We miss you already!

Great times. Great friends.

Mississippi Madness

It's been a crazy fun summer with lots of travel, but there's one thing left that I think I need to do. It's called the Neshoba County Fair and it's a true Mississippi original. Or at least that's what I'm told.

Here's what I know about it.

It's a county fair that takes place for one week in the middle of the Mississippi Delta. So, that part is normal - funnel cakes, candy apples, corn dogs, you know the drill.

What's not normal is this:

Many families own cabins on the fairgrounds and move in for the week of the fair. Did you hear that? MOVE IN! These so-called cabins are very expensive wooden sheds (read:no sheetrock) that have electricity three weeks a year and are as coveted as grandma's diamond ring. It's near impossible to get such a cabin unless it is willed to you, or you feel like shelling out a truck load of money. Seriously, I was too embarrassed to even type the figures.

The cabin folk cook a mess o' food, take it down there, and then just porch sit, or drink and ride the occasional ferris wheel for seven days straight.

The kids run around with dusty, dirty feet and sleep in rooms that house like eight double bunk beds. That's bunk beds with double mattresses on top and bottom! So eight of these babies and you got 16 sleepers. I'm pretty sure that 16 beds is actually considered a small cabin bedroom.

Today, I asked my friend Lauren what food she was taking, because there's nothin' like a slew of southern casseroles to tempt me into making the two and a half hour journey over there, but it was WAY too much to type. I saw the list though - she had scribbled it down on multiple spread sheets with a grocery list as long as my novel's first chapter.

So, I plan on checking it out maybe Tuesday and I'll take plenty o' pics to share. I'm secretly hoping to get inspired for a future novel. It's entirely possible - in fact, I'd say it's likely.

Whatever...

Finally, I am getting some good pre-teen fodder for my books!

Kate had six girls over recently - and as they were all getting ready to go to the big Double Decker Arts Fest, I noticed they received a bunch of early a.m. texts. Discussion immediately ensued as to whether or not they wanted to walk with "them?"

"What's going on? who wants to walk with Y'all?" I asked, assuming it must be some other girls."

"Just Larry, Moe and Curly." (names have been changed to protect the adorable.)

"Sounds fun." I said.

"We don't want to walk with them."

I looked at her curiously.

"They'll want to talk?!" she explained.

I was confused. Who wouldn't want to walk, or talk with Larry, Moe or Curly?

"We want to SHOP!" explained Girl number 7. Apparently "shopping" trumps talking at this age.

"They just want to be near you, Sillies." I told them.

"Whatever..." they said with faces that indicated total boredom with the idea.

"Maybe you could let them carry your purses," I suggested. (totally kidding)

Later, I walked upstairs to see what was taking them so long. Apparently not caring so much about boys still requires a LOT of primping :-)


P.S. My new eyelash curler sucks big time. We shall see, but I might go back to the old kind.

P.P.S. I take that back. I have just replaced the battery and now I think it might be rather cool. I need to post pics.

Katie Parties Alone...

Oh Lawsy. What was I thinking. It is Saturday night and I am home in my blissful reclusive state when I recall that SF's and my friend Neil White is having a book launch party. Neil has written an incredible book that we will discuss in detail soon, so I really wanted to support him and go to this party.

But alone?

Mistake number one.

First of all, I don't think I have ever gone to a party alone. This fact hit me as I was parking, so I called my friend Mimi and made her talk me into the party. I was pretty sure I would know no one. Inside I made another fatal mistake - I ordered Sweet Tea Vodka. Now, some of you may know that I have an addiction to Iced Tea. So, to have the new Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka was quite a treat. But sadly, it did nothing for my people meeting skills. I'm telling you what, I must SUCK at meeting people. Who knew I was such a scaredy cat?

Within the first five minutes a nice man (shown here) called me over to tell me that I was the cutest girl at the party. I explained to him that I was alone and was dared to get a photo with John Grisham. He said, "Well, John isn't here (obviously) but I was his college roommate." Excellent (snap photo). However, he was almost the only person I spoke to all night. No sooner did I approach the Harper Collin's table, were they all called outside for a photo. And the publicist that I met...well, nevermind.

Now, I must excuse myself from typing this to down some water, lest I have a major headache come early morning.

uugghhh

P.S. In my complete insecurity (as I sat alone at a table for a LONG time) I played on my iphone. What else could I do? Talk to my plate? When I left, the adorable girl from Harper said, "Nice to meet you, Katie iphone!" Oh kill me now... Could she have not come over and talked?! Maybe I was supposed to be the initiator. I am the southern gal after all - all sweet and talky. Make that sweet tea'd and tragic :-)

P.P.S. Don't mix the Sweet Tea Vodka with Peppermint Schnapps and water as was recommended to me. Frankly, it's terrible and will burn your lips. If this occurs, DO pass it back to the nice bartender and ask him to mix one with a little Sweet and Sour mix, water, and a lemon. Like real Tea lovers do it.

Here is a recipe I found:

The Delta Martini
2 ounces Firefly
5 ounces Country Time Lemonade
splash of simple syrup (That's sugar in water, Y'all)
turbinado sugar to rim glass and lemon wedge garnish.

Maybe I should call ahead to the Hyatt in LA and make sure the bar is stocked with this stuff. We can all do a celebratory Sweet Tea drink and call it the Plot This. What do ya think?

KISS, INCORPORATED - behind the scenes

You've heard the old saying, "It takes a village to raise a child." Well, in my case, it takes a corporation to write a book. Allow me to introduce you to a few of the key players and departments within Corp KISS :-)

Although I hold the title of Writer in Residence, I could never have produced the book without the following divisions:

First there's the Boss Man. This is the guy who pulls the strings. The mastermind behind the book. The one who calls the shots. This job is lovingly and faithfully filled by none other than Jesus Christ. Thank God he works at Corp Kiss! I couldn't do it without him.

Next there's the CFO. He pays the bills, manages the money and barely winces when I announce that I need to go to LA or Atlanta or Birmingham. This job is forever assigned to my uber supportive husband, Lindsey. Occasionally my father has also made appearances in this department.

The largest and most crucial department at Corp KISS is the Encouragement Division. This division has offices all over the US and is headed locally by SF. The Vice Presidents of this department are my parents who never forget to remind me that I can do it! Behind them are too many people to list, but this large wing is overseen primarily by Shelli and Jessica from their Atlanta posts.


The Tech Support wing is operated in Memphis and is led by this guy, Glen. Glen makes sure my laptop is in top working order. As a fellow writer, Glen also sometimes does double duty in the Encouragement Department.

Randy, at the UPS store, who is also an aspiring writer, has asked to be my bodyguard and chauffer when I become super famous. I love Randy for this. Whenever I show up with some snail mail, he reminds me that he will drop his job at UPS to chauffer me around in all of my literary glory while he also works on his novel. So Randy heads up the Support Staff. SF's and my hairdresser Carrie also works in the department and we have promised to take her with us should we be nominated for an Oscar one day :-)

The newest division at Corp KISS is called CRACK TEAM KATIE. CTK was formed in the middle of the night recently and operates much like the Navy Seals, or any black ops division. CTK consists of three new adorable readers, Lisa, Laura and Elana. They are going to help me polish my first 15 pages to a shine for submission to the LA critique and beyond that, the first 50 for a special "classified assignment." CTK also includes an adult literary agent and editor who has volunteered her services but who's identity must remain a secret for now.

Lastly, in light of the economy, there is one department which the Boss Man says MUST GO! This is the Self Doubt Department. My desk was recently moved into this room and I feel it's totally UN-Feng-Shui and messes up my mojo. I am taking the Boss up on this idea.

Boy, I could literally go on and on listing people and departments without whom this book would not be possible. It's strange to think about how many people it has taken to get me here. Does everyone operate like this? Oh! And I also have a few job openings. The first and most critical is the "Agent" post. Interested parties may inquire within.

Here's hoping for success! Thanks to all who work at this amazing corporation!

Date Night Drama

So, SF's and my books are out in the world in the hands of dreamy people which leaves me a little free time before I start book two. While she is busy revising her illustrations, I am doing things like cardio tennis (which is so much fun), shopping for a blue outfit to wear in LA and eating out with my husband. Here we are at Snackbar - a hot new bistro in Oxford. (which, if you are in town, you MUST try)

There were so many people in there that I couldn't help but look around. We sat next to this young couple who looked to be in their mid 20's and no sooner did this girl's date stand up to go to the bathroom, did another fellow rush over and sit down. I immediately told my own husband not to talk to me because I needed to do some heavy eavesdropping and this is what I heard:

Boy: I know you think I'm an a$$, but I really miss you!
(This is gonna be good)
Girl: I am on a date, What the heck are you doing?
(Hilarious!)
Boy: Well, I want to take you out to dinner.
(Ballsy)
Girl: I AM out to dinner. You're too late.
(Yeah. Take that sucka!)
Boy: (frustrated) You name the time. Anytime! PLEASE!
(I have to admire this guy's persistence in getting the girl he wants. And admitting that he is a royal screw-up.)

Then I see her date in my peripheral coming BACK to the table which meant I gave Hubby the eyes that mean, "Don't make a move, this is getting goooood."

Bathroom boy walks around the table noticing that there is another guy in his seat. Seated-date-stealer looks up from the stolen chair and offers his hand, "Hey man. I'm Joe. Nice to meet you."

Bathroom boy rolls eyes not understanding why someone is in his chair while girl is visibly panicking.
Date-stealer looks at girl with pleading eyes and I feel the pressure...

Girl: Okay. I'll think about it.
(Get him out of that chair and fast!)
Boy (date-stealer) Okay. Good.
(Lawsy, I'm not so sure you are gonna get what you want)

Whew! I must say, I loved that brief drama, and if I wasn't nearly deaf in one ear, I would have been able to report her real date's reaction which was definitely an issue. Darnit!

However, Lindsey and I had a wonderful time and I highly recommend the lobster Mac n' cheese. Yumm!

P.S. After dinner we went to Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and it SUCKS! Don't waste your money. Has anyone else seen it??

Last one . . . I just don't want it to end

Okay, this is the last narcissistic birthday post, I swear . . . but I realized that I haven't posted pictures of the wicked table decor at my goth tea party, and the world needs to see this:

And this:

And this:

Thank you to all my unbelievable friends.  I am the luckiest girl (notice I said "girl") in the whole world.  

Now I'm off to New York for a weekend with my husband.  And I am NOT going to walk around NYC wearing a face mask.  

sf

From Goth to Garden party

So yeah, today was the BIG day.  The anticipation was much worse than the actual turning of the clock, and I've just decided that all those lofty goals that I set to reach by the time I was forty? I'm just going to bump them ahead to fifty--because, after all, forty is the new thirty and fifty is the new forty . . . . yada yada yada.  I just have to keep my fingers crossed that the Alzheimer's doesn't kick in before I land a book deal or make it to Greece or read The Brothers Karamazov . . .

Anyway, thanks Katie and friends for the wicked goth 40th party (please, please see yesterday's post for pictures).  I felt like I was inside the creepy little world of my wacked-out picture book.  And, I'm even inspired to add a few more headless, stripped naked barbies to the illustrations.  So it was with regret this morning that I said goodbye to my inner Stevie Nix--

had yummy birthday cake with my family

and said a happy hello to "Garden Party Ladies who Lunch."

Here I am with my gorgeous mom who will be turning seventy in October.  Yes, I said

 SEVENTY.  And, she would kill me for saying

 that to the cyber-world, but she doesn't read our blog.  And, it's my birthday, so I have immunity.  

And, just in case you were wondering what I looked like in third grade . . . .

Now it's off to New York on Thursday.  Happy Birthday to me!!!!

sf

A VERY MERRY UN-BIRTHDAY SF!!!!!!!!!!

Today is a milestone over at Plot This. SF has hit the BIG ONE!!!!!!!!!!! And to begin the celebration (which is lasting a full week) I am having a tea party for her this morning at my house.

For this special event, we (her writing group) are recreating her picture book, TEA PARTY.

It's a Burton-esque masterpiece for a budding little goth girl.

Many pics and commentary will arrive shortly. This is the table. Notice the melted candles, stuffed squirrel, cobwebs and bugs! Not to mention the eleven dead roses hanging upside down from the chandelier. She is gonna freak!

HAPPY BIG ONE SF!!!!!!!!! I love ya!
This is me with black goth dripping from my eyes. Gotta go get ready! More pics to come!!!

The Climb

Maybe it was watching the Hannah Montana movie with my daughter, or maybe it was winning almost two contests in one day, but whatever the reason, I am feeling oh so sappy. And in my sappiness, I downloaded the soundtrack to the unexpectedly delightful HM movie.

Let me preface this by saying that I see a LOT of movies. Heck, SF and I even write them. But it is a rare occasion when my daughters drag me to one and I love it more than they do. That is, until last weekend.

Now, the reason for this post is a song called The Climb that Miley sings in the movie. I was listening to the lyrics in my car the day after I won the big one, and almost started crying thinking of all of my writer friends on this journey. I was so freaking flattered that sheer strangers took the time to comment on like five blogs about either my logline or my first page, that I thought, “Why have I never taken the time to do this for other writers?” But the truth is that I just never knew how much it meant before. And so I apologize. And to SF as well, because she placed in the Writer’s Digest contest last year and I didn’t make a sufficient fuss about it then, so I will now. WOO HOO! You go SF! I am proud of you!!!!

I give you The Climb:



~It's all about the climb, Y'all.

Squeeeee!!!!!!!! Here I go!

Feelin' Funky

Look SF! While you were gone, I was in a temporary funk. I couldn't blog. I was kinda down. Someone stole all of my bedding (read below). And it rained a lot.

But Friday, as I was funking out by myself in my driveway, who dropped by to cheer me up?

Why, my new baby Max, of course :-)






And what better way to defunk than to bottlefeed and nurture an infant squirrel! Lord help me...

P.S. The reality of raising a squirrel has set in (after midnight and 4 am feeding) and I am now looking for adoptive parents. Anyone? Anyone? Come on SF! You know Copper needs a friend!!

But is this photo great, or what? Awww.. Okay - NOW I need to give this sucker away!

Oxford Conference for the Book

Okay, so we are in the throws of the Oxford Conference for the Book.  We are having so much fun being surrounded by writers, scholars and artists.  Here we are at dinner last night . . .

from the left--Jill Moore (manager of the greatest children's bookstore on earth), Hester Bass (author who's book The Secret World of Walter Anderson comes out with Candlewick this fall),  Jay Asher (13 Reasons Why--need I say more????), me (SF) and Katie.

We've got some great sessions coming up tomorrow including Trenton Lee Stewart author of The Mysterious Benedict Society who will be talking to 500+ fifth graders.  Stay tuned .. 

And, yes, that is a shrimp po-boy from Ajax right in front of me (if you were wondering).

sf

The Article

Alrighty, so not to blatantly self-promote (again) . . . the link to our cover-girl article is up so I thought we should share it with our cyber friends who don't get to walk in every store in the state of Mississippi and see Katie and me staring up from the counter.  Seriously, this magazine is ubiquitous--I was in Jackson this week and it was everywhere.  I feel like Brangelina--should we now be known as "Katie Frances"? or "Skatie"?

Anyway, our favorite photographer Joey snapped our picture at the coffee shop last week.

Here's the article--and, the illustration on the top left was done by ME (Sarah Frances) not Katie (even though I'm sure she could do some great pix herself if she wanted).  They're going to run a correction in next month's magazine which is coming out soon and our tabloid fame will sadly come to an end. Sigh.

sf

OMG! Can I get some Oxygen?

We are at a loss for words...

Seriously. I have been staring at this text box while writing and deleting for at least five minutes. I can't think of a single thing to say? Not very good since I'm a writer and all...

The truth is that we are just over the moon flattered, and humbled, and excited, and nervous, and giddy, and determined, and wishful, and... how weird is it to see your face in almost every place in town? Pinch me! surely I'm dreaming!

THANK YOU OXFORD! WE LOVE YOU!!!

P.S. For those of you who have actually read the article, there is a GLARING ERROR!!!! I, Katie, did NOT draw that adorable illustration! The super-talented resident artist SF HARDY DID!

Going our Separate Ways...

Not breaking up!! Sheesh! Are you crazy? SF and I are parting ways just for the weekend. She is going to her college roommate's 40th birthday shindig in the mountains of North Carolina where she plans to laugh with old friends until her tummy hurts.

And I am going to Atlanta to our SCBWI regional conference with several southern gals where I intend to fill my brain with inspiration, and laugh until my tummy hurts too. Oh! and stop by Anthroplogie :-)

Thanks John and Lindsey for watching all of the little girlies! We love you!

SF, I'll call ya from the road!

Holy Moly, WE have been interviewed!!!

Today SF and I had our first official photo shoot. We have been interviewed by Oxford's social magazine as up and coming "pre-published" children's authors. The next big thing :-) (Dear God, please help us sell a book and not let these people down.)

We got such a kick out of this because we frequently joke about needing footage of us working - for the E! True Hollywood Story that we are sure to be featured in one day. LOL

BUT... what struck me today was how utterly blessed and humbled I am to think that there are people at this magazine and in this town who want us to succeed as much as we do! That our community is pulling for us and featuring us in articles BEFORE we have actually done anything?!

Now that's an amazing town!

P.S. The cool photographer whose back you see actually emailed us after the shoot to tell us that we ROCK! How cool is that?! Thanks Joey Brent! You rock for boosting our egos and encouraging us in this journey!

REJECTION - number one...

Dear Lord, I know I have just posted "RANDOM PANIC - number 3," please don't have this series find me posting "REJECTION - number 89" one day.

SO, for all five of you that read this blog... Just kidding, it's more like 10 ~haha. I finally got the rejection email. However, the dreamy agent gave me such detailed suggestions for improving the story that I feel both grateful and overwhelmed. I was amazed at the care she took to give me such wonderful feedback.

Anyway, that's my news. It's 3:31 a.m and I don't feel that sleep is in the cards for me tonight. I wish I could actually write, but wouldn't you know, I can't. I can only sit here and blog :-) And I wish I could call SF, but she's in NOLA having fun with hubby (For you yankees, that's New Orleans) and it's 3:30 for pete's sake!!!

Anyone up??

RANDOM PANIC - numero tres

So today I sat in my bed feeling rather green. As in "I might puke."

Tomorrow I hear from the dreamy agent who has my novel. I figure the worst case scenario is that she will decline and give me some great advice. She really is quite brilliant and has given me fantastic advice about a couple of picture books in the past. I have certainly had many rejections for many different books, so no big deal, huh?

The thing is, I love this novel with such a dorky cockiness that my parents keep getting mad at me. I know I wrote the darn thing, but I love the characters and their story. And it doesn't feel like I made it up. It feels like I simply relayed a story I heard about some adorable teens (and one dickhead). And so I want them to have an agent as much as I, Katie, want one.

Granted, she is the first person other than my husband, mother, and professional critique group to even read it. So I am aware that the odds of the first agent picking it up are like a zillion to one. And I have prayed that if she is not the best match for me that she will decline. I have prayed this enough that I think I will be reassured if she declines, that she was definitely not a good match for me long-term. But still...

Having an agent means that one other person on this planet, other than my family and close friends, believes in me. And one person who actually knows what she is doing. And works in this industry. Oh Lord, I have a stomachache.

And although having an agent doesn't mean I will sell my book right away, if at all... It means my family will likely support this indulgent "hobby" of mine with a little more enthusiasm. And maybe I can delay the job search a little longer. (I worked as a second grade teacher this week and almost committed myself to an insane asylum. To say it SUCKED would be a gross understatement. Just mentioning it makes me want to take a valium.)

Of course it could just be that I am hormonal today, and, in that case, I'll just eat some chocolate and be fine in a matter of hours. Thank you for listening.

Balance. . .

A couple of my friends picked words for 2009. Mantras if you will. Things that they hoped would define their year. Shelli picked "Breathe." Irene picked "Listen." And while I loved reading about their words, I had no real desire for one of my own.

Then last night I went to yoga. The HOT kind. Bikram. And I realized that I haven't enjoyed yoga in months. I have had my mind too full of other stuff. Emotional stuff. And it has robbed me of the joy of single minded yoga.

So I am claiming a word... Balance.

This year I hope to balance my time between writing, and playing, and working, and talking, and cooking, and laughing, and planning, and crying, and dancing and loving and everything else. So that no one thing sucks too much of my mental energy and robs the rest of my life of peace.

Namaste :-)

P.S. That pose is NOT me. But this one is :-)

Katie's Ski Trip

Hey there! I am back. We had a spectacular ski vacation but sadly, I can't get any pictures to upload? You can see them all on Facebook.

I can't think yet about writing except that I was STOKED about my killer new book idea that involves snowboarders. So I read snowboarding magazines all the way home to get cool with their lingo. And it cracked me up! I can't wait to write about it.