negligent blogging

I am guilty of negligent blogging.

I was going through some (there are thousands!) of the pics on my computer. And I came across this lovely shot taken when I visited Random House in Canada's Mississauga office.

Julie Forrest, me, Jessica Scott (Photo credit: Heather Sanderson who was a great sport about photographing us!!)


I had the pleasure of chatting with Julie Forrest, Random House in Canada's Super Smart Plugged In Online Guru. Okay, her title might really be Online Marketing Coordinator. At any rate, she is super smart, knows megabytes about the internet and blogging and books and writing and authors. And probably lots of other topics that we just never made it to.

We were joined by the brilliant and delightful Jessica Scott, another Random House techie wizard. Julie and Jessica offered me all kinds of solid suggestions about blogging and other social networks. Suggestions I really will take. Slowly but surely.

Both Julie and Jessica were really easy schmeasy and interesting to talk with. It was very fun finding out which blogs we all read and learning of new blogs to try out. I was having such a good time that I didn't want to leave. They practically had to throw me out.

Here's a blog you'll want to check out. It's Random House Insiders Blog. A variety of bloggers post here, including Julie herself. And they have authors guest blog from time to time. Yes, yes, yes! You guessed it! I'll be guest blogging there one of these days!

Here's what Random House in Canada, Mississauga office looks like from the outside.


In other negligent blogging...I totally forgot to link to the Class of 2k8. Hop on over to see what Nancy has to say about herself and her debut novel, Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head. For every different person who leaves a comment on one of Nancy's launch posts, she'll donate $1.00 to the National Park Foundation. It's a worthy cause.

Missing in Action

Sorry to be so missing in action...

BUT I HAVE A DEADLINE NEXT WEEK!

Yes, the revisions for book #2, I So Don't Do Spooky, are due. Editor Wendy wrote a lovely revision letter, full of really wonderful solid suggestions. I'm very lucky in that I have the best editor who writes the best letters. I'm sure there are other authors out there who feel their editors write the best revision letters. Sadly, they're mistaken.

A little housekeeping before I get back to the grind...












Last week, I got together by the Giant Dipper roller coaster (Yes, I did a My Town Monday post about it) here in San Diego with fellow 2k8er Nancy Viau, debut middle grade author of Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head. We went for a l-o-n-g walk on the beach. I mention this last detail to explain my frizzy hair. Then we stopped for drinks at a somewhat seedy place in PB (Pacific Beach). We had planned to meet and chat for an hour or two, but ended up talking for FOUR AND A HALF HOURS. Nancy did most of the talking. Okay, so that's not even close to true. We both talked so much that we barely even breathed. It was loads of fun (and a little scary) discovering just how much we have in common.



It's debut author, Teri Brown's launch week on the Class of 2k8's blog. Her YA novel, Read My Lips, is on shelves now. I'm going to ask Teri if she'd like to be interviewed by Kelly Couric and do a book giveaway on this blog. And, really, now that I've published this post, how can she say no? :)

I owe ARCs to Larramie and Angela and a gag gift to Brian. I haven't forgotten. I just haven't gotten to the post office yet. And I haven't figured out anything heinous enough for Brian. But I will get it all taken care of; I promise.

My high school English teacher did a book review for us, and I'll get it up on the blog after my deadline.

Not sure what made me realize today that I never posted about meeting Agent Rachel Vater in Phoenix. I better get on that.

Okay. My break time is over. Very nice spending it with my bloggy friends. I probably won't be able to play until next week. So, now you know not to worry about me. I'm not sick. I'm not hurt. I'm not off galavanting.

I'M JUST IN REVISIONS!

Bee Contest, Miss Snark, Nancy Viau

Dr. Laura Hershey, Bee Lady Extraordinaire, was once stung TWO HUNDRED FORTY times! She blames this incident on herself, not the bees. Apparently, she was moving wooden frames, bee condos if you will, and tried to carry more than she could handle. The result: she dropped a frame or two full of bees. Ouch. Dr. Hershey was under the weather for two days (achy and forgetful) following this incident.

THE WINNER IS: Larramie who guessed 227 bee stings!

Angela was very close at 206. I think that's close enough to call her a runner-up. I know, I know. I never mentioned anything in the "rules" about a runner-up. But....it is my blog and I am decluttering. ;)

So, Larramie email me @ barrie.summy@gmail.com with your snail-mail address and let me know which book is your preference: the ARC (Advance Reader's Copy) of Julia Gillian by Alison McGhee or The Year My Sister Got Lucky by Aimee Friedman. The first ARC is a middle-grade novel; the second is young adult.

*****



Patricia Wood, author of Lottery, is offering a tribute to the infamous and mysterious Miss Snark, a literary agent who blogged anonymously (although many of us have our guesses).

Miss Snark was known for her, uh, snarkiness and humor, love of George Clooney and gin and red stilletos, and her no-nonsense advice to writers. Her dog, Killer Yapp, had quite the rep as well. Quite frankly, the blogging world hasn't been the same since Miss Snark stopped posting. Click here for Patricia Wood's tribute to Miss Snark and links to other tributes too.

Miss Snark, we miss you!




*****


And I'd like to announce a very fun contest with very fun prizes put on by the wonderful and talented Nancy Viau.

My elementary school science teacher taught me about coat hanger science.

Move over, Ramona Quimby…
Samantha Hansen is ready to ROCK!
Look for Nancy Viau’s middle-grade novel, Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head, this September. Get your signed ARC at BEA or ALA this summer! http://www.nancyviau.com
http://www.classof2k8.com

Okay, Nancy, I am officially entered!!! And I will only tell you what "coat hanger science" is if I win!

To see all the prizes (I'm not sure yet which one I'll win!) and exactly how to enter, check out fellow 2k8 classmate Nancy Viau, author of the upcoming middle-grade Samantha Hansen Has Rocks in Her Head here on her livejournal blog.