Conference craze

After an *insane* weekend of work, I've got a zillionish errands/things to do before leaving for Oklahoma City on Thursday morning with Kate. We're speaking together and separately at the Oklahoma Writers Federation Conference in OK City. Never been to OK, so should be fun!

I took the day off from work today and am doing so tomorrow except for a few minor things. Big huge thank you to Team Canterwood for sending e-mails, Tweets and Facebook messages about HOME SWEET DRAMA. You all ROCK! :) :) Tons of hearts!

Had a fun girls' night with Kate tonight. We took a gamble and dyed each other's hair. Turns out that we actually rocked it and we have a fun new color! It's still dark brown, but it has a hint of red and it feels very summery. People always think we're sisters and now we're like, "Yep. Gonna be getting that even more."

Time for Chinese food and a new GLEE episode!

Tallahassee Writers Conference pics part 2

Finally getting around to sharing pics from the Tallahassee Writers Conference. It was a great event and I had a lot of fun going with Editor K and showing her the Florida State University campus. (Go, Noles!)

I think I'm giving the audience the tip of when writing for tweens, "Don't use outdated slang aka 'get up in my grill foshizzle'". :)


More of my PowerPoint about writing for tweens.

And finally, I'm holding onto that clicker. I kind of loved it and want one. Thanks Editor K for snapping the shots! I'm still booking conferences for 2010 and 2011, so if interested, shoot me an e-mail at jess_burkhart [at] hotmail [dot] com.

And for your viewing pleasure...

:) Yaaay, Paige!

Saturday randomness

So glad it's finally Saturday!

Thanks so much to everyone who ReTweeted about Operation Teen Book Drop and participated. I left 10 signed copies of Canterwood books around my neighborhood with supercute Aladdin postcards inside. It would be sooo cool if someone reading my blog was someone who found a copy! :)

My to-do list was waaay out of control and I'm tackling it bit by bit today. I've got a ton of writing to do and my apartment is kind of (read: REALLY) a disaster. Plus, Fresh Direct is coming today which means I'll have part of my usual order--3 cases (24 cans each!) of Diet Coke. Y-U-M. Plus, I got a 12 pack of Diet Coke with lime. Felt like mixing it up a bit.

I've got a full week left at home before heading to Oklahoma with Kate for a conference the week after. Soo. . . that means I need to do laundry next week. Or tomorrow. Yeah, ASAP. :)

Also, waiting on something superfun in the mail. I saw these shirts at Target online and got Kate to agree to wear the Team Jacob shirt when we go see ECLIPSE. There will be photographic proof of us in our shirts. I heart them!





So, I'm going to try opening the comments again with the rule that there CANNOT be any HOME SWEET DRAMA spoilers or I'll have to delete your comment. Tell me what you're doing this weekend! :)

Operation Teen Book Drop!

Remember to Rock the Drop today for Operation Teen Book Drop! (See yesterday's post for all the deets.)

I'll be leaving signed copies of Canterwood books around NYC--so fun! :) Maybe *you'll* find one!

Find signed copies of Canterwood books!

I'm THRILLED to be participating in Operation Teen Book Drop tomorrow! So, my books aren't *technically* for teens, but I do have teen readers. And I'm putting my own spin on the program by making it an unofficial Operation Tween Book Drop. :)

Tomorrow, I'll be leaving autographed copies of TAKE THE REINS, CHASING BLUE and a few other books in the Canterwood series in various, random places in my neighborhood and in Manhattan. They'll also have a supercute Aladdin MIX postcard inside. You might find one on a park bench. Or the subway. Or a coffee shop. Or a picnic table. I'll be taking pics of drop off locations and posting them on my Twitter.

I'm encouraging YOU to do the same. Donate a book to a school, library or program that's in need of books for young readers. Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster for participating.

Happy OTBD! :)

The rumor is true!

Thanks so much to everyone who celebrated the release of HOME SWEET DRAMA with me! :D It's sooo cool to have it out now and I hope everyone's enjoying it. I'm already counting down the days till July 6 when CITY SECRETS comes out.

I want to confirm an announcement that was discussed on the Canterwood forum. I addressed the rumor there (check out the link to see the discussion), but wanted to say on my blog that it IS true--the 12th Canterwood book (UNFRIENDLY COMPETITION) will be the last with Sasha as the narrator. The reasoning is explained on the forum, so check there for my response. Sasha will still be around for books 13-16, I promise! It's going to be fun and exciting to write from a different character's POV and I'm thrilled to keep Canterwood going. :)

New Canterwood Crest quiz from a reader girlie

The awesome and supercool Snowy from Ponybox created this new, fun and killer Canterwood Crest quiz! Try it and test *your* knowledge about everything Canterwood. Thank you, Snowy! :)

Happy release day, HOME SWEET DRAMA!

I can't believe it's time for book #8 in the Canterwood Crest series! Ahhh!! We're at the halfway point now of sixteen books and it's. . . well, hard to articulate how I feel. Excited. Humbled. Scared. (And scared because I don't want to disappoint my reader girlies with any book.) Thrilled. Etc.

After eight books, I'm in love with my characters as ever and their horses. The adventures at Canterwood are continuing and I love being along for the ride.

Shout outs and sparkles to the Simon & Schuster team, our photographer, amazing models and the readers who allow me to live my dream to write. Special xoxo to Editor Kate for working her magic and putting her talent into this book.

Yaaaay, HSD! :D

So, since it's a special day, I'm opening comments! I want you to tell me what YOUR sparkle is! :) Mine, of course, is lip gloss and hanging out with my BFF.

Leave a comment here or Tweet at me or Editor K. We can't wait to hear about your sparkle!

PS: Comments have gotten sticky in the past, so please keep them clean. If there's any drama, I'll have to close them and that would be sad. :( So post away on what makes you happy and yaaay HOME SWEET DRAMA!

April 5, 2009

I moved to NYC.

Picked out my tattoo font for the occasion.

Sparkles, hearts and love to JRA and KAA.