Tell the Truth Tuesday

1. I'm feeling ANTSY. We just turned in the first draft of THE HUSH FUND and now we wait. I'm just not sure I'll ever get used to the waiting. The truth is, it never gets any easier. I'm not a patient person and when we finish a manuscript I crave instant feedback.

2. Being antsy makes me want to do crazy things. Suffice it to say, I'm driving Laura nuts right now with new ideas and overall angst regarding the state of our writing career. She loves it.

3. My Kindle is stuffed with amazing books and we have the massive Roecker Hilton Head vacation coming up. What are the chances that I'll have time to read in a house with 7 children under the age of 7? Slim to none and yet I can't stop loading books on my Kindle.

4. We have a couple of THE LIES THAT BIND ARCs to give away, but we're struggling to figure out the best way to do the honors. We want something fun, yet epic. Also PINTEREST. So, yeah. Any suggestions would be welcome.

5. We've decided that there should be a law against family members and friends or really anyone you know in real life, reading your book. It's just too hard to have people you love read something you wrote. It matters too much and then it ends up being weird and awkward and ugh.

6. Are you a writer? Have you entered the WriteOnCon/Reading Room Contest of Awesome? If the answer is no, then you are dead to me. You could win $1,000 and the opportunity to work with amazing literary agent Catherine Drayton! Seriously, what are you waiting for?

7. I'm feeling extra sensitive lately. You know when sometimes you tweet something @ someone you kinda/sorta know on the internet and then that someone ignores you? It makes me feel like the BIGGEST LOSER EVER. I also know that we've probably done this on accident before, so if you're ever ignored by us on Twitter, know it's completely unintentional. Sometimes we miss stuff, but it's hard not to take it personally when people somehow miss you.

8. The other day I had this conversation with myself:

Lisa 1: Man, I really wish Newsroom was a real news show. I'd learn so much. It's too bad they don't have a show like that every day.

Lisa 2: Um, they do. It's called THE NEWS. Only you never want to watch it because it's too depressing and you have too much Bravo on your DVR.

Lisa 1: Crap. I'm an idiot.

9. I'm happy. Really, truly, crazy happy. In spite of my endless amount of angst, for some reason at this very moment in my life I feel this overwhelming sense of contentment and possibility. God knows I spend most of my days half asleep looking like a woman who's been sleeping in an underpass and screaming at my children to HURRY UP WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS SO SLOW, but I also get to write books and work a day job that balances my life and gives our family financial stability and I've got friends and family and a husband who I adore and kids who drive me insane in the best way possible. So, yeah. Happiness with spurts of impatience. That pretty much sums up my life right about now.

10. I still haven't stopped eating the s'mores.

OK, spill. What's your truth this Tuesday?

$1000 CONTEST!

Spread the word! Shout it from the rooftops! Throw a couple power punches! THE READING ROOM/WRITEONCON CONTEST IS BACK!

But you only have until Sunday, August 12th to enter. Go forth and polish those manuscripts and tell your friends to do the same.

And most importantly, GOOD LUCK!

PS: If you want to help spread the word, tell us what you would do with $1000 on Twitter. #ifihad1000

Real Conversations with LiLa

Lisa: So...that chapter, I think it needs to change.

Laura: ....

Lisa: I mean, it's awesome, but I think something needs to explode. Literally explode.

Laura: ... *screaming children in background* *sounds of dishes shattering*

Lisa: And I'm going to need it this morning if we're going to stay on schedule, so, um, the sooner the better, OK?

Laura: Why is it so quiet there? *James wails like he is being stabbed repeatedly with a plastic fork*

Lisa: Quiet? Oh, all the kids are at camp. It's heavenly.

Laura: Lydia! Put the marker down. James does NOT need a mustache! You are not Rapunzel! Do you need another time out?

Lisa: So, that chapter, in an hour, ok? I'm going to go get a quick pedi. My heels are so rough...

Laura: I hate you. No, no. Not you, Lydia. I'm talking to Auntie Lisa. Yes, I know it's not nice to say hate. James! No! Don't drink that! It's Mommy juice! If babies drink it they get very sleepy, oh, well, nevermind.

Lisa: Give the kids a kiss from me! Happy writing!

Laura: *click*

Tell the Truth Tuesday

1. The Hush Fund is eating all of my creative energy. Every last bit. Which kind of, sort of, explains why I suck at blogging lately. I hope you'll all forgive me once you read the book next July.

2. I broke my promise with myself that I would never, ever try to pitch book cover ideas to an editor ever again. EVER. I blame Laura.

3. I ate three s'mores tonight. I'm thinking of asking the cover designer to add a note on the cover of the book that says, "Brought to you by marshmallow, graham cracker and chocolate melted in a microwave." Klassy.

4. I've been on yet another mad house decorating spree this time inspired by the fact that we've decided to stay for another school year. Part of the reason I gave in so easily is because it meant I got a tiny budget to do some renovations I've been dreaming of since we moved here 7-years-ago. Not gonna lie, I've been spending WAY too much time on Pinterest.

5. I still worry about Rayanne Graff. Seriously. I think about her on a semi-regular basis. Do you think she's still drinking? What about her mom? I hope her an Angela are friends again. Yes, seriously. This is the stuff I think about.

6. I'm temporarily swearing off bleak, sad books that leave me feeling hopeless and sad for humanity. I just finished a book that was amazing, but left me feeling so, so, sad.

7. Lucky for me I have a super-fun book to read next. It's an ARC from one of our favorite blogging friends and I couldn't be more excited. PLUS we're working on a blurb for another amazing book we just finished a couple of weeks ago. 2013 is going to be a good year, guys.

8. I just remembered I have to email our agent.

9. But I love ending on 10, so I'm totally going to stretch this out....

10. I'm beat, but so happy to be posting something on the blog. It's been too long. I miss you guys. Fingers crossed for some juicy truths in the comments.