My First Foreign Rights Sale!

Pippa's going to the UK! 

Bloomsbury UK is going to publish WISH YOU WERE ITALIAN in July 2014! 

I learned this news the same time I saw my cover for the first time, so it was a bit overshadowed, but once it really registered, I FLIPPED! My book will be on shelves ACROSS THE POND! I'm so beyond thrilled, I don't even know what to say. Eeeeeep!!

This is me NOT keeping calm:

My Book Has a Cover (AND A BLURB!) Part 2

That was such a fun cover reveal day! Thanks again to my blogging friends for helping me celebrate!! 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 Katie M. Stout!!

Coming May 6, 2014 from Bloomsbury!

I'm also SO super pumped about the AMAZINGLY ADORABLE BLURB from Lindsey Leavitt, author of Going Vintage and Sean Griswold's Head!

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

Cutest blurb EVER!! I'm still freaking out that someone besides my agent and my editor has read my book, but to have her say such SWEET things about it too?! I'm so so so very delighted and thankful!

My brain doesn't fully understand that in seven months, this THING that I wrote will be OUT in the world! Even sooner once ARCs start floating around! I'm so hopeful that my little story will find its readers and give them all the warm squishy feels. Eeeep!

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!

I'm Publishers Weekly Official!

This may seem like old news since I've been allowed to talk about it since February, but my book deal was just announced in Publishers Weekly!!

This whole experience still seems unreal, like one day I'll wake up to find I'm actually still querying. What a nightmare that would be! But here I'm one step closer to being able to share my little book with y'all! This past year or so has been such an adventure, not only for me, but for so many of my writerly friends signing with agents, getting book deals, getting covers, having launch parties. I feel so honored to be a part of it all.

What's going on with you lately? Any exciting announcements I may have missed? Anyone just starting to query for the first time, or maybe the millionth time? I'm sending you hugs and chocolate and that overused but TRUE encouragement that the hard work can and does pay off.

On Meeting my Agent, Rob Thomas (Of Veronica Mars), and Blogging Friends

In September, I made the drive up to Dallas to meet my agent, Marietta Zacker, IN PERSON! She was a speaker at DFW's SCBWI conference, so I met up with her the day before for lunch and, of course, ice cream! She's smart, she's kind, and she's hysterical! We had a GREAT time, just like old friends.

Aren't we cute?! I'm one blessed gal, that's for sure. *hugs agent*

And last weekend I went to the Austin Teen Book Festival! What an amazing event, headed up by the one and only Jen Bigheart. She asked me to be one of the event photographers this year, so I came out of retirement, dusted off my camera and lenses (I really did have them professionally cleaned), and road tripped it out there with Maria. While I had a great time, I'm officially thankful I'm not in the photography biz anymore.

One of the highlights of the weekend was meeting Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas! He's so genuinely nice too!

I was also blown away by Sarah Dessen. I've only read two of her books, but after meeting her and listening to her on her panel, I'm a fan for life. She's just an amazing person. Sadly, I don't have a picture of us. Sigh.

But I do have pictures with the girls! I finally got to meet Julie Murphy in person!

She's so sweet, y'all. And one of the funniest people I've ever met. Watch for her book, Side Effects May Vary, coming from Balzer+Bray in March! 

And I finally met all of the Girls in the Stacks! I had so much fun rooming with them!

L-R: Top-Maria, me, Stephanie Pellegrin; Bottom-Shannan and Stacy from GITS, and Julie.

I VOLUNTEER!

L-R: Top-Katie from Mundie Moms, Stacy, Nancy also from GITS; Bottom-Stephanie, me.
(behind the camera is the super sweet and talented Magan Blasig of Rather Be Reading)

I had so much fun working behind the scenes and helping the Fierce Reads tour at their signing table. It felt like a stepping stone from attending spectator, to worker bee, to one day, however hard to believe right now, an author sitting on panels and signing books. So excited to start my debut year in just a couple months! Eeeek!

What have YOU been up to this summer? Go to any conferences or book festivals? Meet any blogging friends?

Newsletter Sign Up! For News and ... such

Howdy!

I've just added a sign up widget thingie over on the right --> under my picture and bio. If you so wish, you can get emails from me to keep you up to date on things like cover reveals, book release dates, and I dunno, THE LAUNCH PARTY next spring!

I promise not to spam you every day with junk. I plan to only send out news when there is actual news.

That is all. :)

A Class of 2k14 Giveaway for Teachers and Librarians!

The Class of 2k14 is having a BACK TO SCHOOL GIVEAWAY specifically for teachers and librarians!

If you are a teacher or librarian, CLICK HERE to go to the giveaway! If you aren't, fear not! We'll have more awesome giveaways for you soon!