Friends! Are you a teacher, librarian, or book club leader? If you are, you can win TEN copies of my book, plus a Skype visit from me, plus bookmarks, stickers, and other assorted swag AND learn awkward facts about my personal hygiene and shoddy parenting skills.
So really, why aren’t you reading my guest blog up at Cynsations NOW? And entering to win?

RUN!!!

What a weekend!

I have to admit, my life is so incredibly cool right now. Exhausting, but cool.

On Friday, I had the great pleasure of presenting a workshop to a SRO group of talented writers at the Houston Writer’s Guild fall conference. It was four hours of working on pitches, queries, first pages, and sharing secrets.

Well-known secrets, like where to find the best query information online. (I’ll be posting a page with links soon – this is a common question!) And less-well-known secrets like this amazing Save the Cat beat sheet for novelists. (You’re welcome, Houston writers!)

I loved listening to people read their first sentences, give their pitches, and wrestle with queries. We could have gone on for days – but the brownies I baked for the group (why, yes, I AM the best presenter in the universe haha) ran out, and we had to break for more chocolate.

Then, the very next day, I came home to lead THIS:

Yes, the very first flash mob (Zumba style) at Whole Foods. It was amazingly fun!

Tomorrow, I have a school visit at Brentwood Elementary.

I wonder if I can get them to flash mob with me, Gangnam Style?(JK)

What’s your favorite thing to do at a school visit, writer friends?And have any of you ever been in a flash mob? Or do you just stick to flash fiction?

October is starting out amazingly well, and looks like it’s just going to get better.

That is, if I don’t get overloaded from all the awesomeness, and eat myself into a chocolate coma.

Today’s happiness is this: an amazing review of Sinister Sweetness by the lovely folks at Seattle Mystery Bookshop! “Dr. Who meets Grimm?” It made me want to read my own book again.

Friday, I will be teaching a half-day workshop for the Houston Writer’s Guild on queries, pitches, synopses, first pages – you name it! It’s going to be fun, funny, and useful as all get out. Spread the word! Walk-ins are welcome. (And, um, Janet Reid is going to be there, too. The Query Shark herself! You should ALL go.)

Next Monday, I’ll be doing a school visit for some wonderful elementary kids in Austin.That Wednesday (10/17), I’m doing a fundraiser/signing/party for the Dripping Springs Community Library at 4:30 p.m.

On October 20 at 11:00 a.m., I’ll be at the Book Spot in my hometown of Round Rock, Texas, for another appearance – this one with cupcakes, donuts, and marzipan!

A few days later, I’ll be in New York, doing this:

Yes, a costume party/reading/signing in New York. How cool is THAT?

I’m not even going to mention the Texas Book Festival on October 27-28. No, I won’t even think about it.

Nap time? 🙂

PS – Lizzy, thank you so much for your kind fan letter! I tried to email you back, but the address wouldn’t work. You made my day!

The interesting thing about book-related interviews is the diversity of questions. I mean, who other than another author would even think to ask what’s in your closet? (Authors are notoriously nosy.) My husband reads my interviews to find out things about me he hasn’t learned in our over fifteen years of marriage. (He’s all, “Seriously, hon? You want to go to Nepal? Were you really that young when you got your first kiss?” etc., etc. LOL)

This week, I have three very different interviews up at three very lovely websites! Go and read them if you like. And if you have any awkward questions for me, leave them below! I will answer them if I can. 🙂

This Week in Nikki News:

Lenore Appelhans, author of the forthcoming Level 2 (oh, I can’t WAIT!!!), has the down low on my favorite things about my own book at her excellent site, Presenting Lenore. This was a hard one, like picking my favorite child. Which might not actually be as hard some days. I mean, come on – one of my kids is a teenager now. Batten down the hatches and all, right? 🙂

C J Redwine, author of the fabulous YA novel Defiance, has all my secrets revealed (including the creepy stuff in my closet) at her site, The Last Word.

And Lisa Rizzo interviewed me for the AROHO (A Room of Her Own) conference blog! Check out AROHO Speaks: Writer to Writer. And for that matter, check out their conference! It was a life-changer for me last year – and they even have a local conference in Austin this weekend! Totally worth going to.

Now I must dash off and try to get another five hundred words or so on the WIP done. I’m back to new writing! It feels divine. It’s a YA this time, for a change, and it’s got KISSING IN IT.

With ACTUAL LIPS.

I hope I can pull it off. 🙂

Well, wow! I just had another amazing week, so full of cool stuff I don’t know where to begin! So, how about… a list!

I do love my lists.

The 5 Coolest Things About Being an Author This Week

1. Fan Mail

I got my very first piece of real live fan mail this week, from a girl named Seeley, who called my book “extravagant” and who “instantly fell in love with it.” Best part of the fan letter? The different colored inks and the artwork. I have this letter taped up on my writing desk now, to keep me inspired through my next round of revisions. 🙂

2. Fan Fiction

No, not the Twilight kind. THIS kind:

A fan letter... and a fan's story. WRITTEN FOR ME!

I don’t know about you, but I think “Best Friend Magic” has Newbery written all over it.Thanks, Emma!

3. Fan Art

I was a featured author today for the H-E-B Read 3 early literacy program. I went to San Marcos, Texas to read, sign, and OH MY GOSH is that my cover done in dry-erase marker on a white board???

This made my heart so happy. I am also very glad I didn’t have to be there for The Erasing. That would have made me cry.

4. Fan Paparazzi Pics

Check out my amazing readers! Are they not talented, gorgeous, suave, sophisticated, and brilliant? Yes, they are.

Our very best sides.

One of these girls whispered "You're my favorite author" right before this pic. I am trying not to cry in it.

You are never too old or too awesome for middle grade fiction. Some of my favorite people in the world!

This is me with Rockstar Librarian Priscilla Delgado. Oh, and some guy who I think might be the Mayor of San Marcos. (Daniel Guerrero!)

5. Gift Baskets Full of Chocolate

You people know how I feel about chocolate. Well, apparently, the folks at H-E-B (Paul Mejia, in particular, the mastermind behind this AMAZING event), know as well. So they sent me home with this:

YES! Revision supplies! I am saved!

Honestly, I can’t say enough good things about the people who put on this event, or the reason for it – to get books into the hands of disadvantaged kids, and to encourage parents to read with their kids three times a week – or more. 

Thank you to H-E-B, Paul Mejia, Helia, and all the friends and San Marcos ISD folks who came out!