Writers' Wednesday: Pop Culture

"I'll have what she's having."

One thing that's interesting about having an exchnage student are the cultural references that pop up and need explaining. And isn't it funny where they come from? The other day we were grocery shopping and in the frozen food section. I said, "What about tater tots? Should we get some?" She didn't know what they were, so I tried to explain - and then immediately thought of the movie Napoleon Dynamite, which became this weid cult-like cultural hit a few years back. I've seen it at least 10 times and still laugh.

And then yesterday I was shopping sans exchange student and texting a girlfriend - and all of a sudden a turn in the conversation both led us to think of the famous deli scene from When Harry Met Sally:



Isn't it interesting how certain movies can resonate for their silliness, for the phrases they add to our modern-day culture, even years/decades later?

Monday Mentionables: The End

"It's beautiful," I say as we watch flakes catch in the white lights strung along the tree branches outside. It's true. The first snow of the season always is.

The End.

Finished! I finally had a chance to finish the 3rd revision of my YA novel, All the Girls, over the weekend. Ahh...what a great feeling :)

It ended up at 60K words, a little longer than I had originally planned, but perfect length for YA. Sooo...my goal this week is to go through my list of agents and begin sending query letters. This will be interesting, as I haven't sent an agent query in a while. Have my letter written, but I need to go back through and refine now that the story is done.

And then, well, we'll see. YA is a tough market right now, since it's so popular. Dystopian worlds along with vampires are big, and my book is neither. But I still believe contemporary can hold its own. Let's hope, anyway.

I'll keep you posted on my journey!

Friday Fun Facts: The Raven Halloween Hunt Begins!

Raven Halloween Hunt begins today! Click on the banner below for more information - lots of great prizes, including a signed copy of my novel One Night in Napa! Have a wonderful weekend, and happy hunting :)