Friends

Irene Latham’s debut novel LEAVING GEE’S BEND is about Ludelphia Bennett, a determined, ten-year-old African American girl in 1932 Gee’s Bend, Alabama, leaves home in an effort to find medical help for her sick mother, and she recounts her ensuing adventures in a quilt she is making, and it debuts today! To celebrate her launch, I’m asking her 9 essential questions we need to know about every author.

9. Legs or pudding?
Mmm…pudding.

8. Jean jacket or leather jacket?
Jean with a great scarf.

7. Blind faith or cold logic?
Blind faith.

6. Pen or keyboard?
Keyboard because I’m a lefty, which means I smear everything I write by hand.

5. Zombies or unicorns?
Neither. I’m an old-fashioned girl– give me boy, girl, dog, horse…the occasional rabbit.

4. Hardback or paperback?
Paperback.

3. Bookmark or fold the page?
Both, and if I really REALLY like it, a highlighter too.

2. Hoard or share?
I’m a middle child of five. You figure it out.

1. Happy ending or total devastation?
A little ambiguity is good… but must have hope!

Thanks, Irene! To find out more about Irene, check out her blog at www.irenelatham.com! Happy debut, Irene!

Originally published at MSUFaL. You can comment here or there.

We're kicking off 2010 at readergirlz with The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart, a book I highly and frequently recommend. (Read my full-length review of the novel.) This witty story begins with a letter written by Frances (Frankie) Rose Landau-Banks to the headmaster of her prep school. In this letter, Frankie claims to be "the sole mastermind" behind the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds. But what exactly is the Order, and what did she do? Keep reading to find out.

Check out the first line of the first narrative chapter of the book:

Though not, in hindsight, so startling as the misdeeds she would perpetrate when she returned to boarding school as a sophomore, what happened to Frankie Landau-Banks the summer after her freshman year was a shock.

Joining us for today's roundtable discussion are eight enthusiastic readers. We have readergirlz divas Lorie Ann Grover and Melissa Walker; the current readergirlz author-in-residence, Elizabeth Scott; Shelf Elf, HipWriterMama, Jackie, and me, Little Willow, four members of postergirlz, the teen lit advisory council for readergirlz; and James, also known as Book Chic, a fellow blogger. I will be serving as moderator. Let's go!

Little Willow: The summer between her freshman and sophomore years, Frankie Landau-Banks changes physically, naturally, just part of growing up:

Between May and September, she gained four inches and twenty pounds, all in the right places. Went from being a scrawny, awkward child with hands too big for her arms, a frizz of unruly brown fluff on her head and a jaw so sharp it made Grandma Evelyn cluck about how "when it came to plastic surgery, it never hurt to do these things before college" – to being a curvaceous young woman with an off-beat look that boys found distinctly appealing. She grew into her angular face, filled out her figure, and transformed from a homely child into a loaded potato – all while sitting quietly in a suburban hammock, reading the short stories of Dorothy Parker and drinking lemonade. The only thing Frankie herself had done to facilitate the change was to invest in some leave-in conditioner to tame the frizz. She wasn't the kind of girl to attempt a makeover.

Little Willow: The Disreputable History... follows a young girl's journey through her formative years with honesty, humor, and a lot of heart. I really love this book. I think it's a wonderful coming-of-age tale. I thought the story was creative, the characters and events were memorable, and the writing was both intelligent and humorous. Throughout the book, Frankie becomes more mature as her sensibilities change and as she becomes more aware of the people and places around her. I thought her character arc was very realistic and believable. What did you think?

Lorie Ann: I cheered for Frankie from start to finish, how she trusted her own ideas, abilities, and gathered the courage to lead.

Shelf Elf: I agree, Lorie Ann. I was rooting for Frankie, "Do it! Do it! You can pull it off!" It was fun getting to see her work her way through problems creatively.

Lorie Ann: I loved Frankie's character arc. It is an honest portrayal of a teen girl discovering her body has changed, people are reacting differently to her, and she has to think through how she's going to walk on her new legs. The pacing was spot on.

HipWriterMama: I loved how Frankie dissected the old boys' network to find her own source of power. She wanted to be noticed for her brains rather than her looks.

( Click here to keep reading this roundtable discussion. )

Learn more about the book and the author:
Read the January 2010 issue of readergirlz.
Read my full-length review of The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks.
Discuss the book all month long with other readers at the readergirlz blog.

I've had the pleasure of interviewing E. Lockhart three times.
We spoke about musicals, movies, books, and songs at length in 2007.
I had the pleasure of speaking with E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Myracle in person in mid-2008.
Want to find out what inspired The Disreputable History? Check out our December 2009 interview.

It's a new year. Huh.

I'm alive. I'm healthy. I've been spending the day (week, month, year) not-thinking about things to the point where I'm almost fully okay again. Where I can look the myself of a year ago in the face and think, Honey, ain't no man worth that. And mean it. And not wonder.

This time last year, I was drunk as hell and miserable and angry. (This was the pre-following HALT phase--no drinking while Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired.) I was about to leave the now-defunct Ram Head in search of pizza to stave off the hangover I knew I deserved. And I was pretending as hard as I've ever pretended, making myself make it okay. Fuck, that was an awful night.

Tonight, I'm pleasantly full, just a little tipsy, wistful. I ate a spicy tofu and vegetable soup for dinner, wearing my red cocktail dress and a vintage gold necklace my mom found at an antique store and gave me for Christmas. I drank a beer and then my parents and I drove all over creation in search of champagne, which I still don't like, but which I had two glasses of anyway. We watched It's a Wonderful Life and said all the lines along with the characters and laughed.

And you know what's funny? It's the best new years I've had in a long time. I mean, it wasn't breathtaking. It was me sitting on a couch with my parents. But I wasn't with friends who weren't friends anymore, I wasn't alone, waiting to have my heart broken, I wasn't trying so hard to fit into the wrong part of the puzzle. It was just me, and them, and a glass of champagne, and a movie about knowing that no matter what, no man is a failure who has friends

You make it worthwhile. Every day. I wish you health and hope and happiness in this coming year.

I read 50 books this year and am so happy I met my goal, but I'm even happier that I read some really great books!

( books read in 2009 )

Best reads of 2009: Q&A, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, The Hunger Games, Catching Fire

Worst reads of 2009: The Shack, The Alchemyst, Sundays at Tiffany's, A Wrinkle in Time

First things first!

 

All of the creatures in the Forest wish you and yours a healthy and happy New Year!


For me, this has been the most unexpected, exciting decade a person could possibly enjoy. I feel like I've lived thirty years in the past ten, and that is a rather cool feeling. But I have been so deep in the work on my new book that I haven't given much thought to the fact that the decade is closing tonight.

What made me open my eyes?

WINTERGIRLS was named as one of the ten most influential books of the past freaking DECADE by the Chicago Tribune.

I NEVER saw that coming. I am utterly gob-smacked by the notion. (And incredibly grateful that one of my books would even be considered for such a list!) It stopped me in my tracks and made me take a good, hard look at the past decade.

Because you probably don't want to read all of this, I'll insert headings.

FAMILY

The most important changes have had to do with my family. My biological kids have grown up into outstanding women. They are by far the best accomplishment of my life, though I can only take a smidgen of credit; they did the hard work of growing up and figuring out how to make their lives rich and rewarding.

Ten years ago I was sorrowful about my fractured marriage. Eight years ago my first husband and I found a way to divorce peacefully. We decided to act like grown-ups and put our kids first. I will forever be blessed that we figured out how to become friends again, and stay family, and celebrate the fact that we both found partners that were right for us.

And then there is Scot; my childhood sweetheart, my Beloved Husband, and the builder of the most awesomest writing cottage in the history of Western literature. More importantly, he gave me two more completely incredible kids, who made space for me and their step-sibs in their hearts. AND he gave me the Creature With Fangs.

Did you like any of the books I've written since 2003? Then send your appreciation to my husband. He is my entire world.

In my journal ten years ago, I was worrying about the impending death of my mother. Because she was a Yankee hewn from granite, she lasted ten years later than I thought she would. Thank God. This year I was blessed to witness her cross over to the next world, and a few weeks later, my father-in-law. I miss them. We miss them. But it's all good.


FRIENDS

I am an introvert. Some would say a fairly pathological introvert. But for some reason I can't understand, my life has overflowed with friends who have enriched my life beyond the telling. I consider all of the readers who have reached out to me through email, on a social networking site, through old-fashioned snailmail, or who took the time to meet me at a bookstore I really struggle to make sense of this.I'll never figure it out, so let me just say thank you.

To all of you.

I am fairly adept at word-spinning, but the only way I can think of to explain how much you mean to me is to put my hand on my heart, bow my head, and say:

THANK YOU.

::runs downstairs to hang with family and look forward to the next decade::

MUSE

Yep. The Muse gets whopping heaps of thanks. I show how much I appreciate Her Presence by showing up to write every morning. Sometimes I draw. And I hum a lot.

And so it goes.

I really can't grok most of what has happened in the past ten years. But I am grateful. Crazy grateful.

I really appreciate all the minutes I've been given to love and laugh and make up stories.

Thank you, my friends.

Originally published at MSUFaL. You can comment here or there.

28 YA Authors give you advice on writing, publishing, and everything in-between.

(On a personal note: You have to watch this. Seriously. I called Apple Tech Support and scoured internet forums and said to authors I'd just met "HEY, I'm Jackson, can you be in my video?" securing my reputation as that-creepy-girl-with-the-camera. Don't make all my work be in vain. YOU have the power. The power to hit play. And to repost/link. And...other stuff.)

(On another personal note: My new year's resolution is going to be to follow all the advice in here. Or at least try my hardest.)




Remember-- if it skips on your computer, try taking it off "HD." HD hates some computers it seems.

Yep, it's that time of year again, and for once I actually have the list done in time for New Year's Eve! I'm going to do it in two sections, adult and YA/YR, so nobody goes blind. What can I say? I read a lot when I'm sick, on tour, goofing off . . . ;-)

Now to see if the formatting carries over . . .

abbreviations
YA = Young Adult/Teen
YR = Young Reader/Intermediate/Tween
2nd read = the second time I’ve read it
collection = all stories by one author
syn. = synonym
alt hi = alternate history
anthology = stories/articles by different authors
b = boy hero, of interest to boys
c = current
ed(s). = editor(s)
f = fantasy
gn = graphic novel
h = horror
hi = historical
nf = nonfiction
sf = science fiction
v = novel in verse


Mainstream YA

Anderson, Laurie Halse: CHAINS (hi); SPEAK (2nd read)(c); WINTERGIRLS (c/f?)

Bauer, Marion Dane: AM I BLUE? (anthology, 2nd read)

Black, Holly & Casteucci, Cecil, eds.: GEEKSTASTIC (anthology)

Brown, Jennifer: HATE LIST (c)

Carvell, Marlene: CAUGHT BETWEEN THE PAGES (b); WHO WILL TELL MY BROTHER? (b)(v)

Garden, Nancy: ENDGAME (c) (2nd read)

Giles, Gail: RIGHT BEHIND YOU (c)

Hiaasen, Carl: SCAT (b) (c)

Hopkins, Lee Bennett: AMERICA AT WAR (poetry collection)

Rinaldi, Ann: GIRL IN BLUE (hi)

Shaw, Susan: ONE OF THE SURVIVORS (b?) (c)

Vaught, Susan: BIG FAT MANIFESTO (c); TRIGGER (c)

Watson, Carrie Gordon: QUAD (b) (c)

Wittlinger, Ellen: PARROTFISH (2nd read) (c)


Fantasy/SF—ya

Anderson, Jodi Lynn: MAY BIRD: AMONG THE STARS Book Two (f) YR

Breathed, Berkeley: FLAWED DOGS (picture book)

Briceland, V.: GLASS MAKER’S DAUGHTER, THE (f)

Bull, Emma: FINDER (f)

Cammuso, Frank (gn): KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE: The Dodgeball Chronicles 1 (b, f, c)

Cashore, Kristin: FIRE (f)

Chima, Cinda Williams: THE DEMON KING (f)(b)

Clare, Cassandra: CITY OF GLASS (f)

Cohen, Barbara & Lovejoy, Barhija: SEVEN DAUGHTERS AND SEVEN SONS (2nd read) (f)

Durst, Sarah Beth: ICE (f)

Fisher, Catherine: CORBENIC (b) (f)

Fletcher, Charlie: SILVERTONGUE (b) (f)

Gibson, Marley: GHOSTHUNTRESS 1: THE AWAKENING; GHOSTHUNTRESS 2: THE GUIDANCE

Haddix, Margaret Peterson: FOUND (b)

Holm, Jennifer & Holm, Matthew: BABYMOUSE: OUR HERO (gn, younger readers)

Jinks, Catherine: GENIUS SQUAD (2nd of series) (b) (sf)

Kaye, Marilyn: BETTER LATE THAN NEVER (psychic); OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND (psychic)

Kimmel, Elizabeth Cody: SUDDENLY SUPERNATURAL

LaFevers, R. L.: FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX (b) (younger)

Lanagan, Margot: BLACK JUICE (collection) (f)

Law, Ingrid: SAVVY (YR) (f)

Mantchev, Lisa: EYES LIKE STARS (f)

Mitchell, Saundra: SHADOWED SUMMER (ghost)

Osterlund, Anne: ACADEMY 7 (sf)

Peterfreund, Diana: RAMPANT (f)

Prineas, Sarah: MAGIC THIEF, THE (b); LOST (Magic Thief 2) (b)

Rutkoski, Marie: CABINET OF WONDERS, THE (f)

Sherman, Delia: MAGIC MIRROR OF THE MERMAID QUEEN, THE (c, f)

Simner, Janni Lee: BONES OF FAERIE (f)

Smith, Cynthia Leitich: ETERNAL (f)

Snyder, Maria: POISON STUDY (f)

Staub, Wendi Corsi: AWAKENING (psychic); BELIEVING (psychic)

Stead, Rebecca: WHEN YOU REACH ME (sf)

Stiefvater, Maggie: BALLAD (c, f); SHIVER (c, f)

Summers, Gillian: INTO THE WILDE WOOD (c, f); SECRET OF THE DREAD FOREST, THE (c, f); TREE SHEPHERD’S DAUGHTER, THE (c, f)

Turner, Megan Whelan: KING OF ATTOLIA, THE (b, f)

Ward, David: ESCAPE THE MASK (b, f) YR

Wasserman, Robin: CRASHED (sf)

Webb, Holly: DOGMAGIC (f) YR

Wilson, N. D.: 100 CUPBOARDS (f); DANDELION FIRE (f) (b, YR)

Wrede, Patricia: THIRTEENTH CHILD (hi f)

Zahn, Timothy: DRAGON AND THIEF (b, sf)

Zink, Michelle: PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS (f)




Some really good books and writers here!

The Bronx Zoo gave their squirrel monkeys some blueberries suspended in Jell-o as a treat, and to give them the chance to forage to celebrate the New Year. It works for me!! (PS Wendi- Teddy totally did this!)

Originally published at MSUFaL. You can comment here or there.

Happy New Year!
I'm listening to Jason Mraz duet-it-up with Elmo whilst I write this so if I sound extra gushy and/or like a fuzzy red monster, you now know why.
So 2009...
What a year! Both professionally and personally. It was a year I learned to say YES to rare opportunities and NO to things that didn't matter as much. It was a year of learning to prioritize: my family, my book, my friends.
Immersing myself in this incredible YA community, I have made so many incredible friendships.
Met so many talented people that I'm just in awe that this is now my life.
It took 30-something years, but I'm now living the life I've always dreamed.
There is no other profession and no other community I'd rather be a part of.
So thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
And because this is the year my Sea will hit the shelves, an Indonesian thank you as well!:Terima kasih, my friends, for everything.

Badass Gothic Girls on porch in Savannah--Writer's Retreat, Spring 2009

Jon Skovron, Me, and Barry Lyga--Books of Wonder, NYC--December, 2009

Carrie Ryan and Moi, Savannah, George

Malinda Lo and I at her ASH signing at Kepler's Books

My Edward Tattoo (created by Jackie Dolamore)

Enjoying coffee and SHIVER ARC aka: bliss

Maggie, Tessa, Jackson and I in our Savannah kitchen

SEA ARCs arrive! Signing Sea ARCs at Penguin Young Readers in NYC.
And the Feast de Resistance:

Jude Law signing the contract to star in the film adaptation of SEA!*
*Okay fine THAT didn't happen. But he did sign my Playbill and that my friends, is a little gift right there. :)
And a 2010 Preview of Fun to Come:

Tenner Angels: Heidi, Steph and Daisy!
Happy New Year!!!!

Happy almost-New Year, everyone!

What're you guys up to tonight? Any fun plans? Wishing you all great things in 2010. :) To the reader girlies who have been chatting on my blog, I *love* it and feel, like, popular that you keep coming back to chat and say hi. :)

Thank you, Scholastic!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB® IS BACK
WITH A NEW NOVEL AND RE-ISSUES OF THE BELOVED SERIES
BY BESTSELLING AUTHOR ANN M. MARTIN

"The Summer Before,"
a prequel to the phenomenally successful Scholastic series,
to be published in April 2010

New York, NY (December 31, 2009) ­­- Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education and media company, announced today that it will publish an original new novel in the beloved bestselling series The Baby-sitters Club® by acclaimed author Ann M. Martin. "The Summer Before" (ISBN: 978-0-545-16093-3; $16.99), a prequel to the first book in the series, will be released in hardcover in April 2010.

Scholastic also announced plans to re-issue new paperback editions of the original The Baby-sitters Club books starting in April 2010 with "Kristy's Great Idea" (ISBN: 978-0-545-17475-6; $5.99) and "Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls" (ISBN: 978-0-545-17476-3; $5.99), followed by "The Truth About Stacey" (ISBN: 978-0-545-17477-0; $5.99) in June. Additional titles will follow in fall 2010.

The Baby-sitters Club is one of the most successful series in publishing history with more than 176 million books in print. Ann M. Martin spent the latter part of the 1980s and most of the 1990s working on the series, which was supposed to debut in 1986 and end in 1987, and to consist of only four titles. Instead, it ended 15 years later, with four additional related series, approximately 250 titles, spawned a TV series as well as a feature film, and prompted girls around the world to start their own baby-sitters clubs.

"The stories about children who discovered a love of reading when they read The Baby-sitters Club are the ones that have had the greatest impact on me as a writer," said author Ann M. Martin. "Writing about these characters and stepping back into the world of Stoneybrook was like having a reunion with old friends-friends who truly haven't changed a bit. I'm very excited about introducing The Baby-sitters Club to a new generation of readers."

The BSC series, which dealt with topics about friendship, sibling rivalry, and peer pressure, also tackled serious issues including divorce, diabetes, and death. The acclaim and success soared. The Baby-sitters Club became the first children's series to appear on the USA Today bestseller list. The New York Times Magazine hailed Martin as a, "genius in communicating with girls when and after they slip behind the glass curtain of preadolescence…Martin gets children to read." Time magazine wrote, "Adventures in baby-sitting…must-read literature for preteen girls," and Parents magazine praised, "Girls can't get enough of The Baby-sitters Club…aren't these the kinds of role models we want for our daughters…we all need friends like that." Publishers Weekly proclaimed, "Ann Martin rules the paperback roost" and USA Today exclaimed, "Young readers love ‘Baby-sitters.'" In 1998, The Baby-sitters Club was named one of the "Books of the Century" by the New York Times Book Review.

"I grew up at Scholastic working on The Baby-sitters Club, starting in 1992 as an intern," said David Levithan, Vice President, Editorial Director, Scholastic Press, who now oversees the editorial direction of the series. "One of the amazing things to witness over the past twenty years has been how many other people grew up on the BSC, too – as readers. The series truly got an entire generation – especially the girls – to read. And it's a thrill to be able to introduce that excitement about books to a new generation."

"The characters in The Baby-sitters Club could be any kids, living anywhere, whether in America or abroad, and the universal theme of friendship rings true for an audience of the 80s, 90s, now and beyond," said Debra Dorfman, Vice President and Publisher of Paperbacks, Cartwheel and Licensed Publishing, Scholastic, who oversees the paperback publishing program for the BSC re-issues. "Some of the millions of girls who grew up devouring these books are now mothers, teachers, and perhaps writers themselves. We look forward to sharing the stories of Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey with both old and new fans of the series."

About "The Summer Before":
Before there was The Baby-sitters Club, there were four girls named Kristy Thomas, Mary Anne Spier, Claudia Kishi, and Stacey McGill. As they start the summer before seventh grade, each of them is getting ready for big changes. Kristy is still hoping that her father will return to her family. Mary Anne has to prove that she's no longer a little girl. Claudia is navigating her first major crush. And Stacey is leaving her entire New York City life behind in order to find new friends in Stoneybrook, Connecticut . "The Summer Before" is a moving novel about four girls on the edge of something big-not just the club that will change their lives, but also the joys and tribulations of being a girl.

About Ann M. Martin:
Ann M. Martin is the bestselling author of the momentous series The Baby-sitters Club, as well as the Main Street series. Her other acclaimed novels include "A Dog's Life," "Belle Teal," "The Doll People," and the Newbery Honor Book "A Corner of the Universe." She lives in upstate New York . For more information, visit http://www.scholastic.com/annmartin/bsc

For more information about Scholastic, visit http://mediaroom.scholastic.com

###

Contact: Charisse Meloto
cmeloto@scholastic.com
(212) 389-3785

Read other posts related to The Baby-Sitters Club at Bildungsroman, including What the BSC Means to Me and my initial post about the prequel news.

I've been thinking a lot about the past decade. Look for a post later today.

How was the last decade for you?

1.) Want to scream with glee that my publication year is finally here! After waiting for nearly two years, I am now officially SIX MONTHS out from my release date. Six months! And that makes me want to...

2.) Lock myself away in my house and become one of those weirdly eccentric recluse writers. I can really see myself doing just that too. You should have seen me yesterday, mumbling and grumbling as I got ready to go to a sledding party with my girls. Of course I had a blast once I got there (who could not enjoy sledding, hot cocoa, blueberry cake, and laughing children?) but I'd treated the whole idea of it like it was a trip to the dentist for a root canal or something.

3.) Send out good vibes for all the books from the Tenners. I cannot wait to read all of these books! I've already read LEAVING GEES BEND, PRINCESS FOR HIRE, and A MOST IMPROPER MAGICK, and they were all fantastic! 

4.) Realize that I need to turn off my Google Alerts and Goodreads updates now that ARCs are about to be released into the wild. Though without Google Alerts I would not have seen the HUGE compliment awesome fellow Tenner and Upstart Crow client Shaun Hutchinson (author of The Deathday Letter) Tweeted about Everlasting, saying the book was "a little Jane Austen and a little Indiana Jones." Thank you Shaun! You have no idea how much I love Jane and Indy. :-)))

I'm really hopeful for 2010. It's going to be a year of change and discovery and surprise. Here's wishing everyone a successful and joyful New Year!

While I was up at my inlaws' for Christmas, I was munching away at MaggieCereal for breakfast and sort of watching TV, because that's what you do when you're at someone else's house for breakfast, and an Expert came on talking about New Years Resolutions. As y'all might guess, my ears pricked up, because goals/ resolutions and me, we are like this. Tight.

Expert: 90% of New Year's Resolutions will fail this year.
Host: That is a stunning and saddening figure.
Expert: Yes. That means 90% of all Americans will be failures.
Host: Yikes. Tell us how to keep our resolutions from failing. Or should we just not make them.
Expert: Resolutions are fantastic. I'll tell you how to make them succeed. I'll also tell you CUT TO COMMERCIAL.

They cut to a commercial. I kept eating cereal. Lover and I mused gently over whether Expert would give the same advice I always give on resolutions while I ate my cereal. Thing 1 joined us at the table to also partake of cereal. She made a small pile of Thing1Cereal around her bowl as she ate.

When the Expert came back, she told us we really needed to want to change, and that we should have a reward system built in, and that we should hang with people who helped our resolutions instead of hurting them. For instance, if your resolution was to lose weight, make friends at the gym and not at Dunkin Donuts. She didn't say that, but that's what she meant. And then she said, booyah, the force be with you, peace out. It was all very feel good and empowering and fluff-making.

And yeah, those are all very nice things. But she didn't say anything about the resolutions themselves. If you make well-meaning, empowering, flufftastic resolutions that aren't really achievable while wanting to change and having reward systems in place, it's like having great cooking habits and a craptastic recipe. You'll spend hours in the kitchen and end up with hamburger helper muffins.

Sooo again for our television viewers who just tuned in, remember that I already said why I think most resolutions fail. Because folks don't think of them like goals, and good goals are quantifiable and within my control, and bad, hamburger helper goals are nebulous, subjective, or mostly in the hands of politicians. Here's my official goals/ resolutions/ Cleveland post on that. I also like goals that make me stretch and define my year in a way that I wouldn't have normally. So I don't put stuff on the list that I'd be doing anyway. For instance I have two novels due in 2010, but I'm not going to put them on the list because they have to get done whether or not they end up on the list.

Here, without further ado, are my 2010 Resolutions.

1. Write a screenplay
2. Write a song every week.
3. Sketch once a day.
4. Take Thing 1 & Thing 2 to a Broadway show.
5. Go to the UK in September.
6. Take Lover to a new sort of concert that we've never been to before.
7. Compile an album/ demo.
8. Create dummy/ general shape for graphic novel.
9. Organize a teenage writer's workshop.
10. If LINGER goes to #1, buy a piano.

When I was making these up, I was trying to think of things that would stretch me in ways that I wouldn't normally go, and things that would push me out of my comfort zone. I tried to keep the ones that couldn't be crossed off until the end of the year to a minimum (the only two I have are sketch once a day and write a song each week -- note they can't be crossed off until December 31st, 2010)(if they were all like that it would make for a really unsatisfying list as the whole point is to be able to cross those bad boys off). And I only have one on there that's not in my control: the last one. I had one of those for 2009 too: if the UK rights sold for SHIVER, go to the UK. I figured it wasn't cheating because if I didn't add that to the list, I might have sold the rights and then just not have followed through with the UK trip. Same with LINGER and #1. I can't control the "if" part. But I can control the second half.

So. It looks like an entertaining list to me. And an entertained Maggie is a Maggie that stays out of trouble (when I was a pre-teen, I learned the adage "a tired puppy is a good puppy" and I found out it also applied to me). So now these are officially out there.

Ahem. Ahem. You guys done with yours?