Natalie Lloyd's Blog, page 5

you remind me of the hero.

Listening To: Another is Waiting by The Avett Brothers
Just FYI: I downloaded the Beautiful Mess app for pictures, and I'm having way too much fun with it. As you will see. 

This weekend I managed to sneak over to Nashville for The Southern Festival of Books. I wasn’t 100% sure I’d be able to attend until the very last minute. And then, finally! I zoomed toward Music City with an absurdly giddy smile on my face. 


I also wore an absurdly loud pair of shoes. So if you were in the Nashville Public Library on Saturday and wondered, “Who let a Clydesdale loose in the halls?” ... my apologies. My heels were straight-up-clompity-clomp-noise. But I had to run to make an event on time. 
Specifically: I ran to hear Kathi Appelt and TA Barron, both great luminaries of middle grade literature, discuss their new books! My word, what a treat. I’ll write more about Kathi Appelt in a separate post. I adore her work, and I’d looked forward to hearing her for so long. If you ever get to hear her chat about her books, please do! She’s so lovely. 


I waited until this event to buy her new novel, The True Blue Scouts of Sugar Man Swamp. I missed her signing, but the swankified people at Parnassus put some signed copies out in the bookstore tent. Yay!!!


Both Kathy Appelt and TA Barron have such a sophisticated whimsy about them. They were both excited about their stories, and excited to share their inspiration with readers. And they were so kind and fun. They gave fab presentations. 

I could write about their session at length, but I would rather share what happened in the Q&A portion of their session that nearly made me cry. 
Most of the attendees for this particular session were adults, but there were a few younger readers in attendance as well. And one adorable little girl raised her hand and asked, quite excitedly, in the sweetest voice: 

“Mr. Barron, which one of your books should I read first?” 

The girl's words were arrow-shaped, apparently, because they connected directly with my heart. 

I think this is why: I so vividly remember what it was like to be a little girl in love with books. I mean, I still know how to hide my heart in the pages of a story. I still know what it’s like to read for hours and not realize any time has slipped by at all. I know the rush of total, indescribable happiness that comes when you open a new book. When you fall for a character. When you whisper dialogue out loud because it so begs to be said. Storylove is an impossibly, wonderfully addictive thing. I still feel it. All book-lovers do. But ... I don’t know that I’ll ever feel it as profoundly as I did when I was that age. And for some reason, when she asked her smart, sweet question, I had ... a moment. Can you relate? Just a sweet, sappy moment of booklove. (That's been happening a lot lately.) 

But that wasn’t even the best part. 

The best part was when the very articulate, elegant, whimsical, mega-bajillion-bestselling-T.A. Barron walked to the edge of the stage - so that he could talk directly to this very discerning young reader - smiled, and said: “I am so glad you asked.” 

He paused for a moment. Propped his chin in his hand, considering her question so carefully. And then he replied: 

“You know ... you remind me of the hero in this novel. Why don’t you start there?” 

I forgot to write down which novel he mentioned, but that doesn't matter so much. Here's what I loved:  

Can you imagine - at age 10 or 11 or 12 ... 
... at the age when you are the best at hiding your heart inside the pages of a book,
... at the age when you are still brave enough to daydream, and wonder, and wear your heart on your sleeve ...

Can you imagine an author saying to you, “You remind me of the hero in this book.” 

???

The girl beamed. 

I’ve been thinking about the exchange all weekend, because it symbolizes one of my most favorite aspects of middle grade fiction - both reading it and writing it. (Disclaimer: please know: even in the future someday, even if I get to share 100 stories, I’m certain I will never, ever be capable of the kind of book-magic of which I am about to speak. I am so blessed to be able to be any part of that world at all. I pinch myself everyday. But I know I’m not capable of that level of wonderment.)

There is a sneaky, double-sided kind of magic hidden in the best books, I think. Many stories have unlikely heroes. And for 200 pages or so, it’s not uncommon for a reader to live the hero’s journey vicariously.  But I believe the best books - and I know I’m biased, but I see this in middle grade books all the time - do not end at The End. Some stories offer up one final observation when you reach the finale. Quite subtly, in a whisper of pages so fluttery-soft only the most sensitive heart can understand, they all say: 

You remind me of the hero in this book. 

You were hero on the page. You are the hero in the story you get to live. 

And those are the books you still hug years later when you pull them off your shelf, aren't they? Just to remember. Just to hold them against your heart for a while. What a gift. 

“So Matilda’s strong young mind continued to grow, nurtured by the voices of all those authors who had sent their books out into the world like ships on the sea. These books gave Matilda a hopeful and comforting message: You are not alone.” - from Matilda by Roald Dahl

Question: which hero in a book would you most like to be like? (Or maybe I should phrase it this way: who is your literary doppelganger?) I'll stick my answer in the comments, too. I hope you're having a happy October! :) 

introducing felicity juniper pickle!

Listening To: Live and Die by The Avett Brothers

Today has been the sweetest day. The sun is shining. The weather is not boiling, finally. The coffee is brewing. The Avett Brothers are singing to me. (I mean, they're not actually *here* singing to me. But I'm listening to them sing. And a girl can dream, you savvy?) 

And I am super excited to finally show you Felicity's swanky jacket! 

Friends, welcome to Midnight Gulch. :) 


*SQUEALS* :) 

In the words of my beloved editor, "the cuteness is out of control." I want to live there. Also, I want that ice cream on the cover. 

The cover of A SNICKER OF MAGIC was illustrated by Gilbert Ford, a crazy-talented artist who has illustrated (and written) lots of awesome books. THREE TIMES LUCKY, one of my most favorite novels (!!!), was illustrated by Gilbert. If you'd like to read more about his work, here's his website. This book was also made cute by the incredible savvy of Nina Goffi and Starr Mayo. They all deserve a lifetime supply of Dr. Zooks Ice Cream. (When you read the novel, you'll realize this is the highest of compliments.) 

I can't wait for you to see the full jacket. When I saw the shadowy silhouettes of my characters on the back-cover (!!!), I. Flipped. Out. It's so bright and whimsical and fun! 

Here's a bit more about Felicity: 

--- 

Midnight Gulch used to be a magical place, a town where people could sing up thunderstorms and dance up sunflowers. But that was long ago, before a curse drove the magic away. Twelve-year-old Felicity knows all about things like that; her nomadic mother is cursed with a wandering heart.

But when she arrives in Midnight Gulch, Felicity thinks her luck's about to change. A "word collector," Felicity sees words everywhere---shining above strangers, tucked into church eves, and tangled up her dog's floppy ears---but Midnight Gulch is the first place she's ever seen the word "home." And then there's Jonah, a mysterious, spiky-haired do-gooder who shimmers with words Felicity's never seen before, words that make Felicity's heart beat a little faster.

Felicity wants to stay in Midnight Gulch more than anything, but first, she'll need to figure out how to bring back the magic, breaking the spell that's been cast over the town . . . and her mother's broken heart.

--- 

A Snicker of Magic is up for pre-order now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you pre-order it, let me know, because I WILL HUG YOU so hard. Unless you don't like hugs. Then we'll just high-five or whatever. The book will be in stores on February 25, 2014. Between now, and then, I have lots of fun things to share. And give away. 

But before we get to all that, I must tell you this: 

I hope your copy of A SNICKER OF MAGIC doesn't look exactly like the cute picture above. I hope it looks coffee-stained and dog-eared and tattered. I hope you eat ice cream while you read the book, and accidentally dribble it all over the pages. I hope the story sticks together and maybe sticks in your heart for a little while, too. 

Happy, happy weekending to you! :) 

falling forward.

Listening To: Flowers in Your Hair by The Lumineers
Quoted: "It's very sad to me that some people are so intent on leaving their mark on the world that they don't care if that mark is a scar." - John Green


Happy fall to you!! My dad claims fall officially began at 4:44. I don't know if that's legit, or if he made it up, but I hope it's true. That sounds so whimsical, doesn't it?

Like, close your eyes and make a wish and by the time you're finished ... fall is here! :)

Fall is my most favorite season. I don't like pumpkin spice lattes, or anything pumpkin-flavored, but I'm down with everything else folks love to rhapsodize about. Boots and tights and dresses and jackets. Halloween and bright leaves and the corn maze. (Which is usually shaped like someone's head ... which is weirdly funny and also mildly disturbing.)

I'm so excited for a new season.

I don't have much to blog about besides that.

Scratch that. I'll also mention these things:

1. Today I'm wearing a dress with a print that can only be described as crazy-horse-polka-dot. In case you see me and wonder if I picked it out in the dark, the answer is no. It is intentional, and it is awesome. S'my favorite dress. Giddy up, etc.

I don't even know how many times I've worn that since I bought it. It's become my unofficial uniform.

2. Have you seen the Harry Potter-Myers Briggs chart? It's so fun. Jump over and figure out your personality twin, and then come back here and let me know. According to the chart, I'm Luna Lovegood. Honestly, this comparison has been made more than a few times, and I'm fine with that. I love Luna. I'm not quite as free-spirited as Luna (or as comfortable in my own skin) but I'm definitely in my head a lot. (NARGLES!) I've noticed lots of writers are INFP's. Anne Shirley, another of my favorite literary heroes, is also an INFP, too. I'm in good company. (This is a good time to mention that I get a little eye-rolly when people cling so hard to Myers-Briggs and various other classifications. I think you should just be who you are and not worry so much about defining it, or defining other people. But that's borderline thought-provoking in a post that's about crazy horse dresses and Harry Potter.)

I've taken the Myers-Briggs a few of times, always for school-related things. Weirdly, I barely score an "I" (the first letter - E or I, signals extroversion vs. introversion). I think I'm a bona fide introvert. But strangely, I'm on the line. I even tested "E" once. I must have been feeling very frisky that day. An ENFP would make me a Ron Weasley. Good company there, too.

3. Speaking of the Weasleys! I was reading an interview with Carrie Hope Fletcher, who is playing (or was playing?) Eponine on the West End. After reading about her, I listened to some of her music and my word, what a voice! This song is just adorable. "I'd date Draco Malfoy, if I thought he could commit." Ha! :)



I think Gilbert Blythe needs to be added to the mix, don't you? Any other book-boys she missed?

I'm off to bake a miniature apple pie and read for a bit. And make a wish. Or two. Or ten. Welcome, welcome lovely Autumn! 

all things new. and swanky.

Listening to: Glorify by Ivan & Alosha
Cups of coffee consumed before noon today: 3



Happy Thursday, friendlings! Or as I like to say, HAPPY PROJECT RUNWAY DAY!! I look forward to Project Runway day with the same fervor that I looked forward to TGIF when I was in elementary school. Is that pathetic? Maybe a little bit?

Today is also bittersweet for me, since I'm finishing up a final column for a magazine that I've been part of for fifteen years. By bittersweet, I do mean mostly sweet. I'm getting a little sappy as I write it, though, which I knew would happen.

Anyway! Today is an open house kind of day. I hope you'll click on through, because I want you to see this cuteness.

The blog finally got a sweet little makeover!

This new design comes from Allyson Kate, the great and powerful. 

Allyson has been reading the blog for ... pffft, I don't even know how long. She's a vlogger and a graphic designer, and just generally way, way too talented for her own good. I'm so grateful she had time during her busy summer to squeeze in some freelance work for me. (We have a few more fun projects we're rolling out soon! :) I love working with her. (I love being her friend even more, but she's great to work with, too.)

Because sometimes I'm all eloquent like, "You see that wonky spacing on the side? Can you just ... make it pretty or something?" And somehow she figures out what I'm talking about. I think she's probably a wizard. You can take a look at her portfolio here. And you can see her YouTube channel here. This is one of my favorites:



"New memories, old places." Love that.

Allyson has agreed to let me interview her soon. *insert evil cackle* Truly, she has an interesting perspective on art and design (and why she doesn't think they're always exactly the same thing). It's good stuff.

The gorgeous lettering in the new header was done by Elizabeth Hardin, of Hardink Calligraphy. Elizabeth was also so lovely to work with. I first found her work work via her Etsy shop. And now I want everything in her Etsy shop. That's the danger of Etsy, isn't it?! 


So today is just a fun open house! Come in. Kick back. Take a look around. And if I've removed something that you liked, do holler. (Or if there's a page you'd like to see, do holler.) Most everything is still here. We've just rearranged the furniture a little bit. :) 
Happy weekending to you! 

me & the mountains

I found a note that I typed into my phone while I was roadtripping recently, just some freeform happy-writing. I was so relaxed that week, which partially had to do with the beautiful scenery. But I think it also had to do with how intentional I was about disconnecting. I had no computer. I never connected to twitter, or Pinterest. I barely had enough phone service to turn on web/email stuff for more than an hour or two. It was bliss, basically. I should disconnect more often when I'm here in the real world, too. Too much interweb breaks my focus all to bits. And it mangles my creativity. I can't have roadtrips through the mountains every week, but I could definitely benefit from cutting that out occasionally. (Wouldn't it be great if you could teleport to pretty places, and totally disconnect while you're there, whenever your heart feels too heavy?) This is what I wrote: 
--The thing I love most about driving here is how steady it all is. How the world looks so flat until I get to the rocky edges. 
This place overwhelms me slowly. Steadily. My eyes take in first. But then my heart takes it in, too. I think about how I never want to leave and then I realize I never will. It's not like I could, if I wanted to. Because now this place is in me. It's just me and the mountains. The mountains and their high, dragon-back spines. The mountains, so old the cloud shadows get stuck in their wrinkles.  This is the wild west but when I stand in the middle of it, all I hear is sweet silence. At first. Then comes the whispering wind and the tenor-cry of a hawk. And then the restless thump of my heart, wild and reckless. It's easy to see why people come here to heal, to explore, to create things, to start out. To start over. Sometimes you need to know you can climb this high. You need to know what it feels like to stand on the edge of the world and shout your dreams over the horizon. Or just whisper them, even. It's not the same as tossing pennies into wishing wells, when you do that. It feels a lot more like taking some ground in your life.  This place is so pretty I don't want to close my eyes but I do. I blink, and the mountains are still there - the same but different. Look all you want. There's more here than you'll ever have time to see, they seem to say. But not in a taunting way. They're a comforting presence, always welcoming me, always pulling me further in until I disappear and become part of them. Until they become part of me. Dust unto dust.  I want to set my heart to the rhythm of this place. I want to take it with me when I go. If you could teleport (...can you?! ;) and go anywhere you wanted this weekend, where would you go? 

hello goodreads! hello elk!

Listening To: Old Pine by Ben HowardBook Obsession: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. LOVED it. 
So I just got home from a roadtrip with The Rogue Accountant. At one point we were stalled, waiting for these slow-pokes to cross the road: 
Of course, my brother's reaction whenever a face-eating wild animal is in close proximity  is to roll down the window and say, “Take a picture.” 



Ever fearful for his safety, my response was, "Wait. I want one with my camera, too.” 



In the past few years, we've hit the road every summer. Quite honestly, I'm surprised he still asks me to go. Chase values solicitude and silence, especially while he’s enjoying the wild blue yonder. I, too, value nature, solicitude  and silence ... to an extent. But sometimes I get in Anne Shirley-mode and feel the need to chatter about everything. Everything. I don’t even know how I trail from one topic to the next. 
For example, at one point, while I was yammering my way down a myriad of verbal rabbit trails, I said: 

“Don’t you think it’d be fun of Rhianna and Drake got together?” 

And Chase was all, “WHAT ARE YOU EVEN TALKING ABOUT?!” 

*shrugs* I really have no clue. 


Now I'm home and getting excited about a fun post I get to write in the very near future. 
In the email abyss, and here in the comments, you’ve mentioned that you’d lurve to see the cover for A SNICKER OF MAGIC. I'm so excited about showing it to you. And I think we'll get to squeal over it together soon. 

My fabulous editor, Mallory (she's the lego-likeness who commandeered the sea vessel), is the boss of me when it comes to all things bookish and she hasn’t waved the checkered flag just yet for a cover reveal. But I found out today that I get to share the cover with you very, very soon. (I also found out galleys/ARC’s will be here VERY soon. Guh! :) 

If you’re down for fun clues, I think it’s okay to tell you this much: I was familiar with the illustrator’s work before I knew he'd be working on my cover. (Clue #2: He illustrated one of my favorite books, a book I’m pretty sure I’ve hocked on here a bunch.) I still can't believe he did my cover, too. I'm so excited.

In other news, I just realized today (thanks to Katie and Kara over on The Twitter!! :) that A SNICKER OF MAGIC is on Goodreads!  If you’d like to add it to your Goodreads stack, you can do that here. I rarely get on Goodreads (It's not always such an encouraging place for authors, know what I mean?), but I looked today. And it was so sweet to see SNICKER on a few shelves already. And to see the same names I see here in the comments :) Thank you so much for your excitement over the book. Thanks for being so awesome. If I could give you cupcakes, I would. Or maybe some flowers instead? 



One last thing about roadtrips: While we were traveling, Chase introduced me to Jason Isbell's album Southeastern. You guys ... the whole thing is spectacular. Download it, and then listen to it on the first day you feel fall in the air. You won't regret it. This song is my favorite: 



I would love to find some more new music. What are you listening to these days? 

to nyc, with love ♥

"I've studied all the pictures in magazines and books. I've memorized the subway map, too. It's one block north to Macy's and two to Brothers Brooks. Manhattan! I've prepared for you." - Thoroughly Modern Millie

Once upon a time two weeks ago, I gave Biscuit a good-bye snuggle, tugged on my cowboy boots, grabbed my suitcase, and shuffled out the door toward Nashville. 

From Nashvegas, I flew to New York City for a quick trip to meet my agent (!!!) and my editor (!!!) and some of the lovely folks at Scholastic! 

THE MOTHERSHIP! 

It sounds like a dream as I’m writing about it now, and it felt like a dream while I was experiencing it. Which is fitting. Because sometimes dreams really do come true. I still can't believe I really visited NYC. 

Sadly, I only took four pictures. FOUR. 

I have absolutely no issues about looking all touristy and taking pictures of everything. In particular, I really wanted a picture with Suzie and Mallory (my agent and editor). And ... nada. I know this sounds bananas, but I was such a flurry of nerves and excitement that I barely even pulled out my phone. 

I shared the sadness over the pictureless-ness with my nephew (age 9) while we downed two tall glasses of milk and a whole plate of chocolate chip cookies. And Andy, who is very wise in addition to being the coolest kind I know, helped me come up with a plan. Yes, I am an idiot, and I forgot to take pictures of one of the best days of my life. But! All was not lost. 

Because I could use his vast Lego collection to illustrate my New York adventures. 

It’s pretty much exactly the same as having pictures. As you will see. Here goes! 

My plane made a perfect movie entrance into NYC. 




I saw the silver-gray water, the Statue of Liberty, and the Manhattan skyline rippling across the horizon. As the plane swooped lower, I saw the sun flicker across a thousand windows, and I felt like The Big Apple was giving me a big flirty wink. 
I’d already turned off my music by then, so my only soundtrack for my first glimpse of New York City was a roaring engine and my pounding heart. And that is exactly as it should have been.

I skipped walked into my hotel room and stopped in my tracks. Just stood there. And stared. This was my view.



I could have stared out the window for hours. But I had too many fun things planned to stare for too long. :) 

One of the highlights of my trip was meeting my agent, Suzie Townsend, and my editor, Mallory Kass. If we roll with the metaphor of this whole experience being a Cinderella moment (and I really can't imagine it getting any better than it has), then those two would be the fairy godmothers. But! In books and movies, fairy godmothers tend to be old and glittery and wear blue snuggies. Suzie and Mallory are gorgeous, brilliant and ridiculously talented. They’ve helped me find the heart of my story (and find a home for my story) which would be more than enough. But during the whole process, they’ve also helped me pick up just a smidge of newfound confidence, which is nothing short of magical. Whenever I chat with them, I always feel like I’m talking to friends. That’s a wonderful feeling.  
(I’m in the middle, obviously.) 
I'm so grateful for both of them. Despite how crazy-busy they both are, they took some time to show me around, and I had the best time. 

We grabbed coffee and walked to Washington Park, which is gorgeous. (I actually do have a picture for this!) (We’re just ... not in it.) 




And then we meandered down several twisty-turny streets, stopping for bookstores and cupcakes. Here we are adventuring in the West Village! 

And here we are in a cab! The cupcakes are taking their toll apparently, considering the way I’m slumped down in the seat ... 



Here’s our cab driver, Ron Burgundy: 
We ate delicious NYC pizza. Note the Spiderman photobomb: 

* I totally flubbed and spelled the restaurant wrong. I hope that doesn't detract from the otherwise lifelike rendering of my experience. 
My favorite thing about the restaurant (besides the four cheese deliciousness I devoured) was the noise. It wasn’t typical restaurant chatter: conversation and plates clinking and loud music, etc. I mean, it definitely had all of those things. But more than that, the whole place hummed with energy that was intoxicating. 
By the time I got back to my hotel room that night, I was over the moon. Also, I pretty much felt like I had walked to the moon. All day, I’d stared up at buildings starry-eyed like, “This is so beautiful, let’s walk EVERYWHERE!!!” ... 




... and that night, I remembered what it actually felt like to walk everywhere. It was a good kind of tired though. I stared at the city lights until I couldn't keep my eyes open. I felt like I was sleeping in the stars. 
The next day was a day I’d been dreaming about, anticipating, and freaking out over for months. Mallory and I met for breakfast (I carb-load when I’m nervous, just FYI), and then we walked together to Scholastic. 
Oh, Scholastic. 

I can confirm that Scholastic is everything wonderful, charming, classy, and FUN that you could possibly imagine. We even entered through the bookstore. How perfect is that?! I felt like Charlie Bucket walking into Wonka Tower. It’s a moment I will never, ever forget. 

Blog Bonus Feature: By the time I got to Scholastic, I was sweating buckets. This was partially due to 1.) the fact that I wore black on 98% of my body. In August. Like so: 




... and 2.) the fact that I was so darn nervous. I was thrilled, excited, and grateful, but also (understandably, I think) a bit intimidated. 
So I asked Mallory if maybe I could stick my head in a freezer for five minutes before I met anybody, in effort to de-sweat. 

The freezer wasn’t an option, but Mallory told me to chill for a bit by the pensieve. 

Yes, they have a pensieve! 




!!!!!!!!
I told my mom that I came [----] that close to sneaking a selfie with the pensieve, but I was afraid someone would meander by and think me a freak. And my mom was like, “... I’m sure someone would have taken your picture with the pensieve.” I guess that would have been a more sensible option. 

And then I got to meet more of the wonderful people who are making my book ... a book. 

Here’s the thing: I already loved Scholastic. I’ve loved them since I was little, and saved all my allowance money for Babysitters Club books, book fairs, and book orders. I always knew if I ever visited NYC, I wanted to take a picture of the Scholastic building. To have a book published by Scholastic is a dream so big I’ll never be able to wrap my heart around it. I couldn’t wait to thank them in person. 

But I barely squeezed out any words at all, because within about .02 seconds of entering the room ... I was overwhelmed with so much kindness and enthusiasm that I was pretty much on the verge of tears the entire time. They are the superstars, but they made me feel so welcome, and so much cooler than I will ever feel again. 

Allow me to illustrate how lovely these folks are:

Like I said, I had an opportunity to say hello and share a bit about my book. Usually, when I’m talking to a group of people, I try to find a few smiling faces to look at. In this group, I saw nothing but smiling faces. They were warm and enthusiastic and they’re book-people, of course, which makes them kindred spirits by default. 




Lots of the people I met had already read A Snicker of Magic *gulp*, and took the time to tell me how much they enjoyed it. That was surreal. I was overwhelmed in a wonderful way. I met lots of the talented people who work in sales, and one such fantastical individual told me that the book was like a dessert you never, ever forget. As a connoisseur of all things dessert, I understand the weight of that compliment! Another new friend bequeathed me with this swankified necklace: 

Which is now on my parents' mantel, I kid you not. I picked it up to get a picture of it and my dad frowned and said, "Where are you taking my ice cream?" 
I also met some of the marketing and publicity wizards. They are brilliant, creative, and kind. Over cupcakes and coffee, I had a chance to chat with Sheila and Tracy, who are positively fabulous. They had such warm personalities that my nervousness nearly fizzled just chatting with them. (Also, they gave me cupcakes, and I think chocolate also helps me chill out.) (At least that’s what I tell myself ... ) 


The light sabers belong to Bess and Whitney, marketing Jedi. I can’t wait to show you what they’re doing with A Snicker of Magic. My heart is still doing back flips over their work. They were so kind, and so talented. And Bess is a southern girl too, so I didn’t have to calibrate my twang around her at all. (Note: I didn’t feel like I had to do this with anybody, but it’s a proven fact: the longer I talk, the thicker my accent becomes.) 
I met some of the editorial team. 

I thought I might get to meet some of the editors there. And I’m nerdy enough to know some of the books they’ve worked on, as well as the books they’ve written. And so, geekshow that I am, I tried to script (in my mind) what I wanted to say to them. I knew I would only have a few minutes so I wanted to be professional about it. Be cool about it.

My endeavor was not met with success. 

For example, I met David Levithan. (!!!) 




And I had planned to tell him 1.) how excited I was to meet him and 2.) that I’d just read his novel, Every Day , and I can’t stop thinking about it. It's one of those strange and beautiful books that never quite gets out of your system. But when he said hello, this was my very professional response: 
*blink blink blink* *big stupid grin* *whispers* “Cats.” 

Actually, I wasn’t quite that bad. But close.

I met authors Sara B. Larson and Lucy Christopher. Lucy read from her spring novel, The Killing Woods, and Sara read from her spring novel, Defy . Sara and Lucy were lovely and the scenes they read were mesmerizing. I can’t wait to read the books. I hope you read them too, so we can chat about them. 

When it was my turn to talk about A Snicker of Magic I was, as the great poet Jennifer Lawrence once said, “shaking like a chihuahua.”




But I was so, so happy. I thanked them for the heart and time they’ve invested in the story, even though “thank you” seems like such a puny word to express how I really feel. I talked about the inspiration behind my novel, which I’ll share with you as we get closer to Snicker's due date (Hints: The Avett Brothers, the Beatles, my grandparents). And then I read a scene from the book. That was very intimidating ... and kind of exciting, too. :)
I’d been so nervous about that, but I think it went okay. I always get worked up about talking to people, and it usually spins out fine in the end. (Are you ever this way? Still have a bit of stage fright that kicks in from time to time?) The Scholastics are so sweet that I could have flubbed the whole thing, and they still would have made me feel amazing. It’s hard to even put into words what the day meant to me. What they mean to me. I’m grateful for every single second of it.

About thirty minutes after I talked about my book, I was back in the car, en route to the airport, wiping a mess of happy tears and snot off my face. From the plane window, I watched Manhattan disappear behind the clouds. My phone battery was kaput. So all I had was my frenzied (though slightly steadier) heartbeat and a perfect summer sunset singing me back toward the mountains. 

And back toward sweet Biscuit, who was super excited to hear all about my big adventure.  


That sweet little story has taken me places I never expected. In the words of my beloved Avett Brothers, "My hands they shake, my head it spins." And spins and spins. I'm so grateful. 
-- 
I know this is getting lengthy, but can I share one more thing with you? I almost didn’t share this post. 
When it comes to writing, I (still) have lots of days when I feel pressed and crushed by doubt, rejection and fear. Fear, especially. Anxiety has been a default setting for me since I was a kid. I have to be very intentional about not letting fears (mostly irrational) keep me from experiencing some great things. On a slightly smaller scale, there are all kinds of fears that creep up once you start to pursue publication. And I think rejection - not just the publishing kind, but the kind that happens personally when you’re brave enough to wear your heart on your sleeve - roars at you sometimes. Every time you take a step in the right direction, every time you stand up in front of a crowd, every time you try - some sneaky old rejection-memory slams against you. 

Back when I was writing and querying, on days when rejection (the professional and personal kind) had me the most heavy-hearted, I always seemed to run across posts about writers zooming off to NYC to meet their agents and editors. Most of the time, I could read those posts with a happy-hopeful heart. But some days I read all the wrong things out of a post like that. Like this. 

Like, of course it happened for her. But it will never, ever happen for someone as [fill in the blank] as me. I know you’re made of tougher stuff than I am, but just in case you’re having a dumpy day: 

Don’t even think about reading this post that way. Read it like it’s your standing ovation, because that is very much what I want it to be. Whatever your passion happens to be - writing, theater, teaching, dancing, visual art, music, burrito making - whatever - you are so brave for pursuing it. 

We both know that I am NOT a big deal. I’m not even a little deal. The book I’ve written isn’t the next big thang. But NYC seemed too sweet not to share. And I thought it might encourage you to know that the road leading up to that sweet experience was a bumpy one. Somehow the pressed-and-crushed days make the good days even sweeter though. Don’t you think? 

As a chronic Piglet, there's something I should know by now, but often forget: fear and doubt aren’t an always indicator you should stop. Very often, they’re an indicator that you’re getting so, so close. As Mr. Thoreau would say, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams!” 

And when the dream comes true (and it will), enjoy every glittering second. 

(And don't forget to take pictures. ; ) 

Blog Bonus: OUTTAKES!!
Here’s Suzie, toasting a monster: 




Here’s Mallory, commandeering a sea vessel: 



And here I am battling the Emperor for his ... leg of mutton? “The appetite ..." growled the evil emperor, "is strong with this one.” 


And, of course, this post wouldn't have happened without my nephew, Andy, who is 100% awesome: 

Did you take any fun trips this summer? I would love to hear what's new with you! 

bon voyage, felicity!

Hey sweet people! How's your summer going?

I promise I'll write fun and funny blog posts again in the near future, but I wanted to pop in today and share some fun news with you:

Felicity Juniper Pickle is going to France! C'est magnifique! : )  Here's the official announcement:

Children’s French rights to Natalie Lloyd’s A SNICKER OF MAGIC, to La Martinere, by Donatella d’Ormesson in association with Kathleen Ortiz of New Leaf Literary & Media on behalf of Suzie Townsend. 

France!! I am gobsmacked. And I'm super grateful, especially to Suzie (aka: my amazing agent) and Kathleen Oritz (aka: The Great Ninja of Foreign Rights).

I still can't believe I get to see Felicity's story roll out in other languages. Upon hearing this news, I'm certain that Felicity's Aunt Cleo would attach a little French flag to the antenna of her car (a Nissan Sedan she calls The Beast of Burden), crank up some bluegrass, and drive the family to the local ice cream shop for some celebratory scoops.

I'm probably doing exactly the same thing later. Except I'll be wearing a sequined skirt. Full confession: It's actually got sequins and a tribal print, because go big or go home, right? *nods*

Okay, I just typed in "french bluegrass band" and Bing gave me gold. This is the French bluegrass band Canailles. They've performed at SXSW but I think this clip is more fun. Could these girls possibly be more chic? *sigh* I think this is a fitting way to end this post.



Bon Voyage, Felicity and Jonah! Enjoy the city of light. 

I would love to hear how your summer is winding down! What are you celebrating today?

updates and such.

Listening to: Mountain Sound by Of Monsters and Men
Line Obsession: "And here" -- Early pointed to the number one, in the middle -- "this is Pi. His mother named him Polaris, but she said he would have to earn his name." - from Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool


Hey friends! How goes your summer? Have you read any good books? Seen any good movies? Been road-tripping with your best friends?

Here's what's new in my neck of the woodlands:

This is probably not exciting to anyone else, but never the less: Update #1: I got new glasses! 

This is my first pair of Warby Parkers. And I like them a lot.


Truthfuly, I was hesitant about trying Warby Parker .

I love what they're about, of course, but I thought ordering perscription glasses online would be a fiasco. My glasses need lots of invisible bells and whistles - the lenses have to be thinned; there's ye olde astigmatism to consider. I need no glare, no scratch, and so on. It's not as easy as picking a cute pair, adding it to the virtual cart, and being done with it. Know what I mean?

However, I can now confirm that ordering from Warby Parker is just as easy (and way more fun) than ordering glasses from my eye doctor. They have a much better selection, the price is fan-flipping-tastic, and when I called with a question, the guy I spoke with was very kind and helpful. Their Home Try-On Kit is just about the smartest idea ever, and so much nicer than dealing with a hovering salesperson. And their frames are so pretty and well made. I especially like that the frames are on-trend and still classic, which is not always easy to find at such an affordable price. I'll definitely order from them in the future. Probably the near future, because I tried on another pair that I really, really liked as well. Those sneaky Warbies ... reeling me back in already ... :)

Seriously though, if you've been considering trying them out, I highly recommend them! 

(My frames are called Crane, and the color is Whiskey Tortoise.) (And if you have questions about the process, holler in the comments. I had lots of questions before I ordered, too.)

Slight tangent: I know you can't see much of the yellow dress in the selfie I posted above, but I should confess here that I wore it with black tights and cowboy boots.  IN JULY.


This always happens around mid-summer. I start to get desperate for Fall. Feisty for fall.

Last week, I bought a sweater. This week, I busted out the tights. The temperature is still volcanic, but I couldn't help myself. I need to remember fall is there. Somewhere. (Summer clothes are so boring, but I digress.)


Update #2: My book is ... nearly book-shaped!

I have a few fun updates on the book: 

- First, A Snicker of Magic got a little nod in Publishers Weekly's 2014 Spring Previews!! It's so crazy to see Snicker nestled in with so many amazing titles. I can't wait to read them. I am especially excited for Rebecca Behrens's When Audrey Met Alice and Nikki Loftin's Nightingale's Nest (LOOK AT THAT BEAUTIFUL COVER!). And I didn't know Tess Hilmo had a new book coming out until I read it in PW. Tess Hilmo is, basically, a story-magician. I would read anything she writes, but apparently Butch Cassidy has something to do with her new story. So I'm already smitten.

- I read my first pass pages! 

While first pass pages can still be edited, they're typeset and designed exactly the way they'll appear when the book is ... a book. So I got to see the whimsical fonts, the ridiculously adorable chapter headers, the scene breaks ... and a very special little illustration I can't show off just yet, but gosh I love it.

Next time I see the pages, theyll probably be in a galley! A GALLEY!! *muppet arms*

- I'm not allowed to reveal anything about the cover yet. But I think it's okay to tell you that I've seen early sketches. And I think I can tell you that it's whimsical and lovely and so, so FUN. Basically, I want to live in the cover. I think you will, too. I can't wait for you to see it. We'll do a fun reveal later this year. It's too bad we can't have a real reveal party. I would give you lots of cupcakes. Cowboy boots would be optional. :)

I sent my copy edits for A Snicker of Magic so, in most ways, I've let it go. I'm trying to let it go, anyway. It's crazy to think it all started a few years ago when I staggered out of this concert - all breathless and excited - and ran smack into a crazy new story idea ...



Thanks for putting up with my updates! What have you been into this summer? Also, help a girl out: I hear The Lone Ranger ... isn't so good. Is it worth seeing in the theater or should I just wait and Redbox it? 

sneak away. settle down.

Listening To: Stones Over Rushing Water by needtobreathe

So I told my brother that my phone was acting slow. And he suggested maybe I should delete at least 10 of the 457 pictures of my dog. Also, according to him, it sometimes helps to occasionally turn the phone off. Or close the apps down. Or, heck, update the dern thing. 
Whatever. 
While deleting and moving old pics around, I found some farm pics I never got around to posting.

This first one is very important, because it proves that hearts once hardened to various new experiences can, in fact, be changed.

This: 


... is me in a Snuggie.

Friends, in my younger, more ignorant days I have made fun of Snuggies, particularly the Snuggie commercial, on more than one occasion. (My favorite part is when the family is sitting together in the stands of a local sporting event, hollering and high-fiving in matching Snuggies, like a very cheerful little unit of druids.) I thought the whole idea of a Snuggie was kinda goofy. Who needs a blanket with arms?

And yet. Have you ever actually tried a Snuggie?


They are so soft and SO cuddly. 

I'm a believer. Tease me if you must.

Of course, I realize we are no longer in Snuggie weather. These days, the swampy south is muggy and beefy-humid-gross. But back when I first snuggie'd, the weather was early Spring-cool. I was down in Georgia, on the farm. I spent the day on a back porch over looking a lake (more on that in a second) with a stack of revisions and lots of coffee and ... the Snuggie. And it bliss, I tell you. Bliss! 

That was my sister's snuggie and I couldn't figure out how to hide it in my bag and cart it off without her knowing so... . I might get one of my own this winter. Maybe. Don't judge me until you try it.

Speaking of the farm, this is my favorite new farm critter. Have I shown you a picture of my sister's dog, Lola?

She's super-mini. I always thought Biscuit was tiny, but compared to Lola ... Biscuit is huge. Lola is squirrel-sized (slight exaggeration). Biscuit is 20+ pounds. The only thing I miss when I'm on the farm is ... Biscuit. But Biscuit doesn't mesh well with other dogs, so I never take her when I go. Thankfully, Lola is always down for a sympathy cuddle.

And she always has the same expression on her face. Excited? Tired? Mad? No clue. Can't read her Poker face. I think she has Einstein-hair. Which makes her look like she's always having an epiphany:


When I'm not hanging out with the fam, or Snuggie'd down with revisions, I love to walk.

My favorite path bends through the wavy grass in the field, around the edge of the lake, and through the woods.


It's an incredible feeling - to lose yourself in the middle of nowhere. Sometimes that's the only way to find your heart again, don't you think?

Whenever I walk that path, I do lots of praying and hoping and daydreaming. And so, obviously, I also remember things I've prayed for, hoped for, and dreamed for before on that same path. That's the way of circles, yes?


And it's kind of weird, because I think that kind of circular thinking could so easily make me feel like a failure. Because sometimes I realize what I've prayed about hasn't worked out yet. Or what I've hoped for hasn't come through. Or what I daydreamed while I kicked through the high grass and red Georgia dirt is ... closer. Maybe. But still not close enough to hold against my heart.


And yet, I never feel like a loser.

It feels like a very sacred path I'm walking - a sixth circle around Jericho, another round to remind myself that every little thing is going to be all right. Sometimes catch the echoes of prayers and hopes I've whispered through the woods. Sometimes I whisper them again. Hope shakes loose again all around me, the same as it did the first time I dared to believe.



It's just a good place to be, is all I'm getting at. I have places like that here, too. (One of my most recent favorite sneak-away-spots is Point Park. Have you been? It is breathtaking.) But Georgia holds a very special little piece of my heart. Actually, these two hold a piece of my heart: 

A big piece. Like, the giant squiggly-puzzle piece shape in the middle. (If you're fairly new around here, those two adorables are my niece and nephew. They are way, way too much fun. And they're about to embark on an epic road trip to Wyoming with their parents which makes me so jealous. I dreamed of taking an RV vacation when I was a kid. Sigh. :) 
They're the reason I'm most smitten with Georgia. But wandering through the woods is pretty awesome, too. 
Do you have a favorite sneak-away space when you need some time alone?