Monday, January 2, 2012

I'll Toot My Horn, Mostly Glad To Be Back, And A CONTEST! CONTEST CLOSED

Hello!

You know what? I've missed you all something fierce.

I'll be the first to admit it...the break? She was nice. The first few...months weeks, I was loving the freedom. No pressure to get posts done, no guilt if I didn't see everyone's blogs that day. Was so lovely just to write and not worry about writing a post or answering emails. (and there was possibly some slacking off like little Jasper over there. A little bit. MAN I miss those pants...)

But as the break wore on, I started wondering about certain people here and there. And then the curiosity and missing you feelings got too much and I started blog stalking in my writing breaks.

And then I got news of this person getting a book deal, or that person with awesome news that just trickled down to me through FB and stalking after the big news was old news. Which made me realize how much I was missing.

You guys. . . I. Missed. You. Guys. There I said it. Can we cue the cheesy romantic music? Someone hand me a mic and I'll sing my love for you. No? Probably best...

The good news is . . . I finished my new book! Even had time to run through the first round of edits and broke it up into chapters! (I don't write rough drafts in chapters. I just write one big ass document and break it up later.)

The crit girls start on the first section this week and hopefully within 2 months I'll have some of the best crit notes around to make it bright and shiny! And by the early summer at the latest is my query goal. Fingers crossed.

So, even though I missed you guys something fierce, stalked quite a few of you, and couldn't wait to get back to it by the end, I did accomplish great and wonderful things. Ta-da! And it even has a freaking title. I won't assume anyone remembers, but I'm a total ditz when it comes to titles. But this one just popped in my head one day. As did. . .the 2nd and 3rd book titles. . . but more on those later. Much later. If ever.

But this was so epic for me, I had to text Abby right then and there. After I pulled over safely so as not to endanger myself or other drivers, dogs, pedestrians, etc. of course. . .

Speaking of Abby. . . She's back today as well! Hurray! Since we BOTH accomplished loads on the break(and both missed our one year anniversary blogging to accomplish them), we decided since we finished roughly around the same time, we'd make our bloggy comeback at the same time too.

ALSO, we are having a contest to thank you guys for hanging around with us and coming back!

It's easy-peasy. All you have to do is leave her and/or me a comment in our first posts back as well as telling us what book you're dying to read that you haven't gotten around to. And if you're picked at random, you win that book! Simple, right?! You have 2 chances to win--either with her or me, so that's a bonus!

(Go here for the lovely Abby Minard!)

US only (sorry!)

We will announce each of our winners two weeks from today (Monday 16th) so keep an eye out for your name!


In other quick catch up news: I have lost a shit ton of weight on purpose and still working on it, I have not decided on the next book to write, I still have 5 cats and a Netflix love bordering on unnatural, and I already have a to-be-read pile(s) next to my bed bigger than this time last year. 3x bigger. 2012? Startin' off good!

What's new with you guys? And I'm so freaking serious, I want updates on everything I might have missed between July and now!

See you all around the blogosphere!

47 comments:

  1. Hey Colene! Welcome back. Missed you as well. Glad you completed your manuscript. Funny, I don't break mine down into chapters until everything is complete.
    There are a couple blogger buddy's eBooks I haven't downloaded yet, but off the top of my head, I can't think of whose...

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  2. Hi Colene. I'm glad you're back, I missed reading your posts. But it sounds like you've been really productive while you were away so well done!

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  3. I was just wondering the other day where the hell you'd gone off to. Welcome back! Congrats on finishing the book and on the weight loss and on having a productive break. =o)

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  4. I can't believe I forgot to enter the contest. Gerk. One title I'm dying to read that I haven't picked up yet (because it's not quite out yet) is A Million Suns by Beth Revis. =o)

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  5. Welcome back, Colene! I'm glad you got so much accomplished. It's hard to balance all the socializing that comes with social media AND get anything done. lol

    Happy New Year!

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  6. Welcome Back! So glad you finished your manuscript and had a good bloggy break. Congrats on losing the weight too!

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  7. Colene! It is so GOOD to have you back! congrats on finishing your book and I hope the crits are ruthless and helpful.

    Welcome back!

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  8. Congratulations on finishing your book! May your crit pals be truthful and fair and LOVE IT! Happy New Year!

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  9. Woot woot, it's gonna be great, bud!

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  10. Welcome back. I was wondering where you went. Congrats on finishing your book. It's such a good feeling.

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  11. I missed your posts, too. As a rare blood courier, I don't get to comment as much as I would like -- but blood runs come from someone needing rare blood desperately. Good luck with your edits, Roland

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  12. CONGRATS on getting your book done! YAY.

    And it's great to have you back. I *am* easily missed :P

    (not entering the giveaway. i'm international)

    Have a good year!

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  13. Welcome back and congrats on your book. I promise to buy it when it's published >:)

    Cold As Heaven

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  14. Grats on finishing your first draft. I do write in chapters and save each chapter separately. Right now I'm rewriting in one big compilation and it feels wrong but, ultimately, is much easier.
    Congrats on the weight loss. No need to include me in the contest. Right now I'm too wrapped up in my writing to be scoping out the new books. I'll do that next month.
    Welcome back to the blogosphere.

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  15. YOU'RE BACK! The crazy lady is back! Yay!
    (crazy is a good word)
    I'm not US, so no competition for me... Congrats on everything you achieved in your time off :-) My only exciting news is that I've decided to epublish a series of YA paranormal fantasy stories this year. Yay!
    (And I'm expecting to be proposed to soon ;-) but that isn't exciting news YET!)

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  16. wow. That is incredibly cool how much you've gotten done. And man! I've missed you! Got a word verify the other day that was "hymen." I kid you not. :D

    GOOD LUCK with the new book! See ya around~

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  17. Yay, you're baaaaaack! And you've been a busy bee while you've been away.

    It's great to see you in the blogosphere again. Looking forward to catching up with you!

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  18. Welcome BACK!!!

    I, um, published my book, lol. So that's something ;)

    Congrats on finishing your book! YAY!

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  19. Welcome back! Congrats on getting so much done! I am dying to read "Why by happy when you could be normal?" by Jeannette Winterson but I doubt you'll find it here. (She's a UK writer and the book is only just out in hardback, I believe) so don't bother with putting me in the contest.

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  20. Yay - you're back!!! :-) And I want to read your book so no need to buy me one. :-)

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  21. Yay! She's back! Happy New Year, Colene!

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  22. Hi Colene...am glad that you completed your manuscript. Fingers crossed for you.

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  23. YAY! Welcome back! And HUGE congratulations on finishing your book! And on your weight loss!(trying to get that one going myself)

    I really really want to read Creep.

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  24. Hey you!!!! *HAPPY DANCE* That's something to celebrate! Next on my list to buy/read is CATCHING JORDAN!

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  25. YAY, YAY, YAY!!!! I was so excited to see your name on my sidebar today--welcome back! Some of our bloggy buddies: Ali Cross, Susan Quinn, Karen Amanda Hooper, Shelli Johannes Wells, among others...have published books out now! And they are SO GOOD!! I've read them all. Also, I got an agent in November...AHHHHHH!!!

    Congrats on your completed book and weight loss and all other good things. I'm glad you're back. :-)

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  26. Glad you got your book done! I feel you on missing things. I haven't been very active for months and I always find things out way too late.

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  27. Welcome back! :)

    Congratulations on finishing your book--that's awesome!

    Happy New Year!

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  28. Hey welcome back! Awesome that you got your book finished. Hope the edits go well. You sound like a school kid who misses school and can't wait to get back, lol!

    Happy New Year!

    Denise

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  29. AHHHH YOU'RE BACK!!!!!! *giggles* I talk about you guys tomorrow!!!

    The book I'm DYING to read is Let's Pretend this Never Happened by Jenny Lawson! LOVE HER and would LOVE TO HAVE THAT BOOK!

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  30. Glad you're back and congrats on finishing your story!

    The book I can't wait to get my hands on is Surrender but it's not out yet. Wah!

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  31. Hooray! Glad you're back! Awesome news on your book!

    I finished the first draft of my second book last month and will be starting edits this week. Hmmm, book I really want: Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

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  32. I'm here thanks to Jen at Unedited. Welcome back! Happy New Year! I, also, tend to write one big-ass document and break it out into chapters later. Congrats on finishing! And on losing weight! It's looking like a great year for you.

    Let's see...for the contest. A book I'm dying to read right now. I have so many. But let's go with Destined by PC Cast and Kristin Cast. I have all the others in hardback. I love them, and I haven't bought the latest one yet. I'd buy it electronically, but it's one of those where I want to have the entire series in my hands.

    Thanks for the contest and another great blog to read!

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  33. Sounds like you had a very productive break! And congrats on losing weight! I'm still trying but... nothing yet (well, a few inches... no lbs).

    The book I've been meaning to pick up but haven't, is The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. I'd like to read it before the movie comes out.

    Happy New Year!

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  34. Colene!!!! You're back...woooo!!!...and with such awesome news... congrats on finishing your novel!!

    And Happy New Year! I'm sure this year will be filled with even more wonderful news, and I can't wait to hear about it :)

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  35. That's awesome that you finished your book! There's nothing more nerve wracking/exciting than sending it off for people to read-- I'm in that stage right now, waiting to get the last set of critiques before one last overhaul.

    Just recently came across your blog and am looking forward to catching up and following along in 2012!

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  36. Oh yeah, Contest! Umm... a book I very much want to read is "The Glass Castle" by Jeanette Walls. I've been trying to track it down at local and used book stores to no avail!

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  37. Were to start... Okay your last tidbit had me laughing. It's awesome your finished. That is a great accomplishment!

    Time off is great and getting this done ever better but I know what you mean about missing out on everyone's news.

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  38. Holy crap, you lost a shit-ton of weight on purpose?? Tell us your secrets!!!

    And glad you're back. As I confessed to Abby, I still haven't read Hunger Games. I know, bad erica. :)

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  39. First, YAY you guys are back! *waves* *smiles* *squeezy huggles*

    You got so much done on your hiatus. CONGRATS on finishing your newest book! 2012 is going to be a fab year, yes?!

    Now, on to THIS: HOW DID YOU LOSE A SHIT TON OF WEIGHT!??! (in the last year I went from a size 4 to a 12 because of steroids for my asthma, and that I couldn't breathe thus I couldn't be active...but my asthma is finally finally finally under control as of December...so I just started working out this week. ) I WANT DEETS. Pleeeaase. I don't even care if it's unhealthy...just get me back into my freaking clothes stat. (I'm wearing my husbands sweats for the last 12 months *sobs*) Help me. *begs*

    As for a book I would like, as I told Abby, I have everything I want that is available, but, among others, I am greatly looking forward to Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore.

    Happy New Year, Colene! May 2012 be your best year EVER.

    Hugs,
    Lola

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  40. Congratulations and welcome back!!! I hope 2012 is off to a wonderful start for you. Happy New Year!!!

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  41. Thanks for the great giveaway! I'd like a chance at Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.

    Hope you're having a fabulous week!

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  42. I haven't been around much either! I've missed everyone and hope to make time for blogging more often. Congrats on the writing you got done! I'm really behind on some of my TBR titles. Divergent by Veronica Roth or Possession by Elana Johnson Christy--awesome contest!

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  43. Welcome back girl! Awesome you got so much done. I would actually like to read A Million Suns. Beth REvis's newest that just released like today. So I guess I couldn't get around to it. But there we are. :)

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  44. Welcome back, Colene! We've missed you too! Congrats on losing so much weight... I need to get on that wagon myself..
    Anyway, thanks for the contest! If I should be so lucky to win... my book choice would be Cinder. :)

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  45. Oh and congrats on finishing your book too!! Woot!

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