The Brilliant Ones

Hey guys! There is always so much going on in the blogging world, but I wanted to share some great things happening with The Brilliant Ones (the name I coined for my crit buds). These girls are the coolest chicks on the web so head over to their blogs and check out what they're up to!

I can't even begin to express how much they mean to me. I can't deny I think I'm the luckiest girl on the planet to be a part of their lives. I know for a fact I wouldn't be still writing today if it wasn't for them.

And on a personal note, Angelina C. Hansen interviewed me here: Partner on the Path, Christina Farley. Please click and say hi!

Casey McCormick runs the famous blog, Literary Rambles, where her Agent Spotlight helps make the agent search less daunting.

Beth Revis has all the ins and outs listed on where to get autographed books from fantastic Indie Bookstores here.

Andrea Mack is a guru when it comes to middle grade fiction. She's got fantastic tips and if you're looking for a starting point on books to read, she's the one to check out.

Debbie Ridpath Ohi is not only a fantastic writer, but she creates cartoons that brighten up my day like Will Write for Chocolate (Hello? Could there ever be a better name?) You can even order cool writer gear from her site here.

Over at Author 2 Author, Kate Fall chats about Internet Time.

And Carmella Van Vleet shares great insights with the MiGs about her latest book here.

Oh and one more for you! I found the most awesomeness recipe, Chocolate Crumb Bars. Bake them and everyone will think you were sent from heaven. Try it!

My 20 Minute Trial

As you all may have remembered, I was having a hard time sitting my butt in the chair to write last winter (see here). It's been a roller coaster of a year with moving, getting back into full time teaching, taking classes and taking all of my teaching certificate tests again. (I had certificates in three states and smart me thought one of the them was still active. Still kicking myself for letting that expire.)

The mere thought of finishing my revisions and querying an agent who I thought might be right for me seemed daunting. So I just didn't.

But then spring came and I started to feel like I was treading water rather than sinking. So I thought, yeah I could do 20 minutes of writing a day. And let me tell you baby, it worked!

At first it really was only 20 minutes but as the days grew, I started finding my muse again, started finding time (I've learned to become very efficient), pulled out the caffeine and wrote, wrote, wrote.

Actually I started writing like a mad women.

And in two and a half weeks it will be SUMMER. This will be the first summer I've had in 10 years where I haven't had to travel, shop for a year, and see all the relatives. My summer plans? Write a book, or two. It's going to be great. No, it's going to be awesome.

I Can. Not. Wait.

Disney's Flower and Garden Festival

Hubby and I went on a date (squee!) the other evening to Epcot's Flower Festival. Every spring, Disney blows it out on floral and garden ideas at Epcot. We had fun taking pictures and smelling all of the lovely flowers and herbs along the way.

I love picking off the leaves of plants and smelling the different herbs. I think it's because I kill practically every plant that I buy. Currently I've got two plants still alive! (Brown but living) So seeing gardens like this totally blows my mind.

I've decided rosemary is my favorite.

There are 75 Disney character topiaries and 100 topiaries overall. It was fun finding them all. I was like this giddy little kid when I would find a new one (especially the Beauty and the Beast one, my fav movie). Hubby just laughed at me. 






Here are some of my favorite Disney character topiaries:

Rapunzel's Tower

100 Dalmatians

Sleeping Beauty



Hunger Games- The Movie

Have you seen this link? It has the cast for the Hunger Games. I'm so excited about this, I can't even handle it. Wish we all could go out and do movie night together to see it!

Winner of FURY!!!!!

Thanks again to Cindy Pon for stopping by and chatting here at Chocolate for Inspiration. And now for the winner of FURY...

(Drum roll)

Terry Lynn Johnson!!!!!

By the way, I had to put that picture up of Cindy, Lexi and myself. It's an old one, before her first book had come out, but still fun memories!