#pippaversary

Remember May 6, 2014 when I became a published author with my debut YA contemporary novel Wish You Were Italian?!

Remember when I was too pregnant and lazy to organize a launch week giveaway?

Remember last month when I realized I still had FUN THINGS to give away just SITTING on my shelf?!

In celebration of the first anniversary of Pippa out in the world, I'm hosting a #pippaversary giveaway! Open until May 6, 2015. BUT FIRST, A HUGE GRAZIE to all of you for reading, reviewing, gushing, and supporting me and my little book! This dream wouldn't be possibly without each of you! Much love!!

PIPPA'S PRIZE PACK

(US only, but scroll down for international giveaway)

Remember when Morgan gave Pippa a journal filled with fun things to do while in Italy?

Morgan's red journal! 

Remember when author Lindsey Leavitt said:
“With Italy's brilliant landscapes, a main character you'll love from the first line and a new dreamy book boyfriend (he's mine!), WISH YOU WERE ITALIAN is a charming and addictive read. Devour this delicious treat like a double scoop of gelato.”

A hardback of Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt!

Remember when I listened to nothing but Mindy Gledhill's album Anchor while I revised Wish You Were Italian and therefore Pippa is walking the streets of Italy with those songs in her head?

A copy of Anchor by Mindy Gledhill!

Remember when I stumbled upon the cutest little Rome mug with a Vespa on it?

Rome mug with a cartoon Vespa!

This giveaway is open to US addresses only.

Scroll down for the international giveaway!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

SIGNED UK EDITION!

I don't want those of you who live out of the country to be left out, 

so this next giveaway is open internationally!
(open to U.S. and beyond!)

Enter below for your chance to win 

a signed UK edition of Wish You Were Italian!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to use #pippaversary on social media! 

Mangia gelato prima! 

TODAY IS RELEASE DAY!

When I started writing a novel (that no one will ever see) years ago, I researched the publishing industry and totally chickened out. I thought there was no way I was going to be good enough. The prospect of one day walking into a Barnes & Noble and finding a book I'd written on the shelf seemed an impossibility.

But the thing is, if this form of creating is inside of you, it finds a way out. You have to write. You have stories to tell. You suck it up and do the work because you love it and can't imagine your life without this part of you. You long to create characters and stories that someone else can connect with. To share a little piece of what's inside your head, even if just for that one person that needed to hear what you had to say. You get better by doing. By reading. By listening. By seeing. By not quitting.

Starting today I'm going to be able to walk into a bookstore and find a book with my name on it, with words I've written inside, and this is so huge I can't even fully process it. From this day on, I'll always be a published author. Like, what?! ALL THE MUPPET FLAILS!!

And I owe a million thanks to my critique girls, Katie M. Stout, Kristi Chestnutt, and Kim Franklin, and to readers Amy Sonnichsen, Cari, and Mari. My amazing agent Marietta B. Zacker, and incredible editor Caroline Abbey. Laura Whitaker and everyone at Bloomsbury! My supportive and loving family and friends, in-person and online! My journey here wouldn't be the same without each of you.

Colosseum at night

In Wish You Were Italian, Pippa makes a list of ten goals for her summer in Italy:

• Don’t get arrested
• Don’t make a fool out of myself in public
• Get my picture taken at the Colosseum
• Find random souvenir for Morgan
• Get a makeover
• See Pompeii
• Swim in the Mediterranean Sea
• Have a conversation with someone in only Italian
• Eat a whole pizza in one sitting
• Fall in love with an Italian

If I were spending an entire summer in Italy (hey, it's fun to dream!), here are ten things I'd want to do!

• Take an official tour of the Colosseum, including the scary bottom level
• Go to the catacombs
• See Pompeii
• Eat gelato at least twice a day
• Paint on location instead of later from a picture
• Take a gondola ride in Venice
• Stay at a bed and breakfast in Tuscany 
• Learn to make authentic pasta from scratch
• Rent a bicycle and ride around a quaint village
• Learn to speak enough Italian to get by without relying on English

Hubs and me eating gelato in Corniglia, Cinque Terre

 

Painter in Florence | Bikes in Florence

What would you do with a whole summer in Italy?!

If you'd like a signed copy of Wish You Were Italian, my local indie bookstore ships! Click THIS LINK to order, marking any personalization details in the order comments. 

MY BOOK HAS A COVER! (Part 1)

It's here, it's here!! I have a cover!!

AND IT'S ADORABLE!

My Texas friends are so sweet to join me in the celebration today by sharing my cover on their blogs! Be sure to check out each one--they've all shared a little something different, complete with my own photos from Italy!

Cari's Book Blog

Ex Libris
The Daisy Daily

Gone with the Words

G Reads!

Girls in the Stacks
Hip Mama Jenn

I Read Banned Books
Joy's Novel Idea

Mundie Moms
A Nook for Books
Portrait of a Book

Sarah's Books & Life
And my CP, Katie M. Stout blogged about it too! Thanks girl!

I love my friends!
Thank you for the support and love and for sharing this experience with me! It means SO MUCH!

My New WIP Setting, Tilt-Shift Style!

What's tilt-shift? It's a type of photography that I haven't officially tried, but you can fake it in Photoshop. Basically, it makes the photo kind of look like you took a picture of miniatures or a model set.

It's probably not a surprise to most of you that the new story I'm working on is set in Italy. I've been going through all my travel photos for inspiration, and I've been playing with them in Photoshop to give them a fun twist--the tilt-shift twist! It works better on some than others, but either way, it brings a new life to the photos. Fresh and fun. Enjoy!

My MC starts out in Rome

And eventually she settles in Cinque Terre because, well, if you've ever been there, you know how hard it is to leave.

View from her window in Riomaggiore

 Makes me ache to go back. I told Handy I was working on a new story set in Italy and the first thing out of his mouth was, "And I suppose you have to go back for research now?" HA! I wish we could! I'll have to settle for sifting through all the photos and maps and travel guides I collected back when I was planning. Sigh. 

What about you? Do you use photos for inspiration? Ever set one of your stories in a place you went on vacation because you loved it so?! 

His name is Stanley. And Etsy Store RELAUNCH!

Thank you all for your kind words about my branch! 

And I didn't mention it before, but his name is Stanley...

Every year, I name my tree, or rather, it names itself.  Sometimes after all the ornaments are on, sometimes in the tree lot, the name will come into my head and then there is no going back--it has to be the first one I think of.  Usually our trees are girls (Francesca, Caroline, Isabella....), but this year, the branch is a boy.  And his name is Stanley. 

Anyway... here is a gift idea for you!  I'm giving the Etsy store another go!  People sell stuff on there, I know they do... so I've got some Italy prints available if anyone is interested. 

Things like 

and

and

and some others.  I had a friend order four from me yesterday and she didn't understand why I wasn't trying to sell them, so.... now I guess I am. :)

LINK TO MY ETSY STORE!

Check back tomorrow for my blogiversary contest announcement!

Something To Look at Sunday

Buon San Valentino!

In Italy, there is a seaside path that connects the five (cinque) towns of the Cinque Terre (five lands). The section between Riomaggiore and Manarola is called the Via dell'Amore (Lover's Street, or Pathway of Love).

Via dell'Amore was developed over the last century, originally during the contruction of the railway line. But it was quickly seen as a shortcut for villagers to walk between the towns, and for lovers to meet. Lovers would meet along the path, often painting amorous graffiti on the stone and tunnel walls. Some tourists are put off by it, but it's really all part of the history, and some of it is actually quite good.


The padlocks fastened onto cables and railings are symbols of eternal love. They are absolutely everywhere on the Manarola side of the trail. A hardware store in Riomaggiore sells the locks with this kissing symbol on it.
Hubs and I just happened to have an extra little lock in our backback to join in the festivities.


Here are some photos from the Cinque Terre and Via dell'Amore! Enjoy!

Locks, locks, and more locks!

A view of the main tunnel section of Via dell'Amore between Riomaggiore (where we stayed) and Manarola.

Manarola, where we ate:

The most amazing seafood and pesto ravioli EVER.

Vineyards.

Sunset over the Ligurian Sea.


Happy Valentine's Day!
Buon San Valentino!

*All photographs are property of Kristin Rae and may not be used or duplicated without written permission.

Friday Mourning

2010 Goal Tracking:
Writing progress: searching searching searching for agents!
Weight progress: I'm giving my body a day off. I've been mean to it.
Bible in a year progress: Genesis 15-17, Psalm 7

Today I've been particularly missing Rome. I can't get this

*photos removed intentionally*

out of my head. I blew this picture up huge and framed it in my living room. It's next to this one.

Looks fake doesn't it? Everyone that comes over asks where I got it. Um...well I was inside the Colosseum, we were gazing around, my friend said, KRISTIN STOP! LOOK AT THAT TREE! Snap. And here's the result. The Italians cut their pine trees so that all the green is at the top. Really neat looking, Dr. Suessish allmost. Basically, since Italy in September, I've been spreading my photos all over the house! I can't stop myself. I took around 200 pictures of the Colosseum alone. That's just insanity. But I was very moved. Misty eyed, even.

Sigh. Too bad we spent all of our money there and can't go back for years and years.

In other news! For all you poetry writers out there, there is a sweet online magazine called The Basilica Review that I learned about yesterday. Their first fall edition is free on their website, and has some pretty inspiring pieces. They are actively seeking submissions for their Spring issue, so check it out and see if your work is along a similar vein. The website is HERE and I also have added a link on the right panel under OTHER GREAT STUFF!

Gotta catch up on my reading this weekend! I’m off to a land of wolves and mystery!

*All photographs are property of Kristin Rae and may not be used or duplicated without written permission.