Watch out NYC...here I come!

This year is the SCBWI 13th Annual Winter's Conference in NYC! And since I joined the Lucky 13s blog and will be debuting in 2013 - I took that as a sign to attend. But what's equally exciting is that I will (finally) meet - in person - my fab agent, Sarah Davies and my awesome editor Emily Meehan while I'm there! Woo hoo!

But I'll also be in the Big Apple this weekend! A group of friends are taking their daughters to celebrate turning 13! Yes, another sign - I must go too! "But wait," you say, "you don't have a 13 yr old daughter. Or any daughter for that matter. All you talk about are those boys!"

I know - and that's the beauty of it. I'm going as the "Favorite Aunt!" I get all the fun of watching these girls experience New York, shopping with them, attending some shows (Wicked, Mama Mia and the Rockettes!) with them  - with none of the responsibility! The trips my hubby and sons plan consist of camping out in some remote wilderness place where war has to be waged against all the bugs and wildlife in order to get a decent night's sleep. But this is a trip with shopping - and other females. I can't resist.

If any of you have ever been - I'd love any recommendations: things to do, places to eat, anything that's a must for New York...

Lucky 13s, Geaux Saints and social media discoveries

It's been a busy week! First, and most exciting, I've joined The Lucky 13s blog! It's a blog for children's and young adult authors debuting in 2013. You should seriously check it out - the up-coming books all look fantastic over there! And there's a new post today - an interview with Leanna Renee Hieber, author of DARKER STILL: A NOVEL OF MAGIC MOST FOUL.

This past weekend, Hubby and I took our two oldest sons to New Orleans. It was a fantasy weekend for Louisiana sports lovers with LSU beating Bama and the Saints beating the Bucs. We watched the LSU game in a small restaurant/pub. I felt a little sorry for the lone table of Bama fans in the back corner. But the real reason for the trip was we had tickets for the Saints game. Needless to say, my kids were in heaven.

Look how great our seats were!! Six rows from the field!

Oldest son and middle son just before the game started

And for my social media discoveries - I'm starting to get the hang of it. For those of you that don't know me - I'm a little late to the game but making up for lost time. I'm now on twitter. It was a little overwhelming at first - my phone was making noises every few minutes but I've got an easy rhythm now. So come visit me - I'd love to hear from you.

I have news...

Every writer dreams of the day they will make THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

Well...brace yourself!

From Publisher's Marketplace:

Ashley Elston’s THE RULES FOR DISAPPEARING, about a girl who, desperate to escape the Witness Protection program and discover what really happened the day that ruined her family’s lives, breaks her minders’ ultimate rule by falling for a boy and embarking with him on a perilous journey to outwit both cops and criminals, to Emily Meehan at Disney-Hyperion Children’s, in a good deal, in a pre-empt, in a two-book deal, for publication in Winter 2013,by Sarah Davies at the Greenhouse Literary Agency (NA).

*squees, jumps  up and down and generally acts a little crazy*

This has been in the works for the last week and the hardest thing in the world to keep quiet about. Needless to say, there's been lots of celebrating, tears, more celebrating, more tears... you get the picture.

First, I'd think to thank my incredible, fabulous, super-agent Sarah Davies. From my first conversation with Sarah, even though it was probably a tad difficult to understand each other with her proper British accent and my slow southern drawl, I knew I was in good hands.

And many, many thanks to Emily Meehan at Disney-Hyperion Children’s. I’m thrilled RULES found a home with her. I’m so excited about working with Emily and the entire Disney-Hyperion group.

Also thanks to all my family and friends for all their support and encouragement. And thanks to the readers of this blog. This is a great community and I’m so happy to be a part of it.