Thanks 2010 Sincerely, Lani Woodland

Thanks 2010 Sincerely Me is a daily segment running on my blog until New Year's, in which some of authors/bloggers will write letters to 2010.

Dear 2010,

It’s weird to see you coming to end. I’m always looking forward to the next year and its possibilities but it’s sad to see the old one end. It means that while my kids will continue to learn and grow, and we’ll have new adventures together, that my kids are getting older and I’ll never have them the way they are now again. As I’ve gotten older and realize that things change I’ve come to appreciate the melancholy you can have when a fantastic moment has just happened and knowing it’ll never happen exactly like that again. So I’m experiencing this as the year is drawing to a close.

But 2010, even with all the trials and sad moments that happened this year, you were fantastic. You brought about a dream of mine. My first novel, Intrinsical, was published! That included all the excitement, joy and nerves that come with it. You also introduced me to the new hardship, the one of writing a sequel. I’ve laughed, cried, screamed for joy and had moments of sadness through you 2010 but I’m glad I was able to have you in my life. I’m looking forward to 2011 but I will miss you!

Sincerely, 

Me

Lani Woodland is the author of INTRISICAL, which was released in August with Pendrell Publishing.

Thanks 2010 Sincerely, Gwen Hayes

Thanks 2010 Sincerely Me is a daily segment running on my blog until New Year's, in which some of authors/bloggers will write letters to 2010. On January 1, Dear 2011... will begin and run for a week and feature other authors/bloggers. 

 

Dear 2010,

You were so much fun!  

Remember that day we saw the cover of Falling Under for the first time? So cool. And the first time we held the book in our hand. Priceless. It's been a really great year.

New Year's Eve is going to be bittersweet. We had such a great relationship, it will be hard to say goodbye--but I think your new job as 2011 is going to be even better for us. Especially March. Just sayin'.

Sincerely,
Me


Gwen Hayes is the author of the March release FALLING UNDER. 

You can also read some of her e-books for Kindle: BUTTERFACE, OH GODDESS, and THE CHOSEN.

Thanks 2010 Sincerely, Leah Cypress

Thanks 2010 Sincerely Me is a daily segment running on my blog until New Year's, in which some of authors/bloggers will write letters to 2010. On January 1, Dear 2011... will begin and run for a week and feature other authors/bloggers. 

Dear 2010,

Let’s start with the most obvious thing: you are the year I became a published author. The year I got to walk into a bookstore and see my book sitting on the shelf. My debut year. That is, without question, the most dramatic thing that happened to me over the past twelve months. I’m incredibly grateful for it. It’s something I was starting to think might never happen, but it did. In 2010.

You’re also the year I slowly slid from “ecstatic that I’m getting published” to “obsessed with the details of being published” and back again. I learned a lot: about how reviews work, about how sales works, about how promotion works, about how not to obsess about any of those things. Well, almost. Most of the time. I’ve been getting better at it – and 2011, you’re the year in which I’m going to conquer it.

Other less dramatic but equally amazing things happened. My older daughter turned from a toddler into a preschooler – or, as my husband likes to say, “a real person.” My younger turned from an infant into a toddler. An adorable toddler who is so eager to talk she makes up nonsense words when she doesn’t have enough real words. Both of them like to “read” and can often be found sitting on the couch, studiously turning the pages of picture books. Both of them amaze me every day (even on the days when I’m counting the seconds until bedtime). And both of them were with me when I first walked into a bookstore on my release date. It was like the snapshot of the perfect moment.

Thank you, 2010!

Sincerely, 

Me


Leah Cypress is the author of MISTWOOD and it's 2011 companion NIGHTSPELL.

Thanks 2010 Sincerely, Me.

Thanks 2010 Sincerely Me is a daily segment running on my blog until New Year's, in which some of authors/bloggers will write letters to 2010. On January 1, Dear 2011... will begin and run for a week and feature other authors/bloggers. Feel free to leave comments/thoughts on any that you read!

Dear 2010,

This has been one quick year! Didn't it just start? Wasn't I just welcoming you in? Feels like it. These last twelve months haven't always been great, but they've been a journey. I start this letter to you in a coffee shop so far from where I came that I can barely believe it. You've been a roller coaster, 2010. The first half of you was rough; the second has been incredibly better. I thank you and I hate you in the same breath for every experience. It's hard to put into words, but this is my brief attempt to try.

Thanks. You put me through the ringer this year, especially in that city I hated living in. Plague, bugs, ice, fire, flood...what the heck was that? I'm glad we've moved on. You really screwed me up there with those challenges, but I know I'm stronger. Sucky as it was, you did some good things there. You gave me roommates who taught me a lot and let me work in a great bookstore full of people who became my family. I love them all so much still. It's the people I met there, the ones sprinkled in the mess of bad, who will always have my heart. There are too many to name, but a few wonderful ladies I should point out. The first opened my eyes to YA. Another who showed me the strength I had within myself and constantly encouraged me to keep moving forward. And three more who showed me the possibilities of Twitter, of trying something scary, of words and of perseverance. You used them all to keep me from quitting--and still do.

Boston is amazing! You've exceeded my expectations here. I don't even know how to thank you for all the good. It can only get better! Even when it's not perfect or what I'd like it to be, you still constantly surprise me. I look forward to what next year brings. Hopefully, some more friends and lots of writer-stalking with the #entourage. That'd be nice and super fun.

The end of you marks the end of a decade.* A decade in which I graduated (high school and college), went to South Africa, started blogging, made two major moves and started writing. Really writing. And thus, started living. You will be forever remembered for that. Even among all the crappy things, you brought so much good.

I can't say I'll miss you or that I'll want you back. I can't say I will always look back on every piece of you with fondness. I can say I will always remember, because 2010 you taught me a lot. A whole lot. I'm ready for 2011. It's going to be a good year with many new challenges. I'm ready for them. I think...

Thanks 2010.

Sincerely,
Me.


*It being a new decade is debatable. For this case, just go with it.

Thanks 2010: My Favorite Books of the Year

Thanks 2010 is a feature segment that will run on my blog until New Year's Day where I join forces with authors and bloggers to thank 2010 for what it brought us.

This year brought so many marvelous books. I seriously loved too many of them. Picking my top ten was nearly impossible. I got it down to twenty and stared for a few hours. Then, I got it to seventeen. Fifteen. In the end, I couldn't get past eleven. So, although the post says my top ten, you really get my top eleven. And since it's my blog, you have to deal with it. :) I'll say it's to ring in the new year! Without further adieu: my top choices from 2010, in no particular order.  

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Hex Hall is the first book that made me laugh--like, actually laugh--out loud. It's got cute boys, funny characters, a strong female lead, a fun sidekick and magic. What's not to like? Read my full review.

Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
I can't even explain how much I love this book. Syd's world is so incredible, vivid, bright. She and North are the perfect team. Swoon is written on the cover and even after you finish it, BW stays with you. Read my full review.
   
The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney 
This book really affected me and challenged me. It's a story of standing up for right in a time when that's not always the easy decision. Read my full review.


Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins 
Funny. Romantic. Thrilling. French. ANNA has everything! There's nothing else like this story! Read my full review

Matched by Ally Condie
Cassia lives in perfection, until she realizes that everything is one big lie. This is her story to find the truth, to fight for love, and to see what happens when perfection fails. Read my full review.

Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers
One of two novels released this year, FFA is the remarkable third novel by Summers. It's a poignant tale of death, understanding, and moving on. It stole my breath and my heart.  Read my full review.

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson 

Lennie is the part of us that we are afraid to let out. The way she deals with the loss of her sister and how she has to find something to grasp in the midst of the grief. It's a powerful story. Read my full review.

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel 

 This book is so richly woven together with details, emotions, characters and some of the prettiest prose I've ever read. Her take on vampires is unique & captivating. Read a full review from Overflowing Shelf.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare 

 I love everything Cassie writes. She knows how to weave a tale together, plot, characters, world--I fell quickly for CA. I can't wait for the rest of this series! Read a full review from Ticket To Anywhere.

Sea by Heidi Kling

 Sea provides this heart-wrenching tragedy and truth and hope. It's beautiful, romantic, real, intense. I've been overseas on mission and I could totally connect to the things Sea felt. (Spider is also so much fun.) Read full reviews from Sea's head cheerleaders: Erica and Dani.

The Iron King and The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
I know, I know. These are two books! But they aren't. They are a series, thus they go together. You can't have one without the other. They count as one.

It's a funny, adventurous take on Fae. Meghan Chase grows a lot in these books. Grim and Puck and Ash and Meghan make an unlikely team and I love them. Did I mention Ash? I love Ash. It's just a marvelous series. I had to include it! Check back for full review during a special author week! Or read Ticket To Anywhere's IRON KING review. Overflowing Shelf's IRON DAUGHTER review.