“I took hold of that scourge -filled ship and crushed it between my limbs, hurtling it into the second sun, the red one that gave me strength. But I was too late." Terraformer
FEATURING GUEST
Gretchen McNeil
An Author’s Week in Photos
Welcome to the twenty-ninth session of
THE MODERN INK SOCIETY!
— Jimi Hendrix
Here’s a little teaser
Beatrice Maria Estrella Giovannini has life all figured out. She’s starting senior year at the top of her class, she’s a shoo-in for a scholarship to M.I.T., and she’s got a new boyfriend she’s crazy about. The only problem: All through high school Bea and her best friends Spencer and Gabe have been the targets of horrific bullying.
So Bea uses her math skills to come up with The Formula, a 100% mathematically-guaranteed path to social happiness in high school. Now Gabe is on his way to becoming Student Body President, and Spencer is finally getting his art noticed. But when her boyfriend dumps her for Toile, the quirky new girl at school, Bea realizes it’s time to use The Formula for herself. She’ll be reinvented as the eccentric and lovable Trixie—a quintessential manic pixie dream girl—in order to win her boyfriend back and beat new-girl Toile at her own game.
Unfortunately, being a manic pixie dream girl isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and “Trixie” is causing unexpected consequences for her friends. As The Formula begins to break down, can Bea find a way to reclaim her true identity, and fix everything she’s messed up? Or will the casualties of her manic pixie experiment go far deeper than she could possibly imagine?
NEW SHOES! I have to admit – I already owned two pairs of yellow pumps. But how could I resist these flowers? THEY ARE HAND STITCHED!!! *swoons*
Sunday
Wow thanks for sharing Gretchen! Her week looks like it was so much fun! It’s good to see that a writer’s life isn’t always deadlines and typing while hunched over a keyboard, sipping soda or coffee to stay awake. There are perks too! Book release day must be such a big moment in the life of an author.
For those of you who’d like to learn more about Gretchen and her books, go to her website.
Until next time,
Linda Louise Lotti
This entry was posted in Featuring Authors, The Modern Ink Society.
I’m Linda Louise, one of the bloggers on this website and Colleen’s little sister. I’m just a girl in her mid-thirties who feels thirteen when I play outside with my boys, fifteen when I sing my heart out listening to tunes while driving by myself, and sixty five when I go out past ten at night. I have a thing for junior mints, Mt. Dew, shrimp and kale (though not all at once) and I have a crush on Superman. I still get girlish butterflies when I read Twilight, cry when I read These is My Words, and smile from ear to ear when I read Anne of Green Gables. I have nightmares about aliens on a regular basis and I have a bad habit of midnight snacking. I love everything sports, except golf (although can that honestly be considered a sport??), and I hate anything that slithers, hisses, or stings. I have a problem with giggling at inappropriate moments and I sometimes wish life was a musical. I love science, hate math, love Dr. Seuss, and hate olives. My family is my world and my joys come from their happiness. I’ve learned I don’t know much about anything and I live for a good adventure, naps, cuddles, stories, exceptional food and The Shire.
Since Valentine’s Day is near, I’ve been thinking about something I’d like other than chocolate, which, in my opinion, is pretty much the best gift ever. Here’s a list of some cute things I’ve found on Pinterest that an author might like to get for Valentines Day, a birthday, Christmas, or an anniversary. These are all pinned on my Just Cute board.
This one comes from Design Toscano, which is one of the places I go to frequently to find statues for my curio cabinets. This desk is little small for what I want in my future office and it’s a spendy gift, but its so cute!
What’s great about this one, is that it’s very true. Writers pull from life experiences, and I can say that I absolutely put in things my husband has said or mean girls in high school have said to me. It’s also a good way to advertise just by walking around in public wearing it. You might want to consider a tee that says my wife is a writer. Ask me about it. Also, don’t forget to carry around bookmarks.
An Embosser
I have a set of embossers and use them to stamp books when I do signings. Each one is unique and labeled to match a particular book. At some point I might have to give this up since they’re heavy and I can’t really take all of them with me any more. But I love having something unique to mark signed books with. I use The Stampmaker to create mine.
What can I say about these except that they are awesome and all the writers need a pair. Also if your writer friend, spouse, etc. writes about dragons or pyramids, you might try going for a theme and getting a bunch of pairs. Personally, I also really appreciate warm, fuzzy socks since I write at home and my feet are often cold.
I can’t even tell you how much I love this set. I’m one of those people who very much enjoy hosting parties on holidays and special occasions. How awesome would this be for a reading club luncheon?
This one is so cute! As an author, I often attend writing conferences and there are a lot of dress up opportunities. This would be a fun addition to any author’s wardrobe. Also consider a steampunk bustle in the same material.
Since a lot of us authors work at our desks for hours, it would be great to have some kind of drink holder. Also consider a mini fridge and a drawer for snacks.
Did you know authors all love tea? You disagree? Well I can guarantee all authors love to drink certain beverages while they write. This teapot is just super cute. Also would serve for a great centerpiece for a book club.
Customized Luggage
You could create a photo collage of all the book covers or blow up just one to create a customized carry on. It would be easy to find in baggage claim and might just generate more interest in an author’s books.
This would look awesome in a writer’s office. Also, when you’re checking out your face without makeup and the hair you didn’t brush, the lines of the books break up your image enough that you can pretend you look acceptable when the mailman rings the doorbell.
And there you have it. My top ten gifts to give that author in your life. Also…chocolate. An author can never have too much of that.
Colleen
This entry was posted in Top Ten Lists, Valentine's Day.
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
New York Times Bestselling author Colleen Houck is a lifelong reader whose literary interests include action, adventure, paranormal, science fiction, and romance. When she's not busy writing, she likes to spend time chatting on the phone with one of her six siblings, watching plays, and shopping online. Colleen has lived in Arizona, Idaho, Utah, California, and North Carolina and is now permanently settled in Salem, Oregon with her husband and a huge assortment of plush tigers.