A 2014 Recap

You can't go wrong when you start your year off finding non-diseased ticker tape in Times Square. We spent the night with Kelly and Max (and Declan!) in Harlem and in the morning had our annual New Years walk to Times Square to see all the carnage.

I blogged a little about almost dying at the Strand here. 

And the year only looked better when I tagged along with Hannah and Jen to ALA Midwinter. It was in Philadelphia this year, so how could I say no? I came home with a truckload of ARCs, prompting Shannon to ask, "These were all free, right??" as he helped me unload the car.

Much thanks to Hannah and Jen who helped me learn the ropes at my first convention!

I spent a lot of time with BFF Kelly in New York. And in May she called me with the biggest surprise of all--she's pregnant with baby #2! She's due any day now so I'll be flooding everyone's feed with the most awesome baby ever.  

Fun Fact: Kelly always comes up with the best names. She helps me cast all my characters.

I also spent a lot of time with Ms. Jodi Meadows this year. I crashed on her couch twice this year, once for the Charlottesville for the Virginia Festival of the Book and again for Joy Hensley's book launch for Rites of Passage. 

I also got to tag along with her for the Frederick Book Festival in Maryland. Here she is on a panel with the adorable Julie Anne Lindsey!

And here's Jodi with Joy Hensley at the Chapter by Chapter Book Rave in New Rochelle. I was there with BFF Kelly, where we met Jay Crownover, CJ Redwine, Lee Bross, Elizabeth Eulberg and soooo many others. 

Funny Story: Kelly and I snuck in early with coffee and waters and anytime security tried to kick us out, we had all the authors say "they're with me." 

Clan MacLeod had a ton of book releases this year. In celebration, we began a tradition of posting our pictures in the book's theme in a blog hop. You can see all of mine here. If you want to see everyone's pic, all my pictures are linked to the original blog.

It wasn't all work this year. I spent a lot more time with family, which was something I was really missing. My brother got married, which brought us all together, and I'm excited to see everyone this week where I will CRUSH them with my gift-giving skills in the first annual gift Pollyanna.

I got in some beach time at Cape May with Shannon and Nelly. There's something about that beach town that feels like home to me.

I have a tendency to write while on vacation, and give some tips here.

 

I read a lot this year. I mean, a few books (*cough 127 at the date of this post*). 

Here's a few of my favorites. 

And here's a few I'm sooo excited to read in 2015.

2014 Reading Challenge

Valerie has completed her goal of reading 60 books in 2014!

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127 of 60 (100%)

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In fact, my TBR was so out of control, I had to get two new bookcases (with doors!).

And I was writing the whole time. I turned in a finished manuscript to my agent and started churning out another one. My post-it board began to fill up with ideas and plot points, and hopefully I'll be turning in something else soon.

 I got to share a little about my writing process here.

And how to use the Post-It plotting method there.

So I'm going into 2015 feeling pretty good. This was definitely a packed year of people and reading and writing, but I think I'm finally finding a healthy balance of work and fun. 

So bring it, New Year! I'm ready.

Book Convention Dos and Don'ts

I'm back from ALAMW14 and completely booked-out. Not only did I get to meet some awesome publishing people, but I got to hang out with all my favorite blogger friends! A big thank you to Hannah and Jen who took me under their wings and showed me the ropes for my first convention. 

Rather than do a recap, I compiled a few Dos/Don'ts from everything I learned (plus a fun giveaway!). 

Do prep ahead of time and know your floor plan. Also, highlight and laminate it like Hannah. I found myself asking, "Wait. Where is the Harper booth again?" five million times.

Don't forget to gush to Matthew Quick about Sara Zarr when you wait for him to sign your book. Unless you want to feel really embarrassed later.

Do talk! I have the hardest time talking to people I don't know (introvert, holla!), but book people can talk forever about books! So I asked lots of questions, but the one I found most effective was: "Which books are you most excited about?" 

Don't forget to include your agent's name on your business cards (like I did and then fought the urge to write it in with Sharpie). Also, if you want publishers to send you anything or put you on their lists, make sure your address is on there too (lesson number two for me!). If giving out your address to everyone makes you feel uncomfortable, some bloggers said they had two sets of cards. 

Do dress in layers. It was freezing and snowing outside, but a sauna inside the convention center. 

Don't forget to bring an extra tote. I thought I was good having two, but really needed three. And luckily Hannah had an extra I could snag on the way home. Plus, those books get heavy and you'll need to redistribute the weight. (Also, DON'T judge my ugly orange carpet!)

Do gush about all the writer friends you know who have ARCs out on display. I seriously fangirled when I saw agency brother Robert Lettrick's FRENZY at the Disney Hyperion Booth. 

Don't forget to check out the other booths! It was really cool to talk to people who published non-fiction and audio books. I even picked up this cool memoir by Jennifer Buhl about her life as a paparazzi.

Do ask the marketing and PR people at the booths for the titles you want--even if they aren't sitting out. It never hurts to ask (super, super politely!). 

Don't take more than one of each book--or any books you know you aren't going to read. I know they are just sitting out EVERYWHERE, but it's important that they get read and are reviewed. They're meant to build buzz for the book. 

Do pass on the book love! That's why I'm giving away an ARC of E. Lockhart's WE WERE LIARS and Leila Howland's NANTUCKET RED! Enter the Rafflecopter below! 

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