Let's celebrate the end of March!

*skips in*

Hello! I am so happy to be back. I've been buried underneath end-of-quarter projects, so even though I actually work for the Great Internet Gods, I haven't had much time to play on the internet (Twitter, Google Reader, etc). So color me stoked that March is over! I celebrated by creating this post filled with fun links for you. Enjoy!

- Rejections got you down? Read this inspiring post from SHIVER'S Maggie Stiefvater and win a copy of LINGER here!

- Feel better after reading Maggie's post? Then submit here.

- An interview with Andrew Harwell, editorial assistant at Dutton Children's Books

- Really interesting (and positive) story about Bologna from PW

- The Dream Team: BEAUTIFUL CREATURES cast-of-fun!

- New blog that I kinda loff: http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/

- I like [trying] to win things: Mandy Hubbard contest and Heidi R. Kling contest

- And last but not least, I may just be crazy enough to fly to D.C. FOR J.K. ROWLING! (that is, if I had entered the Egg Roll lottery on time)

The Beth Revis Book Deal Celebration! *confetti*

I read a bit of Beth Revis' book on Authoress' blog and loved it. I can't wait to read it once it's published! To celebrate her amazing book deal, Beth is having a HUGE contest on her blog.

Look at all the fun stuff you can you win!

PRIZE PACK FOR WRITERS:

-A critique of your query letter and first three chapters
-A copy of Elana Johnson's super-amazing e-book, From the Query to the Call
-A HUGE bag of chocolate-covered expresso beans from my fav coffee shop, Village Coffee (cause we all know writers need chocolate and coffee)
-A copy of the Working Writer Day Planner, full of tons of helpful info for writers
-A really pretty journal
-Flag-it Post-it Notes that you can use to highlight and mark-up your manuscript as you revise
-A Laini's Ladies (the Muse of Writing one, of course!)
-A "Rolla" style notebook--it's like a binder and notebook in one, with the ablity to add, remove, and move around pages. I thought this would be perfect for organizing editing notes, or to take to a conference
-A sekkrit surprise
-A book-shaped locket. One of the themes in my novel, Across the Universe, is that of leaving home and standing on your own two feet (hence the original title that some of you probably remember: Long Way Home). The locket is shaped like a book with a bird's nest stamped on the front, and a bird flies away from the chain. This was custom made for me by The Enchanted Locket on etsy, and you and I will be the only two people with the original design!

DAUNTING!

I just opened a fresh new document and typed:

"FANTASTIC FIRST LINE."

*smacks forehead*

Yep, I'm taking a big, ol' breath and starting a new story. I took a short break, but now I'm standing here feeling thissmall looking up at this unknown, 60,ooo-word mountain. I've either gotta start climbing, find another mountain, or go home.

*gulp*

Free books make my heart pit-pat

Elana Johnson (of the awesome QueryTracker blog) is having a fantabulous giveaway.

You can win a SIGNED copy of:

THE NAUGHTY LIST by Suzanne Young

BLEEDING VIOLET by Dia Reeves

PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS by Michelle Zink

HUSH HUSH by Becca Ritzpatrick

GONE by Lisa McMann

CAPTIVATE by Carie Jones

THE SECRET YEAR by Jennifer R. Hubbard

*swoon*

Details on her blog.

Want to win a humongous crit by an agent instead? The SHOOTING STARS are also having a contest. Go here to learn more.

Both contests end March 14th!

Hey!

I just finished my second book!!

It took me awhile to realize I was done. I stared at the last sentence for a good minute. I'm off to type "The End."

FRIENDS WITH DEATH, 55,579 words @ 1:22AM.

:-)

What I learned from publishing today (via Twitter)!

- One of my favorite authors, Maggie Stiefvater, shares her early, "bad" writing and comments on whether or not YA lit is going down the toliet

- BOY TOY author Barry Lyga tells us how he writes and shows us a sneak peek of his new book ARCHVILLAIN!

- Compare YOUR novel beginning with the ones agent Mary Kole likes

- The Editorial Role: An Agent's View

- Tension = Tight Writing

- Agent Spotlight: FinePrint Literary's Suzie Townsend

- Teen Fiction Cafe's Anniversary Party - special post by EVERMORE's Aylson Noel

- You know how some blu-ray movies come bundled with a standard copy and a version you can watch on your computer? Now, books will come bundled up, too! Barnes and Noble announces that it will bundle print books and e-books together - how cool is that? It's a revolution, folks!

The Publishing World Tweets!

Every morning, I go through my Twitter feed and scan through my delicious pot of agent-ly, writer-ly, book-ly, publish-ly news and go click-happy on links. Since I have a nice little collection going on here, I thought I'd share "what I learned from twitter today" with you. The links range from writing advice to contests to book announcements. Click and enjoy!

- Synopsis contest

- 1000 word crit fun on Authoress' blog

- A new book for you to love: FORGET-HER-NOTS

- Weather contest - win a crit!

- Will you buy ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS based on her cover?

- BEFORE I FALL - couldn't resist the premise so I added it to my Amazon wishlist! Let me know if you feel the same way :-)