Rhonda, where hast thou been?

Oh, my lovelies--I've pretty much fallen off the earth, haven't I? Let me tell you...summer has NOT been easygoing so far.

Over the last couple of months, I've been running around to conferences, doing writing/author presentations, participating in booksignings, I'm in a band now (lead singer, yo!) and we had a gig on Saturday, my daughter's b-day party was yesterday, I'm dealing with being single again, editing for Carina Press, tutoring in the Writing Center, facing my pending layoff in October at my day job, trying to squeeze in time to chill with friends, and hoping to maintain some vague semblance of sanity. LOL

Needless to say, the writing hasn't been going well (read: it's been dead in the water. haha). I'm not one who can write under severe stress--the well just dries up, and all I can do is try to nurture myself and spend time with my kids.

As I'm sure you know, life gets in the way sometimes. The best we can do as writers is try to establish our equilibrium again and then get back in the saddle. I'm working my way back toward that horse right now.

Thanks to all my friends and family who have been supportive to me during this crazy time. And to everyone who has sent me email about my books--I love you all and thank you for telling me how much you've enjoyed reading Felicity's story.

30 Days of Summer--guest blog by Saundra Mitchell

I'm thrilled to have my darling friend, YA writer Saundra Mitchell, guest blogging on here today! Here's what she has to say...about me! Mwahahaha:

TELLING LIES ABOUT RHONDA STAPLETON

When Rhonda begged me on bare knees in broken glass to guest blog for her, I had to think about it a while. See, Rhonda and I go way back--we fought together in the jungles outside Da Nang, so there's a lot of blood between us. Some of it bad.

I'm not one to disparage my colleagues, but I find it hard to ignore the fact that Rhonda stole my best pair of parachute pants right before I was supposed to perform at the MTV Music Awards 1985. I had to go out in non-acid-washed blue jeans and let me tell you, my pop music career was never the same after that.

But, a forty year friendship-slash-enmity has to count for something, so I reluctantly agreed. After all, she did write three amazing books- STUPID CUPID, FLIRTING WITH DISASTER, and just last month, PUCKER UP. Then she published them right in a row (she's always competing--it would kill her to do one book a year like the rest of us.)

And such creativity, too--a series about a girl using a PDA instead of a bow and arrow to play cupid? How does she come up from this stuff? Probably *not* with the aid of illicit substances, I feel I should disclaim. I mean yeah, she did get kind of messed up on Kava that one time we were on reconnaissance in Vanuatu, but everybody's entitled to a youthful indiscretion or six, right?

Anyway, my point is--Rhonda Stapleton is a fascinating character, and I feel quite lucky to have gone on national van tour with her last year. (We pretend that Mandy Hubbard came along as our valet, shh, don't tell Mandy because we're hoping we can sign her on for an international van tour this year.)

I've been very lucky to read pieces of her works in progress--she's an incredible writer, with an extraordinary imagination and talent. And, in spite of the many wrongs she's dealt me, she makes me laugh every time we talk. Rhonda Stapleton is a friend and an inspiration.

And that, dear readers, is no lie.


SHADOWED SUMMER
by Saundra Mitchell
In paperback June 8, 2010
http://www.shadowedsummer.com/

You can find Shadowed Summer (which is an AMAZING BOOK) here:

Indiebound URL:
http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780440422570

Book Depository URL:
http://www.bookdepository.com/book/9780440422570/Shadowed-Summer

Powell's URL:
http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=62-9780440422570-0

Amazon URL:
http://www.amazon.com/Shadowed-Summer-Saundra-Mitchell/dp/0385735715/