Five things on a Friday

1. It has been hard to blog lately. Hard to be on-line very much, actually. I don't really want to say why, so I'm just going to leave it at that.

2. I have news I'd love to share, but I can't yet, so... Wow, this is a fun Friday five, isn't it? I might as well just put a bunch of numbers up and no words next to them. Let's see if I can do better for the last three.

3. I finished revising my latest YA manuscript yesterday and sent it to my agent! Whew. What a relief. It's the longest book I've ever written, at 65,000 words, which I know is really not that long at all. But when you write in verse most of the time, that's long! It isn't in verse, but it's a contemporary story with mystery, romance, and a great hook. I hope she likes it, but she may not, and since I prefer writing the whole thing, I'm okay with whatever happens now. I have an idea for a verse novel that I can start any time. Well, after I get my taxes done and get ready for some presentations in March.

4. I am going to try to win the lottery this morning, er, get Taylor Swift tickets. Wish me luck!

5. Finally, look what I got in the mail!!! These are the Advanced Review Copies for SPRINKLES AND SECRETS, the companion novel to my middle grade novel IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES. I plan to give them all to independent booksellers. I have a few in town I'll hand them to, and then I'll have a few left to mail. If you are an independent bookseller who loves middle grade fiction or you know one who would love to read this, please let me know in the comments.

Hope you have a lovely weekend. I get to do taxes, clean my house, and catch up on life in general after being focused on the book for so long. I'm actually looking forward to all of it.