What's Up Wednesday

I'm catching the What's Up Wednesday hot air balloon from the blogs of Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk. Thanks for an awesome idea (and graphic)!

Here's how it works:

WHAT'S UP WEDNESDAY

It's similar in some respects to the Currently... post, but it's been whittled down to only four headings to make it quicker and more manageable on a weekly basis. You're invited to join us if you're looking for something to blog about, a way to let your blog friends know what's been going on with you.

Here goes!


WHAT I'M READING

I finished THIS IS WHAT HAPPY LOOKS LIKE by Jennifer E. Smith last night. I love THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT and was really looking forward to this book. Wow, she nailed third person limited alternate POV. And the setting. Whoa. Let's go to Maine. Who's with me?


WHAT I'M WRITING

I've been out of the writing cave for a couple of days. I'd slipped back in for an intense revision session, preparing WAITING FOR THE SUN for all the agent requests that were sure to come my way. And I'm going to hold off on saying any more about that, but I would like to send a shout out to four amazing writers - two CPs from Real Life, Dawn Klehr and Kari White, who have been so supportive and encouraging of this project; and two from the awesome world-wide writing community, our darling Commuting Girl Elodie and Erin Schneider (both of whom said lovely things about WFTS on their blogs recently, which may or may not have made me tear up a little. And Happy Birthday, Erin!). Your comments and insights were invaluable for Lucy's and Ben's stories. Thank you a thousand times - and as Guthrie might say, may the Great Spirit walk with you.

So because WFTS is currently out of my hands and out of rotation, it's time to start thinking about revisions for BEAUTIFUL BIRD, SING ON. And I am excited for this!


WHAT ELSE I'VE BEEN UP TO

Plenty. Work has been busy with events and projects. April's weather totally sucked. In fact, the trend continues - after a few lovely days of 70s, we're back in the 30s and 40s with six inches of sleet in today's forecast. SAY WHAT? I'm looking forward to May and hopefully a little bit of spring before the crazy hot humid temperatures of summer.

The MNYA Writers group met on Saturday and was, as always, inspiring. We are going places. When the group first started a year ago, every couple of months one of us would have some exciting news to share about our writing and publishing journeys. Lately it's been every month - and two or three people with news. I love it. Thanks, also, to the rest of the MNYAs for your love of WFTS. <3

I also love editing, critiquing, beta reading, what have you, and I just might have an announcement to make about that in the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

WHAT INSPIRES ME RIGHT NOW

I've been listening to the Jayhawks a lot. It's quite possible that many of you, dear readers, don't know about the Jayhawks, a Minneapolis band that hit the scene alongside the Replacements and Soul Asylum. There was always something about them that struck me - the lyrics, the melodies, the amazing harmonies. I guess you'd classify them as alt-country/rock. Roots rock? You can also classify them as My Favorite Band.

The Jayhawks have been with me through many stages of my life. I first saw them in concert when I was in college and their song Waiting for the Sun was making its initial mark on the world. I've seen them live many times since, through all the drama and personnel changes and reunions and forgiveness.

Reunion: June 2010, First Avenue

Through it all, I've loved them and let inspiration settle down like rain over me as I listen. Two of my short stories are titled after Jayhawks songs, Trouble and Settled Down Like Rain. I like to sneak snippets of song lyrics into my narrative (see, I just did it in the first sentence of this paragraph). And then, of course, there's WFTS.

So while I worked on revisions for WFTS, I put all my well-loved Jayhawks CDs into heavy rotation. Here's a little treat for you, Blue -- which can be found on the Win a Date with Tad Hamilton soundtrack, by the way.

What? You think I should post Waiting for the Sun? If you insist:

And Gary - I hope you're well. All my best wishes to you.


So - how about you, dear readers? What's up?