Friday, January 01, 2010

2010!

Good morning, and a Happy New Year to one and all! It's frakking cold out (no, I don't watch "Battlestar Galactica." I probably would like it, but I am not committed to starting a new show right now. However, I am dorkish enough that I know of "frak." So that's the story on that.), and I am getting the blues about going back to work. I love having every day to wake up and play with my daughter. Sigh. Being a working mom kind of sucks.

In the good (no-- great!) news area, I just saw that INTO THE WILD NERD YONDER has made the list of 2009 Cybils Finalists for Young Adult Fiction! How cool is that? Only seven books made the list! And they are all books on my "to read" list. I'm not just saying that. A middle school librarian does have a "to read" list. The winner will be announced on Valentine's Day (also the 10th anniversary of my first date with my husband!). Thank you, Cybils!

In more bookly news, the new novel is coming together. I finished typing it up, so it is technically ready to send to my editor. HOWEVER, I am going to experiment with something, which hopefully won't bomb and be a huge waste of my time. I'll start that after my winter break.

So what have I been doing over break? Let's see: We went to visit the in-laws in South Carolina (I look forward to not being on an airplane or in a hotel room with Romy for a while. Unless, of course, we decide to head to Disney World. I'm always up for that.). I've read a few books: The wonderful, upcoming sequel to LIFE AS WE KNEW IT, THIS WORLD WE LIVE IN (I don't know how Susan Beth Pfeffer spent three books in that scary, depressing, foodless world! I get anxiety just thinking about it); The Duggars' book, 20 and Counting! (I am learning a lot about raising a gigantic family. Which I will never have.), and the book of short stories, SIDESHOW (with a long subtitle that I do not feel like typing). My favorite story was by Cecil Castellucci about, well, something that has always grossed me out: yeast. The whole book got me thinking that it might be time for me to write my circus book. I am somewhat of a circus history buff, and with the horrible news that the Circus World Museum has closed (I still have to call to confirm), it looks like a sign. Stay tuned.

Going out to breakfast now. I have eaten my way through this vacation. I even pulled a box of Swedish Fish out of the garbage yesterday that I originally threw out to stop myself from eating. That worked.

Happy new year! I think it's going to be a really great one.

9 comments:

Jody Sparks said...

My husband and I just had that same conversation about Battlestar: I'll invest in it later.

I also dislike being a working mom. Boo.

It cracked me up when you wrote a long explanation of not wanting to write a long subtitle.

A circus book written by you sounds like a wonderful thing!

Brian James said...

Congrats...and do yourself a favor, take a ride on the Galactica.

Skyebird said...

my new year is already great

GreenBeanTeenQueen said...

Congrats on the Cybils! I was so excitd to see Into the Wild Nerd Yonder on the list.

I bought my husband a big bag of swedish fish for Christmas, but I've been the one eating most of them. :)

Jennifer said...

I just finished Into the Wild Nerd Yonder and loved it! Definitely Cybils-worthy! I am passing it on to several of my library friends...

http://jeanlittlelibrary.blogspot.com/2010/01/into-wild-nerd-yonder-by-julie-halpern.html

Julie H said...

Wow! Five comments! That's huge for my irregularly produced blogs. Thanks, guys. Jody-- I am having a super hard day today with the working mom title. Brian-- I just may. And how about that new series about the night club? Skyebird-- why so great? GBTQ--Which is your favorite Swedish flavor? I love them all, the combination and the variation. I hate the all-red bags. Jennifer-- Awesome!

Sarah Dooley said...

That's great! I LOVE LOVE LOVE Into the Wild Nerd Yonder!

Mighty Mouse said...

You pulled the Swedish Fish out of the garbage?! Hahaha! You just made my day!

Jessica Leader said...

Huge congrats to you on the Cybil nomination, and on a very fun novel--which, when it finally came in at the libe, I devoured in one sitting!