Who's Been Hoarding the Awards?!

Guilty!
I've been getting some fabulous awards from some fabulous bloggers and have neglected to pass them around!! I must make amends, and quickly! I believe I have eight of them that I've stacked up, so I'm just going to tackle them in parts.

Today's awards are:

The Stylish Blogger Award, given to me by the stylish blogger, Jen at Unedited!

I'm passing this pretty award along to:
Muse in the Fog - Following this blog has introduced me to a genre I hadn't read much of in the past, but am now learning more about: Historical Fiction! Her reviews are must reads.

Abby Annis - Her blog is fun, full of great advice, and she often highlights a lot of the YA books we love so much! She also has a great 100 follower contest going on right now.

Next up is the Blogger Buddie Award, given to me by Amelia and Amber! Be sure to check out their fabulous blogs!

I am passing this award along to:
Jen at Unedited - She's a pretty cool chick with a pretty cool blog, and recently celebrated 200 followers! Congrats on that!
Nicole Ducleroir at One Significant Moment at a Time - Great discussions, great teasers, just an all around great lady!

Next up is the Circle of Friends Award, given to me by fellow Team Gale supporter Katie!

I am passing this along to:
Kim Franklin - Kim has become a good friend, and to top it off, her blog is hysterical and full of great advice, not to mention her very helpful book reviews!
Kristi Chestnutt - Also a new and dear friend, Kristi's debut novel comes out THURSDAY!
CONGRATS KRISTI!
(Read my interview with Kristi here)

Last for today, but not least, The Superior Scribbler Award given to me by Tiana Lei!

I'm passing this one along to:
DL Hammons at Cruising Altitude - DL is just an all around cool guy. He has great advice, is a good writer, and always leaves encouraging comments. He's a superior scribbler!
Kayeleen at Kayeleen's Creations - Kayeleen is a super-sweet, young adult writer, with a lovely blog that everyone should follow!

WHEEW! Stay tuned for the second part of this award ceremony at a date TBD!

Now, most of these blog awards come with the rule of spilling a little bit about yourself, so, spillage part 1:

1. Every birthday of mine that I can remember, it's rained. Yesterday was my birthday, and this year was no exception. Although, it had never snowed on my b-day before... Living in Houston, we're lucky to see it every 5 years. But yesterday... it snowed (the second time in 3 months!). Happy Birthday To Me! :)

2. Someone once told me, "Hate is a waste of emotion." Ever since, I've tried not to hate anyone or anything. I even try not to ever say "I hate you!" even playfully. It just sounds ugly. But I will say this: I just scrubbed our guest bathtub... and I was pretty close to hating that.

3. I have a hard time buying someone else's artwork because I have this weird personal..what's the word...it's like a feeling...not really a "bet"...argh. Can't think. Anyway, I feel like I'm supposed to create all the artwork for the walls in our house myself. Like I will have failed if I don't. I'm slowly getting over it - mostly because our walls have been bare for 2 years because I don't have confidence in my own art to even display it! - and I bought a couple of watercolor paintings from some locals while we were in Italy (and a couple from Hawaii). I'm also slowly cluttering my walls with photos I took on vacations, too.

4. I freak out when my feet feel the slightest bit dirty. It's vital to wear flip flops here in Houston in the summer when it's 100+ and you feel like you're constantly in a sauna, but wow do your feet get dirty!! I'm the queen of the quick fix of a lightly soaped and damp paper towel swipe of the feet in public restrooms, and I give them a good thorough wash cloth cleanse as soon as I get home.

5. I LOVE gift cards. Some people think these as gifts are impersonal, but you know what I say to that? Let ME pick out what you want to buy me, because no one knows me better. I think people are catching on, because yesterday for my birthday I got the most gift cards I've EVER gotten. iTunes, Borders, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, World Market!!! Add that to the Barnes and Noble gift card I won last week from Clevery Inked and I'd say I have a FULL day of shopping in the near future!!!

If you haven't entered my contest for a signed copy of Heist Society by Ally Carter or a $10 Amazon Gift Card, you can do so on this thread!

Felice Mercoledi! (Happy Wednesday!)

Birthday Contest!

How would you like to win a signed copy of Ally Carter's newest release, Heist Society?

It's already a New York Times Best Seller!

I had the opportunity to meet Miss Carter last Thursday, which you can read all about on this post. It was a joy to hear her speak, and I encourage everyone interested to check her website for her schedule.

Since today, Tuesday, February 23, is indeed MY BIRTHDAY, I thought it was only fitting to host a CONTEST for my lovely followers!! (Better to give than to receive, right?!)

Now, this is a Young Adult book, so I'm sure some of you are saying, "Well DARN IT, I don't read young adult chick's books... That's sissy stuff!" (Am I right DL?) You shouldn't feel left out! Not on Kristin's birthday! (Gasp!) So I will also be giving away a $10 Amazon e-mail gift card.

Up for Grabs:

1 signed hardback of Heist Society by Ally Carter

OR

$10 Amazon e-mail Gift Card

Rules:

Must be a follower

To Enter:

Leave a comment specifying if you are entering for the book (US only) or the gift card

Extra Entries:

+1 for guessing my correct age on this birthday!

+1 for blog shout out or sidebar (show me the link)

+1 for finishing this sentence:
Eyes closed tightly, I blew out the candles on the cake, and wished...

Contest ends at midnight this Sunday, February 28th.

Winners announced Monday, March 1st!

Buona Fortuna!

Interview with Kristi Chestnutt - Author of The Wolf Within!

I am very proud to have Kristi Chestnutt here today! It's the first stop on her blog tour!

Her debut novel, The Wolf Within, is just days away from release... Let's take a look at it!!
Isn't that cover just beautiful? I don't know about y'all, but it makes me that much more excited to read it!

Before the interview, here's the scoop on The Wolf Within:

When Gwyn, a quirky college student, bumps into Faden, a private investigator with a secret past, life as she knows it will not just change, but end.

Faden can’t deny the powerful connection he and Gwyn have right from the start, a connection that pulls him towards her when he knows he should be staying away. As his investigation into the town’s most recent murders heats up, his resolve weakens and he gives in to Gwyn’s pull, knowing that getting close to someone again would mean sharing his secret: he is Immortal.

Little does he know that he will never get the chance to tell her himself. His past hunts him down, taking Gwyn prisoner and plunging them into a world they never knew existed. Together they will be thrown into the midst of battle, befriending the very serial killer Faden has been hunting. Forced to leave their homes behind and run from the authorities, we watch as Gwyn helps Faden become the leader that destiny and fate has called him to be.

Welcome Kristi!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Me? Hmmm…I tend to ramble so this is a brave question. I’m short - five feet exactly. My family likes to say I’m four foot eleven inches but they’re wrong I tell you…WRONG!

I like goat cheese. I love to snowboard. I have a boxer, Van Gogh and a pug, Roxy. I’m obsessive about turning off lights and appliances in the house. Not really because it’s more energy efficient (although a nice bonus), but because it bothers me to leave them on. I like to lock my car doors the INSTANT I’m in the car. I know logically it is crazy to think someone would steal me right out of my car but for some reason locking them makes me feel safer. My cell phone is on the fritz and it will randomly make a buzzing sound in replacement of my voice, or so my family tells me. I have to continually call people back every three to four minutes and if I don’t replace it soon my family may disown me. It’s on my list of “to do’s”.

2. Congratulations on The Wolf Within! What emotions have you felt leading up to the release?

Thanks Kristin! It’s been a roller coaster ride of emotions! First there was extreme excitement (Wow…I’m going to be published!), followed quickly by panic (Holy crap…I’m going to be published…people will judge me…EEEK!), then frustration (editing is not one of my favorite things!), then fear (what will the cover look like?), and ultimately in the end, back to excitement (this is really happening and it rocks!).

3. Did you write other novels before The Wolf Within that didn’t survive the path to publishing?

Oh yes. I’ve recently debated taking them out of the dreaded filing cabinet for another look but I haven’t had the courage. I didn’t believe in them enough to even try. A few close friends were the only ones to have ever read them.

4. Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Yes and no. I’ve always enjoyed writing as a hobby and an outlet. Being published and/or having an agent are life-long dreams of mine…one down, one to go. Writing as my full time career, however, is not something I’ve ever considered…in my mind it would be too stressful to have that kind of pressure and I try to be realistic about what I love to do.

5. What are your interests outside of writing? Do you ever feel guilty ignoring writing too long to do something else, or visa versa?

I love spending time with family and friends, snowboarding, reading, going on long walks with the dogs, hiking…anything outdoors really.

AND a huge YES on the guilt. It goes both ways…the nights I lock myself in my office to work on something I feel guilty that I’m not spending more time with my family. And the weeks my personal life takes over and I can’t write, I start to panic, wondering if whatever story I want to tell will ever be done. I try to strike balance between my writing life and family life…some weeks it works and others it doesn’t.

6. What are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on two different projects and debating a third. One is a literary fiction piece title “The Ones” about a boy orphan looking for his family and the other is a paranormal young adult piece (untitled) about a high school romance.

7. A lot of authors say that music is vital to them while writing. Is there anything that’s a must for you to help the words flow?

Every now and then music really speaks to me and inspires a story, but it’s always more inspiration for my story rather than something I need in the background to help me write. It’s like a kick start to get me going. For me, I really need to think about and mull a story over in my head before I am really able to get the words to flow.

8. You’ve gone through this process without an agent. For your next novel, will you seek representation?

Definitely! I’ve learned a lot about the publishing process as I went this first time around but there’s a lot of work and doubt involved when you’re doing something so large on your own. I’m hoping with my next project to find an agent that will help me along and let me relax a bit more.

9. Out of all the books you’ve read, which character have you most wanted to be?

This one is hard because I think we put ourselves into each book we read. I really think I’d most want to be Hermione from Harry Potter. Going to Hogwarts would be pretty spectacular and it’s hard not to fall in love with Ron’s character. Plus she has the best friends and knows everything. I was going to choose Pride and Prejudice because you know how I love some Mr. Darcy…I’m just not sure I could live without electricity and hot showers.

10. Anything else you’d like to say to the future readers of The Wolf Within?

Thank you! I would love to say that to each and every person that buys and reads this book. I’m just thrilled to have it out there for others to read and review. I’m looking forward to hearing what everyone thinks…both the good and the bad…I’ve come to realize it’s how we grow as writers. Receiving feedback is a necessary part of the process and I’m dying to know what everyone will think. Terrified and excited at the same time!

Thanks for the great interview Kristi!

The Wolf Within is due for release this Thursday, February 25th, and will be available from her publisher's online bookstore, Black Rose Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million.

Kristi is hosting a fabulous contest, giving you a chance to win a prize pack for The Wolf Within! Prize Pack includes: an autographed copy of The Wolf Within, a $25 Barnes & Noble Giftcard AND a $5 Starbucks Giftcard. The winner will be announced Feb 25th, 2010! Enter now on Kristi's blog! Also visit her blog for her blog tour schedule, and be sure to follow her if you don't already. Her posts are hilarious, inspiring, smart... I am proud to call her a friend! :)

Something To Look At Sunday

Just got back from a relaxing weekend at the lake, from which I will post pictures next Sunday as soon as I sift through the plethora of them that I took. But for today... Switchfoot concert photos!! I'm sure y'all are sick of hearing about them and are yelling BASTA (enough)! So, this should be my last Switchfoot bit until I see them again... which I'm sure will be a very long time from now (although, that's what I thought this past November :).

Tim Foreman. Yes, that's my hair on the right... I cropped myself out for posting... mostly because I was REALLY too excited when this picture was taken, and it's just not becomming. LOL.

Me and Jon Foreman. I regained composure SLIGHTLY for this one, but alas, it's not in focus. I'm convinced that 10 of the 20 pounds I'm trying to lose are in my cheeks!

Seabird - the opening band. VERY solid. My favorite song is "Don't you know you're beautiful."

Tim Foreman and Chad Butler (Chad will be on the cover of Drum Magazine in March!)

Jerome - he literally plays everything

Timmy again :)

A SUPER freaky picture of Jon that I just couldn't resist posting. I think it may give me nightmares.

This has been another Something to look at Sunday, and hopefully the last time I burden you with my Switchfoot obsession!! ;)

I hope everyone had a molto bene weekend!

Come back Monday for my interview with Kristi Chestnutt!

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

My Face is Missing

Switchfoot ROCKED my face off! There are no words to describe their utter awesomeness. Seriously, everyone must experience the wonder that is Switchfoot in person. Go to http://www.switchfoot.com/ to check out their tour dates and see if they will be in your city. The opening band, Seabird, was absolutely incredible as well. I was very pleased, and am looking forward to seeing them again one day. Such a great night!!!!

I had to get there pretty early for the meet and greet, but missing dinner was worth it. The boys were all so very nice - I brought along all the CD jackets of theirs I could find for them to sign, so now they look spectacular! My dad sort of tried to take pictures of me with Tim the bass player (the little guy on the right), and his brother, Jon, the singer (front and center), but they turned out a bit wonky. I'll get the photos from his camera soon and post some concert shots. We were in the THIRD ROW!! I had NO clue we'd be making eye contact with the guys all night. SO fun!! (I REALLY don't mean to sound braggy... I am just on cloud 9 at the moment.)

Moving along... everyone get ready for an interview next week with Kristi Chestnutt, author of the soon to be released novel, The Wolf Within! So excited!

*I must insert a disclaimer for my previous post - I do not speak fluent Italian, I am just learning :)

And this idea that I'm good at all sorts of things... see... I feel that I mislead some of you. I TRY many things... because I'm interested in WAY too many things!! Some things stick, some things don't. I will expand on this next week, because I really don't want to come across as someone flashing my paintings or new songs or new paragraphs around in everyone's faces saying, LOOK AT ME! So I do hope it never comes across that way. My brain is just overactive in the creativity deptartment (only with certain areas), it never shuts off. Sometimes it's hard for me to sleep because I can't stop thinking of song lyrics, the plot of a WIP, paintings I want to try.... I just have many interests, and I work hard at them. I'm glad I have y'all to share it with, and hope I don't step on any toes in the process! :)

I will be unplugged this weekend, back in full force on Monday with announcements!

Ti auguro una buona fine della settimana!

It's Friday! And the Ally Carter Book Signing!! (Molto Fantastico!)

Went to Ally Carter's signing last night here in Houston. She was delightful! Hilarious, inspiring, friendly! Everything you'd want an author to be when you go to an event.

There were quite a few young girls there (understandably), and my friend and I were amazed at the questions they asked. They were so insightful! Why wasn't I that smart when I was in junior high?! Must get a time machine programmed to 1997 and tell myself, "you ARE cool", and "you should really think about reading more". Maybe I would have started writing more seriously sooner. But what's done is done and everything happens because it's supposed to! So no "shoulda coulda woulda" from me!

A few points of interest from the evening, Ally mentioned how securing the Gallagher Girls series with the publisher was like them asking, "What's your favorite type of food?" "Pizza." "Well congratulations you get to eat pizza every night for the rest of your life!" And at first it's fantastic, but then you start to feel that you want to taste something else. That's where Heist Society came in to play. Inspired from a line she heard in an audio book she was listening to in her car. Something about a cat burglar. Then she knew she had to write a book about a burglar named Kat.

Her inspiration for the Gallagher Girls happened while she was half heartedly watching an episode of Alias (obsessed with that show! Miss it terribly!) with the TV on mute. She looked up from what she was doing just at the right moment that made her think, "Does that girl go to a boarding school for spies?" She unmuted and discovered she was very wrong, but the idea stuck.

Another interesting tidbit; a girl asked why we never see the girl's entire face on the cover of the Gallagher Girls books. She's a SPY that's why! And they originally wanted the first model to do all the covers, but she can't model again until her grades are up (hilarious!), and they've actually had a different model on each of the 4 covers done so far. The second book is a photoshopped face of the first girl on a different girl's body. HA! Marketing... which is also the reason the uniforms are a different color on each cover, so the reader could easily see which one was new.

She took the time to talk to every single person, and was very personable with the young girls, who were a bit star struck. She took photos, signed ALL the books they brought, asked everyone questions... it was such a joy to see an author signing done this way. I was already a fan of her work, but I'm even more so now a fan of her.

And yes, I did snag an extra signed copy for a GIVEAWAY!! I will probably announce it officially on Monday, or Tuesday (mio compleanno), so shhhhh!

Anyway! Tonight also has fun things in store, because I will get to meet these lovely boys again!!

Can't wait to shake their hands (after I wipe the sweat off of mine), and hopefully sneak a picture in with them since I wasn't able to last time... we'll see. THANKS FOR THE TICKETS DAD! Grazie papa! Sono molto eccitato! (I don't know why I feel the need to teach y'all Italian today! lol.)

Venerdi felice! (Happy Friday!)

Ally Carter - Heist Society - Tonight!

Tonight (and tomorrow night), Ally Carter (The Gallagher Girls series) will be in Houston promoting the first book of her new young adult series, Heist Society. It sounds like a lot of fun! The film rights for this were snatched up VERY quickly, so that's exciting to hear about a new book! Buzz buzz buzz!! I'm anxious to hear what wisdoms Ally has to pass along!

From Goodreads:
When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help.

For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in history-or at least her family's (very crooked) history.

Now, would any of you be interested in winning a signed copy of Heist Society in a contest if I get my hands on an extra one? First edition hardback! Let me know (today, please ;)!!