I Am an Awful, Terrible, No Good Blogger!

Blergh. Poor neglected blog! Here, let mama give you a big hug. *Hugs blog*

Um, I've totally dropped the ball on blogging as of late! My life for the past few weeks has been a blur of relative visits, friend visits, baby wrangling, dog wrangling, ant killing (die, kitchen ants!), and writing until my fingers hurt. I've also been thinking a lot about blogging but feeling too tired at the end of the day to do anything except for eating Rocky Road ice cream and watching reruns of 30 Rock and ... zzzzz.

I'll say it once and I'll say it again: BLERGH!

In fun news, however, my little sister has come home after spending 18 months in Taiwan! So much fun! She's older and wiser and speaks Chinese amazingly well, but she's still the same ol' Kristy in so many ways and I'm super excited to have a few giggle fests with her before she heads back to college. Until then I plan on taking her out to eat at delicious American establishments (Taco Bell! Don't hate!) and hanging out with our 91-year-old grandma. We had lunch with her yesterday and I snapped this picture of my Nainai with the Baby Overlord!

Hopefully I'll get more time to blog next week! 

Ready, Set, Write: Update #1

It's time for my first update in the Ready, Set, Write challenge!

In short, RSW is a summer writing intensive that encourages writers to set goals, account for those goals, and to cheer each other on as we strive to meet those goals. The RSW hosts this year are Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, and Katy Upperman; and details about the intensive can be found HERE.

Gulp. Here we go then ...

... How did I on last week’s goals? ...

Le sigh. I wanted to write two chapters of my WIP but I only got 1.25 done. The Baby Overlord had a slight fever all weekend so I had my hands full with a rather grumpy and cranky babe who embraced the philosophy of "Never put me down, Mama! Never ever." Haha. Fortunately, my poor girl seems to be in better spirits today! 

... What are my goal(s) for this week? ...

Same as last week! I need to crank out two chapters per week to (hopefully) have a first draft finished by the end of the summer.

... A favorite line from my project? ...

I'll cheat a little and post the first two lines from this book, which I wrote before the baby was born. But I think it captures my protagonist Lucie's voice quite well! Here they are: 

My good Catholic mother taught me to never lie, cheat, or steal.
I hope she can forgive me then for what I’ve agreed to do—for it will be far, far worse.

... The biggest challenge I faced this week ...

Sick Baby = No writing for mama!

... Something I love about my WiP ...

As weird as it sounds, I love weaving in little historical tidbits throughout this book. Since this novel is set in Occupied France, I've been doing a lot of research on what was life back then: the tight rations, the bombers overhead, the murmurs of resistance. It has been a fun challenge to weave in these details without sounding too much like a history book.

So how did RSW go for you this last week?

Ready. Set. Write!

I'm super excited to participate in "Ready. Set. Write!" this summer! I desperately need to draft my WWII spy thriller by early September and so RSW couldn't have come at a better time. Wanna join me?

In short, RSW is a summer writing intensive that encourages writers to set goals, account for those goals, and to cheer each other on as we strive to meet those goals. The RSW hosts this year are Alison Miller, Jaime Morrow, Erin Funk, and Katy Upperman; and details about the intensive can be found HERE.

This week we're setting our goals! Here are mine: 

1. Complete a first draft of my WIP, a spy thriller set in Occupied France. Think Grave Mercy but set in WWII.

2. Do not crumple in failure at this goal. For serious, Caroline. I am a slow-as-a-sloth drafter but I can do it! I think! Maybe!

3. To accomplish said goal (*whimpers*), strive to write two chapters a week. I can do it! I think! Maybe!

Haha. So basically I have One Big Goal. A really big one because, like I mentioned above, I'm terribly slow and I sort of hate drafting. Now, I love revising! I could do it forever. In fact, if given the chance, I'd probably re-write The Only Thing to Fear all over again—just because I can't seem to stop tinkering with a project if you let me. But my editor has already pried TOTtF from my cold, gnarled fingers so I need to start tinkering with a new project ... but I can't do that until I actually have a draft to work with.

So ... *Grumbles*

There you have it! My goal. Let's see if I can do it! I shall reward myself with mint chocolate ice cream and brownies!

Friday Five

One
The picture above is one of my favorite photos of the Baby Overlord. *Sniffle* It melts my face to watch her smile whenever she sees Justin, how she'll giggle and talk and grab at his beard. Now, please excuse me for a moment while I turn into a puddle of goo.

Two
Alas, one of these days I'll start using my DSLR again but until that fated day my iPhone will have to do. Speaking of iPhones, I finally upgraded to a 5S! *Pets new phone* *My preciousssss* Funny story: when I brought my old one to the AT&T store, the guy behind the counter balked and actually said, "What kind of phone is that?" Um, an iPhone 4? Haha. I didn't think those were that old ...

Three
Switching gears, who has been watching this season of Game of Thrones? *Raises hand* And who now has a crush on Pedro Pascal AKA Oberyn Martell? *Raises all the hands* I mean, how can you not love him? Look at this picture of him with a baby!

Four
On a completely random note, if you happen to head to your farmer's market this weekend, keep an eye out for gold rush apples! They're not the prettiest of apples but they sure are tasty—sweet with that nice bite of tartness. And deliciously crisp! Justin and I are sort of obsessed with them.

Five
On the writing front, I'm trying really hard to draft my new project, a WWII spy thriller. *Cue whiny voice* But why is rough drafting so hard? Wahhhhh! Call me crazy, but I absolutely love the revision process. At least I have something to work with! A blank page on the other hand? Shudders.

Well, I'm signing off to work on my draft! Shudders again. What are you guys up to this weekend? 

After The Call: The Edit Letter ... Dun dun dun!

"After the Call" is a semi-regular feature on my blog. It chronicles what happens after an agent offers you representation: how to choose the right agent, what the submission process is like, working with your editor, etc. For previous posts, please click on the "After The Call" button at the top of the page.

After a super long hiatus, I thought it'd be fun to resurrect this series! Truth be told, I never meant to put a halt to "After The Call" but I sort of ran out of things to talk about since I hadn't yet pushed past the agented stage and then I got pregnant and could only thing about cookies. But now that the baby is born and I've eaten most of the world's supply of cookies, I decided that I needed to resurrect After The Call. So here we are!

Today's topic: THE EDIT LETTER! Dun dun dun!

First up, what exactly is the edit letter? Basically, it's a list—often quite a long list—of revisions that your editor suggests for your book. I only have experience with one edit letter, compiled by my lovely and wicked smart editor Jody Corbett, and it consisted of:

1. An email with both macro editorial suggestions, like character arcs and overall pacing, as well as smaller micro edits, like reworking a specific scene. 

2. In-line edits within my manuscripts, which hashed out world-building details, finessing dialogue, etc. 

In short, my book underwent a MAJOR overhaul! Even though I had rewritten it three times based on my beta readers' and agent's notes, Jody's revision letter forced me to dig really deep into this story, pulling it apart and putting it back together again until ANOMALY (the original title) turned into THE ONLY THING TO FEAR (the new and fresh title that Jody came up with. I owe her my second-born child basically!). 

A good editor can take a decent book and make it great, sort of like how a good house flipper can turn a tear-me-down into the neighborhood crown jewel. In my case, Jody took a manuscript that required a lot of work and helped me to make it stronger, more concise, more actionable. Simply put, she made it more. Any failings in the final product are mine and mine alone. 

But here's the thing, do all editorial letters look the same? Not really! Edit letters are a strange beast, and they come in all shapes and sizes. A friend of mine had an editor who gave only small notes, like a few line edits here and there before the manuscript was sent to copy edits. On the other end of the spectrum, another friend worked with an editor who liked to be very involved in the entire writing process. They would even brainstorm plot points over the phone before my friend tackled her rough draft. (They were contracted for multiple books.) 

So your own edit letter will be just that: yours. Every letter is different because every editor is different and every book is different. Some projects will require a lot of overhauling—I've heard of letters spanning over 30 pages!—while others will need only a polish, although this is usually rare from what I understand. And here's another thing: oftentimes you will receive more than one edit letter. Your manuscript might undergo two, three, or even more revisions under your editor's watch before you're green-lit to pass into the copyediting phase, which is a beast in it of itself. That's one thing I didn't quite grasp until I worked with Jody. I thought I'd tackle one revision letter and that would be that. Fin! But no ... we worked on my manuscript for four or five months—it's all a blur now! I was revising while pregnant!—until I graduated to copyedits. And that was quite the happy day for me, full of many, many cookies. What else?!

Well, the Baby Overlord is squawking so I need to run, but feel free to ask any questions in the comments and I'll answer them as soon as I can! Also, I'd love to hear about your own experiences with revision letters. How long do yours typically run? How do you and your editor work? And how did you survive?

All Hail Mother's Day!

Today is Mother's Day! It's the first Mother's Day in which I'm actually a mom (aside from last year when I first became a dog mama but I suppose that doesn't count unless you ask my dog and he may beg to differ). We're spending today relaxing and eating first-of-the-season strawberries, and the Baby Overlord was kind enough to grace me with a 2.5 hour nap. Which is why I get to blog! And watch HGTV! And stare off into space a little! All in all, the most wondrous gift.

I don't think there will be much structure to this post. Maybe more of a stream-of-consciousness thing since I'm not sure when the baby will wake up. But early this morning when I was playing with my little Aimee Rose and watching her smile, I just tried to soak all of it in---her little feet, her sweet coos, her plump fist wrapped around my finger---instead of focusing on the dirty dishes in the sink and the enormous word count I must tackle for my new book.

Live in the here and now. Breathe it all in. 'Cause it's all going to go so fast, isn't it?

And I couldn't help but think about my sister-in-law Aimee, my own baby's namesake. Aimee only had three and a half years with her daughter Rowan before she was killed in December 2011. The time the two of them had was so short ... so fleeting ... although Aimee made every second of it count. She was the very best mom I knew, patient and loving and oh so fun. I hope I can be half as good as a mom as she was. If I could manage just that, I'd consider myself a successful parent.

Well, the Baby Overlord is awake and demanding attention! I know today is Mother's Day, and I'm supposed to be off drinking mimosas and brunching or something; but I think I'll save all of that for another day. Right now I'm going to snuggle my little Overlord and hug her close even if she fusses and cries.

Losing my sister-in-law taught me that every day is indeed precious. So today, on my very first Mother's Day, I'm going to make each minute count.

How to Balance Writing and Mothering (Hahaha!)

Friends and countrymen, I have discovered the secret to writing novels and mothering Baby Overlords! Lean in closer now. The secret is ...

Cloning yourself! 

Or if you don't want to clone yourself, then clone Ernest Hemingway!

What? Stop looking at me like that. Are you telling me that you don't have an Ernest Hemingway clone chained inside your basement who writes books on your behalf in exchange for cigars and six-toed cats? Well, you better get on it 'cause you can't have mine!

{The Baby Overlord gave me permission to post this picture of her.}

All joking aside ... Yeah, this writing thing and this parenting thing can be tough. That's basically why I got very little done during the first ten weeks of Aimee Rose's short-yet-pampered life, but that's okay because I just wanted to cuddle with her and let her sleep on me and obey all of her overlording commands. This time is precious, after all! And I'm gonna savor it because these chubby baby cheeks aren't going to last forever.

*Pinch, pinch*

Okay, enough pinching for now. Let's talk about how I balance my work life with my mothering one! Or, to be more accurate, how I'm trying very, very hard to do just that but sort of stumbling along the way. But hey, I get an A for effort! That's what I tell myself anyway!

Since I'm operating on four hours of sleep (not the baby's fault! it's my insomnia, boo) I'm going to break this down into three main points.

1. Hire help if you can. Preferably Mary Poppins! But Nanny Ernest will do too. 

Currently I take the Baby Overlord to my babysitter's apartment every MWF from 1 to 5PM. That's only 12 hours a week, but I try my damnedest to make those hours count--no social media, no puttering around, no staring at pretty Anthropologie dresses. Just write, write, write! I probably will have to increase these hours when I have a deadline looming, but until then I try to squeeze as much work that I can within this time frame. Everything else, even showering, can wait.

2. Brainstorm whenever you can!

If you're like me, you spend a lot of your writing time not writing at all but brainstorming instead. So who exactly is my protagonist? What is the right tone for this novel? Why is Ernest Hemingway slacking on the job? And so on and so forth. I used to do my brainstorming with my laptop in my lap, whilst staring at the ceiling and eating bonbons. (Not really. More like Oreos.) But those staring days are over! The Baby Overlord simply does not allow for that, which is why I now do my brainstorming throughout the day. Like when I'm bouncing a baby around the house or cleaning out the crockpot or pushing the stroller around my neighborhood in an effort to lose the baby weight I gained.

Damn you, cookies!

So yeah, brainstorming may take up a good chunk of this I'm-writing-a-book thing, but the good news is that you can do it pretty much anywhere! I basically plotted out my new MG novel this way--and so can you!

3. Make every second count!

Oh gosh, this is tough for me to do because I like reading EW and watching 30 Rock reruns whenever I can catch some down time. But Liz Lemon is going to have to wait! Instead, whenever the baby naps or is happily hanging out on her play mat, I throw open my laptop and write as much as I can. Sure, sometimes I only get a fifteen-minute spurt before the Overlord starts overlording but at least I hammered out 100 words. That's 100 more than I started with!

Baby steps, folks. Baby steps. Also, I could probably write faster but--let's face it--I draft at the speed of an elderly sloth. That's just the way I am, I'm afraid!

4. Don't forget about you.
Okay, I'm going to give four points instead of three. 'Cause that's how I roll. Sometimes when I get a few minutes to myself I know I should pick up my laptop and write, but I sit down and read the newspaper instead. Or I check out those cute dresses on Anthro. Or I treat myself to a big bowl of cookies. And I tell my guilt complex to beat it because--you know what?--I need to take some time out for myself too! I'm a better mom when I do this, and a better writer too.

All righty then, it is about time for the baby to rouse from her nap and so I better run. But please let me know in the comments if you have any advice for me! Or if you have any questions! I will try to answer them as coherently as possible, or I may have Ernest Hemingway Clone do it for me. :)

Friday Five: Baby Edition

One

I'm sorry that this blog has turned into a OMG-I-had-a-baby blog but...I can't help it! My days and nights are currently consumed by this cute and cuddly Baby Overlord who loves being held and who loves being demanding. Hold me and never let me go, mama! Thus the 'Baby Overlord' nickname. 

Two

Overlording aside, I'm happy to report that Aimee Rose has started smiling! And making adorable little baby sounds! It's in those moments, despite all of the crying and spitting-up and waking up at 4AM, that I think to myself: I love being this little girl's mom.

And after those sweet moments, the Baby Overlord undoubtedly says, "WAAHHHHH! I've pooped myself!"  

Three

Have I mentioned that Justin has been in the Philippines for two weeks on business? Indeed he has! Leaving me all alone with above Overlord! Fortunately, I've found a really wonderful babysitter who watches Aimee Rose for about 12 hours a week so I can write. Okay, okay, so maybe I haven't done a lot of writing this past week but I have been catching up on chores (um, I may have forgotten to water the plants for 2+ months), showering, and watching an incredible amount of 30 Rock reruns. Cheesy blasters! What the what! 

Four 

As for writing, I may not have gotten much done on the word count front but I have been doing a lot of brainstorming for my middle grade fantasy. This is an idea that has been brewing in my jumbled mind for a few years (!) but now I'm finally trying to write the whole manuscript rather than a few scattered chapters or passages here and there. Blergh. I'm so bad at rough-drafting. Wish me luck? 

Five

Lastly, I've updated y'all on my human baby but here is some news on the book baby front. Look, look! ARCs! My editor mailed them to me last week, and I now have 10 copies sitting on my kitchen counter. I'm not quite sure what to do with them to maximize my marketing efforts ... Mail them to local librarians? Send them to bloggers? Hug them and tell them they're loved? Questions, questions! 

So there you have it! My Friday five! How are you guys doing? Any fun weekend plans? I'm hoping to spend lots of time outside because spring is finally here and I need to savor these humid-less weeks before the evil DC summer approaches with its terrible no-good Saharan-like heat. Also, I'm counting down the hours till Justin gets home. It's his turn to change the Baby Overlord's diapers! :)

We're Still Alive! And I've even brushed my hair!

Don't worry! We haven't been eaten by crocodiles or kidnapped by a band of merry-making pirates. Nope, I've been here all along but with a cute-but-demanding newborn who insists on being held all the time. Mama, hold me! Never put me down! In short, she is the boss of me.

But who can say no to this?

Quick update on the Bean and me:

* She has already outgrown her newborn onesies and diapers! This makes me sob a little inside.
* She has colic at night! Ah, joy of joys. I need some ear plugs.
* I've found part-time help! True, joy of joys! I shall use this precious time to do important things like mail bills, feed myself, and wash my hair.
* This week I also plan on starting a MG project! I'm rather excited about getting back into the writing seat!

Speaking of books, I don't think I ever revealed my cover on this ye olde blog! My novel now has a new title, and it's up on Amazon too! Holy moly, I can't believe that it'll be out in six months!

Well, there you have it! My human baby and my book baby all in one post! And now if you'll excuse me I need to stuff my face with a bowl of Cranberry Almond Crunch before the Little Slavemaster starts calling for me again.

How have you been? Tell me what I've missed!

Introducing Aimee Rose!

Pardon my absence! I have been busy with a certain 8 lb. bundle of cuteness...

Yes, indeed, Le Bebe is finally here! She was one week overdue before I was induced, and she came roaring into this world on February 11th at 7.76 pounds! Funnily enough, my OB was worried a couple months ago that she would be too small. Nope! 

So here she is, Aimee Rose Richmond--milk drunkard, thumb sucker, diaper wetter champion, and all around serving of awesomeness. She's named after my sister-in-law Aimee, but we've been calling her all sorts of nicknames like Miss Bean, Baby Sloth, and Benjamin Button. 'Cause sometimes she looks like an old man. Just sayin'! 

{I love those eyes! They're usually closed though.}

The last two and a half weeks have been exhilarating and emotional and exhausting. There have been a few lows (Will I ever be able to shower again?!) but mainly highs--and the highs have been so very sweet. There are times when I am so overwhelmed by love for this little girl and with gratitude for her papa Justin (who has diaper-changing down to a science!). 

Of course, I still have those moments where I'm like, "Whoa, I'm a mom? Egads!" And then I look at my little Bean and I think: I am a mom. I'm her mom. And because of that, I am so very lucky. 

{She doesn't like having her arms swaddled so I've had to make do.}

{Otto has been a great older canine brother!}

{At the hospital, right after she was born. So sweet!}

Surviving Pregnancy!

Alas, my due date has come and gone with no sign of the baby! I believe Le Bebe may have inherited my proclivity for procrastination. And I had such high hopes that she would be a punctual little thing! 

I have a feeling she will have many surprises for me. :) 

Well, now that my pregnancy will (hopefully) soon be over, I thought I'd brush off my Polyvore account to bring all of you future mamas out there ... Caroline's Pregnancy Survival Kit! Basically, my pregnancy would've been much more grumpy-making without these items, and I've pretty much clung to them for the last eight-ish months. And I'll probably keep clinging to them long after Le Bebe is born because I am, if nothing else, a creature of habit. 

1. A Pregnancy Pillow

ZOMG, life changer! Late into my second trimester, it got a lot harder for me to fall asleep with my ever-increasing belly. Thanks, baby. Fortunately, my saint of a husband bought me a pregnancy pillow that I now can't sleep without. It's like the embodiment of a hug, in pillow form. It is the perfect cuddle buddy. In short, I want to be buried with it. I own the Snoogle (haha! so fun to say!) but there are a lot of options out there. Wonderful, blessed, heavenly options. 

2. Gap Maternity Leggings

My best friend told me to buy a pair of these, and once I put them on I realized why she is indeed my best friend. Gap Maternity Leggings = The Best. Basically, you will never take them off, especially when you reach the third trimester and your fashion sense gets thrown to the curb in favor of All Things Comfortable. I'm not ashamed to admit that I've lived in my leggings for the last three months—I wear them out, I wear them to bed, I shower in them ... No wait. Not that last part. But aside from showering, it's a sure bet that I have these on! 

3. Statement Jewelry

Okay, okay, this isn't a survival necessity but it sure is pretty! And when you're waddling around like a bull walrus, it's nice to feel pretty again. Anyway, as mentioned above, I reached a point in my pregnancy where I just wore leggings + long comfy sweaters all day (because, hello awesomeness!). But when I needed to venture out of the house, I wanted to feel a wee less polar bear-ish so I'd throw on a statement necklace to remind myself that yes, I am a girl, and yes, I used to care about what I looked like. Be sure to check out J. Crew Factory for pretty yet affordable pieces! 

4. Almond Oil

I'm not really sure if there is any surefire way to fend off stretch marks (I think it's more of a genetics thing and how-big-does-your-belly-get thing) but I slathered on a handful of almond oil before bed each night anyway. I'm mostly stretch-mark free, and my tummy is very soft! I use the NOW brand, and it has lasted for months. 

5. Super Comfy Shoes (or Socks!)

Mmm, comfy-ness. Enough said. 

6. Nursing Tanks

Maternity clothing is expensive, yo. So whenever possible, try to stretch out your dollar by opting for nursing clothes—they're roomy, stretchy, and pull double duty! There is a great variety at Destination Maternity and less so at Target (Target tends to be more affordable but be sure to try on the tanks! Some of them have weird sizing). 

There you have it! Go forth and enjoy your future pregnancy! 

So what are your plans for the weekend? Watching the Olympics? As for me, I plan on going sky-diving, riding on roller coasters, eating questionable sushi ... you know, usual pregnancy stuff. Haha, not really. I'll just be twiddling my thumbs, inhaling chocolate, and waiting for this darn baby to arrive. 

The Baby's Room, Part II!

Well, folks, we are now five days away from Le Bebe's due date! We shall see if she decides to make an early entrance into this great big world or if she decides to procrastinate, as her mama would do. (Incidentally, I was born two weeks early! That's the extent of my promptness, alas.) Every day is sort of like a game now—baby or no baby? Hospital trip or no hospital trip? 

Le Bebe, it would be nice if you gave your parents a heads-up! 

A few of my friends have asked me if I'm feeling ready. Truthfully? Yes and no! Yes, I can't wait to meet her. No, I'm not terribly excited about the whole labor thing. *La la la, let's not talk about it!* And a small slice of me is still freaking out about the prospect of becoming a parent. Me! A mom! Holy goodness! What if I mess her up somehow with my neuroses and quirks and penchant for eating cookies for breakfast?!

But that's just me. I freak out whenever a Big Change comes into my life. When I arrived in Utah for my freshman year in college, I remember staring out of the rental car window and thinking, I'm an idiot. I made a huge mistake. Must. Transfer. Immediately! Then literally two days later, I was skipping and smiling across campus, so excited about college and my new friends and FREEDOM! 

Anyway, I really can't wait to meet our little one, and I'm just putting some final touches on her room! Ugh, we still have to assemble the crib but we don't have enough screws since ours is a hand-me-down. It's a good thing that babies don't really sleep in cribs until they're a few months older! 

{I scored this polka-dot chambray onesie at GapKids for $8!}

{Here's a peek at my wall decor. Gold polka dot decals and my poor attempt at a Mark Rothko!}

{I installed a picture ledge above the baby's dresser. Books and more books!}

{This is a photo of my grandma, my mom, and me as a baby. Le Bebe will be the 4th generation!}

There you have it! Now the room just needs, you know, a baby. :)

Anyway, what your plans for this weekend? I'm hoping to attend a book signing, meeting an old college roommate for dinner, and the Super Bowl, of course! What are you guys up to? 

Friday Five

{Delicious drinks from my recent baby shower!}

... One ...

Le Bebe is now due in twelve days! Twelve! I had a little bit of a freak out yesterday, feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of being a mom, but today I'm just excited to meet my little girl. I look forward to those long sleepless nights with you, my child!

... Two ...

For the last couple months, my to-do list has been rather burly between holiday stuff, pre-baby stuff, and writing-like-a-maniac stuff (final revisions, copyedits, first pass pages, option book proposal, oh my!). But today is the first day where I glanced at my to-do list and realized... I got a lot of crap done! The nursery is almost ready; I sent off my proposal to Agent Jim last night. And now, I have no idea what to do myself. Should I (GASP!) read a book?!

... Three ...

Speaking of books, do you have any recommendations for me? I plan on filling my Kindle with ebooks so I have something to read while I bounce a newborn in one arm. In particular, I'd love to add some funny books! Fiction, memoir, I'm totally open. Like Tina Fey's Bossypants or the new memoir from the Hyperbole and a Half blogger.

... Four ...

In utterly random news, I've been listening to a lot of country music lately. Blame it on Justin and his rural Indiana roots, I suppose. Right now, I'm loving "This Is How We Roll" by Florida Georgia Line. I'll admit it—I crank this baby up whenever it comes on the radio. :)

... Five ...

Last Saturday, my good friend Courtney hosted the very awesomest baby shower for me! Seriously, Courtney should be an event planner with her exquisite taste, superb craftiness, and all around amazing-ness. I felt so lucky and pampered! Thank you, CJ!

{Courtney ordered me a Nutella cake! It was divine.}

{Courtney asked everyone to bring the baby a picture book! So clever, right?}

{The shower was held at the Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria, VA. It was lovely!} 

{Did I mention that Courtney is pregnant too? She's due in April with her third!}

A Peek at the Baby's Room!

{Paper poms! So girly and fun.}

We are down to 2.5 weeks until Le Bebe makes her world debut! Of course, she could come much sooner than that (or later) so I've spent the last few weeks bustling around like a neurotic crazy person, trying to cross off as many things on my mega to-do list as I can. Including prepping the nursery.

I'm almost finished. There are still a few details I need to tackle, like putting up a few picture ledges to display Le Bebe's books and assembling the crib (Justin's job) but overall I'm quite happy with how it's all coming together! Hopefully it'll be done by this weekend and I can focus on wrapping up my first pass pages and my proposal. Egads! I need a time turner, stat! 

{The baby's dresser includes an owl candle and a photograph of my sister-in-law Aimee.}

{Otto has watched me put the whole room together. He's good company.}

{An old nightstand I painted white and spruced up!}

Once the nursery is finished, I'll put up more pictures, especially of the accent wall I covered in gold polka dots! That's my pride and joy. *Hugs polka dots*

So what are your plans for the weekend? I need to finish my proposal, complete my first pass pages, and stuff myself silly at the baby shower my friend is throwing me tomorrow! She bought a Nutella cake from a local bakery to serve for dessert, and I am ridiculously and freakishly excited about it. I'll take pictures!

My Goals for 2014

In true procrastinator fashion, I'm only now posting about my resolutions for 2014. How about some cookies to make up for my lateness? Peanut butter or oatmeal chocolate chip? :)

So...2014! Holy goodness, I can't believe it's already here. I look toward this shiny new year with both wide-eyed excitement and nail-biting trepidation. The baby is due in four weeks! My book will be out this fall! Justin and I want to build a house—and we may collapse from sleep deprivation!

Hmm. Maybe I should scrap all of my goals and focus instead on getting enough Zzz's. That is a worthy resolution in it of itself, methinks!

Anyway, I'm usually horrendous about setting goals and then working toward said goals, but maybe 2014 will be my chance to turn over a new leaf. If anything, I've tried to choose resolutions that are within my control and more ethereal in nature in that they're not things I can tick off a checklist (ie, exercise everyday, drink a green smoothie in the morning, etc.) but more like general life philosophies. Am I making sense at all? Has my baby usurped all control of my brain? Well, we better get to my goals before she overtakes more of my mind matter!

Goal #1

Be gentle with myself. 

2014 will be a year of great changes for me, namely becoming a mom and reconfiguring my life to this new role. I know that I will inevitably cry and wail and whine when the going gets tough but within these moments I want to be gentle with myself. More patient. More forgiving of my mistakes. And I don't want my guilt complex to grow out of control—because I know I'll be hard on myself for not writing everyday or for consuming mass quantities of pastries and Coke. You know what? It'll be okay if I get behind on things because HELLO NEWBORN! Plus, pastries and Coke are perfectly wonderful ways of coping.

Goal #2

Have radical self-respect. 

'Radical Self-Respect' is a slogan that is frequently mentioned on a feminist Facebook group that I'm a part of. Basically, it means standing up for yourself and your beliefs instead of staying silent and regretting it later—something that I've struggled with my entire life. Case in point: I have a really hard time saying no to things. More often than not, I say yes to stuff even though I don't really have the time, the bandwidth, or on rare occasion the interest in what I'm agreeing to. And then I feel overloaded and guilty and I drown myself in cookies (see Goal #3). So enough of that! In 2014, I aim to listen more to my gut instead of saying and doing things because I want so badly to be liked. Will this be hard? Yes! But will it make my life more sane? Yes to that too!

Goal #3

Eat fewer cookies.

I'll be honest: I've eaten my weight in cookies since getting pregnant. I swear this baby will come out screaming for thin mints and do-si-dos. And so, I must resist the siren call of the cookie. I banish you, Chocolate Chip! I banish you too, Delicious Brownie, close cousin of the evil cookie! Don't give me those sad eyes of yours!

(I seriously doubt I'll be able to reach this last goal. Alas.) 

And there you have it. Three goals for the new year. I'm rather intrigued to see how well I do with them... Anyway, what are some of your resolutions for 2014? Do share, please!

The Writing Lessons I Learned in 2013, Part I

2013! We hardly knew you!

In the next few days, I thought I'd chronicle a few of the lessons I learned over the course of good ol' 2013. Initially I had intended to write only one blog post but you know how longwinded I can get. Ramble, ramble.

So behold! Part I of my lessons learned this year!

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Can I tell you a secret? 

Earlier this year, I was lost in the Pit of Despair. I had spent six years working toward my dream of getting published but that dream only seemed to taunt me, always slipping out of my fingertips. In February, I hit my lowest of lows when I attended a signing at a local indie bookstore. I went to the event to support a writer whom I had met at a conference in the summer of '09. She was so sweet and supportive and so very deserving of her success, but I couldn't stop comparing her rocketing career to my own struggling one. 

She was on a book tour, promoting her highly anticipated debut.
She had multiple books contracted with her awesome Big Five publisher.
Her dream had really come true, hadn't it?

I went home that night with my heart sinking. I was elated for my friend—I really can't say enough about how kind she is!—but I felt exhausted by the publishing process and the seemingly endless rejection. As I lay in bed, I decided it might be best for me to take a step back from my writing endeavors. I would channel my creative energy into photography and graphic design (I even created a website for a potential blog design venture) until I felt that spark for writing again.

Much to my shock though, a few weeks later, Agent Jim called me with the news that Scholastic had made an offer on my book! I honestly couldn't believe it. I sort of stood there, cell phone in hand, completely surprised and speechless. Completely frozen.

{The northern Californian coast, taken in June 2013. The same day I found out I was pregnant!}

So yes! My writing journey definitely surprised me this year, especially because I had hit so many road bumps in 2011 and 2012. After running the gamut of disappointment and dejection—so fun!—it felt incredibly humbling to have this book deal land into my lap. It was like I had been chasing a rainbow until my legs couldn't move anymore and then...BOOM!...I finally get to that pot of gold.

To be honest, I still can't quite believe it.

That's the funny thing about this business, I think. Most of the time, we're just trying to stay afloat in these murky writing waters—with our word counts, with our deadlines, with the inevitable frustration and loneliness. But then once in awhile, the clouds part and the Publishing Gods smile upon you, usually at the most unsuspecting times. 

Those are the times we live for. That make everything worth it.

At least that's what my experience has been like. For instance, back in 2010, I had been querying for nearly a year and almost ready to give up on my little middle grade novel. I told myself that I'd finish contacting the list of agents I had compiled and move on. But then, you know what? Boom! An agent offer came my way and then two more. That's the book that nabbed me Agent Jim and while it didn't end up selling (weeping all of the silent tears), I still remember how shocked I was when I got that first call. Hadn't I planned on giving up only a couple weeks before?

Yep, it was definitely a huge surprise. A great surprise! But the 'surprises' after landing an agent weren't as happy-making: shelving that MG book, re-writing a new manuscript, and facing another heap of editorial rejection when I was so sure that success was around the corner. Writing can be so hard! But that's another lesson, I suppose....

Looking ahead to the new year, I'm sure my writing journey holds more surprises for me, some good and some bad and some simply unexpected. This is something that I've had to adjust to because I'm the sort of person who likes to lay out five-year plans and who balks at any sort of change (what do you mean I can't buy my favorite Skittles anymore?!). But being an author has forced me to sit back and loosen my grip on the reins. Because the only things I can control in this business are writing books and revising said books. The rest? It's kind of a big surprise.

Still, I'm hoping that another good surprise lies ahead of me in 2014. I'll hope for it anyway.

But if that isn't in the cards for me, who needs a new blog redesign?!

My Top 10 Reads of 2013!

Ahoy mateys! 

I've been meaning to blog about this little bit of news for ages but proposal-writing and holiday-things have caused me to neglect this ye olde blog—but I am now a member of the YA Buccaneers group blog! Yay! I'm so excited to be a part of this group and to get to know these talented ladies better. 

And now for my inaugural YA Bucs post (aside from my interview), I bring you my Top 10 Reads of 2013! Also, be sure to check out the YA Bucs blog to find out what the other Buccaneers have chosen for their own lists! 

 

1. LEAN IN by Sheryl Sandberg

In one word: brilliant. As I read Sandberg's book about women in the workforce, I found myself nodding and nodding and--oh look, my head just fell off because I nodded so much! I especially liked how she encouraged women to take more ownership of their accomplishments because we tend to sell ourselves short. A must-read for women who would like to have a career and a family! 

2. THE AGE OF MIRACLES by Karen Thompson Walker

At first glance, this book sounds like the next big YA dystopian: a young girl lives in a world where the rotation of the Earth starts to slow, causing the days and nights to stretch longer and longer. But this adult literary novel takes this big premise and spins it into a quiet and haunting coming-of-age story. Lovely prose. 

3. AND THE MOUNTAINS ECHOED by Khaled Hosseini

If you liked The Kite Runner, read this book. Hosseini has truly grown as a writer and that bleeds into every page of this read. One thing that I didn't expect? The book is told in continual shift of POVs but everything ties together in surprising ways. 

               

4. THINGS I CAN'T FORGET by Miranda Kenneally

Oh, Miranda! When it comes to Ms. Kenneally's novels, she has never ever disappointed me. I read an early copy while I was doing volunteer work in Costa Rica and where I had to wake up everyday around 5:30AM. Every night before bed, I knew I should put away my Kindle and get some sleep but I just couldn't put this book down! So heartfelt and honest. I think Kate might be my favorite protagonist that Miranda has written!

5. BRINGING UP BEBE by Pamela Druckerman

I think this might be the first parenting book I've read? Although "parenting book" isn't quite the right term here because Bringing Up Bebe is more of a memoir with some parenting advice thrown in. But whatever you want to call it, this is an entertaining and insightful read that compares American parenting versus French parenting. AND IT IS SET IN PARIS! Enough said. 

6. ELEANOR & PARK by Rainbow Rowell

I'm not sure what I can say about this book that hasn't already been said! An amazing voice, so-real-you-can-touch-them characters, and just about the sweetest romance. I inhaled this novel. 

7. THE SWIFT BOYS & ME by Kody Keplinger

Kody and I share the same editor at Scholastic, and she was kind enough to send me an early copy of this awesome middle grade novel! Oh my goodness, this is one of those books that makes your heart break one minute and then sends it soaring in the next. Such beautiful prose and characters. Kody is truly the real deal. And she's only, like, twenty! 

8. THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN by Katherine Applegate

I read this Newbery award winner on the plane to San Francisco, and I wept quietly throughout it. (Sorry, fellow passengers!) I'm actually at a loss for words at how to describe this novel—narrated by a gorilla of all things!—except to say...this is middle grade at its absolute finest. 

9. SEKRET by Lindsay Smith

I'm lucky enough to know Lindsay in real life, and she graciously sent me a copy of her debut SEKRET even though it comes out in 2014. Basically, I lost an entire day utterly absorbed in this novel, which is set in postwar Russia and centers on a girl who can read minds through touch. The prose in the book is absolutely delicious! Months later, I still think about some of its gorgeous passages.

And finally...what's my toppity-top book pic for 2013? DARK TRIUMPH by Robin LaFevers!!!

I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book because I absolutely loved GRAVE MERCY, the first novel in the His Fair Assassins trilogy. I mean, assassin nuns in medieval France? Heck yes! 

DARK TRIUMPH is indeed darker than its predecessor, but I loved following Sybella's story and discovering the painful secrets in her past. And once I picked up this novel I couldn't put it down---murder and intrigue coupled with Sybella's power-hungry family and her sweet romance with Beast. Can't wait for Book 3!

So how about you? What's your top book pick for 2013?

2013 Recap!

Since I'm too lazy to send out Christmas cards—lazy people, unite!—I figured I should post at least something on my blog. Like I did last year! 

No addressing envelopes or buying stamps? Sign me up! 

So here's a little graphic I made to recap the Richmonds' in 2013. I started off unlucky '13 with no expectations (because the last couple years have been tough on our little family) but Lady Luck must have pitied Justin and me because it has been quite the whirlwind year! I'm looking forward to 2014 with a lot of excitement and frazzled nerves. A baby! A book! And lots of cookies to consume! 

But enough about me! How was your 2013? What would you say was the highlight and what hopes do you have for the new year? 

My 25th Birthday!

{Photo courtesy of Sweet Saucy Supply.}

Wow, I can't believe I'm 25 already! Time sure goes fast, doesn't it? But I'm so excited to be in my mid-twenties now!

Snerk.

Okay, fine! I'm not 25. Whimpers. Yesterday was indeed my birthday but I'm not going to tell you how old I turned. Because I am now indeed old! *Wails* *Cries* *Eats cake*

Anyway, I had a low-key but very nice birthday! Since Justin is in the Philippines on business, we decided to hold off on celebrations until he got back but I still managed to squeeze in a few fun activities. I kicked off the day by sleeping in (woot, woot!) before heading to Dupont Circle to have lunch with friends visiting from Australia. Then I got some work done, had dinner with family at Bobby's Burger Palace (YUM!), and gobbled down a strawberry shake for dessert instead of cake. 'Cause it's my birthday and I can drink a milkshake if I want to!

Oh, I also shopped! I haven't gone shopping in awhile because I just want to wear comfy pants and sweatshirts whilst seven-months pregnant (and eat a lot of peanut butter cookies). But to Madewell, I went! I bought a cute button-down shirt that was on sale and some adorable stacking rings. And then I went home and made this wish list on Polyvore to cover various things I'm coveting. Because making wish lists is fun!

one: globe // two: madewell transport tote // three: kate spade watch

four: opi nail lacquer // five: rifle paper print // six: jades 24 slippers

You seeing this, Santa? Caroline needs a new watch! And slippers! And that tote! And a pet sloth!

Anyway, I hope you guys are doing well and enjoying this holiday season! It has been snowy and icy here in DC, but I love all of the festive Christmas lights and the surplus of Christmas treats at Trader Joe's. Happy Christmas and happy 20th birthday to me!

What? Don't you age backwards?

Giving Thanks, Publishing Style

Being the Pinterest addict that I am, I recently came across this lovely print just in time for Thanksgiving: 

{You can buy the print from the anavicky store on Etsy. I think I will!}

Such pretty colors, right? I also love those acorns! Nothing says autumn quite like little acorns (as well as falling leaves and apple cider). And Thanksgiving! 

I'm thankful for so much this year. 2013 has been very good to Justin and me, from getting pregnant to buying land (a recent development!) and to him finding a great new job. In March of this year, I also got my very first book deal with Scholastic. And that was truly a dream come true. 

As I think back on my writing journey and the winding road I took to get to this point, I'm surprised to say that I'm grateful for all of the bumps and detours along the way. When I first started novel-writing back in 2007, I was filled with shiny hope and a heart full of beginner's expectations. Surely, an agent was just around the corner! Then a book deal! Then MOAR book deals! Of course, I had read enough publishing blogs and writing books to know that it would likely take years for me to get where I wanted...but I fell into the freshman mistake of hoping that I might be a lucky exception to that rule. 

(Hahahahahaha! Sorry, I just have to laugh at myself a little. Oh, younger Caroline!)

In real life, my road to publication went something like this: Rejection! Heartache! Oh, an agent offer! Then more frustration and disappointment and plenty of rejection. Then moar rejection on top of the other rejections! Non-stop! Also, I need to completely rewrite this whole book. 

There were many times when I wanted to give up and take up sloth ranching instead. Or professional cookie eating. But now, I'm kind of grateful for all of that disappointment. It toughened me up and it forced me to become more humble, as well as more grateful for the successes I did have (got a 'good' rejection? let's pop the champagne!). Not long after I received the news that Scholastic was offering on my book, I looked at Justin and said, "My motto from here on out is humility and gratitude. Hold me to it." 

The publishing industry can be so hard, brutal even, and I knew that selling my first book wouldn't make it any easier to sell my second one. And so, I resolved that I would try to cherish every step of this crazy book publishing process, from tough revision letters to the inevitable bad reviews. At the back of my mind, I realized that it could take years before I sold another book—I've seen other writers deal with this—so I have to savor these moments as much as I can. 

So yeah. As strange as it sounds, I'm thankful this year for rejection and heartache, for somehow surviving the trials of querying/submissions/never-ending revising. I don't think I'd be the writer I am today without all of those bumps and bruises on my publishing path. They molded me in a way that success never could have: more tough, more humble. Although I still do cry a lot... I'll blame that on the pregnancy hormones. :)

Whew, I didn't intend this post to ramble on for so long! Anyway, I hope you have a fabulous holiday weekend. Tell me, what are you thankful for this year? And what are you looking forward to most on Thanksgiving day? For me, it's definitely pie!