Random Stuffs

I hope you're all enjoying the season as much as I am. I don't think I realized how much I needed a break until I handed in revisions on the new book and got one. Then there was the customary pre-Christmas running around and NOW, finally, I've been chilling and hanging out with my kids. Yesterday we did our traditional post-Christmas movie marathon in which we see three movies in one day. We chose True Grit, Tron, and The Fighter, all of which were incredible. I'd recommend every one of them for different reasons.

So here we are! I totally spaced on the usual features this past week, but I figured you guys were probably busy anyway.

I do want to give you a rundown on a few things as well as an idea what to expect the rest of the week.

A few weeks ago, I was super surprised and honored to see that Prophecy of the Sisters was on Scholastic's list of Top Trends in Children's Book from 2010. As anyone in this business knows, writing these days is a delicate balance between delivering something the reader wants and will enjoy reading and staying true to the craft and the stories that present themselves to us and want to be told. One of my primary goals when writing a novel is to bring something new to the table. In short, I want to be a trendsetter not a trend follower. Seeing Prophecy in such good company – and chosen by a publishing house I respect as much as I do Scholastic – is really an honor.

I was also happily surprised to see the Prophecy of the Sisters series named to Persnickety Snark's Five Great Series list. I adore Adele, both for her personal wit and for her professionalism as a blogger. She tells it like it is without being unkind. I have to confess that I'm always half cringing when I know she's reading one of my books because I know if she doesn't like it, she'll say so! All of which makes it even more meaningful to see Prophecy of the Sisters on her list.

I've heard it mentioned that Prophecy was on several other end-of-year lists, but I have to confess that I haven't been online much and have made a point to wean myself off the Google alerts. So if you put Prophecy on one of your Best Of lists, feel free to post a link for everyone in the comments.

On another note, I want to mention two organizations to which I'll be donating before the end of the year, The FEED Foundation and Oxfam America. I'm so impressed with the initiatives of both of these groups, and while I've been a big advocate for Oxfam for some time, FEED has only recently come to my attention. I hope you'll take a look at them and shout from the rooftops any others about which you feel passionately. Even if you can't afford to give, just spreading the word can make a difference (or you can buy the FEED bag, save on plastic, and know that the proceeds are going to end hunger here and in the rest of the world, too). Less consuming, more giving! That's my motto!

Tomorrow I'll post my Thing I Love for the week and Friday you can look for the poll to involve New Year's resolutions PLUS a few of my own. Next week, it'll be back to our regularly schedule program! Don't forget to email prophecypress@aol.com if you'd like to be featured as an Anonymous Teen Reader (with all new questions chosen by YOU this past year) or to nominate a song for Song of the Week.