CRAZY MAY CONFESSIONAL

May has always been a crazy month for me. It's my birthday, my daughter's birthday (plus other extended family members' birthdays), Mother's Day, and the end of the school year. Craziness.  Add a book release, two book signings, a surprise launch-party with an unexpected visit from my mom, and a speaking engagement with fifty lovely sixth graders, and what you've got is one tired author/wife/mommy who's sort of over herself.
Please don't think I'm complaining. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I've smiled more smiles, thanked more people, and cried more happy tears this month than any other time of my life (including when I had my children, because let's face it - hundreds of people from all over the world weren't contacting me to congratulate me at that time, lol). But us introverts can only take so much celebration of our lives and accomplishments before we get embarrassed and want to turn the spotlight onto someone else, hence my reason for shying away from blogging this month, although I did start posts only to delete them. Well, now my birthday is over, the launch buzz has calmed down, and I'm planning my daughter's girly-girl 6th birthday party. Life is good. Except for one thing. One BIG missing element.
I haven't written in more than three months.
Crazy, right? Since I'm supposedly a "writer" and all?
I'm also a very emotional person, and I need to be sort of relaxed and stable in order to be creative. I had no idea that my life-long dream of being published would come with such insecurity. I worried about what extended family members and acquaintances would think of my book, and what general readers would think. I worried about whether I was generating enough buzz around my book, or too much buzz, which can be a total turnoff. I often felt like I was flying blind in unchartered territory. Unsure. Alone, despite my network of rockstar supporting friends.
You see, three months ago I handed over my sequel to the publisher, and it's been under consideration since. I was afraid to make any adjustments to that manuscript, even though I knew it needed work. I knew the folks at Harper were waiting for Sweet Evil to pub so they could see how it would do. In some ways I've been stuck in a weird limbo. I should have been revising or starting on book three, but instead I got a mental block of gargantuan epic horribleness for a variety of reasons.
I knew there would be bad reviews. I once heard there's a rule of thirds: 1/3 will love it, 1/3 will hate it, 1/3 will feel so-so. I'd promised myself I wouldn't read reviews, but it's hard to be active in the blogosphere and on Twitter without coming across them. There was that moment, that awful moment, where I unexpectedly came across an ARC review that took the wind right out of my sails (although the breeze was hit-or-miss at that point anyhow). I'm sure all authors have that review. The one where the reader finds something ugly that wasn't meant to be there--(I'm not talking about errors, although there are those as well, ugh)--I'm talking about some slithering element that was never in your heart when you wrote it, but the reader comes to that conclusion about your motives as a writer nonetheless. And it's heartbreaking. And you cannot respond. You cannot defend. You cannot tell them that your heart was filled with love when you wrote it, and that they're wrong, because of course they aren't wrong. (Let me clarify: she was incorrect in her assumption that I was sneakily trying to send a judgmental message, but not wrong to have written a review with her honest thoughts.) Readers take different things from stories, regardless of whether it was the author's intention or not. It's not wrong or right. That's the beauty of books.
So, after all is said and done, I have a choice. Let the gargantuan block continue to stunt my productivity, or move forward--past it all--through it all? The truth is, I miss Anna and Kai and all the gang. I've missed them like crazy and I love them. Not everybody gets them. Not everybody gets me.  But some do. Actually, a lot do. And it's pretty amazing.
There's something magical about writing that first book. Maybe it's the fact that it's your secret, or there's virtually no pressure, or that nobody's had a chance to say anything bad about it yet. Whatever the reason, the magic doesn't come as naturally for subsequent books after publication. You have to dig a little deeper to find that trickle of magic. You have to put up thick blinders to block out the magic-killing noise of reviews and demands.
When people in interviews ask me what advice I can give to aspiring writers, I always say the same thing. Write what's on your heart. Don't write what you think someone else wants or doesn't want.
Well, damn. I think it's about time to take my own advice.
So if I'm quiet in the online world now, it's no longer because I'm in hiding for one reason or another. It's because I'm writing. Halleluia.

Thank you all for your love and support.

Hugs,
Wendy

BLOG TOUR!!!

Please visit YAtopia for my release-day post!  :)

Banner courtesy of Rachel :)

I'm pleased to announce the stops for my upcoming blog tour, beginning Monday!  This is an awesome group of bloggers, and I'm thrilled to work with them! We've been having a blast with questions and posts, but I'll warn you that it's been difficult to reign Kaidan in during his interviews....

By the way, feel free to grab a Kai button for your blog if you'd like --->

4/23     with Jenny at http://www.supernaturalsnark.blogspot.com/ Interview                                 

4/24     with Sarah at http://imlovingbooks.com/ Character Interview (Anna)                      

4/25     with Krystal at http://livetoread-krystal.blogspot.com/ Author This/That     

4/26     with Grace at http://livredeamour-booksoflove.blogspot.com/ Top 10 List

4/27     with Amy at http://myoverstuffedbookshelf.blogspot.com/ Guest Post                   

4/28     with Jaime and Patricia at http://www.twochicksonbooks.com/ This/That      

4/29     with Mindy at http://www.magicalurbanfantasyreads.com/ Interview

4/30     with Jodie at http://uniquelymoibooks.blogspot.com/ Character Interview (Kai)

5/1       with Savannah at http://www.bookswithbite.net/ Interview                         

5/2       with Michelle at http://www.hookedtobooks.com/ Author This/That

5/3       with Jennifer and Espe at http://www.latebloomeronline.com/ Guest Post

5/4       with Rachel at http://www.fiktshun.com/fiktshun/ Interview 

Winners!!!

Thank you SO much to everyone who entered!  I appreciate your support more than I can express. I had to shut down the contest an hour early because the survey filled-up and couldn't take anymore. Sorry to those who didn't make it by in time. 

Winners!

Five ARCs from Publisher:

Doris Elysia
Jessa Russo
Jennifer Vargas
Sarah Nicolas
Ephrielle


Two Signed Paperbacks - Hot off the Press First Editions:

Lisseth Torres
Petra (Safari Poet)


Swag (Signed Bookmarks and Signed Bookplates):

Mocha Latte (Cupcake & a Latte)
JenniferK
Nea Barabea
Pavan
Sophie
Rebecca-ReadingWishes

Congratulations!!!  Please email your addresses to wendyhigginswrites at gmail dot com.  Or I'll hunt you down...at the emails you provided in the survey.  :)

Survey Results!

1) Have you read Sweet Evil?
Yes - 6%
Not Yet - 94%

2) Which of these best describes you?
I need romance in my reading material. (56%)
A little romance is okay, but it's not the most important element for me. (41%)
I usually enjoy books when the focus is not romance-driven. (3%)

3) What is your opinion about love triangles in YA?
I love them! (11%)
I hate them! (6%)
I don't mind it if it's well-written. (83%)

4) Which is your favorite type of supernatural/paranormal character? (since more than one choice was possible, the percentages don't work here, so I'll list them in your order of preference)
I like them all!  (had the most likes by far!)
Angels/Demons/Nephilim
Witches/Wizards/Magical Beings
Faeries
Werewolves/Shifters
Vampires
Other
I don't much care for supernatural characters.

5) Which of these styles of fiction writing do you enjoy MOST?
Literary: beautiful imagery, poetic descriptions, focus is on the tone and word choice. (26%)
Commercial: Character-driven, flows like a television show or movie in your mind. (27%)
Commercial: Plot-driven, twist & turn adventures that have you on the edge of your seat. (47%)

6) Which type of literary love interest do you tend to fall for?
Shy and sweet (9%)
Funny and quirky (13%)
Dark and mysterious (39%)
I rarely fall for a love interest in a book (3%)
I usually fall for them all! (36%)

Mega SWEET EVIL Giveaway!

Before we begin, for your viewing and giggling pleasure,

I have the official Sweet Evil Book Trailer from HarperTeen:

We're getting close to the May 1st release date, and I'm so excited that I want to do a giveaway!  I had already planned to give away two signed copies of the final book as soon as I receive them (which means winners could possibly have it before the release date.) But then I got a message from the publishers saying they have five extra ARCs they'd like me to give away, too!  I also have a handful of signed bookmarks that I'd love to put in your hot little hands. So lots of chances to win. The two signed copies and bookmarks are up for grabs internationally, and the five ARCs are available to those in the US.

Here's what you have to do:

~ I've created a quick reading survey. There are NO right answers - it's just for fun, and I guess I'm kinda curious about the answers.  :)  TAKE SURVEY NOW. 

~ Leave a comment on this post letting me know that you completed the survey.  And if you feel the need to explain any of your answers, you're free to do so in the comments, hehe.

That's it!  I should probably make you do something like a scavenger hunt or follow me on all of my social media accounts or, you know, something that requires creativity and time, but I'm a slacker (and a teensy bit busy preparing for the blog tour...deets to come). Sometimes easy is just good.

This contest will only last 24 hours!  Winners will be announced right here tomorrow at 9PM Eastern (along with survey results).
Big hugs and best of luck,

Wendy

Guest Post: WHAT A BOY WANTS

I'm so happy to introduce you to Sebastian, the main character in my friend Nyrae Dawn's new YA contemp romance, What a Boy Wants. He's a riot! I had to beg him to post, and he *tried* to talk me out of it with those sexy eyes of his, but in the end I got what I wanted. Enjoy.  :)

Hey. Sebastian here. Wendy asked me to stop by for a guest post, which honestly, totally isn’t my gig, but I’m just sitting here chillin’ while I wait for my friends to come over and pick me up and there’s nothing better to do so… yeah, looks like my bad luck by having no wheels makes it your lucky day. I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Don’t yell at me for being cocky. It’s a joke.

So yeah… I don’t really know what to talk about besides the fact that it’s getting a little old being the only person I know without wheels. Hell, even Jaden has the beatermobile. It might be a piece of crap, but at seventeen, a piece is better than no wheels at all. Just don’t tell him I said that. He’ll hold it over my head and I’ll never hear the end of the fact that I’m jealous of his ride. I’ll just have to deny it, he’ll end up giving me crap, and then Aspen will laugh at me, Pris will find a reason to yell at Jay and then the whole night will be screwed-up.

Damn, when I look at that it makes it sound like we’re a dysfunctional group or something. I swear, we’re not. This is something else I try not to admit too often, but I know I’m damn lucky to have them. We’re tight, the four of us. I’d do anything for them and they’d do anything for me. It’s funny. I always see those teen movies, or the girls talk about books they read and someone is always stabbing the other in the back or whatever and I kind of think it’s bull. Sure that happens, but not always. I think it’s pretty cool that I can talk shit to Jaden about his car, but he knows I’m his boy and he can count on me. We’re cool like that. Same with the girls. Any guy ever messes with them and they know they’ll have Jay and I do deal with.

Wow… I totally sound like a sap here, don’t I? I think I’m going to have to go suck up to Wendy so she doesn’t post this. Shouldn’t be too hard. I know what I’m doing when it comes to girls…

*gives Wendy the eyes*

*Gets a smile and a blush in return*

Piece. Of. Cake.

Anyway, I’m out. I hear the beatermobile coming up the street. And FYI… for you ladies out there. I hear there’s some guy called The Hook-up Doctor. From what I’ve been told, he knows what he’s doing. If you ever need help getting a guy, you should hit him up. You know… not that I have anything to gain since I don’t know him, but I’m just sayin’….

BOOK/AUTHOR INFO:

Follow Nyrae Dawn on Twitter.
Check out What a Boy Wants on Goodreads.
Buy What a Boy Wants on Amazon or Barnes&Noble.

And the Love Interest's Name is...?

(Thank you to everyone who voted!  Results at bottom of post.)

Okay, peeps, I need your help.  I've written a book set in Ireland called See Me, and it's just about ready to submit to my agent!  (You can read more about it HERE.) The problem is, I've run into a snag.  The name I chose for the love interest is, in fact, Irish (Dean); however, it's not as "old" as he is.  I need an older Gaelic/Celtic name.  I've narrowed down the ones I like, but I am notoriously indecisive.  This is where you come in.

I don't want to give away too much about this special guy, but I will tell you that he's a red head. And I dare you to say red headed boys cannot be hot, because you would be mistaken.  :)  I spent two years of my teenhood being head over heels for a red headed boy.  *sigh*  SO CUTE.  And if you still don't believe me, here is further proof...

This is how I envision him, the shade of hair and all.

And that brings us to the names.  My friends and I narrowed it down to four.  Please leave a comment telling me which you prefer. 

Edan

Keefe

Ronan

McKale

I've decided to use BOTH names in the novel! One for the love interest, and one for her sister's love interest.  :-)  Very excited to revise and make these changes - thank you for your help!!!
Big, squishy hugs,
Wendy

ARC Winner!!!

I received my box of advanced Sweet Evil copies Friday evening. They've all got destinations, so unfortunately I don't have any extras to spare after this contest. Boo-hoo!

When I designed the drawing contest, I forgot my daughter has a choir concert tonight. Knowing things will be crazy when we get home, I decided to do the drawing early. All sixty-something names went into a bowl...

And a name was drawn!  *bites nails*

And the winner is.......

UNIQUELY MOI BOOKS!!!

Congratulations, sweetie!  I'll be contacting you via email.  Thank you so much to everyone who entered. I wish I could send each of you special Christmas gifts. I'm sorry you have to settle for a cyber squeeze --->  *hugs*

Love you much!

~Wendy