Robin Constantine's Blog, page 5
July 20, 2015
The Secrets of Attraction PLAYLIST (and a Goodreads giveaway!)
The creative tempers and larger than life personalities of musicians are endlessly fascinating to me.
What I loved most about writing THE SECRETS OF ATTRACTION was exploring the dynamic between the members of Jesse's band, Yellow #5. I wanted to write the story of a garage band, that may or may not make it out of the garage, whose biggest claim to fame might be vying for the top prize in a battle of the bands (which was pretty huge when I was in high school!). My favorite aspect of Jesse's part of the story is how he, Tanner and Grayson become not only bandmates but friends through the course of the book, and it becomes their band. Maybe they'll go onto bigger and better, or maybe they won't - but I suspect they will remain tight.
What's a book about music without a playlist? Some of this playlist I put together as I was writing - I listened to a lot of AM! The songs represent some of the moods both Madison and Jesse experience throughout the book and ends on a hopeful note! Hope you enjoy it!!
Want to win a signed hardcover of THE SECRETS OF ATTRACTION? Enter the Goodreads giveaway that runs through August 16th!
July 17, 2015
The Siren Song of Bad Boys (and a Goodreads Giveaway!)
Confession: I love bad boys. When I was ten years old, a mom and her two teenage sons moved into the second floor apartment of the house next door. The boys were too old to hang out with the kids on the block, so we never really got to know them, only saw them coming and going.
The brothers had epic yelling matches that would sometimes end up turning physical on their front lawn. There were also riffs between mother and sons, which would inevitably end up with one of boys barreling out of the house, cursing. The younger of the two brothers had unruly brown hair, wore a leather jacket and walked with what I can only describe as a determined swagger whenever he left the house.
I was smitten.
I don’t know why. Maybe because he was so different from my parochial school, peanut-butter-and-jelly life. Maybe I wondered what it was that troubled him so much. Maybe I just liked the way he looked. Whatever the reason, any time I could steal a glance at this striking, jean clad, teenage creature as he sauntered up the street…I would. Where was he going? Who did he hang out with? Why did he fight so much?
One night his mom fell asleep with a cigarette in her hand, igniting the bed. The gossip in the neighborhood was that she’d been drunk at the time. They left the burnt, powder blue mattress by the curb on garbage day. Shortly after, they moved out. My ten-year-old heart still wonders from time to time what became of him.
I got another dose of bad boys in Freshman Lit when we read S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, which is pretty much a bad-boy-a-palooza. Oh, and the movie. Matt Dillon as Dallas Winston? Hot. A police record a mile long. Loyal to his friends. And that pout? When Cherry said “I could fall in love with him” – Yep, I totally understood.
So it may come as a surprise to some readers that I don’t think of Grayson Barrett as a bad boy. I mean, he is, sort of – but I don’t like to pigeonhole him like that. When I was workshopping The Promise of Amazing with my critique group, I remember some of the first critiques kept mentioning ‘bad boy’ Grayson. And all I could think was “Don’t label him.” A hurt boy. A misguided boy. A boy who doesn’t think before he acts sometimes, but not all bad.
I adore Grayson. He’s unlike any character I’ve ever written. He’s a colossal jerk at times, but he knows it. More than once, it felt like I was writing myself into a corner with his actions but it was always fun figuring a way out. What I love most about Grayson is his humanness - his love for his father, his desire to be a better person, his ability to go after and fight for what he wants and the fact he wears his heart on his sleeve when it comes to Wren. Those attributes don’t sound bad to me at all.
Why are we so quick to judge someone? The truth is all of us have the capacity to be both good and bad. That bad boy neighbor of mine? I suspect he really wasn’t that bad. The burnt mattress at the curb must have humiliated him, maybe his family as well. What if when he left his house he was heading to the library or a movie and not to the bay to drink with his friends as I had suspected? And even if he had been drinking at the bay…does it make him a bad person?
No. It makes him human.
The allure of a bad boy is undeniable. Bad boys are flawed, sure. That alone makes them interesting, different. Bad boys live out loud and who doesn’t want to do that, at least some of the time? What better place than in the safety of a fictional word can you get a dose of bad boy, without it really disrupting your life? If someone can be so…bad…isn’t there a chance that at the heart of it, there is some good? That what it comes down to is that they are passionate about life, even if at times that passion is misdirected?
These are the reasons why I think the bad boy trope continues to be popular, but most of all?
When a bad boy smiles…oh, hot damn, there’s nothing like it.
Want to win a signed paperback of THE PROMISE OF AMAZING? Here's the link to the Goodreads giveaway!!
The brothers had epic yelling matches that would sometimes end up turning physical on their front lawn. There were also riffs between mother and sons, which would inevitably end up with one of boys barreling out of the house, cursing. The younger of the two brothers had unruly brown hair, wore a leather jacket and walked with what I can only describe as a determined swagger whenever he left the house.
I was smitten.
I don’t know why. Maybe because he was so different from my parochial school, peanut-butter-and-jelly life. Maybe I wondered what it was that troubled him so much. Maybe I just liked the way he looked. Whatever the reason, any time I could steal a glance at this striking, jean clad, teenage creature as he sauntered up the street…I would. Where was he going? Who did he hang out with? Why did he fight so much?
One night his mom fell asleep with a cigarette in her hand, igniting the bed. The gossip in the neighborhood was that she’d been drunk at the time. They left the burnt, powder blue mattress by the curb on garbage day. Shortly after, they moved out. My ten-year-old heart still wonders from time to time what became of him.
I got another dose of bad boys in Freshman Lit when we read S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders, which is pretty much a bad-boy-a-palooza. Oh, and the movie. Matt Dillon as Dallas Winston? Hot. A police record a mile long. Loyal to his friends. And that pout? When Cherry said “I could fall in love with him” – Yep, I totally understood.
So it may come as a surprise to some readers that I don’t think of Grayson Barrett as a bad boy. I mean, he is, sort of – but I don’t like to pigeonhole him like that. When I was workshopping The Promise of Amazing with my critique group, I remember some of the first critiques kept mentioning ‘bad boy’ Grayson. And all I could think was “Don’t label him.” A hurt boy. A misguided boy. A boy who doesn’t think before he acts sometimes, but not all bad.
I adore Grayson. He’s unlike any character I’ve ever written. He’s a colossal jerk at times, but he knows it. More than once, it felt like I was writing myself into a corner with his actions but it was always fun figuring a way out. What I love most about Grayson is his humanness - his love for his father, his desire to be a better person, his ability to go after and fight for what he wants and the fact he wears his heart on his sleeve when it comes to Wren. Those attributes don’t sound bad to me at all.
Why are we so quick to judge someone? The truth is all of us have the capacity to be both good and bad. That bad boy neighbor of mine? I suspect he really wasn’t that bad. The burnt mattress at the curb must have humiliated him, maybe his family as well. What if when he left his house he was heading to the library or a movie and not to the bay to drink with his friends as I had suspected? And even if he had been drinking at the bay…does it make him a bad person?
No. It makes him human.
The allure of a bad boy is undeniable. Bad boys are flawed, sure. That alone makes them interesting, different. Bad boys live out loud and who doesn’t want to do that, at least some of the time? What better place than in the safety of a fictional word can you get a dose of bad boy, without it really disrupting your life? If someone can be so…bad…isn’t there a chance that at the heart of it, there is some good? That what it comes down to is that they are passionate about life, even if at times that passion is misdirected?
These are the reasons why I think the bad boy trope continues to be popular, but most of all?
When a bad boy smiles…oh, hot damn, there’s nothing like it.
Want to win a signed paperback of THE PROMISE OF AMAZING? Here's the link to the Goodreads giveaway!!
July 16, 2015
SUMMER!! GIVEAWAYS!! BOOKITCON!!
It's SUMMER!!!
You're probably like, um, yes, Robin, it's been summer for close to a month now...where have you been?!
DRAFTING!!! (she says with a twitchy, maniacal grin) First-drafting to be exact. Not my favorite part of the writing process but a necessary part.
Which basically means I hardly pick up my head to realize what day it is, let alone that it's halfway through my favorite month and/or if I'm wearing something that's appropriate to be seen out in public.
Yes, July is my favorite for reasons.
Summer
Beach
Lemonade
Boardwalks
Birthdays
Barbecues
FLIP-FLOPS
Sun
Swimming
Sharks
But the good news is I'm done!! Time to goof off for a bit!! YASS!!
In honor of my favorite month, I'm doing two, YES TWO, Goodreads Giveaways! One for a paperback copy of THE PROMISE OF AMAZING and one for a hard cover of its companion novel THE SECRETS OF ATTRACTION. For the next week I'm going to be running fun posts that highlight both books! Playlists, casting, deleted scenes, etc. Stop by and check it out!
Also you could win THE SECRETS OF ATTRACTION and some more fab YAs in this #QuietYA giveaway!!
Where I'll be in August
Live in NJ? Love books? Then BOOKITCON is for YOU!! There are some amazing authors attending this book event (I will be fangirling too!) and even if you can't attend you have the opportunity to order some signed/personalized copies through the Bookitcon website until JULY 24th!!! Tickets start at $15.00. And keep an eye on twitter: Bookitcon organizer Nori (@ReadWriteLove28) is going to run a Twitter Q&A with some of the participating authors on JULY 22nd!!!
Here's some info, but check the BOOKITCON website for the most up to date details and of course to buy tickets!!
June 11, 2015
SOUTHEAST SUMMER BOOK BASH!!!!
Do you live in the Southeast? Love YA Lit? Ready to grab your next poolside or beach read? Want to meet and greet with some fabulous authors? Maybe get some cool book swag? Then come hang out with Lindsay Cummings, Lynne Matson, Anne Blankman, Jaye Robin Brown, Paula Stokes and me at one of our stops in GA, AL, TN, NC or SC on the SOUTHEAST SUMMER BOOK BASH!!!! You can find all the details of each specific stop at the the #SSBB website!!
Hope to see you there!!!
<3 Robin
April 22, 2015
Three Chances to win a signed hardcover of THE SECRETS OF ATTRACTION!!
The Secrets of Attraction releases in LESS THAN A WEEK! A coffee shop, cute baristas and the many delicious hot beverages they serve up play a big role in the story, so to celebrate I’m spreading the book and coffee love with a giveaway:
Two ways to enter:
1) Share a description of your favorite hot beverage and/or place to enjoy it!Or 2) Take a photo of your favorite hot drink and/or place to enjoy it!!
Share it on Twitter or Instagram through April 28th using the hashtag #SecretsofAttraction
Yes, it’s really that simple. Here’s mine:
The giveaway runs from now until April 28th! Then I’ll randomly choose THREE winners from the hashtag to receive a signed copy ofTHE SECRETS OF ATTRACTION, an adorable mug and some chocolate covered espresso beans!
US mailing addresses only please!
The Secrets of Attraction is on sale APRIL 28th!!
Two ways to enter:
1) Share a description of your favorite hot beverage and/or place to enjoy it!Or 2) Take a photo of your favorite hot drink and/or place to enjoy it!!
Share it on Twitter or Instagram through April 28th using the hashtag #SecretsofAttraction
Yes, it’s really that simple. Here’s mine:
The giveaway runs from now until April 28th! Then I’ll randomly choose THREE winners from the hashtag to receive a signed copy ofTHE SECRETS OF ATTRACTION, an adorable mug and some chocolate covered espresso beans!
US mailing addresses only please!
The Secrets of Attraction is on sale APRIL 28th!!
April 16, 2015
#TBT: Fly, Be Free
*originally published on The Paper Wait, August 21, 2013
As I sit here on this rainy morning pondering what words of wisdom I'm going to lay on you, my lovely Paper Wait readers, I realize no matter what I say, I will most likely fall spectacularly short. Confession: at the moment I'm feeling a bit empty, maybe even melancholy.
This past weekend, my son went off to college for the first time. And oh...so many feels.
I know this is a great thing. An important transition. A LIFE moment. And I'm proud and thrilled for him. I'm also sad. I hardly feel old enough to have a son in college - seriously, weren't we just filling up his Pokedex? I miss him - the telltale grinding of the garage door opening as he loped in from school or the rustling sound as he rifled through the fridge or of his laughter ringing through the house. Sometimes he'd walk in, completely zoned out in some podcast he was listening to and disappear until dinner and other times he would burst through the door, plant a purposely sloppy kiss on my cheek and ask how the writing was going. His presence in our home was palpable.
So, too, is his absence.
Oddly, this LIFE transition coincides with one of my own writing milestones. I just sent back first pass pages for THE PROMISE OF AMAZING. First pass is one step closer to being completely finished. It's proofing the typeset pages with a critical eye and making it perfect. You would think at this point I'd be so over Wren and Grayson I couldn't deal with them again. And part of me does feel that way.
The other part of me wants to make sure they are leaving the house with emergency money and clean underwear. (The Post-its represent places I'm changing things!)
As hard as it is to do it, for both my firstborn and my first book, letting go is an inevitable part of life. It's not necessarily a bad thing; gut-wrenching, maybe, but it also opens up a door for new energies to come in. My son will meet friends who will appreciate his uniqueness and his lovely, lovely laugh. My characters will go out into the world and hopefully find readers who are captivated by them as much as I am. Are either of those things guaranteed?
That's what makes letting go so exciting and terrifying. But, if you listen long enough, there's something else in that silence after goodbye - the whispers of new characters. New places. New and ever-evolving relationships.
It's time.
How do you cope with letting go?
As I sit here on this rainy morning pondering what words of wisdom I'm going to lay on you, my lovely Paper Wait readers, I realize no matter what I say, I will most likely fall spectacularly short. Confession: at the moment I'm feeling a bit empty, maybe even melancholy.
This past weekend, my son went off to college for the first time. And oh...so many feels.
I know this is a great thing. An important transition. A LIFE moment. And I'm proud and thrilled for him. I'm also sad. I hardly feel old enough to have a son in college - seriously, weren't we just filling up his Pokedex? I miss him - the telltale grinding of the garage door opening as he loped in from school or the rustling sound as he rifled through the fridge or of his laughter ringing through the house. Sometimes he'd walk in, completely zoned out in some podcast he was listening to and disappear until dinner and other times he would burst through the door, plant a purposely sloppy kiss on my cheek and ask how the writing was going. His presence in our home was palpable.
So, too, is his absence.
Oddly, this LIFE transition coincides with one of my own writing milestones. I just sent back first pass pages for THE PROMISE OF AMAZING. First pass is one step closer to being completely finished. It's proofing the typeset pages with a critical eye and making it perfect. You would think at this point I'd be so over Wren and Grayson I couldn't deal with them again. And part of me does feel that way.
The other part of me wants to make sure they are leaving the house with emergency money and clean underwear. (The Post-its represent places I'm changing things!)
As hard as it is to do it, for both my firstborn and my first book, letting go is an inevitable part of life. It's not necessarily a bad thing; gut-wrenching, maybe, but it also opens up a door for new energies to come in. My son will meet friends who will appreciate his uniqueness and his lovely, lovely laugh. My characters will go out into the world and hopefully find readers who are captivated by them as much as I am. Are either of those things guaranteed?
That's what makes letting go so exciting and terrifying. But, if you listen long enough, there's something else in that silence after goodbye - the whispers of new characters. New places. New and ever-evolving relationships.
It's time.
How do you cope with letting go?
April 12, 2015
Springtime, Signings and Swag - Oh My!
It’s spring, which means in a few short weeks my new book THE SECRETS OF ATTRACTION will be on the shelves! Take a look at this gorgeous swag designed by Amber from Me, Myshelf and I. I love the colors on this cover so much! I had to take a picture with some pink magnolia blossoms as the backdrop. So pretty! (and check out that swoony kiss!)
If you’d like a bookmark, drop me an email with your details at RCBooks@robinconstantine.com and I’ll be happy to send one (or a few) your way!
Want to take TSoA for a test drive? Here are the links to The Secrets of Attraction excerpt tour! THANK YOU so much to the amazing bloggers who participated!!! Seriously, hug a blogger today, they are made of pure awesome!!
Pandora's Books (first stop!)Bookish Things and MoreThe Unofficial Addiction Book Fan ClubBows and Bullets Reviews
I’m also doing some book signings to celebrate my launch:
Tuesday, April 28thMalaprop’s Bookstore/CaféAsheville, NC7:00PM Invincible Hit Secrets YA Book Signing!
Co-launch with the fabulous Amy Reed (INVINCIBLE) and Delilah S. Dawson (HIT) with special guest star Jaye Robin Brown (NO PLACE TO FALL)
Saturday, May 2ndPark Road BooksCharlotte, NC2:00PM YA panel, book chat and signing!
Featuring me, Amy Reed and Jaye Robin Brown Hope to see you there!!
And last but not least THE PROMISE OF AMAZING is out in paperback!! Perfect size for travel or stowing away in your backpack, carry-on tote or beach bag!!
Happy spring!! Happy reading!! More fun announcements coming soon!!
Robin <3
If you’d like a bookmark, drop me an email with your details at RCBooks@robinconstantine.com and I’ll be happy to send one (or a few) your way!
Want to take TSoA for a test drive? Here are the links to The Secrets of Attraction excerpt tour! THANK YOU so much to the amazing bloggers who participated!!! Seriously, hug a blogger today, they are made of pure awesome!!
Pandora's Books (first stop!)Bookish Things and MoreThe Unofficial Addiction Book Fan ClubBows and Bullets Reviews
I’m also doing some book signings to celebrate my launch:
Tuesday, April 28thMalaprop’s Bookstore/CaféAsheville, NC7:00PM Invincible Hit Secrets YA Book Signing!
Co-launch with the fabulous Amy Reed (INVINCIBLE) and Delilah S. Dawson (HIT) with special guest star Jaye Robin Brown (NO PLACE TO FALL)
Saturday, May 2ndPark Road BooksCharlotte, NC2:00PM YA panel, book chat and signing!
Featuring me, Amy Reed and Jaye Robin Brown Hope to see you there!!
And last but not least THE PROMISE OF AMAZING is out in paperback!! Perfect size for travel or stowing away in your backpack, carry-on tote or beach bag!!
Happy spring!! Happy reading!! More fun announcements coming soon!!
Robin <3
December 23, 2014
A Holiday Mix
The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas have always held a special place in my heart. I’m not really sure why – it’s certainly stressful, with end of semester tests, holiday shopping, overindulging and family obligations. I’ve always tried to look at the brighter side of things, and while the stressors I mentioned get to me too, I remember to pause a moment and really experience all of the things I love. The smell of a wood fire, the glow of Christmas lights, chocolate chip cookies, even the fact that Starbucks has special holiday to-go cups - it all makes me smile. The Promise of Amazing, which takes place during these weeks, is very much a love letter to a certain time in my life – when the only things I had to stress about were how cold it was going to be at the Thanksgiving football game and if I would have a special someone to kiss under the mistletoe. It may seem shallow, trivial even, but the underlying thrum of all of that, was the desire to be fully present in the moment. The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas seem to heighten that feeling for me, everything takes on more significance with the holidays as a backdrop: food tastes better, songs have deeper meaning, you miss people more, you love people more.
In honor of my favorite time of the year, I put together The Promise of Amazing Holiday Mix playlist. The songs included represent both Wren and Grayson and what might have been playing during that final Christmas party at The Camelot. (and okay, some are just my favorites) So dear reader, may you and your family have an AMAZING holiday season, with all the things that make it special for you! Hope you enjoy!!
xoxoxo Robin
October 25, 2014
The Secrets of Attraction Cover Reveal!
The cover for The Secrets of Attraction was revealed exclusively on Hypable.com a week ago. ICYMI: HERE IT IS!!!
Madison Pryce thinks she’s got everything figured out—she’s working on a portfolio for a summer art program, trying to keep up her grades, and hanging with her friends. Plus she has her hot boyfriend, Zach. They’re casual by choice—getting serious with a guy only complicates things. But then a visit from a family friend turns Maddie’s life upside down and throws all her beliefs into question.
Jesse McMann is still reeling from a breakup that shattered his heart and his band. He can’t seem to move on from his ex, and he hasn’t picked up his guitar in weeks. Then pride (and some goading from his bass player and fellow barista) forces him to find a new drummer—and the inspiration to write music again.
Kismet arrives in the unlikely form of Grayson Barrett, who tries out for Jesse’s band, and whose girlfriend is BFFs with the cute girl who orders a chai latte after yoga every Thursday: Maddie. What Jesse and Maddie thought they knew about the secrets of attraction and the rules of romance changes once they start falling for each other.
Would it be okay to say this cover makes me smile? I love this story and I think the cover captures all the swoon!
There will be more giveaways in the not too distant future, but my very first one can be found right here! I did a video interview with the lovely Rachel Silberman and talked a bit about The Promise of Amazing and how it relates to this companion book. You can also find out which supernatural creature I'd rather go out on a date with. :) She asked such awesome questions!
The Secrets of Attraction releases on April 28, 2015!
<3Robin
Madison Pryce thinks she’s got everything figured out—she’s working on a portfolio for a summer art program, trying to keep up her grades, and hanging with her friends. Plus she has her hot boyfriend, Zach. They’re casual by choice—getting serious with a guy only complicates things. But then a visit from a family friend turns Maddie’s life upside down and throws all her beliefs into question.
Jesse McMann is still reeling from a breakup that shattered his heart and his band. He can’t seem to move on from his ex, and he hasn’t picked up his guitar in weeks. Then pride (and some goading from his bass player and fellow barista) forces him to find a new drummer—and the inspiration to write music again.
Kismet arrives in the unlikely form of Grayson Barrett, who tries out for Jesse’s band, and whose girlfriend is BFFs with the cute girl who orders a chai latte after yoga every Thursday: Maddie. What Jesse and Maddie thought they knew about the secrets of attraction and the rules of romance changes once they start falling for each other.
Would it be okay to say this cover makes me smile? I love this story and I think the cover captures all the swoon!
There will be more giveaways in the not too distant future, but my very first one can be found right here! I did a video interview with the lovely Rachel Silberman and talked a bit about The Promise of Amazing and how it relates to this companion book. You can also find out which supernatural creature I'd rather go out on a date with. :) She asked such awesome questions!
The Secrets of Attraction releases on April 28, 2015!
<3Robin
October 10, 2014
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
It’s fall, and I suppose about time for a new blog post, lest you think I’ve been stuck in post-revision la-la land for months.
I haven’t.
Shortly after my last post, another round of revisions landed in my inbox. This was a tough batch (I had to completely rethink a part of the story) but revision has become my favorite part of the writing process because I get to play. I’m so happy with it! And now I can share the title of book two with you:
The Secrets of Attraction
Add it on Goodreads!
This is a companion novel for The Promise of Amazing – which means (for me at least) it’s an entirely different story, set in the same place, with some old characters and some new ones too! This is Madison’s story – so much fun writing from her perspective!!
Wait until you see the cover - it’s very swoony. (Soon!!)
All work and no play…well, you know how it goes, so after I finished with my last round of revisions AND copy edits, I had time for some travels.
I love Downton Abbey and had the chance to see the “Costumes of Downton Abbey” exhibit at Winterthur Gardens in Delaware, which is an absolutely gorgeous place to visit! (even without the costumes)
Lady Sybil's fashion forward harem pants!
I also had time for the beach (Cape May, NJ)!
Met up with some One Four KidLit pals in Orlando, FL!!
(l - r, the FABULOUS Vivi Barnes, Erica Cameron, Julie Murphy, Me and Christina Farley)
More time for the beach. (Wrightsville Beach, NC)
And a visit to Wilmington, NC where I kept my eyes peeled for Tom Mison but instead of Ichabod Crane....
...I found this:
(Wren was here!)
I also had the chance to participate in Novel Fashion Week, run by Kindred Dreamheart, which was a blast. Here’s the daytime and evening looks I came up with to match the cover of The Promise of Amazing! (Hope they would get Tim Gunn's approval!!)
All in all, I had a pretty productive and fun summer. Now, bring on all things pumpkin!!
I haven’t.
Shortly after my last post, another round of revisions landed in my inbox. This was a tough batch (I had to completely rethink a part of the story) but revision has become my favorite part of the writing process because I get to play. I’m so happy with it! And now I can share the title of book two with you:
The Secrets of Attraction
Add it on Goodreads!
This is a companion novel for The Promise of Amazing – which means (for me at least) it’s an entirely different story, set in the same place, with some old characters and some new ones too! This is Madison’s story – so much fun writing from her perspective!!
Wait until you see the cover - it’s very swoony. (Soon!!)
All work and no play…well, you know how it goes, so after I finished with my last round of revisions AND copy edits, I had time for some travels.
I love Downton Abbey and had the chance to see the “Costumes of Downton Abbey” exhibit at Winterthur Gardens in Delaware, which is an absolutely gorgeous place to visit! (even without the costumes)
Lady Sybil's fashion forward harem pants!
I also had time for the beach (Cape May, NJ)!
Met up with some One Four KidLit pals in Orlando, FL!!
(l - r, the FABULOUS Vivi Barnes, Erica Cameron, Julie Murphy, Me and Christina Farley)
More time for the beach. (Wrightsville Beach, NC)
And a visit to Wilmington, NC where I kept my eyes peeled for Tom Mison but instead of Ichabod Crane....
...I found this:
(Wren was here!)
I also had the chance to participate in Novel Fashion Week, run by Kindred Dreamheart, which was a blast. Here’s the daytime and evening looks I came up with to match the cover of The Promise of Amazing! (Hope they would get Tim Gunn's approval!!)
All in all, I had a pretty productive and fun summer. Now, bring on all things pumpkin!!
