Once upon a time, Minions, there was a Heather. And this Heather spent her days toiling away at a new manuscript, all the while wondering whether what she was working on was utter crap. Fortunately, this Heather’s fabulous agent informed her that it wasn’t crap, that DEVON’S PLAYGROUND was stuffed with awesomey goodness, and the Heather was pleased. However, she didn’t relax, because Heathers (well, the writer Heathers, anyway) never do. Instead, she went on to stress about many, many other things, until one day the men in white coats came to take her away. The last time she was seen she was writing a blog entry in third person, about her silly stress issues. The end.

Or…not.

This may seem strange to you, Minions–it certainly does to me–but today I’m beginning serious work on the third book in The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod…and the first doesn’t debut until August. It’s weird…I went back and read EIGHTH GRADE BITES and it feels like an eternity ago that I actually wrote it. I’ve learned so much since then, and Vlad…well, Vlad has been through a lot. I only hope that you enjoy his journey. (But, in order to do that, you need to buy it first.)

What? I’m just sayin’…do you really wanna be the ONLY person on the planet to have NOT read EGB?? I hear all the cool kids are doing it. Of course, I’m not a supporter of peer pressure. I’m just sayin’…you might wanna read this first one, and get hooked, and read the next, and the next…because when the final book debuts, you don’t wanna be sitting around all “Vlad who?” when everyone else is chattering on about glyphs and secrets and blood and chocolate chip cookies…that’s all I’m sayin’.

In other news…my recent interview with Little Willow was picked up by Associated Content. Tres cool!

And…that’s about it, really. OH! Also, Vlad and I had a long talk, and we decided to do away with his blog for now. I’m too busy and he’s too…well, he’s too busy hanging out with Henry to update it as often as he should. We may open up his notebook again once EGB debuts, but for now, that space has been replaced with a new, ultra cool Appearances page! So check it out…and if you’d like me to visit your store/school/library, just drop me a line. I promise I won’t bite (that’s Vlad’s job).

The amazing (and fun, and ultra cool–dude, she loves Buffy!) Little Willow interviewed me over at Slayground. Check it out!

I’m looking for someone to do a promotional flash video of the first chapter of my book, EIGHTH GRADE BITES. If you’re interested, drop me a line.

You don’t have to be a pro, but it can’t hurt. And please, repost this anywhere you can to spread the word.

Many fangs! =

What is it about writers that makes them obsess over every little thing? Or…is it just me?

I’ve been waiting to hear back from my fabulous agent re: DEVON’S PLAYGROUND, waiting to hear back from my wonderful editor re: NINTH GRADE SUCKS, and in the mean time (coupled with secrecy on a few uber cool details re: EIGHTH GRADE BITES) I can’t seem to write anything that isn’t crap. Why? Because my head is somewhere else. Namely, it’s out wondering what those two are thinking about the pages I’ve given them.

The best advice I’ve received from my fellow scribes is to write my way through the waiting. This is advice that, though I try, I never end up taking. Instead, I become Super Ultra Mega Hermit Woman (from hell) and reorganize closets, do dishes, even *shivers* vacuum. It’s sick. And yet, I can’t shake it.

I have a process, and part of that process is for me to grouch at passersby and spend endless hours staring at the phone until somebody calls and tells me what a washed up schmuck I am before my first book was even released.

Or…not.

I mean, really, who knows if they’ll hate it or not? Only them. So why am I obsessing?

The short answer is, “Cuz.” The long answer is too long, my Minions, for a blog entry. I’ll sum up: because it gives my brain something to do that is writing-related (and pertinent to those manuscripts) while I wait.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, my brain and I are going to clean my bedroom and stare at the phone some more…

It seems, my Minions, that your Auntie Heather has not yet learned all that there is to learn about herself. For instance, she did not know that she would struggle through four (or was it five?) versions of her DEVON’S PLAYGROUND synopsis, only to emerge from that experience with both an amazing tale, but also a deep appreciation (shh!) for what a synopsis can do for a writer. She also did not know that she has within her countless amounts of stories, just waiting to be told, or that she could express those stories in different ways. Nor did your Auntie Heather know that she could be so broken by the task of creating a good synopsis. It’s humbled her. Me. I’m humbled.

Or something.

And tired. But now I’m finished (briefly), as today I sent off the first 50 pages of DEVON’S PLAYGROUND to my fabulous agent. So now…we wait. And likely, clean something.

You’ll be happy to hear that Vlad is doing well. He’s been chattering away in my ear about tenth grade, and I’ve been happy to listen. However, he’s getting super anxious about the impending release of EIGHTH GRADE BITES. And, he’s been thinking we should give away more stuff soon. So, watch for the next contest on my “Win Things” page, and keep an eye on this blog, as I’ll be randomly giving away ARCs over the next few months.

Yeah. I’m cool like that.

Rad, even.

If you entered my ‘Blood Test’ Contest, fang you very much! I contacted the winners yesterday (a reminder, winners, get me those mailing addresses!), so if you haven’t heard from me by now, it looks like you’ll have to wait until August to check out EIGHTH GRADE BITES (sorry!).

Watch my contest page for the next one–this one will be even easier to enter…and a DOOZY. =