Saturday, January 7, 2012

Happy New Year (Yes, it's January 7th)

Happy New Year! I've been busy, which is why this well-wishing is a week late. Everything has been like that since December, actually! I wanted to get LIF out on the 1st but it had to go the 15th. Then I had to go into Christmas mode which is a lot of work. I'm an only child and my parents don't cook. Either I cook or we got to Denny's.

My girls got a Maltese for Christmas. She's 5 months old and her name is Sparkle. Yes, Sparkle. That's what happens when a 4 year old names a dog. I told one of the mom's at my daughter's school and she laughed at me, said I was the last person she imagined with a small, white dog named Sparkle. I really should have asked her what pet she thought I should have. A snake? A hairless cat? A stuffed animal? Kujo?

Anyway, she's super cute and I had the sweet pleasure of waking up to find her eating her own excrement two days after we got her. I almost yacked all over the place cleaning it up and the whole room STANK so I was up at 4 am.

The kids got too many presents of course and I spent a lot of time emailing fans, and, thank you everyone who sent me an email regarding LIF, even if it was just for the extra scene, it was awesome and humbling to know that the book resonated with so many of you.

I had written the first half of LIF a long time ago. 9 months ago, maybe? And I had written the end. But I had a gaping hole in the middle. I knew how it was going to end. SPOILER FOR LIF!!  with the cliff and the tear and Jack and Rachel but that Cerdewellyn...that bastard was a mystery to me.

I watch a lot of tennis and the truth is, he was slightly inspired by Roger Federer. The man is not only graceful, but whether he's winning or losing he gives the same blank expression. I find myself watching him and wondering what he's thinking because he's an enigma. Well, Cer was too.

The success of LID as well as getting my writing partner Lauren into my life meant that the plot came together and I was able to finish LIF. The book has done really well and hit the top 100 on amazon on the first day which was insane.

I felt a bit bad that some people thought I was too hard on the characters and were quite bummed out about the ending. I will say, Val is going to get a happy ending. So, don't despair!

Anyway. After Christmas, what with the dog and the book and the kids being home I kind of fell off the planet. I've also been emailing Denise Grover Swank a lot and she's not only super-nice, generous and funny but her book is burning up the Amazon lists. We are going to be doing an interview one of these days on our blogs. Here is her site if anyone is interested. Her books are great. http://www.denisegroverswank.com/

Vampire Diaries is back and I am hoping to watch it tonight. I will hopefully get some writing done in the next few weeks but don't know for sure. My in-laws are visiting from England for a few weeks and my youngest will officially turn 4 at the end of the month.

Hope you all had a great holiday and thanks again for getting in touch!

4 comments:

  1. sometimes when you find a great book to escape into (which is what your books are for me and escape)its really easy to forget that the one who creates the escape for you is a real person with a real life. and all you can think about is whats going to happen next.i cant tell you how many times ive sat around trying to figure out wats going to happen hows val going to escape this like is it the bond she shares with lucas that we discovered when he put on the fey ring that will save her from being bound to cer, why was lucas coming from down the hallway after the wolves were dead. wat was he really there for. anyway point being im so glad you had a great holiday and look forward to the next book. u r awesomeness!

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  2. Glad to see that you are still alive and had a good holiday!

    I'm going to read some Laurel K. Hamilton, thanks to you!

    I want to know what you think about VD, as it didn't sit well with me.

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  3. Hey Kari, I can put you out of your misery for one of those things, the ring from book 1 doesn't play into book 2. But as to what he was up to when he was supposed to be killing the wolves...good question!

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  4. Yo Fictionista-- I still have not seen the damned thing! Argh! My in-laws have commandeered my tv and are watching French Cinema. My TV is only used to Trashy things and might explode. Lol

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