Editor K's birthday in a month

We'll see if we can keep this a SECRET, but . . . Editor Kate's birthday is in a month--November 10th.

As you guys know, she has been very, very sick since May 2010 (a very long time now) and yet she's continued to edit the Canterwood books from home. How amazing is that? She loves the series so much and we're all incredibly lucky to have her play such a huge role role in Canterwood Crest.

This is where you come in.

By November 7th, I'd love to have thoughts from Team Canterwoood to give as a present from you to Kate.

**You can leave a comment on this post, email me (use something like "Kate's bday" in the subject so I can find it easily), or send me a letter/drawing in the mail.

For snail mail:

Jessica Burkhart
C/O Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

For email:

jess _ burkhart AT hotmail DOT com

Write whatever you'd like--even a "Happy birthday, Editor K!" is *perfect.* I am trying to collect as many birthday wishes/thank yous from Team Canterwood to give K on her birthday. It will mean so, so much to her. I'm asking for your help because I'm usually the one to get the fan mail as the author of CC. But what you don't know is how hard Kate works on the books. The series would NOT exist without her. So many of the ideas in the series would never have played out if she hadn't brainstormed with me. Giving her a little love from the best readers ever would be ahhh-mazing. She is my best friend and I'd love to give her this gift. :)

I heart you all!

xoxo

Princess Bailey

The mood's a little (okay, a lot) down around here. Bailey went into VERG (the local animal ER) on Wednesday. She was breathing really hard, wouldn't walk or get up, and she was throwing up.

After days of waiting for results and some very scary phone calls (poor little girl had to be put in an oxygen cage), we found out that she has lung cancer and kidney disease. The lungs are the most pressing problem because it's hard for her to breathe and she doesn't want to eat.

But!

She's home now and resting. She ate some canned food (yay!) and is looking a little better. We're going to start her on steroids next week. We will keep her as long as she's comfortable. The ultimate and only goal is to give her a humane existence for as long as she feels good.

She is very loved by Kate, Ross, and I.

Happy October!

Wow, can you guys believe it's October already?! I can't. To me, it feels as if it just got warm outside. I was shocked to step out the other day and need a jacket. And last night, my landlord turned on the heat. I do love fall though!

Fall has:

apple cider
pretty leaves
cool, not COLD weather
a distinct fall smell
pumpkins and gourds

specialty teas 
yummy coffee

And the list goes on!

What are your fave things about fall? Share! I want to know! :)

xoxo <3 br="br">

Cursed by Kate and J.R. Angelella on PW

Eeek!

Look what I found on Publishers Weekly Spring 2013 Sneak Previews:

SOURCEBOOKS FIRE

Fire needs a counter-spell for Cursed by Kate and J.R. Angelella, about a girl who comes to believe the curse on her family when she’s pulled into a world of voodoo and demons; Emblazed by Jessica Shirvington, in which Violet is forced to turn over the key to hell to one who has saved, then betrayed her; How I Lost You by Janet Gurtler, a tale about a friendship at stake the summer before two girls’ senior year; My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks by Marc and Maya Silver, an advice book for teens featuring stories from real kids; and Sucks to Be Me by Geoff Herbach, in which nerd-turned-jock Felton faces life changing decisions during his senior year.

 

WOOOT!!! :D

 

Just wait till you all read CURSED. OMG. The cover is S-I-C-K. 

 

Yaaay besties with a debut YA on the horizon! 

 

Team Canterwood . . . want to guest blog? :)

How would YOU like to be a guest blogger right here? :)

Your post could appear on my blog for thousands of people to read and respond to. I'd love to give some of you the chance to write a guest post.

Interested? Here's what to do:

Send me an email at jess_burkhart AT hotmail DOT com.

Subject: Guest blogger (gotta have it or I might miss your email!)

In the body of your email, tell me what you'd like to write about. You can talk about anything you like--being a teen or tween, your fave books, boys, horses, Canterwood--it's totally up to you! You post should be at least a paragraph long.

Deadline: October 15, 2012

I'll contact you after 10/15 if you're chosen to blog. Keep in mind, there will be a deadline (like, two weeks) after I contact you that I'll need your post. Once I get it and decide on a date, your guest post will go live! :)

Your last name will NOT be used--only your first name and age. :)

Good luck and I hope I get a lot of emails!

Who's ready for Monday?

The weekend FLEW by for me. Anyone else?

I'm about to do a Skype chat with Lauryn (love the spelling!) who bid on the chat via eBay. All proceeds from items that I've been auctioning off are being collected and will be donated to NaNoWriMo's Young Writers' Program. :)

I got my "No typing or being on the computer!" rule lifted from my doctor. YAY! Even though, erm, I've been on the computer . . . I *did* listen about typing a lot. That counts, right? :)

I'm so happy that I can start (slowly, said the dr) working tomorrow. I'm on medication and have to follow RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation as much as I can. I do have to have surgery though. :( It should be minor and only keep me off the computer (for real that time) for 2-3 weeks. I've just started to look for a doctor (orthopedist) in NYC. There are so, so many doctors and if not done correctly, the surgery can make my pain worse (permanently!) so I have to do TONS of research. I'm nervous about letting someone mess with my arm considering it's what I need to do my job. Eep!

That aside, I did a lot of fall cleaning (check out all of the stuff for sale on my eBay page), read, and brainstormed new novel ideas. I fleshed out a YA that I've been wanting to work on FOREVER and after I finish the draft of JEALOUSY, I'll probably try to start an outline and sample chapters so I can pitch my idea to an editor. I wish I could tell you guys about it!!

I've got a phone call tomorrow about a Secret Sparkly Project so fingers crossed that it goes well. 

What did everyone do this weekend? Anything exciting going on this week?

I'll be writingwritingwriting and have 2 doctor appts, but that's it for this week.

Happy Sunday!

xx

Hey ya'll

Happy Wednesday!

How's everyone's week going? Comment and let me know! I'm on a doctor-ordered writing break (shhh . . . you never saw me blogging!) because of tendon stress/strain. Boo. But I get to start writing again next Monday and I'm so excited! I'm very lucky to actually *want* to go back to work.

Hugs to all on Team Canterwood! xo

~J