What I'm Reading

Last year I bought the book Commencement by J. Courtney Sullivan and I am just now having the chance to read it . . . a read that I thought was timely seeing as though it's graduation season. I have worked in higher ed almost all my adult life so I naturally gravitate to books set in academia.

It's an interesting book that follows four friends from the time they first meet in college to the first few post-graduate years as they confront so many life changes and decisions in that uncertain time just after school. If you like stories about women and friendship, give Commencement a read.

xoxo,

bex

Friday Check-In

Everyone's been talking about the RWA conference taking place in New York next week and since I won't be going I am feeling a little bummed as I read about all the mounting excitement. I am OK in not being there but it's still a bummer to know that so many of my friends will all be together in one place, making it a lot easier and more likely that I'd be able to see them and get the chance to visit. One of the amazing things in being a member of RWA is that you get to meet and make friends from across the country and around the world, and sometimes the only time you get to see them is once a summer at the national conference.

But even though I am disappointed to be missing out this year, I have lots of other really good things going on that I am excited about . . . things I wouldn't be able to do if I were in New York for the conference so the best thing I can do is make the most of the other opportunities to have come my way. That's how life works, right? Doors closing and windows opening and all that metaphorical stuff.

I am still working on the pieces to the newer of the new book ideas and, slow as molasses, things are taking their time. The more I think about this book though, the more excited I get about the possibilities. I just want to make sure I think big enough because it would soooooo stink to craft a story that didn't give this really great idea the wings it needs to fly. That's one of my worries -- that I am finally hatching some high concept ideas but the story and the writing won't do the idea justice. I know I can't think that way; that I just have to do . . . not overthink. It can still be tough though, when you are so eager to do better and be smarter than you were in the book before.

I keep turning to my YA role models -- Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, Susane Colasanti, Elizabeth Scott, and Kieran Scott -- for inspiration. They are doing it the way I want to do it and I figure if I keep reading their books, following their posts on blogs and Twitter, and Facebook, and watching and learning (in a healthy, non-stalkerish way), I will increase my chances of following in their footsteps. And, of course, working on and writing my own stories and writing and writing and writing some more.

Now back to work!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

I have been on a YA binge lately and I've been loving it. For my latest read, I turned to another author favorite: Melissa Kantor. I have had The Darlings Are Forever on my TBR pile for a bit, and I am psyched I chose to wait until summer to read it. I love a good summer read, and I am so glad that I've had such a great string of books lately that have given me such reading happiness!

Another cool things about The Darlings? There's another one in the works!

xoxo,
bex

Friday Check-In

I've been feeling kind-of split this week . . . winding up work on the current book and getting started on the next one. But a weird thing happened . . . I had been letting thoughts on the new book perk in the background throughout the writing of the current book and was eager to get started on it. Until one day this week, out-of-the-blue, a new, pretty compelling book idea came out of nowhere. It's so strong that it's getting in the way of plotting out the book I had planned.

I've run both ideas past some trusted friends to get some feedback, and each time they've reacted to the new idea. As one friend put it, THAT'S THE ONE YOU NEED TO WRITE. So . . . I've got a really good problem in that I think I have a great idea, but I am not ready to write it yet. My job this summer is to flesh the idea out and work through all the story elements so that I can get writing on it as soon as possible. I have been gripped by the idea, and am pretty excited about exploring its possibilities.

Fingers crossed!

xoxo,
bex

What I'm Reading

I have a few books on my to-be-read shelf that I have been saving for the perfect occasion -- a rainy day, a break in my writing schedule, a bad chunk of time, even a happy summer weekend -- so the stars aligned and I recently and finally picked one off the pile that I have been **so anxious** to read: Anna and the French Kiss! This debut from Stephanie Perkins had gotten such great buzz and a writer friend of mine recently talked it up so much I knew it had to be one of my next summer reads. All I can say is magnifique! Paris and a really cute boy? It makes me wish I had studied there, too! I think you'll love it!

xoxo,
bex

What I'm Reading

My summer reading keeps rolling along and I am LOVING IT! I just finished reading another great YA by one of my faves - Sarah Dessen. I know her new book just came out (it's one of the next ones I can't wait to read!!) but I wanted to hit an older one of hers before launching into her latest. Keeping the Moon was a fun read about summer, finding love, and loving yourself. I always recommend Sarah's books and this one is no different.

One exciting side note -- I had a breakthrough on the new book I am trying to start as I was reading this one. Yet another reason why I love reading Sarah Dessen. She makes me want to be a better writer!

xoxo,

bex

What I'm Reading

This year I discovered a YA writer I hadn't read before and after reading a few I quickly decided that I love her books. She has a new one out this summer, which is getting great reviews and I can't wait to read it, but the other really awesome thing is that my summer reading will include much of her backlist. I just finished reading The Fortunes of Indigo Skye, which is a book about a girl who comes into a lot of money and how this windfall changes her, the people around her, and they way they treat each other when this 8oo pound gorilla gets introduced into the room.

Deb Caletti wrote another winner with this one! If you're looking for a fun summer read, definitely pack this book in your beach bag.

xoxo,

bex

Friday Check-In

I haven't much to report on these past two Fridays. One fell on my vacation week while the other was part of my post finish-the-book and take a breather break. During this breather I am working on query letters and fine tuning the other pieces to my submission package so I can start sending my manuscript out into the world. Now if I could only find a few extra hours each day and get rid of these allergies, I might be able to get everything done that I need to do.

Hope work is going well on your end!

xoxo,

bex