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I'm working on revisions for Hollyweird and I'm trying to work out a sticky plot point, but I haven't come up with the perfect thing yet. I know eventually I'll be zapped with an "Aha!" moment, but I hope it hurries up. LOL. I don't like feeling stuck. In the meantime I'm doing research and looking for inspiration everywhere. I want to nail this ending!

This weekend I'm going to the Colorado Teen Lit Conference and I'm really looking forward to it. I get to visit with some authors I only get to see at these events (Lauren Myracle, Todd Mitchell, Amy Kathleen Ryan) and I'm looking forward to meeting new authors Amy Efaw and Becca Fitzgerald (who I've only spoken to on email). 

I'm also really excited to FINALLY meet Ellen Hopkins. We had stories together in the anthology Breaking Up Is Hard To Do and I have an essay in the anthology about her work, Flirtin' with the Monster. Ellen and I have talked on email, and both Lynda and Nic have met her, but I've yet to have that pleasure. 

Even more fun will be having two of my creative writing club teens attend with me. :) I know the Kels(e)ys are going to have a blast! 

This conference is always a favorite of mine. And this year the weather is supposed to be much nicer than last year so attendance should be higher.  

Can't wait!

If you've ever wondered about the publishing process you might consider attending my From Page to Publication program this Thursday night at the Smoky Hill Library in Centennial, CO. The program is open to adults and teens. You can register for this free event at arapahoelibraries.org.

From Page to Publication

Event Type: Adults & Teens Date: 11/12/2009 Start Time: 7:00 PM End Time: 8:30 PM Description:  Terri Clark, author of Sleepless (HarperCollins), will demystify the publishing process. Learn about the many stages a manuscript goes through before it hits the shelves as a book - revisions, copy edits, line edits, etc. From page to publication, contract to book shelf, Terri will share her experience and answer questions from interested writers. Library: Smoky Hill Library Location: Smoky Hill Room A Registration Ends: 11/12/2009 at 7:00 PM Status: Openings

Synopsis

Half-human, half-angel, Meridian Sozu has a dark responsibility.

Sixteen-year-old Meridian has been surrounded by death ever since she can remember. As a child, insects, mice, and salamanders would burrow into her bedclothes and die. At her elementary school, she was blamed for a classmate’s tragic accident. And on her sixteenth birthday, a car crashes in front of her family home—and Meridian’s body explodes in pain.

Before she can fully recover, Meridian is told that she’s a danger to her family and hustled off to her great-aunt’s house in Revelation, Colorado. It’s there that she learns that she is a Fenestra—the half-angel, half-human link between the living and the dead. But Meridian and her sworn protector and love, Tens, face great danger from the Aternocti, a band of dark forces who capture vulnerable souls on the brink of death and cause chaos.

Synopsis

Perfect for zombiephiles, video game addicts, grindhouse nostalgists, and horror movie fanatics, Zombie Haiku is the touching story of a zombie's gradual decay told through the intimate poetry of haiku. From infection to demise, readers will accompany the narrator on a zen journey through deserted streets and barracaded doors for every eye-popping, gut-wrenching, flesh-eating moment right up until the inevitable bullet to the brain. Plus the book is illustrated with over 50 photos from the zombie's eye and designed with extra blood, guts and pus!

A co-worker turned me on to this little gem. She suggested I read it and use it as an excercise for my creative writing club. (Thanks, Monica!) Zombie Haiku is a quick, hilarious read that had me giggling and groaning. It can easily be ingested in an hour's time, but it's a fun read that's perfect for Halloween, reluctant reader's and zombie fans like me. And the most amusing part? It was written by a youth pastor. Bet his kids love him!

The Douglas County Library District is holding a wonderful writers conference this Saturday, October 10 from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm at Castle View High School in Castle Rock.  There's a lot of great workshops and registration is very affordable. You can find the list of speakers and workshops at: http://www.douglascountylibraries.org/Events/WritersConference

For YA writers, I'll be presenting two programs:
 

Tapping into your Inner Teen aka Writing for Young Adults

Description: We’re in a new golden age for young adult fiction. If youʹve wanted to tap into your inner teen and write a YA novel, this program is for you. Young adult author and teen librarian, Terri Clark, will define what makes a young adult novel, explain how teen fiction has changed over the years, help you discover your teen voice, introduce you to the market and highlight bestsellers and current trends.

Werewolves, Witches & Vamps, Oh My! Writing Paranormal Fiction

Description: Paranormal fiction is hotter than ever and Terri Clark is going to tell you why. She’ll also define the difference between paranormal romance and urban fantasy and explain why readers are willing to suspend their disbelief, but only if you ground the roots of your story in reality. If you want to know how to make the impossible seem plausible this is the workshop for you.

I'll be giving a writing workshop called Tapping into Your Inner Teen at the Author Fest of the Rockies on Friday, Oct. 2. This YA workshop is at 3:30. I'd love to see you there. This looks to be a really exciting week long event put on by the Manitou Springs Public Library. I only wish I could do more! Next year I'll know to take off work. Anyhow, check out all the guest speakers and fun programs.

My kids are back in school and I swear I've gotten more done in the last couple days then I did the whole three months of summer. LOL. But having them back in classes makes me think about the wonderful school visits I did last.year. I was blessed to visit a lot of area schools (sometimes 2 or 3 times) and do everything from individual room visits to large combined classes. Plus, there were bookfairs, AVID, book clubs and more. I hope to make some return visits this year, as well as visit new schools, because I met so many incredible people. To all the teachers, librarians and students who warmly welcomed me THANK YOU. And I hope your first week is off to a great start!

Lincoln High School

Horizon Middle School

Sierra Middle School

Cherry Creek High School

Regis High School

Sky Vista Middle School

Thunder Ridge Middle School

Liberty Middle School

Parker Library and the Colorado Author Series will bring local authors to ParkerFest every Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., through September. I'm the featured author this Sunday (8/30) and I'd love for you to come by and visit! In addition to me, there's a great farmer's and merchant market and the day's entertainment is Art in the Park, celtic dancers and celtic music by the Indulgers. All this fun is right on Main Street in old towne Parker, just across the street from the Parker Library. Book talk, music, food and shopping...what more could you ask for?
 
Hope to see you there, Terri 
 

Last night I signed onto Twitter and, by sheer luck, happened upon someone doing live tweets at the FF&P Prism awards. To my utter astonishment Sleepless won the YA category. I was so bummed not to be at National this year, but seeing the results roll live on my computer was nearly just as fun. Today I wondered if it was really true and then this stunning award showed up. 



Isn't it gorgeous?!?

Big thanks to the folks at FF&P.

Sleepless is available in library binding and I just got my hardcover copy. It's so cool! It's available on Kindle too, but I don't have one of those gadgets yet.

I also got an awesome review from That One Girl Emily.

The winners of the 2009 Prism contest will be announced next month at the RWA National Conference. To celebrate Sleepless being a Young Adult nominee I'm giving away the three finalist books. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment recommending a great recent read. (Please tell me why you loved it, but no spoilers.) You'll help me build my summer TBR and hopefully everyone else will add to their pile too! You get one entry for your comment (even if you recommend multiple books). If you buzz my contest by placing a link somewhere and let me know, I'll give you a second entry. All entries must be received by Midnight (MST) on July 1st. One winner will be picked using my handy dandy Custom Random Number Generator. Good luck and have fun!

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The adorable Nisha Sharma was kind enough to interview me on her blog. I hope you'll stop by and check it out. Warning: I was under the influence of Percocet so any errors can be attributed to post-sinus surgery meds. :)

I'm so excited to announce that SLEEPLESS is a YA finalist in the Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal's Prism contest! And I must confess to some fangirl giddiness because I'm up against one of my fave authors/series.

Young Adult
Cave of Terror by Amber Dawn Bell

First off, I just want to thank all of you who participated here and on my myspace blog (myspace.com/terristake). I really enjoyed reading about the books that made a personal impact on you. Looking back, I have so many books that have stuck with me in various stages of my life -- E.B. White's Charlotte's Web was the first book to make me cry, I adored Trixie Belden, begged my mom to buy me a new book from the series anytime I could (I still have them all) and fell in love with a fictional boy for the first time, The Diary of Anne Frank moved me and made me appreciate the freedom we all have,  Judy Blume shaped and informed my teen years, V.C. Andrews Flowers in the Attic series horrified and enthralled me, Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird was a required reading book I completely fell in love with and Danielle Steel's Palomino was the first adult romance I ever read.  Each of these books holds a special place in my heart and having this discussion with you all has reminded me what true gifts books are. :)

Now, without further sentimental rambling, I announce the winner: 


MISS PIGEON! 

Congrats! You are the lucky person selected by the Custom Random Number Generator. Please message me privately with your address and I'll get those books out to you.

As for the rest of you...please check back soon because I'll be holding a contest to give away my newest book...Flirtin' with the Monster, an anthology all about the incredible Ellen Hopkins.

Yay! I did my first book drop. Hope someone at TRMS enjoyed finding a copy of Sleepless.

Check out my review of Harper's Island over at Supernatural Sisters and let us know what you thought of the premiere!

Today on Supernatural Sisters I'm talking about the killer mullet rock we've grown to love because of Kripke's passionate push to give the show a heavy beat. Come on over and share in the music.

It's my crush's birthday. Jensen is 31 today. I celebrated by watching Ten Inch Hero yesterday. Check out my review on Supernatural Sisters tomorrow.



Need I say anymore? 

Cool! Sleepless has been released as an e-book for the Kindle. I wish I knew someone who had one of these gadgets. I'd like to play around with it.

If you have one, do you like it?