Grieving--farewell to LK Madigan

I'm heartbroken and reeling from shock. L.K. Madigan, author of The Mermaid's Mirror and Flash Burnout, passed away yesterday. Anyone who ever had even one conversation with L.K. can attest that she was a bright, bold star. Kind, thoughtful, funny. She faced down pancreatic cancer with a grace and honest simplicity I don't think I could ever achieve.

I've been crying in jags all day--for the loss of her, for her family's aching gap in their lives, for the writing community, for her friends. It makes me sick to think of life being taken so young. Leaving behind so many who will feel the pains of this for a long time.

L.K.'s passing also makes me take a long, hard look at my own life. What opportunities am I wasting? Am I taking the time to stop and enjoy those simple moments of being alive? Hugging my kids close? Telling the people I love how very important they are to me?

To my family and friends--you add more joy to my life than I can ever hope to express. The enormity of my feelings right now is an ocean of wordlessness. But right there in the middle, is you. Thank you for being a part of me.

I don't want to waste another minute being scared to take a chance. Being sad because of stupid shallow things I don't have that really don't matter at all. Being lonely but not reaching out to anyone.

I don't want to waste another day not dedicating myself to the art of writing. Not spending a good chunk of time smiling and laughing. Not being selfish and taking a little bit of time each night to pick up that book and finish reading it.

I don't want to waste any more time putting things off until tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. I will take control of my own life, my destiny, today.

L.K., you and your family are in my heart. Your words live on, and I'm so grateful I got to know you, even if for a little while. So many people loved and cared for you.

In which Rhonda makes some confessions

So. Yo. Ever feel like you need to get crap off your chest? Like maybe once you release those little secrets, you'll feel better? Well, I'm going to do that today. It's time...FOR CONFESSION!

I confess:

--I have a weeeee bit of a shopping problem, haha. I buy books way faster than I can read them. My shoe collection is crazy talk (granted, they are RAD, but I have too many). I've done great lately in not buying TOO much stuff, but I still struggle with the desire for it.

--I am sometimes jealous of other writers. I write and write and write and have submitted so many proposals but not had them acquired. It's petty and unfair for me to compare myself to others...we are all on our own paths. But my spirit gets down at times and I struggle with maintaining motivation. I don't want to fail--and submitting again means I am opening myself to the chance to fail.

--I worry too much about what others think of me. Does my boyfriend think I'm pretty or smart enough? Do my students respect me? Do my kids feel I'm a good role model? I can't control how others feel; however, I can't seem to stop the impulse, the urge to worry about it.

--I worry about doing justice to my ideas. I get really good story ideas that I think have the potential to be fantastic! But am I worthy enough to tackle them? Do I have the craft the skill to make them sing the way they should?

--I eat way too much cheese. OMG I LOVE CHEESE.

--In fact, I dig too much cheese, wine, burgers, fries, etc. haha. I am very decadent with my food.

Ah. It actually feels good, to be honest, to get those confessions off my chest. There are a billion more I'm sure I could say, but some things are best kept to one's self. :D Anyway, thanks for letting me talk, and feel free to drop your own confessions in here! It's good for the soul...

Finding my inner man--uh, that sounds gross, sorry

So, I went shopping at Target today with my daughter. We decided we're going to do a Valentine's day treat for ourselves. Check out what we got:

Yes, that's right. Peach roses and The Complete Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: MAN SKILLS. I can't even tell you guys how frothy-dog excited I am to try out this book. I'm going to blog regularly about my adventures learning how to do man things, such as turning over a kayak, breaking up a cat fight, peeing into a bottle when stuck in traffic (um, ok, this one I may not be able to do), and how to survive a bachelor party.

These are life skills I can't pass up the chance to learn. I hope you will undertake this very manly adventure with me. Stay tuned!

And here's to crazy new story ideas, haha

So, I got a wild, weird hair for a new YA story idea this weekend. It's...well, I'll be interested to see how I can develop it. But I'm happy, because I've been dying to work on a new one, and I think this could be suited to be a series. Whoop whoop!

I've also been a busy little editing bee! Working for Carina has been, how can I say it? AMAZING. I didn't realize how much I would love reading submissions. Stumbling across that gem in the slush pile and being so freaking excited because OMG I READ IT FIRST...and then getting all nervous because I have to write a pitch for the story that will sell it to the publisher. I just sent one such request for a story tonight. Here's to me and the author being successful, I hope! lol.

What else, what else...well, the school semester started, and I swear college freshmen are getting younger. This batch I'm teaching looks like they're no more than 12. Okay, maybe a leeeeetle older than that, but not much. They're cute as hell and super fun though, and they laugh at my jokes. So I'm totally keeping them.

How is everyone's year going so far? Mine's been pretty darn good. Well, I'm nervous because the severance from my former day job will be up this month. And then I will truly be on my own, working for myself. That's a little freaking scary. Okay, a lot. But if there's one thing I am, that's dedicated. I will work as many jobs as I need to in order to succeed.

I have the drive, the determination, and the will to make things happen. And honestly? I think that sometimes can get you further than even talent does. haha.

So to all of you folks out there with your noses to the grindstone like I am, rock on. We will make things happen for us. We can get through this.

Pen name, ahoy!

So, as you guys know, I'm working on an adult thriller, which is verra different than my published material. Therefore I'm going to be taking a pen name for it. Now, to figure out what the crap I want my new name to be.

I mean, this is no small thing! I am adopting a whole new persona--and assuming this gets published (dear sweet baby Jesus, I hope so!), I'll be undertaking promotion under that name. So it needs to stand out. A solid, respectable name that will look great on book titles.

Here are a few ideas I had:

--Stephanie King
--Jane Patterson
--Nichole Sparks
--Norah Robertson

Okay, those are all jokes, obviously. But while I'm working on this story, I really am trying to figure out a name. As well as a dang title. I hate titling books. haha

Anyway, hope you guys stay safe and warm for SNOWMAGEDDONPOCALYPSE 2011!!