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One of the things I never realised when I first decided to try and find an agent/publisher was how often I'd end up in the post office packaging up my submissions. I did realise I'd spend a fair bit of time waiting on the postman to bring news - but I never thought about the sending out process beyond writing my book and covering letter/outline. I never guessed I'd spend so much time printing out covering letters, chapters and outlines - nor imagined the amount of paper and ink cartridges I would need - not to mention printers! Then there's al the time spent tracking down up-to-date names and addresses, not always easy despite the internet - although more agents and publishers have their own websites now. I rushed to my local post office yesterday (I love the fact they are open on Sundays) minutes before closing. I have my routine finely-tuned - buy large envelopes (I always seem to have run out or mislaid them) - write my name and address on the return envelope (grimace at my handwriting) put it inside another with the editor/agents details on with my submission package. Then I have to have the whole thing weighed and get the correct postage twice, remove the SAE and put the stamps on put it back in and put the stamps or pre-paid postage label on the main envelope and seal it all up before handing it over. You need about six hands to do this - and I nearly always get in a tangle with those peel-off seals. At this point I usually panic that I've forgotten something or put the wrong date on my letter - but it's off on its way and I can feel pleased with myself for a minute and daydream that this time I will get a yes reply.

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All right! We've got a winner in Melissa Walker's Violet contest. The winner...is... WindyCindy! Congratulations! Please send an e-mail to jessica [@] jessicaburkhart [dot] com with your name and address so Melissa can mail your book.

Tomorrow, I've got author S.A. Harazin right here with a new contest, so don't despair if you didn't win.

I hope you're all enjoying the different guests on my blog and I'm pretty everyone agrees that prizes are fantastic. :)

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The winner in the drawing for the QUAKING prize pack is…Elainareads! Congrats! Please e-mail me your name and mailing address to: jessica [at] jessicaburkhart [dot] com and I’ll send your info to Kathryn.

We’ve got a new interview coming on Friday, so come back then for a new Q&A. Hint: we’ll even get a little political!

Anyone watch the Oscars last night? I thought Jon Stewart was a good host. he made several fantastic jokes and kept the show moving.

The dresses were elegant and gorgeous! My favs in Cojo style:

Helen Mirren. Very red and in your face.
Marion Cotillard. Gorgeous back in that dress.
Jennifer Garner. Does she ever look bad?
Nicole Kidman. She wears pregnancy so well.
Saoirse Ronan. Her dress was one of the few that wasn't black or pastel. Lovely!

The men looked dashing, too. McDreamy in particular...

My question throughout the show--why didn't anyone fix that obviously slippery area by the mic when women in six inch heels were walking across the spot?

Show highlights: Marion Cotillard's acceptance speech, Jon Stewart allowing one of the writers of "Falling Slowly" to come back on stage, Amy Adams performing, Diablo Cody winning for best original screenplay for Juno, whoever decided to make Heath Ledger last in the tribute
montage and Cameron Diaz making everyone laugh and cheer when she bumbled "cinematography" and got her attitude on.

Worst moments: Ellen Page losing, the numerous odd montages, no Brad Pitt in sight and no extremely outspoken speeches about current affairs.

What did you think of the Oscars? Disagree with my best dressed?

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We have winners in Beckie Weinheimer's contest!

Will.... Miss Information and Britlitfantwin email your addresses to me ASAP? Send those to jessica [at] jessicaburkhart [dot] com. Congratulations!

Thank you for stopping by, Beckie. Your interview was so much fun! :)

Onto other things, March is the start of...NaNoEdMo! I signed up over at the site to pledge to spend 50 hours in March editing a novel. Want to join me? Em promised to sign up and I'm looking for more to join in. The group is a LOT smaller than NaNoWriMo, but it's growing.

Okay, I'm off to research. Anyone going to NaNoEdMo with me?

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While the rest of the country is watching the Super Bowl (major yawn!) I thought I'd post tonight instead of tomorrow. This week is going to be crazy.

Keri's contest is now closed and we have winners. Keri generously decided to give away TWO copies of SCREWBALL and two softball charms. Thank you, Keri!

Drum roll, please….

Nicole B and Emma

Congratulations! Please email me jessica [@] jessicaburkhart [dot] com with your names and mailing addresses.

Keri, you’ve been a fantastic guest and please stop by for your next book!

Onto other things…

The Class of 2k9 is officially taking applications. If you’d like one, send an email to theclassof2k9 [@] hotmail [dot] com. We’ll get you one ASAP. If you’re not sure what the Class is, check out www.classof2k7.com and www.classof2k8.com for the details.

Also, the guest this week is author of CONVERTING KATE, Beckie Weinheimer. Beckie will be here on Friday with a Q&A and a giveaway. The schedule’s changing next week, as noted in the sidebar, and we’ll have Christine Norris here on Monday.

I spent the weekend editing my YA and wow, what a mess. You’d think after three drafts you’d say, “Hey, looking good!” No. Maybe I’ll say that after this edit. The plot is fine, but I think I crossed out every other sentence on my printed draft and wrote RW (for rewrite) in pink.

On Friday, a friend reminded me that the Red Hills Horse Trials (a huge international eventing competition) is coming to town in mid-March. I’ve never been and if I’m in town that weekend, I’m SO going! It would be the perfect chance try for a couple of interviews and to do a write up of the event for magazines. I applied for a Red Hills press pass, so hopefully my application isn’t too late. If you get a press pass, you get special access to the cross-country course and a chance to go into the stables. We’re talking former and current Olympians for the US Equestrian team at this event. So exciting! Even if I don’t get a press pass, I hope to go and take tons of pictures and a few minutes of video for the multimedia section of my Website.

Happy Super Bowl watching! :)

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We have a winner!

The Book Muncher

Please email me at jessica [@] jessicaburkhart [dot] com with your address. Thank you, Julie, for stopping by! You were a fantastic guest and please consider coming back when you have a new book.

There's no author Q&A and giveaway this Friday, instead, on Monday (2/1) Keri Mikulski is visiting and she'll have great prizes.

Is everyone enjoying the author Q&As? If so, I'll consider scheduling more through the spring. I'm learning a lot and am archiving the visits on Blogger's sidebar.

Tomorrow, I turn the big 2-1 so I'll be blogging about a look back before I turn legal! :)

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