Susane Colasanti's Blog, page 54
February 21, 2011
happy making
TGIM, friendly neighbors! Today I'm all about the things that are making me happy. It's my way of dealing with the harsh reality of having one more month of winter to endure. You know how much I enjoy the little things. So here are some little things that are making this winter brighter.
1. Vintage mail rules. I love getting actual letters from readers. Email and comments are also awesome, but there's something about seeing a person's handwriting and holding the same piece of paper they...
1. Vintage mail rules. I love getting actual letters from readers. Email and comments are also awesome, but there's something about seeing a person's handwriting and holding the same piece of paper they...
February 16, 2011
what's on my bookshelves
Every few years, I like going through all of my books and reorganizing them. Not just because I'm an organization freak. Digging out books I haven't seen in a while is like reuniting with old friends. All I have to do is hold a good book I read a long time ago to take me right back. I like trying to remember what was going on in my life when I first read them. I love lingering in their lasting impressions. It's a sweet ride.
This most recent reorganization project was more about necessit...
This most recent reorganization project was more about necessit...
February 11, 2011
observations
Well, I'm back on deadline! I met with my editors this week to discuss my new manuscript. They're the only two people who read my books in their initial stages, so I never know if they'll like what I've submitted until I hear back from them. It was a relief to find out that they liked it. Especially because this new book is risky in some ways. So now I'm starting the first revision. It's seriously exciting. I'm fortunate to have amazing editors who always know how to make my books the ...
February 9, 2011
take me there photo tour
Today is supercrazybusy, so this will be a quick note.
For those of you who've read Take Me There and want some behind-the-scenes action, I've posted an updated photo tour on my website. I'm hoping that it will enrich your reading experience. Or just give you some pretty cupcakes to look at.
Ciao for now :)
For those of you who've read Take Me There and want some behind-the-scenes action, I've posted an updated photo tour on my website. I'm hoping that it will enrich your reading experience. Or just give you some pretty cupcakes to look at.
Ciao for now :)
February 7, 2011
common courtesy
Getting up early blows. Especially when you are a night person like me. Teen me would always stay up too late reading and then find it impossible to get up for school in the morning. Sometimes I would even turn my alarm off in my sleep. Well, maybe I wasn't entirely asleep when I turned it off, but I totally didn't remember doing it. I still love staying up late. Not having to get up at the crack of darkness anymore is a major lifestyle plus. It's a circadian rhythm thing.
My life was a...
My life was a...
February 3, 2011
so much closer excerpt
My fifth book, So Much Closer, comes out three months from today on May 3.
I'm getting majorly stoked.
[image error]
To get the party started, I've posted an excerpt from the book on my website. It's never easy to decide which part of my books I want to post. This time, I went with the entire first chapter.
You can also read excerpts from my other books on my website. And my publisher put together a sampler of my books where you can read the first few chapters of each one. If any more chapters of So...
I'm getting majorly stoked.
[image error]
To get the party started, I've posted an excerpt from the book on my website. It's never easy to decide which part of my books I want to post. This time, I went with the entire first chapter.
You can also read excerpts from my other books on my website. And my publisher put together a sampler of my books where you can read the first few chapters of each one. If any more chapters of So...
January 31, 2011
not so bad
This is going to sound weird considering that we're only like a third of the way through winter, but winter doesn't seem so bad this time around. I know I shouldn't say things like that - cue record-low temps and biting winds - but for some reason I'm not completely bummed about the dreariest season the way I usually am. Probably because it's not even February yet. February is the coldest month. February is when I don't want to go anywhere. February is all about survival. It's busting i...
January 26, 2011
after the deadline
Woot! I submitted my manuscript of book six yesterday!
:: breathes ::
When I'm on deadline, I tend to lock into this extreme state of tunnel vision. It's all about the work. Grocery shopping is neglected. Dust accumulates. The bathroom gets kind of gross. I'm always paranoid right before I hand stuff in. Like of course this will be the day when my computer blows up. Or back when we submitted manuscripts as hard copies, I'd always worry that my printer would break down right before I h...
:: breathes ::
When I'm on deadline, I tend to lock into this extreme state of tunnel vision. It's all about the work. Grocery shopping is neglected. Dust accumulates. The bathroom gets kind of gross. I'm always paranoid right before I hand stuff in. Like of course this will be the day when my computer blows up. Or back when we submitted manuscripts as hard copies, I'd always worry that my printer would break down right before I h...
January 24, 2011
so much closer arc giveaway
A while ago, I gave away an ARC of So Much Closer on Twitter. It was so much fun that I've decided to do another Twitter giveaway this week!
Here's how to enter:
1. Follow me on Twitter. If you're already following me, proceed to step two.
2. Tweet the following:
Win a signed ARC of SO MUCH CLOSER! Follow @susanecolasanti and RT to enter. Giveaway info here: http://tinyurl.com/smcarc
Giveaway rules:
1. All entries must be completed by Sunday, January 30 at 11:11 pm.
2. Only one RT per entrant wi...
Here's how to enter:
1. Follow me on Twitter. If you're already following me, proceed to step two.
2. Tweet the following:
Win a signed ARC of SO MUCH CLOSER! Follow @susanecolasanti and RT to enter. Giveaway info here: http://tinyurl.com/smcarc
Giveaway rules:
1. All entries must be completed by Sunday, January 30 at 11:11 pm.
2. Only one RT per entrant wi...
January 21, 2011
make your own meaning
I know I'm a nerd. And I love it. I am a proud nerd and anytime you want to challenge me to a dork-off, just let me know.
I'm one of those people who likes to play board games and work on my scrapbook and spend hours at a time reading. Don't get me wrong. Going out makes me happy, too. A good dinner with friends or a highly anticipated movie night can be super fun. But for me, so can kicking it low-key. I've always been this way. I'm an arts & crafts person. I was even the arts & crafts director at a summer camp. So when my friend Tim saw this new arts & crafts mecca on the Upper West Side, he knew I was the perfect person to go with.
As soon as I got to Make Meaning, I was pretty much in heaven.
[image error]
They had stained glass! And beads! And ceramics and soaps and paper crafts and tons of other fun things to make. You could make whatever you want. It's an arts & crafts enthusiast's dream come true. I painted a heart keepsake box for my rings. Tim is an artist, so he got mad profesh on a bowl by painting an intricate New York City skyline around it.
[image error]
We had so much fun talking and painting and just appreciating that a place like Make Meaning existed in Manhattan. I don't even care that it's not a standard grownup activity. I'd much rather have fun doing something I want to do than be miserable doing something someone says I should like because it's fun for them. Of course we should try new things. New experiences are exciting and challenging. But once we know what makes us happy, those are the things we should focus on. Not what anyone else thinks we should be doing instead.
I get lots of emails from readers asking for advice. One issue I'm hearing more about lately is how teens are feeling pressured to do things with their friends that they don't want to do. This problem has been around for a really long time, but I think it's even more prevalent today. Here's the advice I give them that I wish someone had given me:
Being unique rules. If you're going to make a difference in this world, that means you're going to stand out in some way. You can't stand out if you're an average person who's following the herd. Part of the way you distinguish yourself is by having courage. Having the courage to live your life the way you want to is really important. So if your friends want you to go to a party where everyone's going to get wasted and end up puking on themselves, it's okay to be like, "Um, that sounds super fun? But I'm good, thanks." True friends would never force you to do something you don't want to. True friends love you because you are awesome.
I didn't learn this the easy way. When I was in college, I felt the same pressure from my friends and people I wanted to impress. I thought that if I went to a few frat parties, I'd make some new friends. And get the attention of this guy I liked in one of the frats. So when his frat had a party, I was there. I was there fake-sipping my beer because if you didn't have a drink in your hand someone was going to put one there and I wanted to fit in. So I'd tilt the cup back as if I were drinking, but I didn't actually drink. Why? Because alcohol makes me extremely sick. My system is sensitive - even caffeine makes me feel disgusting. But when I'd tried explaining that to people, they'd just give me a weird look and walk away. So I didn't bother trying to explain. I just keep fake-sipping like a total loser.
Living the life other people think you should live instead of the life you want to live will not make you happy.
We all want to be happy. Being true to yourself is the only way to make that happen. So let's not waste any more time trying to fit in. Let's not let other people decide what we should be doing. We'll do the things that make us happy and give our lives meaning, even if other people think we're huge nerds for doing them.
Some people are sad because they conform to everyone else's expectations.
Some people are happy because they refuse to let anyone else dictate their choices.
Who will you be?
I'm one of those people who likes to play board games and work on my scrapbook and spend hours at a time reading. Don't get me wrong. Going out makes me happy, too. A good dinner with friends or a highly anticipated movie night can be super fun. But for me, so can kicking it low-key. I've always been this way. I'm an arts & crafts person. I was even the arts & crafts director at a summer camp. So when my friend Tim saw this new arts & crafts mecca on the Upper West Side, he knew I was the perfect person to go with.
As soon as I got to Make Meaning, I was pretty much in heaven.
[image error]
They had stained glass! And beads! And ceramics and soaps and paper crafts and tons of other fun things to make. You could make whatever you want. It's an arts & crafts enthusiast's dream come true. I painted a heart keepsake box for my rings. Tim is an artist, so he got mad profesh on a bowl by painting an intricate New York City skyline around it.
[image error]
We had so much fun talking and painting and just appreciating that a place like Make Meaning existed in Manhattan. I don't even care that it's not a standard grownup activity. I'd much rather have fun doing something I want to do than be miserable doing something someone says I should like because it's fun for them. Of course we should try new things. New experiences are exciting and challenging. But once we know what makes us happy, those are the things we should focus on. Not what anyone else thinks we should be doing instead.
I get lots of emails from readers asking for advice. One issue I'm hearing more about lately is how teens are feeling pressured to do things with their friends that they don't want to do. This problem has been around for a really long time, but I think it's even more prevalent today. Here's the advice I give them that I wish someone had given me:
Being unique rules. If you're going to make a difference in this world, that means you're going to stand out in some way. You can't stand out if you're an average person who's following the herd. Part of the way you distinguish yourself is by having courage. Having the courage to live your life the way you want to is really important. So if your friends want you to go to a party where everyone's going to get wasted and end up puking on themselves, it's okay to be like, "Um, that sounds super fun? But I'm good, thanks." True friends would never force you to do something you don't want to. True friends love you because you are awesome.
I didn't learn this the easy way. When I was in college, I felt the same pressure from my friends and people I wanted to impress. I thought that if I went to a few frat parties, I'd make some new friends. And get the attention of this guy I liked in one of the frats. So when his frat had a party, I was there. I was there fake-sipping my beer because if you didn't have a drink in your hand someone was going to put one there and I wanted to fit in. So I'd tilt the cup back as if I were drinking, but I didn't actually drink. Why? Because alcohol makes me extremely sick. My system is sensitive - even caffeine makes me feel disgusting. But when I'd tried explaining that to people, they'd just give me a weird look and walk away. So I didn't bother trying to explain. I just keep fake-sipping like a total loser.
Living the life other people think you should live instead of the life you want to live will not make you happy.
We all want to be happy. Being true to yourself is the only way to make that happen. So let's not waste any more time trying to fit in. Let's not let other people decide what we should be doing. We'll do the things that make us happy and give our lives meaning, even if other people think we're huge nerds for doing them.
Some people are sad because they conform to everyone else's expectations.
Some people are happy because they refuse to let anyone else dictate their choices.
Who will you be?
