:P

See, when we did Disney World two years ago, Andy realized that vacations in the Gulf/Caribbean are cheaper in September. I like to call these our “hurricane specials.” Sure, you risk getting rained on every day (at best) or dying in a tempest of epic proportions (at worst). But hey, you save $300!

(Also: no kids, ’cause they’re back in school. That might be worth more than the money.)

As promised, this blog will still be rocking the suburbs while I’m gone. The lineup has expanded, so there will actually be a post every single day next week! None of my M/W/F junk. (Weird. I’m a better blogger when I’m not even here…)

So anyway, stay tuned, and please show my fabulous friends some comment-love, okay?

And hey, maybe if you’re really, really good, I’ll send you a treat. Something like… most thoughtful comment of the week wins a book? What do you think?

1. If you haven’t read it, watched it, listened to it, or partaken of it in some way, DO NOT JUDGE.
2. Just because women like something does not mean it’s stupid.
3. It’s okay not to like something that is popular. You don’t have to drink the Kool-Aid. Rock on!
4. It’s not okay not to like something just because it is popular. That’s called ignorance. Or narrow-minded-ness. Take your pick. (Believe me, I know, because I used to do this all the time.)
5. Stories that revolve around ethnic characters are not automatically Quality Literature, despite what some publications would have you believe. You still need an actual STORY.
6. Stories that revolve around upper/middle class White People are not automatically lacking in value. Upper/middle class White People are STILL PEOPLE.

There are several things that spurred these all-caps thoughts of mine, but I’ll give you one recent example: Eat, Pray, Love.

People are all up in arms because this “rich” white woman who gets to “discover herself in brown countries.” They call her book self-centered and self-indulgent. They say Julia Roberts is a sh*tty actress and the movie sucks.

Hey guess what, folks? It’s a MEMOIR; of course it’s self-centered. That’s like saying, “Dang, I hate this double fudge cake; it’s too chocolatey.”

I won’t even bother discussing her finances, because it’s her money and if she wants to spend it on a year’s journey of self-discovery instead of car payments, that’s her business. As for the “brown” countries, well, last I checked Italy was European (generally considered “white”) and Indonesia is in Southeast Asia (arguably “yellow”). Also, she never thinks of these places as mere Crayola colors; her critics do. No, she explores and appreciates them for their strengths and virtues.

Now, I haven’t seen the movie, so following my own rule #1 above, I can’t judge it. But I will say this: it’s fine not to like the movie, or Julia Roberts, or even the book. (See rule #3.) Just don’t turn those specific dislikes into broad generalizations, okay? Because it’s ugly and stupid and makes the angels cry. (See rule #4.) Also, it looks a lot like jealousy.

Oy, so much for not ranting…

-_-

• So, my vignettes from Friday. I got the idea during a commute home last week. Basically I was trying to represent the different worlds I experience at any given time. There’s what’s happening around me; what’s happening with me / to me; and what’s happening inside me / inside my head. Seems like most people gravitated towards the third vignette, i.e., my story. And that’s good, haha, because my goal is to make a living off my stories.

• I’ve been told that August is when publishing (well, most of NYC) goes on vacation, so I don’t expect to hear back about my Twenty-Somewhere proposal for a while. In the meantime, I am finishing up sample pages to send to an agent who asked for them, and trying to figure out which project to work on next. I’ve got a fully fleshed out plot for a dark adult novel (think The Departed meets Lost, only it’s not about cops or an island) but there’s no urgency to it; the story will still be relevant for years to come. Meanwhile I’ve got a great premise for a contemporary/dystopian (yes, both at the same time) YA, and it’s extremely timely, but the plot is rather undeveloped right now. Then there’s also The Good Daughters, which I finally figured out and am eager to redeem. Sigh. Choices, choices…

• Another confession: I was worried I’d be jealous. Of Erin, I mean. Because signing an agent is a HUGE deal, a FANTASTIC accomplishment, and MY goal for 2010. (In fairness, it was her goal too.) But I can happily report that I did not experience one iota of jealousy when she told me. I felt nothing but joy and pride and excitement. And I still feel it. Her success was not only well-deserved and thus easy to applaud, but it also encouraged and motivated me. If she can do it, so can I. And then we can go through submissions together. And book deals together. And launch parties together. And rinse and repeat forever.

(!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I could not be more excited, proud, encouraged, inspired, and not-surprised. Because having read it, I knew Erin’s book was spectacular, and that she has a long and lively career ahead of her, and really, what agent wouldn’t want to share in that?

Erin and I have been in the trenches together for a couple years now, and this truly couldn’t have happened to a more deserving writer.

Me with the up-and-coming YA fantasy writer Erin Danehy

She’s smart, talented, beautiful, funny, nerdy, and fortunately for me, a great friend. Congrats, Erin! I know this is not the last time I’ll be spreading wonderful news about you.