I'm back! ... sort of

The move is done! We're successfully relocated, albeit still in boxes, and I've JUST gotten Internet service again. But I promised to be back today, so here I am.

our living room

I have to confess, I have very little interesting to say simply because I don't have time to collect my thoughts before July 14 begins... in less than two hours!

We've been keeping insane hours since moving to the Eastern time zone, unpacking around the clock (while the girls are visiting g'rents) and around work and job-hunting and workmen... and catching up with old friends who don't have children (i.e., keep crazy hours).

I do have many thoughts to share, but you know how it is when you start to say everything you've been thinking about at the same time and... nothing comes out?

I promise to get my act together for Monday and give us something good to talk about. In the meantime, I'll bore you with pictures of our new home, which I love. As you can see above, our living room is full of boxes. As is my future office-slash-entertainment area.

future office

I can say I've been thinking of you all during the last month. Some of you I can keep up with on Facebook, and I tried to pop in on Twitter as time permitted.

Of course, I've also been thinking about this whole "trying to become a published author" process, and how it meshes with my #1 job of being Mom. And that's the purpose of this blog, right? At least that's what I say is the purpose up there in the header...

The few times I was able to check in, I picked up on the chatter about emerging social media--Google+... --? What is this? I've also noticed more folks trying out Tumblr. Technology moves so fast. (OK--we all know that, but being unplugged for a month enhanced it for me.)

What are you guys thinking about this? Should we even be trying to keep up with technology? Or should we be focusing on our writing?

I've said a million times that blogging has made me more writer-friends and helped me grow in my craft through critique groups and beta partners. It even helped me find my agent.

I'll never be sorry I started this blog. But I honestly can't keep up with all social media and still maintain my writing, my family, and my other jobs and responsibilities.

And I think that's OK.

the kitchen... ahhh...

So there. Something to think about. Have a great weekend, reader-friends! And I leave you a shot of the one near-finished room in the house. Our lovely kitchen.

Til Monday~ <3

Always and Forever...

So I write contemporary young adult romance, right? Well, how many of you have seen a teenager these days who wasn't texting? I'm not sure how many are Facebookin it. Email? Myspace? Doubtful.

My point is, we're all aware of the glacial pace of book publishing and the lightening-fast speed of technology.

With that in mind, I try to avoid new slang in dialogue as much as possible--opting for the established, "cool," "hot," etc., over whatever they're saying on iCarly or Victorious. (I know some of you clever kids make up your own slang...)

But what about technology? 

In the book I'm currently shopping, all the characters have phones that they use both to talk and to text. Otherwise, technology is not in the story. (Actually, now I'm wondering if they should be using iPod Touches like all the kids running around here, but jeez, I don't even want to get that specific.)

I think it works, but I'm curious. What do you guys think? How are you handling this?

* * *

In other news, my friend Matt Rush is helping my other friend (and Super-critter) Carolyn Abiad with her query letter today at The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment (link).

Carolyn has written this amazing adventure story Burnt Amber that's set in Turkey--and in the realm of genies. It's got a strong female MC, a hot male protag., sword fights, spells, alternate realms. It's awesome! And she's a great writer. And a good friend.

Her blog Serendipity (link) is sort of a companion piece to the book, so check it out and start following her. Most of all, please run over to Matt's and help her out! Or at least give her some encouraging kudos.

Finally, THANK YOU to all my bleeps who've recently given me awards. I love you all, but specifically Dezzy (our Hollywood Spy), Angela, Tara, Jeannie, Gideon... oh, and everyone else over there on the right --->

(((BIG hugs))) and have a great weekend, reader friends! Til Monday~ <3