Category: Canterwood Crest

Everything and nothing

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I started writing LITTLE WHITE LIES (Canterwood Crest #6 (SIX! *falls over*) yesterday. I Tweeted (stupidly, LOL) that I was going to stay up all night writing and hit 5k before I went to sleep.

Didn’t happen. I wrote 500 words and stopped for the night. I needed a few hours to absorb outline changes and just think about where I needed to go with the book.

Today, I got started late and hit my stride. I had one of those rare “OMG” writer moments where I sat back and actually said, “Oh. Whoa. Wow. Um.” out loud. One of those crazy-talking-to-yourself writer moments where you actually start to cry like an idiot for no reason.

But a few things hit me full force:

* I’m writing book freaking six. S-I-X. There was a time when I thought I wouldn’t be able to write one book. Not one. Just short articles, nothing book length. And I’m not saying this to be like, “Oh, wow. Look. You’ve written five books.” I’m saying this because so many writers e-mail me and say they’re sure they can’t write a book but so want to. That they can’t write past a few pages. I used to think that too.

* I’m in love with a character. A character that I didn’t fall for until twenty minutes ago. And I’m hard core crushing. (And man, I’m sooo gonna regret posting this part ’cause EK will read it and never let me forget it when I tell her my new love interest. As if she needs another thing to hold over me, LOL.)

* This is the first book I’ve ever written in New York and it’ll be my only first book in NYC. It feels sparkly just for that reason.

* I’m not the writer I was when I wrote BEST ENEMIES. Not better, not worse (I hope!). Just not the same.

* Everything and nothing has changed. Everything in my life has changed. Nothing in my character’s lives has. They were all there–waiting for me to come and move things for them. I’m almost annoyingly giddy to be back to Canterwood (I sound like a student, LOL) and into writing.

And not just writing.

Writing that I love.

There’s a difference.

And it took a while for me to find it again. But I have.

Okay! Sappy much? Seriously. 🙂 As you were.

Thank you, readers!

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I have the *best* readers EVER. It’s a fact. Last night, I sent out the first Canterwood Crest newsletter and when I checked my e-mail this morning, I had over 30 new messages from you all saying the sweetest things about the books. I’m floating this morning–thank you!! You also did something awesome and put up new reviews on Amazon. How lucky am I?!

If you haven’t signed up, check out the sidebar and do so. I’ll be sending a newsletter once a month or whenever I have super big news to share. The subscribers of the newsletter got to hear a secret that hadn’t been announced here yet. The news?

Behind the Bit went into its second printing! Yay! I’m so excited about that.

Onto other things…

I think I moved to Seattle and not NYC. Is it supposed to rain this much here? I reeeeaaallly need to go out today, but didn’t want to anyway and then when I saw it was raining I was like, “Ha. It’s raining. Excuse. Staying in.”

I’m in my cozy writer clothes (yoga pants, t-shirt and hoodie) and am working on Canterwood Crest marketing. I’m making a list of big horse shows for junior riders and other equine associations to contact about the series.

Also, I’ve got an ARC of HUSH, HUSH by Becca Fitzpatrick that looks so amazing. I Tweeted about the cover yesterday and y’all agreed with me–amazing cover.

And, finally, in this random jumble of a blog–I started writing a new story on paper last night. Paper. The last time I wrote a book on paper? Um, never. I type way faster than I write and it seems like a waste of time to transfer paper writing to the computer. But I *wanted* to start this story on paper and I’m hopeful about what I’ve got so far. I ended up writing a page with one opening, then starting over and switching to another. Then I changed format. And the weirdest part is that I still like it this morning. Usually, I hate my writing the next morning. I look at it and go, “Ugggh! That’s the worst thing ever! Delete!” But I actually like this. And I came up with a sick tag for it that I can’t share, but I’m excited.

So, I’m going offline to write more on paper. How odd. How about you guys? Anyone write on paper? Or is it computers only?

Mention on Fuse #8

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Apparently, I live in a cave. I completely missed this. Thanks so much to Elizabeth Bird of School Library Journal’s Fuse #8 for picking Canterwood Crest as the first runner up for the “bests” of the fall 2009 Simon & Schuster preview. I’m honored, Elizabeth. Thank you! 🙂

PS- Did you guys see the new line up for the NYC Teen Author Carnival? It’s INSANE. Come join us!

*Big* announcement!

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I can FINALLY make the announcement I’ve been wanting to share!

….

The Canterwood Crest series was optioned for a TV series or TV movie!!!

For real!

In February, I got an email from a producer at Breakthrough Entertainment who said she’d like to discuss the books. I passed her info to Agent A and they immediately started talking. While I waited, I tried not to get too excited because I knew how slim the chances were to have this email lead to a yes.

But it did! Cross your fingers that you’ll one day see Canterwood on-screen! I’m so grateful to have this option and thank you sooo much to everyone involved.

Yaaay! 🙂

Behind the Bit is out!

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BEHIND THE BIT, Canterwood Crest #3, went in stock on Amazon yesterday and at Barnes & Noble. I’m beyond excited to have three books out. Now that I’m in a new place, I have to go introduce myself to the staff at the local B&N and sign some stock. That’ll be fun! I love that I can walk there–it’s quite awesome.

I’m super busy finishing up edits on BEST ENEMIES (CC #5) and it’s my goal to have them done on Monday. I’ve been trying this new waking up at the most evil hour of 5am thing and it doesn’t suck. Too much. 🙂 I complain and grumble, but once I’m up I’m okay. I *do* get a lot done. And that’s I prob won’t be able to keep it up for long, but I’ll try it.

This weekend, I’m meeting up with two friends. One for brunch on Sunday at French Roast (sounds sooo yummy) and one for coffee here in my neighborhood. I’ll also be taking progress pics of the apartment and will post them. It’s getting pretty sparkly in here! Next thing: wall decorations. I’ve got links to some awesome posters, so this weekend I’ll measure, decide on some and order them. Very exciting.

Cable/DVR and Internet was installed yesterday (yay!) so I’m back online. Awesomeness. I was getting WiFi whereever I could: cafes, apt buildings…an old folk’s home. Yeah, shameless, I know. 🙂

Anyway, happy book birthday to BEHIND THE BIT!! 🙂 Cheers!

Here’s the blurb from Amazon:

It’s midwinter break and Sasha Silver has been invited to attend an exclusive equestrian clinic. Problem is, Callie, Heather, Alison, and Julia have also been invited. And after the way things ended at Canterwood’s Sweetheart Soiree, the line between friend and frenemy is thinner than ever.

Enter to win a signed copy of Behind the Bit!

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Sooo, BEHIND THE BIT comes out on May 19. I can’t believe it’s my third book. Insane. TAKE THE REINS and CHASING BLUE released over a week early, so you might be seeing BTB on shelves soon. To celebrate, I’m giving away a signed copy of BTB. Want to win? Leave a comment here ONLY–not LiveJournal this time (because I have limited Internet access and am posting this on a timer)–and you’ll be entered.

Spread the word, too! 🙂 You have until Wednesday at midnight to leave your comment. I’ll randomly draw a winner and will email you if you’ve won.

Good luck!

Pics of Behind the Bit!

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Callie and Black Jack


Sneaky Alison


A final copy of BEHIND THE BIT (May 19, 2009)!!! Yaaaay! My favorite part is the expression on Alison’s face on the back cover. She’s totally up to something…oh, snap.

Again, sparkles must be bestowed upon Kate Angelella, Jessica Handelman, Monica Stevenson & crew and everyone at Aladdin MIX (only the coolest, best imprint ever) who worked on BEHIND THE BIT. Thank you all for working so hard on my books! And I’ve told EK a million times, but it’s worth repeating, she’s seriously brilliant. She comes up with the coolest tag lines that are beyond perfect for the books.

Holding a finished copy of my third (OMG) book is no less exciting than when I got copies of TAKE THE REINS. It’s the most intense/wow/amazing feeling to see the finished book.

Happy sigh. 🙂

Exciting news!

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Editor K gave me the go ahead to share the news that TAKE THE REINS went into its second printing! Yaaay! I’m super excited about it and thank you to everyone for supporting the book. I so appreciate it.

Also, I have finished copies of BEHIND THE BIT, which comes out May 19. I’ll take pics and will post them soon.

The blog is a little quiet since I’m finishing up edits on BEST ENEMIES. But regular blogging will resume soon. 🙂

Happy Monday!