Category: Popular

Popular releases tomorrow!

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W-O-W–WOW!

I can’t believe the *fourteenth* Canterwood Crest book releases on Tuesday! This was a series that started with one book in mind that I wrote in 2009. Ya’ll know the story, but I’m feeling nostalgic. I was 19, a senior in college with a full course load and I heard about National Novel Writing Month. It was late October 2006, and NaNo is November 1-30, so I had no ideas, no outline–nothing. I jumped into it and started writing my first ever novel.

Tidbit: It was a YA novel called “High Jumps at Collins Academy” first. 🙂

I wrote my butt off and actually crossed the 50,000 word mark on or just before November 30. My draft was UGLY. I mean, it was seriously scary! But editing on my own, later edits with my ex-agent and edits from my first editor, Molly, got the book on track. That one book turned into a four book deal and after Molly left S&S (I got the call on my birthday!) I got the greatest gift: High Jumps, now Canterwood Crest, was under the guidance and editorial input of Kate Angelella.

Everything changed after that. Call it two girls clicking over a story. Or maybe it was the beautiful photos. Or the insane, nonstop marketing. Or the schedule of writing a bi-monthly series for a while. All of those things, and more, came into play into getting my series from one book to 20. Those were all important components, but it was, without a doubt, the edits from Editor K that got us to where we are: over 500,000 copies of the series in print.

I am ever so grateful to Kate and Simon & Schuster for embracing a girl with a desperate need for horses in her life, but being unable to do so unless I could write about them. Canterwood allows me to live vicariously through my characters and I couldn’t be more immersed in Horse World. Best part? I got to see Kate pet her first horse. Nice coincidence, huh? 🙂

I’m busy working on MASQUERADE and Kate had her hands full with projects and will soon be editing my book.

I sincerely want to thank all of Team Canterwood for your support. I would NOT be able to live my dream without you. If you could only know how grateful I am!

Let me know if you spot POPULAR! I’m going to be spending release day in Rochester, MN, so I’ll sign copies at Barnes & Noble, take pics and let you know where the books are in case you live nearby.

xoxo

Personal time

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Hi, all,

Still in Minnesota with K. Taking some personal time. But I DO want to say how excited I am for POPULAR’s upcoming release!! It’s almost 2 weeks away! Eeek!

Going to walk to the Barnes & Noble this week and sign stock copies. I’ll let you know when they’re signed in case you want to snag one. 🙂

xx

Hello, three day weekend!

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I’m soo excited that it’s a three day weekend after tomorrow! Well, weekends or weekdays really don’t make much different to me as a writer, but it does mean no business related e-mails, stopping for publicity, etc., so I’ll be kicking off a Three Day Write-a-Thon on Saturday morning!

Want to join me?

If you do, cool! Leave a comment here that you’re going to be writing/editing/outlining, etc., and what you’re working on if you like. Throughout the weekend and Monday, check in here to cheer each other on and report your progress. I’ll be doing word count updates via Twitter. 🙂 I love writing with other people. It, um, keeps me from getting distracted. Plus, it’s embarrassing if I report back with a sad word count.

So, join me via Twitter, Facebook, my blog and let’s WRITE!

I’m going to be outlining POPULAR and writing it, too. That’s my project. I want to get as far as possible into it.