What Teens Are Really Reading

I'm on a library news kick this week: check out this librarian's article on what teens are really reading. 


Cool quote on an observed increase in debut novels from a Texas librarian: “Publishers are truly finding the best new voices in YA fiction out there.” Now that's good news.

Reason Number 548 To Love Libraries

Not that you needed another reason for library love, but just in case: here's an interesting Publishers Weekly article on library users and their buying habits.

I thought this quote by Library Journal executive editor Rebecca Miller summed up the article best: “Our data show that over 50% of all library users report purchasing books by an author they were introduced to in the library."

Good news for us authors, right?

The Year of The (Spy) Book

Now that I've had a chance to dip my toe in the waters of 2012 (I know, I'm a little slow here), I started thinking about what I want to accomplish this year.

Of course for me it'll be the year of the book, with Double Vision out late this year and all (exciting! scary!). I'll have to leave my comfy chair and travel (a post for a different time). Plus, I'll be starting work on book two in the series shortly--fun, fun, fun.

But I also want to read more this year--very important for a writer, and also fun, so double-score. For those of you looking to add to your reading list like me, check out this School Library Journal list of YA spy books.

A great list to grow your 2012 TBR pile.

Go Kelly!

Did anyone else see Kelly Clarkson rock SNL this past weekend? Pretty cool, and a great way to kick in the door of 2012. I thought I'd share. Happy new year! I don't know about you, but I'm ready to get back to work. Lock up your M&Ms, all...

9 Signs You're Spending Too Much Time Online

The year is almost done! I know, it's a shocker. For me, 2011 was the year of the nomad: I moved twice, and feel like 2011 is still kicking my butt a little.

This past year has also been the year of social networking, it seems. I use my recent move to the deep south as an excuse to find my friends online, but really, there comes a time to take a break from the ol' e-superhighway. I recently caught myself doing stuff that... Well, they were signs that perhaps unplugging is called for, at least for these last few weeks of 2011.

So you can laugh at me (and yourself?), here are 9 signs you're spending too much time online:

You:

9. start conversations with: "I read this great article online..."

8. thought: "I know the perfect hashtag for that"

7. started using Wikipedia as your primary research tool

6. call the internet interwebz, because that's what the lolcats do

5. thought: "I wonder if my Klout score has gone up yet?"

4. can instantly tell if a message is too long to tweet

3. feel like someone moved the furniture in your house when Twitter/Facebook changes their layout

2. call your cat kitteh (see #6)

1. message your spouse/kid/fill-in-the-blank on Facebook when they're in the same room.

Since I've been guilty of just about all of these, I've decided to take an internet break and to treat the rest of 2011 as the Sunday of the year. So I'll see you all in 2012!

26 Toes

No, don't worry, I don't have 26 toes (eeewwww, right?). The one with the toes is this cute kitty named Daniel over at the Milwaukee shelter who helped them raise money to buy a new building. I thought the story was so sweet, I wanted to share...

I'm a sucker for cats, what can I say.

Happy weekend all!

iHoliday Musings

Apologies for recent quietude on the blog--I've been daydreaming (plotting) about my new book, and untangling Christmas lights. First off: congrats to all my NaNoWriMo writer pals! I'm impresssed.

On a completely different subject (unless you're looking for a reward for your NaNo accomplishments): guess what tops kids' Christmas list? (stolen from Digital Life)

Can I just mention I was raised when you'd get a Barbie--or better yet a book--this time of year? I know, I'm showing my age, but...

An iPad?

Now here's a question from the parent in me: if you're going to give kids an iPad this year, what's under the tree next year? A car?
Whaddoy'allthink?