goals 2012

Being funny before the 2009 Other Half Marathon in Moab. Reminds me that I'm capable of amazing things when I put my mind and heart into something!

I'm not one for resolutions because too often they are set, failed at, then allowed to die a slow death by February. But I do love me some goals that can be set, tried, then adjusted as needed. So here are mine for 2012, writing and otherwise.

1. Always come back to the positive.

Because here is a truth, I have struggled with this off and on through 2011. The movement towards getting published has been interesting to say the least. Also, it's been filled with personal lessons and has taught me tons about the industry (absolutely!) but more importantly, about myself. And while I can't talk specifics, I will say that there have been amazingly wonderful things and also catastrophically heartbreaking things, but through it all there has also been me and this book. So here is my take away so far: It is vitally important to stay as centered and as positive within yourself as possible because outside of you is like a wind storm of variability that is completely outside of your ability to control. You can't allow any of that to effect your love, life or happiness because the reality is, pursuing something career related is never as important as you love, life or happiness. 

2. Visualize daily. (career, lifestyle, relationships)

This one is actually a no brainer for me personally because I love to do this anyway. But, I sometimes drift into daydreaming instead of concentrating on a more specific vision. So, I need to focus.

3. Write 500 everyday. 

I renew this goal all the time. It still needs work.

4. Give yourself deadlines

This is to help with #3

5. Blog at least twice a week

Honestly, this one scares me.  Such a commitment! :-)

6. Read 2 new books a month.

I LOVE this goal for obvious reasons. The challenge is simply a time issue (HA, simple right?)

7. Exercise daily.

Even if it is just going for a walk. Part of my #2 is visualizing my lifestyle (this frequently looks like a healthy strong me cavorting down a beach or ski slope happy and calm with my husband and kids.

Also, I am in great shape while cavorting. And well, visualizing is a TWO STEP process after all: Think It--Do It. 

So that's it--so far anyway. Remember I'm a "adjust as needed" kind of girl. How about it, what are your goals for 2012? If your blogging about it, please paste a link in the comments section. I'd love to come over and read yours!

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The Call

Christmas break, snow falling, writer who had very recently been tottering on the brink of disastrous thoughts and behavior that indicated she had given up on Ascendant ever finding the love of a publisher willing to invest the time, money and energy in helping the first book in a serious find a public.

Then, one night while sitting at The Tattered Cover (my favoritiest bookstore) over come with worry, self doubt, and surrounded with all those other books that already had their space on the shelf, I asked for help.

Please God, Universe, Everything, help me know what to do. Help me know how to move--because right now, I'm so stuck. Stuck in the middle of mire that I can't go back, I'm not moving forward, I feel unable to levitate out of this current situation, so please, please help me.

*continued typing on computer*
*several minutes pass*
*look up*
*notice book oddly displayed all by itself on the mantle in front of me*
*put computer down, get up, consider book, pick up book, sit back down*
*open to the first page*


"Step One--Understand Your Power"

So, I read that book in practically one sitting and then promptly purchased and read the author's other book, Infinite Possibilities and realized that the only person that had been keeping me from allowing my publishing career to flow into the next phase was myself.

I had been circling and circling around and around in that Waiting Place, worrying, not believing, thinking of every possible reason why it would never ever happen for me when honestly, all along, I was no more than an arms reach ahead of me.

But I had to believe that it was there, had to understand, without a doubt that all that was required of me in the situation that I had set up for myself was to step forward and say yes.

And so, I did.

I knew it was happening, things were rolling, I needed to get back into my story because changes were coming, edits would need to happen, discussions with My Editor were going to start flying.

Today.

So today, My Call came. My publisher loves my book, they are over the moon about the series. And I said YES. YES. YES.

The two first people I called:

1. My Husband
2. My Mother

I'm not going to lie, the feeling is amazing. And scary, but mostly amazingly excitingly hypnotically crazy. I'm going to buy a bottle of expensive Champagne today and take my wonderful husband out to a fantastic dinner downtown. Also, I am just going to roll back and forth in this joy for the rest of the day. There is work to do, oh yes, but I want to savor every inch of this feeling right now.

After all, when your dream comes true, it's an amazingly beautiful thing that should be completely digested.

Contracts are being drafted.

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Getting what you want

I just wanted to share a somewhat large epiphany I've recently had.

If you're blessed enough to already know what you want in this world, hang that want to the front door of your consciousness and use both your hands to work towards getting it.

Don't stop.
Keep moving.
Never doubt.

You will succeed.

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Writer's Obsession

Obsessions Pub, agent, etc...have to stop

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Top 5 Must Read YA & MG Books

I've mentioned it on Twitter--Everyone I know is getting books this year for Christmas. AND, most of those books have (or will be) purchased at The Tattered Cover here in Denver (my favoritest book store ever!) But here's the other thing, almost all the books I've purchased for the teens and adults in my life are YA or MG. Many of these people do not typically read this age group.

Now I haven't completely disregarded what I know to be their  reading proclivities. I've simply taken into account what books typically line there shelves and then thought long and hard about what genre within the YA/MG branch of lit would most likely be highly enjoyable for them. For example, my 78 year old grandfather loves Wilbur Smith--I purchased him The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan. My grandmother loves historical romance = The Luxe by Anna Godbersen. My thoughts are that these books will be a fun alternative to their usual fare but still very close.

So I was browsing and thinking my way through Tattered Cover's YA and MG section tonight and I'm wondering, what are the staples of the YA and/or MG book world? If you had to recommend 5 books from each age range, what would you choose? Let's assume the Twilight saga is a given because regardless of if you are a fan or not, I think it's hard to argue that this series is NOT a must read for anyone looking to explore the depth and breadth of YA books on the shelf (even if it's just to know what all the hubbub is about.) So...

What are the top 5 must read YA books?

Top 5 MG must reads? (AND, no mentions of anything Harry. That, like Twilight, is a given.)

Why?

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