Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many Post-It Notes in such a small stack of papers. But I can do this. I can read every note, accept changes, make changes of my own…all by September 5th. After all, it’s for Vlad.

I may, however, need a nifty new accessory when I’m through.

But + Chair = Writing

I’m about to go practice this, so forgive me for a continued lull in posts. Happy news! My wonderful editor said my copyedits should be here Thursday! Which is tomorrow…which means I’m freaking out a little. The plus is that YAY! my book is being polished to perfection for future readers! The minus is that EEP! a lot of work to do. But then, I like work…so maybe there are no minuses.

Regardless, this next month will be crazy for your Auntie Heather, my minions. So bear with me.

Sorry about the sudden HUSH around here, minions. Auntie Heather is hard at work on the first three chapters of BEYOND THE LOOKING GLASS–trying to make them shine! Plus, I’m dealing with some family stuff that all had to happen right now. You know…now, when I need to crawl into my lil hermit cave (woops! Almost typed “cake”…I must be hungry–and there’s a weird visual for you) and make like a writer.

All goes well with Dillon. And Vlad is loving his vacation time (I keep telling him the beach is a bad idea for a vampire, but, well…). Just not enough hours in the day for everything.

And oh! My amazing web designer is hard at work on my new site! It looks SO good! I can’t wait until launch.

Okay, enough dilly-dallying. Back to Wonderland…

By looking at my desk, you wouldn’t think that I’m a perfectionist. But I am. It just manifests itself in weird ways. Like all the hangers in my closet have to hang so the shirts are facing right (and never looped backwards over the bar–what are people, insane?!). Like all the books in my bookcase have to line up an inch from the edge and the titles have to face out, in a manner so that if I tilt my head just so, I can read them all. It’s the Virgo in me. It’s twisted, but well, there you have it.

But having those perfectionist tendencies makes it very difficult for me to accept that I am seemingly incapable of doing anything perfectly right off the bat. I have no clue why this is hard to accept–I’ve never done anything perfect the first time. But it never fails, each time I realize that I’ll need to go back and work on a book some more, I beat myself up a little over what I left undone, what I did wrong the first time. It’s silly and it doesn’t get me anywhere, but it gets to me that there are people in the world who can practically spin gold with a Word program and I’m hoofing it across those pages, trying to achieve something close to perfection.

Weird, huh?

I put an enormous amount of pressure on myself. And I find my goals changing. There was a time when having my book published was enough–just one book–but, like a few published friends assured me some time ago, my goals have changed. Now I want to see my books take off. I want to be a success, not a flash in the pan (pardon the cliche). I want kids to ask for my books by name. I want bookstore employees to talk to people about Vlad. I’m always looking for some way that I can market myself–it can really screw with your sleep. I wish writing were enough anymore, but it’s not. Now I need to be read.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not bummed out or stressin’ or anything, just learning more about myself and wondering why I am the way I am. (I think it’s this same ~whatever~ that makes me terribly jealous of anyone who can play a musical instrument) Plus, I’m expecting copy edits soon…and I’m a notorious fretter. (I fret about everything and if I have nothing to fret about, I’ll make something up.) I have a feeling that copy edits are going to be a challenge–and I’m sooooo thankful that I have a copy editor! They’re on the list of those good friends that will remind you to remove the toilet paper from your shoe before you step out in public. So I’m thankful. Just a little nervous.

And I’m embarking on something that I know will be complicated, but dark, delicious, and (if I manage to pull it off) amazing. My fabulous agent loves my BEYOND THE LOOKING GLASS outline and wants me to finish the first three chapters. So…Dillon and I are working our way back into Wonderland. It has me feeling rather introspective. I hated tweaking that outline and so now I’m scared I’ll hate writing the book…which is silly. Writing the book should, feasibly, be easier now that all the kinks are worked out on paper.Nevertheless, the anxiety…the fretting…never seems to end. It has to be perfect. But it won’t. Because perfect doesn’t happen the first time. (Hell, it often doesn’t happen the twenty-seventh time)

~Speaking of Hell (and perfection), you minions need to hop on over to Amazon and pick up Jackie Kessler’s book. Trust me–the woman is friggin’ brilliant.~

So I guess my point is that you should always strive for perfection, yes….just know that it’s a long road.

And know that maybe you shouldn’t blog before you’ve had your morning caffeine. It makes you ramble.

Jen (aka “The Genius”) over at Teens Read Too recently interviewed me! So go forth, my minions, and bask in the glory that is I! (and while you’re at it, check out her site–it’s brilliant! They don’t call her The Genius for nothin’!)

If you’ll look at the gauges under Writing Progress on the right, you’ll notice a new title listed. Since it’s there, I feel the need to talk about it. But the thing is…I really don’t have much to say. It’s my newest YA project, dark, disturbing, about a boy named Stephen (and, incidentally, a boy named Devon), a graveyard, and a dark secret that binds them all together.

Plus there are these flesh-eating winged ones…and…well, just wait. I’ll write it. You read it. (Y’know, assuming it sells.)

The weird thing about this one is that I’m not really sure what it’s about. I’m letting Stephen and Devon tell me and so far, it’s pretty creepy. Interesting…and creepy. And I’m hungry to write it.

It’s books like this that will cause kids to scream, “Mom! Heather Brewer’s under my bed!”

As a side note, run a broom under there once in a while…maybe bring me some cookies.

A Step-by-Step Guide to joining the Forces of Darkness*

*Heather does not approve of being evil. But if you insist, at least follow this guide.

I love villains. They’re really what make a story enjoyable, because without them, the protagonist would just go on living their happy little lives. Villains make things complicated. They give a story that special twist that really screws up the main character’s routine. But what makes a good bad guy?

I’d say it’s believability. More than anything, a really great bad guy has to be something you’d believe. No longer will the “doing evil just for evil’s sake” type fly. A good baddy has to have motive, drive, and a believable reason for being the way he (or she) is.

But beyond that, I think it’s a matter of personal tastes. I like a bad guy that has a sharp wit. A really smart, sarcastic evil-doer. (Preferably with good fashion sense) Someone who really believes he or she is doing what they’re doing for all the right reasons–because that’s really what makes someone dangerous. Not a weapon, not a desire, but belief–belief that you are right and that you will defend your belief no matter what.

I love to love my baddies. It’s just the way I’m hardwired. What about you, minions?

I thought it might be nice, my loyal minions, if I explained precisely what my book, EIGHTH GRADE BITES, is about. Now, of course, there are many details that I can’t share with you, but I can give you a general overview.

Vladimir Tod isn’t like other thirteen-year-old boys. He’s half-human, half-vampire. (His mother was human, his father…you got it, a vampire) Poor Vlad has all sorts of vampire issues. For one, he drinks blood (and when he’s hungry…or ticked off, his fangs pick inopertune moments to elongate). For two, he’s developing inhuman abilities. Which ones? Well, you know the score…read the book.

As if this weren’t enough to get a skinny, pale, slighty sarcastic vampire boy stressed out, Vlad lives in the town of Bathory–a small (in both population and in mind) town, full of humans that believe him to be human as well. He attends the eighth grade at Bathory Junior High with his best friend (and one of the only two people, including Vlad’s Aunt Nelly, who know what he is), Henry McMillan, who is totally crushed on by the girl Vlad likes. The principal hates him. Bullies pick on him. Plus, Vlad has to guard his secret (that he’s a vampire) very closely. (Basically, his life sucks–which isn’t a good thing, even for vampires)

But then something horrible happens…something that leads to someone discovering Vlad’s secret.

But that’s all I really can say about it.

Want more of a taste? You can check out the first chapter on my website. And, of course, come August 2007, you can read it in its entirety.

Yep, Vlad is on the loose…or at least he was yesterday. Last night, my wonderful editor emailed to let me know that the photo shoot for my cover went very well–the model that they found is just so perfect to portray Vlad. I’m THRILLED with my experience so far! Sometimes it feels like I’m living in a dream…

But I’m not too deeply entrenched in DreamLand to remember that I have minions to support. I’ve ordered more buttons (because, wow, you people LOVE this stuff) and I mailed out another batch of Minion Bling yesterday–if you haven’t received any or still haven’t asked, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??? They’re FREE, COOL, and give you bragging rights, as you’ll be part of my minion horde. What’s not to love? Drop me an email with your address, which I promise not to share with anyone. Free stuff rawks!