Writing for Charity Recap: In which I get to Handle Sara Zarr

Happy Monday, Y'all! And especially happy today. School starts! 

 (Kid C in his second grade class)

First thing I'm going to do with my free time: Shower for as long as I want. 

Then I'm going to write. 

WRITING FOR CHARITY RECAP

I went to the Writing for Charity event on Saturday, and it was seriously incredible. The day event included star-studded author panels, and then critique groups, and the evening extravaganza featured a comedy group, singing, and more authors!

Here are the highlights: (the good photos were taken by Heather Zahn Gardner)

-James Dashner and a pregnant (with twins) Shannon Hale MC'd the event.

(Shannon Hale, in a wheel chair. That's dedication)

-James tried to auction off Shannon's double placentas. Yes, he said the word "placentas". In front of a large crowd. Twice.

(James, showing how a placenta can fold up into something as tiny as a button)

-It's okay, because Brandon Mull one-upped him by saying the phrase "vaginal birth" and then turning red and giggling. 

-I was Sara Zarr's handler. I'm having a shirt made that reads "I Handled a National Book Award Finalist."

 (Sara Zarr. What's that I see? A smile?)

-I discovered "handling" an author means escorting them, getting them food and drink, etc. It does NOT mean braiding each other's hair, exchanging BFF charm bracelets, and most importantly, NO POST-CONFERENCE SLEEPOVERS.

-Also, Sara Zarr does not like her peppermint patties to be served to her on a paper plate. Seriously. Don't do it.

- Funny story:

You know how I call author Matt Kirby "He Who Shall Not be Named"? 

(He Who Shall Not Be Named... Matt Kirby. aka Matthew J. Kirby)

Well, I was talking to friend-of-the-blog Jenni Elyse, and she sees Brandon Mull walking behind me.

 (Brandon Mull: bestselling author of Fablehaven series)

Jenni waves to him and exclaims, "Look! It's He Who Shall Not Be Named!"

I turn around to discover it's Brandon Mull, not Matt Kirby, behind us. He pauses for just a moment, gives us a weird look, and smiles and nods like Okay, whatever crazy girls.

After he walked away, I'm like, "Um, who do you think that was?"

Jenni's all, "Matt Kirby. Duh."

I'm all, "That's Brandon Mull. Author of Fablehaven."

Jenni gives me a horrified look. "Are you telling me I just called Brandon Mull...the pseudonym for...VOLDEMORT?!"

It was so so cool. That's why Jenni and I are friends. I just imagined what Brandon thought of the whole thing, walking by complete strangers, who shout, "Look! It's 'He Who Shall Not Be Named'!"  

-I got to spend the day with most of The SIX, and Emily Wing Smith was a fellow Handler. (She handled Ally Condie)

(Emily, me, voted best handlers)

-Here's the one picture I took. Now you know why I use Heather's photos.

(Autograph table- From far left to right: Bree Despain, back of Ally Condie's head, Sara Zarr and James Dashner, wondering where he can score some placentas)

-I got page one of a completely new WIP critiqued. Now to write page two...

So how was all y'all's weekend? Anyone else make it to Writing for Charity? Anyone do anything fun? 

What I'm Reading, What I'm Writing, and Get Your First Page Critiqued

Hey y'all. I thought it was time to do some updates.

What I'm reading: 

I was lucky enough to get my hands on an ARC of Matt Kirby's book THE CLOCKWORK THREE. 

It was so good. You know, one of those books that makes me jealous of his way with words. I'm proud to call Matt a friend. So I can track him down and toilet paper his house.

What I'm Writing:

Some of you have been asking what the status is with my book. We are currently at Defcon 4. 

Defcon 1: Find an Agent.

Defcon 2: Revist with Agent.

Defcon 3: Wait to submit to Editors.

Defcon 4: Blood turns to acid because the stupid clock is not ticking away fast enough, and even though you've been waiting for years already, you swear this time, the wait will kill you, so you spend most days trying not to send crazy-a** emails to your agent, demanding to know why he doesn't have the power to speed up time, and perhaps as incentive, you should open a vein and bleed acid blood on everyone...

Defcon 5: Submit to Editors. Or the world blows up. It's fifty-fifty.

Get Your First Page Critiqued, and Meet Some Authors

If you have an interest in the publishing world or writing in general, you probably have heard how important the first page is.

Well, this Saturday, you can have your first page critiqued by a nationally published author... and raise money to provide needy children with books! 

It's a day of workshops and panels and critiques and signings, and an evening extravaganza, with some big names in the book world like James Dashner, Bree Despain, Jessica Day George, Shannon Hale, Ally Condie, Emily Wing Smith... and more. 

I had my first page critiqued last year, and now I have an agent. *

*above statement was not FDA approved, and results may or may not be typical.

Anywho, you can come for the day, or evening, or both. Click here for more info and to register.

Whew. I'm off to Lagoon (the illegitimate love-child of Disneyland and the State Fair) with Sam and the kids, because I got to thinking that it's been a while since I puked my lungs out. Wish us luck.