Write with me this weekend--Twitter style

I'm dedicating pretty much my entire weekend to writing. I'm working on MASQUERADE and doing #1k1hr with friends has been awesome. This weekend, though, what if we try smaller goals? I propose:

Write Your Book Twitter Style!

Every time you write 140 *words* (I changed it from Twitter's 140 characters) you get a point. All weekend, keep track of your points and feel free to share them here, Tweet, Facebook or whatever you like. Just know there will be someone else doing it, too. :)

If you Tweet about it, hashtag it with #140words.

Anyone want to commit? :)

Signed copies at Barnes & Noble (Union Square) NYC

Yesterday, I signed the above copies of various Canterwood books at the Barnes & Noble in Union Square. It was my first visit to the 4 story store and it's awesome! :) If you want to grab a copy or reserve one, def head over or have someone pull a book from the shelf. :)

#1k1hr

Had a lot of fun writing MASQUERADE today! I can only write for about an hour at a time before stopping to ice my arm, but I'm seeing a doctor again soon. Hopefully, I'll either have surgery in the fall or have a plan so that I can write all that I want! Eeek! It's something I used to take for granted--being able to write allllll day and not even think about it.

Since 2006, though, what started as carpal tunnel (and still is present) has progressed to tennis elbow and/or thoracic outlet syndrome. Basically, it's too much pain for OTC pain relievers to touch and braces only help a teensy bit. The second I'm off the computer, I'm in pain for the rest of the day or even a few days after. It's like a toothache that won't go away. The WORST is when the pain spikes. The best way I can describe it is as though someone's shoving a white hot iron fire poker into my elbow. Not so fun!

But I feel great when writing gets done, like today, and I know to stop before I make my arm too mad. I tried my Barnhart girl, Lauren's, #1k1hr strategy on Twitter and it was so fun and totally worked. Doing it again tomorrow. :) Search the hashtag and try it for yourself if you're up for a challenge!

Signing off!

xo

Back to Brooklyn!

Man, 7 weeks is a LONG time to be away from home! It's been taking some serious adjusting to get into a routine that doesn't revolve around crazy hospital schedules. I slept until almost 4 today and gave myself the weekend off, except for copy edits, since K and I just got back mid-week. *ignores giant suitcases that need unpacking*

I'm starting MASQUERADE tomorrow and am SO excited about it. K and I outlined most of it in Minnesota and it might be my fave LT book to date. It's going to be soooo fun to write! I want to share the cliffhanger with Team Canterwood right now, LOL, because it's killing me!

MASQUERADE is due next month (!) so the blog might be a little quiet until it's turned in. But I'll be on Twitter and reading your comments to see what everyone's up to.

When do you guys get out of school for the summer? Any summer plans? Share! :)

xoxo

Popular releases tomorrow!

W-O-W--WOW!

I can't believe the *fourteenth* Canterwood Crest book releases on Tuesday! This was a series that started with one book in mind that I wrote in 2009. Ya'll know the story, but I'm feeling nostalgic. I was 19, a senior in college with a full course load and I heard about National Novel Writing Month. It was late October 2006, and NaNo is November 1-30, so I had no ideas, no outline--nothing. I jumped into it and started writing my first ever novel.

Tidbit: It was a YA novel called "High Jumps at Collins Academy" first. :)

I wrote my butt off and actually crossed the 50,000 word mark on or just before November 30. My draft was UGLY. I mean, it was seriously scary! But editing on my own, later edits with my ex-agent and edits from my first editor, Molly, got the book on track. That one book turned into a four book deal and after Molly left S&S (I got the call on my birthday!) I got the greatest gift: High Jumps, now Canterwood Crest, was under the guidance and editorial input of Kate Angelella.

Everything changed after that. Call it two girls clicking over a story. Or maybe it was the beautiful photos. Or the insane, nonstop marketing. Or the schedule of writing a bi-monthly series for a while. All of those things, and more, came into play into getting my series from one book to 20. Those were all important components, but it was, without a doubt, the edits from Editor K that got us to where we are: over 500,000 copies of the series in print.

I am ever so grateful to Kate and Simon & Schuster for embracing a girl with a desperate need for horses in her life, but being unable to do so unless I could write about them. Canterwood allows me to live vicariously through my characters and I couldn't be more immersed in Horse World. Best part? I got to see Kate pet her first horse. Nice coincidence, huh? :)

I'm busy working on MASQUERADE and Kate had her hands full with projects and will soon be editing my book.

I sincerely want to thank all of Team Canterwood for your support. I would NOT be able to live my dream without you. If you could only know how grateful I am!

Let me know if you spot POPULAR! I'm going to be spending release day in Rochester, MN, so I'll sign copies at Barnes & Noble, take pics and let you know where the books are in case you live nearby.

xoxo

Personal time

Hi, all,

Still in Minnesota with K. Taking some personal time. But I DO want to say how excited I am for POPULAR's upcoming release!! It's almost 2 weeks away! Eeek!

Going to walk to the Barnes & Noble this week and sign stock copies. I'll let you know when they're signed in case you want to snag one. :)

xx

The POPULAR countdown begins!

Hi, Team Canterwood!

Happy Monday to you all. If you celebrated it, I hope your Easter weekend was fun! Anyone get amazing candy? I want to hear about it! What's your fave kind?

Kate and I are at a hotel in Rochester, MN (for Mayo) and the hotel was sweet enough to give us Easter eggs with jelly beans inside. Yum!

My fave candies are: Strawberry Twizzlers, malted milk chocolate eggs, Junior Mints, Snickers, Sour Patch Kids, and...ooops, LOL, went off on a candy tangent!

Kate and I have been away from home for more than a month. It's been extremely hard on her, but she's doing everything she can at doctor appointments. Please keep her in your thoughts. 

I'm going to sign books (stock signing--not a set signing with time and date) at the Rochester, MN Barnes & Noble downtown and at the Apache Mall. Hope to do that soon!

Also, I can't believe we're *20* days away from the release of POPULAR!!! Eeeek! Knowing book stores, I bet it'll be closer to 10 or 12 days. :)

As Lauren and Khloe would say, "Hope your day isn't Madness Monday." 

xoxo