I can haz blog break?

Guys.

As much as I love you, I think I'm gonna need to take a break from blogging for awhile. What with the three week old baby that is convinced she is a party-hearty vampire with acid reflux (ALL NIGHT LONG! THA'S RIGHT! CRY ME SOME MOOOORE! AND WHEN NOT CRY, I'M BOOOOORED) and a book I can't seem to get more than half a chapter in on revised every day, I'm behind. And getting further behind every minute.

So as much as I love my blog, I'll not be on here much. I'll likely be at Twitter more if you want to find me...I can do that from the iPod Touch while I'm feeding/changing/etc/etc/etc/etc/etc/etc and I'll try to put something on once a week but I can't promise any more than that right now.

My brain has gone to some weird place and I can't find it.

So sick of me,

I am.

I am so sick of my own whining I can hardly stand it. I have so much that I didn't have, even a year ago. I am so lucky.

It's just this tiredness, you know. It is insidious; it sneaks into every part of my life and before I know it I'm melting down on the hubs (who doesn't deserve it) the cats (who definitely don't deserve it) or myself. And I'm just sick of it.

So I'm gonna write myself a short blog post (in the spirit of Patti today, who inspired me!) about the remarkable things I have to be thankful for. I mean sheesh, do I pull it down to the tiniest things. There are so many great things I have!

My darling, most wonderful husband in the entire world. My sweet little kid Loki, who appears to have Princess tendencies. My two lovely cats - first off my familiar the Black Cat, and secondly the Blue cat, without whom we wouldn't have the 11 pm rouseabout through the house.

Every night.

I am okay healthy. I survived a major surgery just a couple weeks ago! We have a house, and food, and some money. We don't have any diseases.

For crying out loud, I sold my book! Talk about what I had considered impossible! I have the best agent in the entire damn world.

I have you guys, my wonderful adorable readers...and the internet. And Twitter! Technology makes everything possible for me - to know such wonderful people around the world, to have such opportunities even when I'm halfway away around the world from the place I grew up.

Then there's Berlin, my personal lucky charm of a city. Did I mention my husband? He makes everything possible with his amazing support and powerful JKB-*ss kicking foot. (I need it, believe me). There's my job, which I do love, and the people there ... amazing, fantastic people.

SO often I get caught up in the little things. Because yes, this sleeplessness is kicking my butt right now, but it won't. (RIGHT??) And then we'll go into a new routine, and all those wonderful things I listed here will STILL be there. But that doesn't mean I need to take them for granted.

Let me take a short moment to say thank you.

FOR YOU. Thanks.

:-))

Draggin'...

in more ways than one.

Baby and mama seem to be getting more along, as she's happily ensconced gaining weight and sleeping. Cat seems to have come to the realisation that he is the guardian angel, and makes it his duty to check on the baby wherever I'm at, as well as glaring at visitors who hold her (and checking on her numerous times, to the dismay of the midwife who visits.)

So home life seems to be settling VERY slowly back down.

I'm deep in revisions for POSSUM SUMMER. I have some time 'til they're due, but I don't want to sit on my laurels. So I'm trying to do some every moment I have time, and I am getting somewhere, just not fast. Since I've been home I've managed to get to Chapter 7 (from Chapter 3 in the hospital - yes, until I was induced I was working on revisions.... :-)

Super Miracle Worker Agent has PANIC, and I'm waiting on her feedback for that book; she's given me my revision notes for PoloGRRL (which I shall attack after I turn POSSUM SUMMER in to my editor - *whoee do I get a frisson when I write that!*) so I'll work on that, which is good.

But.

BUT.

I have three - THREE - awesome sparkly ideas. Right now they're sitting pretty, cooking up subplots and things. But they sit impatiently pretty, waiting to knock me down with one fell blow.

*quivers*

Sweeeeeeeet

(Third from the top)

W00T!!!!

Back on track? Maybe? AND A WINNER!!

So I think I might be slowly getting the hang of all this! As I write, baby is camped out on chest, cat is sleeping in big throw blanket by us...which is far preferable to Saturday and Sundays:

"ZOMG THERE IS A SMALL THING IN THIS HOUSE THAT SCREECHES IT SHALL EAT ME WHOLE"

attitude.

Regarde:

(Black-Cat thinks: WTF?)

He's been like that since yesterday when he suddenly decided they were best friends. Now he comes to check on her, and last night when a friend

stopped by to see Loki he made quite the nuisance of himself, insisting on smelling her and sitting where he could stare at her while she held the Lokister.

The friend was not amused, but I was.

The other cat makes himself scarce. Where she is, he is not. Until he tried out her Rainforest activity mat:

It has lights! It has sounds! Actually, it is kind of a freaky thing and he looked hysterical sitting under the top as the lights flashed and the kookie slighty-off-center nursery songs played above him. It gave me definite in-da-club vibes, and he was sitting there all, "Hey LAYDEEZ".

*hee*

But Lok, you seem to be doing good. Really good! YAY for good!

Now, if I could just get some sleep. Zombies have NOTHING on me in the looks department right now.

And how, I ask you, should a zombie edit her SOLD BOOK when she is a said zombie?

I haven't figured that out yet. But I'll let you know when I do.

WE have WINNERS!

Hey guys!

I am SO SORRY.

I've been out of it with the entire emergency pregnancy thing, and I still owe a winner to the contest for the book Dust of 100 Dogs, the fantastic book by my buddy AS King! (Remember the interview? How awesome she was?)

SO! Because I was out of it for so long, and it was not nice and/or fair, I'm picking THREE winners instead of one. And I will send you a TREASURE of german chocolate, alongside a copy of this fab fab fab book!

My winners are (as chosen by random Cat number generator - you give them the list, they step on the list, footprints mark the spot!!) :::::

1. AMY BAI !!

2. ANGIE !!

3. REBECCA K O'CONNOR !!

So...I'll be needing your emails, and addys, ladies, so that I can get some blinding bright happy chocolate time in the mail to you! WHOOHOOOO!

YAY for pirates!

YAY for AS KING!!

YAY for CHOCOOOOOLATE! (especially the german kind. Seriously? NOTHING. BETTER.)

*hee*

-- also, I'd like to put out a quick note. You guys and your comments and things have made me decide to start commenting back on my comments. I always thought it was kind of weird, but you have rocked and helped me through a difficult time, and besides, I like talking to you.

So I'll be a commenter on my own blog! How about THAT! Finally my other split personality has something to do!

XOXO - me.

Starfish hands ...

... and a rosebud mouth.

Here is our new little princess, in all her glory.

I never really thought I could be so enamored with her. I never expected it. But last week as I lay in the hospital with her, I couldn't stop staring at her perfect little face, her fingers, her expressions...

...my husband had even appropriated my laptop and iPod Touch and you know what? I didn't even notice their absence.

And if you know me, you know this is something that has never ever happened before. :-)

But wouldn't you be a bit enamoured too?

Observe her strawberries and cream complexion, her tiny mouth, her delicate little nose...and SEE how small her fingers are!

See her grasp her papa's hand.

THE CHEEKS!!

*happy sigh*

THE CUTEST MOUTH EEEEVAR!

*crush*

She has her own hair ... a bright, shining viking red-gold color that glints in any hint of light. She has a PROPER temper, she's not a Pisces in that regard at all!

And we've thought about it and agree we'll continue to call her Loki here. I'll try not to embarrass her by writing down something she might later regret.

And besides, I like to still call her Loki. Our little changeling sure has put a number over on both of us. I can safely say we've both been changed by the appearance of this little number in our lives.

So welcome to the world, little Loki.

Wrap-up. You all think I lie!!

Wow, you guys!

Remember this blog post? Where I got a prize, and I had to list some lies and one truth? And then I did it? And these were it?

Here are my lies...and one truth:

1. I adore cakes. Chocolate cakes Red Velvet cakes cakes cakes. Can't get enough of them. Will go into stores just to look at their selection, and often bring a piece home for tea.
2. When I was eight years old I had my brother convinced that I originated from where fairies came from, and if he ate enough of the fairy mud pies I made for him he'd become a fairy too.
3. I have totally been reincarnated from a 60's hippie that OD'd, thus my penchant for what my husband calls my 'herb bags' and 60's classic rock.
4. I have lived in more towns in Germany than towns in the US.
5. I fought off a shark once on my board at Bondi Beach. He was coming for me and I whacked him between the eyes. I'm wearing him as a belt to this day.
6. I was not only in a sorority, I became the "sweetheart" of a frat at the same university and was completely and totally slavered over. My word was LAW, people. LAW.
7. It's possible for me to purchase Dr Pepper at stores here in Germany.

And then EVERYBODY posted that number 2 was definitely it?

*is hurt*

You guys think the worst of me! Ha! How could you do that?

I write children's books!

I like possums! (rats schmats!)

I post nice comments on other people's blogs, because I loves dem and stuff!

I have two hairless cats and for crying out loud, I've knitted them sweaters!

I live in Germany and I give money to the homeless regularly! And donuts, too!

...

...

... * pauses to let the import of what I've said here sink into your psyche *

and sheesh. For the record, it was my SISTER that I had convinced I was the fairy.

BWA HA HAA!!

I can buy Dr Pepper here, finally. *yay*

Dearest all:

Because of an unfortunate pregnancy complication, it's likely I won't be around for some days. You can email me if you need me; otherwise, keep all your toes and fingers crossed that they will decide to do something about this so I can go home.

My cat is sad without me.

I'm sad without him, hubs, and my INTERNET.

Winner will be chosen as soon as I'm out of this white, doctor-led prison!

*cries*

Team Possum? Or Team Rat?

I have a very nice friend that talks a LOT OF SMACK about my darwing widdew possums.

Her name is Hilary Wagner. She's also published by Holiday House (like how I worked that in?) and we've spent the last six months or so hating (but in a good way!) on the other's personal choice of rodent (or marsupial, in the possum's case. *sniff sniff*)

Harmless stuff, really. Like calling her the Rat Queen. (I am the Possum Empress). Mocking her rats' problem with personal hygiene. Listing the ways that possums score so much higher on the cuteness and handyness scales of the world.

She always threatened me with a throw down when (when - never give up hope!) POSSUM SUMMER got taken up by some extremely intelligent publisher. How much did we laugh and squee when it was the same extremely intelligent publisher that published her debut NIGHTSHADE CITY as well as the sequel, BILLYCAN?

(PS just for the record? Holiday House is so full of awesomesauce I can hardly even speak. FULL of teh KEWL)

In her typically awesome fashion, Hilary made a throwdown picture. Which you can see below:

This is the author of the evilness, the Rat Queen herself:

So I thought I'd call her bluff and raise her TWO PIECES OF BOOK FLAIR.

Now is YOUR chance. Your chance to take part, take SIDES, in this memorable debate. Which is cooler? The Rat (schmat!) or the Possum (who is AWESOME!)

Which do you prefer?

(boo! hiss!)

OR

(YAY !!)

There will be a contest at some point for those that DO pick a side, and post one of these adorable (POSSUM!) or not (RAT!) pieces of flair on their blog. Or elsewhere. Just post it and fuggedaboutit. The coolness will come when you least expect it!

So just so you know. There will be exceptionally nifty and flabbergastingly amazing things involved.

BABY edition: Stop messing with me, child!

Loki!

Now you listen RIGHT HERE. I'm trying to hold you in there until you SHOULD come out, don't go making my body all crazy so that the doctors bandy around crazy sentences like "induce three weeks early" or "possible csection at two weeks early".

Okay? Because your papa has a PHD paper he has to get done, and your mummy wants to meet Diana Gabaldon on the 18th and oh by the way, I have a book to edit/rewrite that will be published so when you're older you can tell everyone your mummy writes for her living, okay? You aren't SUPPOSED to come until April Fool's Day! Don't be a smart ass, darling!

Please?

::sniff::

Can't you do that? Because I'm slowly losing my mind here. With seeing two to three docs of some type daily, my patience and sanity levels are quickly sinking into the ever present sludge of OMGMORESNOWMAKEITSTOP!

Yes, boys and girls. This is my brain. This is my brain with baby brain included.

Pity me.

Why, how about some BIG EFFING NEWS!!!!!

When I was in fourth grade (I think) I read A Dog Called Kitty. I loved it. I was always a girl that had her nose stuck in a book, and since we weren't floating in dough, I re-read a lot. And haunted the library too. But this book, it blew me away, and when the principle announced that the actual author would be coming to our little prairie school in the middle of nowhere, boy was I stoked.

Our teacher said everyone was allowed one question to ask the Real Live Author and I um, overdid it. I can remember clenching that piece of paper with about 80 billion questions on it in my sweat-soaked hand, and almost, almost having enough guts to ask him a question as the older kids in the back did theirs. He sat up on the stage and all the classes in the school were out to sit and listen to him talk. I got right up near the stage, displacing some second grader so I could watch his every move, that author. I had my chance to ask a question but skipped it to study him: how did he get a book published? He didn't look like much. Just a regular guy with magic in his fingers.

But that book was the one that got me thinking "hey, if this guy can publish a book, why can't I?" And got me going. So on and off, throughout the next years (and years and years) I plugged away. I subbed my first alphabetic picture book in seventh grade, but hadn't a clue and was rejected after a loooong time, then high school and university got in the way, so I lagged for a bit. But this author, and what he (and others) had managed to do always sat in the back of my mind. Until I decided to really give it a go (with the uber support of my hubs, who is insanely wonderful.)

This author's name was Bill Wallace, and he's published by Holiday House books.

So is Jim Kjelgaard - BIG RED (I loved this book too!), Hans Christen Anderson and the Brothers Grimm (I don't think I need to say who they are)

and a very good buddy of mine, Hilary Wagner - NIGHTSHADE CITY.

Venerable authors all!

And now, I'm um, thrilled (esctatic? Over the moon? Shocked?) to say that I'll be joining their ranks.

Look for POSSUM SUMMER, my debut novel, to be published by Holiday House books in Fall of 2011.

To say that this is a dream come true doesn't give news of this import enough leverage. And yet, what more can I say? That my agent NEVER gives up (even when *I* had) and is the most fabulous, supportive person of that ilk I've ever met? That writing friends had to bear with me while I alternatively melted down, giggled hysterically, and/or sobbed, sometimes all at once? Those crit buds that read and re-read my drafts, helping me with fine tuning and offering support of a shoulder-iffic nature? That my husband deserves a Lifetime Achievement Award for not only dealing with an eight-month pregnant wife - but one that was glued to her computer as news of her deal floated over from the other side of the ocean? And who celebrated with her by bringing her home a pizza?

Or my poor, poor manuscript - the one I knew I wanted to write for 15 years but never did - finally making it's "quiet, literary" presence known in the world? It'll be a real, live, honest to the gods BOOK?

All that and more, guys. All that and more.

I can't really believe it's starting to happen. I heart you all for being on this trip with me!

And NEVER, EVER give up!!!!!!

In which I wonder if I'm kind of cool.

My cool blog buddies, Amy and Medeia, are to be either commended or have their heads examined.

Why?

Well, I got myself a couple of awards last week from them, and in true JKB style, I'm gonna pass them on here and be all about the love spreading. (That is completely different than manure spreading, btw - or maybe.... )

Medeia gave me the "One Lovely Blog" Award. It is pretteh, and I hereby slap this moniker also on the following blogs!

- Heidi Willis

- Alex Moore

- Christacarol

- Brit at Dream the Dream

The next award is a little ... unconventional. Here are the rules:

. Thank the person who gave this to you.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you.
4. Tell up to six outrageous lies about yourself, and at least one outrageous truth.
5. Nominate seven “Creative Writers” who might have fun coming up with outrageous lies.
6. Post links to the seven blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know you nominated them.

So here are my people. Tell me your BEST LIES, guys!

- Heidi the Hick

- Pseudosu

- Hilary Wagner

- Jodi Meadows

- Merrilee Faber

- Stephen Parrish

Here are my lies...and one truth

1. I adore cakes. Chocolate cakes Red Velvet cakes cakes cakes. Can't get enough of them. Will go into stores just to look at their selection, and often bring a piece home for tea.
2. When I was eight years old I had my brother convinced that I originated from where fairies came from, and if he ate enough of the fairy mud pies I made for him he'd become a fairy too.
3. I have totally been reincarnated from a 60's hippie that OD'd, thus my penchant for what my husband calls my 'herb bags' and 60's classic rock.
4. I have lived in more towns in Germany than towns in the US.
5. I fought off a shark once on my board at Bondi Beach. He was coming for me and I whacked him between the eyes. I'm wearing him as a belt to this day.
6. I was not only in a sorority, I became the "sweetheart" of a frat at the same university and was completely and totally slavered over. My word was LAW, people. LAW.
7. It's possible for me to purchase Dr Pepper at stores here in Germany.