, much less for romance. But she's always hungry for more projects--so she decides to start up a cooking class at her local community center. As it turns out, Seth, the guy co-teaching the class with her, is not just cute, but downright delicious!

When Seth offers her a waitress job at his family's restaurant, Hype, Laine can't resist. Just as Seth finally warms up to Laine, Laine finds out that Callie, another waitress at Hype, is cooking up a plan to steal Seth for herself. But tensions really reach their boiling point when Laine's restaurant critic mother writes a scathing review--of Hype! Will Laine have to put love on the back burner again?

The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren
By Wendy Toliver

Geeky to gorgeous in sixty seconds...

Roxy’s about to turn sixteen, but life isn’t so sweet. As a band geek, Roxy can barely get the cute guys to notice her, much less go out with her. Then, on her birthday, Roxy is transformed into a siren: seductively beautiful with the power to control all men. She though sirens were an ancient myth, but suddenly Roxy can get any guy she wants with just a few notes on her flute.

There are only two rules: don’t tell anyone about being a siren, and don’t fall in love. When she starts dating Zach, the guy everybody’s crushing on, Roxy realizes she could get used to this siren thing...but how can she keep herself from falling in love?

Love, Hollywood Style
By P. J. Ruditis

True love doesn't always follow a script...

Tracy Vance’s love life is a total flop. Sure, she has a cool job as a tour guide at a real Hollywood movie studio, but when it comes to her personal life, she can barely get her crush, Connor, to notice her.

Then Tracy gets a brilliant idea: Why not win Connor’s heart with some help from the big screen? Taking her cues from her favorite chick flicks, Tracy puts "Operation Ro Com" into action, and it actuallyseems to work!

But Tracy soon realizes that getting the leading man isn’t the same as keeping him. Maybe things never work out like they do in the movies--or do they?

Something Borrowed
By Catherine Hapka

She’s ready to catch the bouquet, not steal the guy!

When Ava gets dumped by her boyfriend, she’s pretty upset. He wasn’t the love of her life of anything, but with her sister’s wedding--a.k.a. the social event of the season--just two weeks away, Ava’s got to save face by finding someone cute and fun to bring as her date.

With the clock ticking and no dates in sight, Ava asks her best friend if she can "borrow" her boyfriend, Jason, for the night. Ava’s never been a big Jason fan, but he’ll look great in a tux and at least she’ll have someone to dance with. But it doesn’t take long for Ava to realize she’s got him all wrong...

What do you do when Mr. Right is wrapped up in a package that belongs to your best friend?

Party Games
By Whitney Lyles

If only life were one big party...

Sara would be looking forward to her sixteenth birthday, but thanks to her mom’s party planning business, she’s way too wrapped up with someone else’s: spoiled socialite Dakota London‘s. Sara would much rather spend her summer hanging out with Ian, an up-and-coming guitar player and her new crush. But Sara is so busy catering to Dakota’s every wacky whim, she’s got no time to spend with him.

And then, the icing on the cake: Dakota wants Ian to be her date for the big bash! Sara can’t believe the favor she’s been asked, especially because she thinks she’s fallen for Ian. Will this birthday end up more bitter than sweet?

 

Puppy Love
By Nancy Krulik

Romance can be ruff...

Alana loves her dog-walking job, but it blows her mind to see how pampered these pooches are. Her newest clients actually feed steak to their prized poodle and treat her to massages at a doggie spa! Alana can’t make heads or tails of why anyone would do this--or why she seems to be confiding her frustrations in hunky handyman Connor, and not her own boyfriend, Sammy.

When Sammy starts keeping an awfully tight leash on her, Alana wonders whether Connor might be a better match. But Alana's puppy love comes to a screeching halt when she learns that Connor isn’t who she thought he was. Is Alana barking up the wrong tree with him, too?

The Twelve Dates of Christmas
By Catherine Hapka

Lexi’s feeling a little holidazed this winter...

Lexi Michaels has been with her boyfriend of four years, Cameron Kehoe, way too long. Sure, he's a nice guy, but lately she's felt like there's a spark missing between them. And his plan of staying close to their Christmas-obsessed town of Claus Lake, Wisconsin to attend culinary school just don't mesh with Lexi's big-city dreams. She comes up with the perfect plan--get Cameron to fall for another girl, and she'd be free--guilt-free, too.

But on a chilly December morning, when Lexi sees Cameron looking awfully cozy with new girl Jaylene, she realizes that she's made the stupidest mistake of her life. Will one of Lexi's many schemes get her all she really wants for Christmas--her boyfriend back?

Sea of Love

By Jamie Ponti

When it comes to love, sometimes it’s sink or swim

Like it’s not bad enough that Darby had to leave her longtime boyfriend and NYC life to move to Florida, where her family’s started running a hotel. Now Darby has to help with the hotel’s annual Valentine’s Day "Cupid’s Ball." Things start looking up when local beach hottie Zach takes Darcy surfing and shows her around. Beach life actually starts to grow on this fish out of water.

Then--surprise! A week before the ball, Darby’s NYC ex decides to pay her a visit. Darby’s knee-deep in guilt--because she realizes that she’s head over heels for Zach!

This Valentine’s Day, is Darby ready to dive into a new relationship with the guy who’s captured her heart?

Miss Match
By Wendy Toliver

Want to snag that certain someone? You need Miss Match!

Sasha Finnegan has always had a knack for matchmaking. It all started with Barbie and Ken and grew from there. Now she runs her own match-making business under the disguise of "Miss Match." So far, most of her clients have been strangers...but when Derek Urban hires Sasha to match him up with none other than her gorgeous and popular sister Maddie, she's not sure if she's up for the challenge. Especially since Sasha's crushing on Derek herself.

Love on Cue
By Catherine Hapka

When you have to sing your heart out, it’s best to know how...

Maggie Tannery is a true theater girl--at least she is now. Back in middle school, she was so self-conscious her parents actually made her try out for her school play, but amazingly, Maggie discovered that when she's on stage her shyness disappears. Everyone knows that Maggie's practically a shoo-in for the lead in this year's production of Romeo & Juliet. But Maggie's got other things on her mind besides playing Juliet--she's hoping fellow drama club member Derek O'Malley will be her Romeo on and off-stage.

But Maggie gets a major case of stage fright when she finds out that her school has decided to stage a musical instead of a play--and Maggie can't sing! Knowing that Derek's still going for the lead male role, she keeps her eyes on the prize and decides to get some voice lessons from Nico Vasquez, a drama club member in charge of mixing background music for their performances. Things get complicated when Nico starts making backstage passes at Maggie. It looks like the music man of Maggie's dreams is not who she thinks it is...

Over and Done

If you're reading this blog, chances are that you read a lot, period. Books, blogs, magazines...whatever you can get your hands on. I'm firmly in that camp myself. The stack of books next to my bed is so high I can reach over and grab one off the top while sitting in bed without having to stretch. (And then there's the pile of magazines next to the book pile...)

I'm also a notorious TV news junkie.

However, all that reading and watching means there are certain words/phrases/topics that make me roll my eyes. I don't want to see or hear them ever again. Here's my current list. Feel free to add your own!


1) OCTOMOM. Really, who coined that phrase? Doesn't it make the woman sound like the villain in a Superman or Spiderman flick?

2) DR. PHIL. His fifteen minutes of fame should have ended two or three years ago. I hit mute during commercials for his show. His voice bugs me that much.

3) TWITTER. (closely related: TWEET) I know everybody's doing it. I refuse. Does anyone need to know what all their friends/relatives/random acquaintances are doing 24/7? I don't WANT to know!

4) HERO. There are a lot of heroes. However, each time a person does something heroic that makes the news, it ends up being replayed on an endless loop. This isn't really a word I think should be put out of use; rather, it should be used for special instances. Newscasters bandy about this moniker with abandon, referring to someone as a "hero" for weeks on end, which makes it lose its meaning.

5) "I HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, BUT...". This is the phrase people use when they want to dismiss someone else, but make them feel good about it. To me, it translates to, "I am about to ignore you because I believe I'm superior." (Note: This phrase is occasionally used by Dr. Phil.)

What about you? What phrases/words/topics are you tired of reading about or hearing? It doesn't have to be something from pop culture; I'd even like to hear about book or movie topics you feel are overdone. Fire away!

Spring reading

Last Friday the Little Professor Bookstore in Birmingham hosted a signing for me. Yesterday I spoke at the Alabama Library Association Convention. My latest novel, Going Too Far, is in its second printing. I just turned in a proposal for my fourth ro-com to Editor Mike, and I’m waiting to hear whether he likes it (NO HURRY, MIKE). It has been a good April so far.

And now, it’s time to read.

Of course, I read all day. I work as a copyeditor, reading. I write and then read what I’ve written. I read manuscripts in progress by my author friends. But reading for pleasure is something I have to make time for. And I really must make that time. You can’t be a good writer without reading voraciously. Plus, I’m doing a 52-book challenge this year, and I’m only on #9.

Here’s the deliciousness I have in store for the next few days:
1. Honey, Baby, Sweetheart by Deb Caletti
2. When It Happens by Susane Colasanti
3. Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway
4. The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart
5. One Whole and Perfect Day by Judith Clarke
6. To Be Mona by Kelly Easton
7. Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky
8. Impossible by Nancy Werlin
9. So B. It by Sarah Weeks
10. Whatever I reserved at the library that they have called me to come pick up. I can’t remember what it was, but I know it looked delicious at the time.

It’s a lovely time of year for a reading break, with every flower in Alabama blooming at once. I plan to relax outside in the warm weather and finish all these books before I start writing again—unless, of course, Editor Mike buys another ro-com from me in the meantime (NO PRESSURE, MIKE).

What are you reading?