I've got a feeling this year's for me and you...

Happy New Year everyone!

I wish you lots of smiles and happiness for the year ahead.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas...

Happy Holidays everyone! I hope you have a wonderful time!

Above is the view from my sitting room window :)

A Little Update and Best of 2011

Hey Everyone!


I had every intention of posting more gift ideas and other Christmasy related stuff this month but got sidetracked with finishing Eighteen Kisses. It's now done and gone to copy edits! YAY! I'm so happy, I've been working on it all year and can't believe it's finally finished.  I'm looking forward to taking the next week off and doing some lounging over Christmas! I'm also planning on doing some cooking, although I can't guarantee that will go well. My Dad is a great cook, but I'm a bit hit and miss! I'm making my own pâté from scratch... I'll let you know how it goes. In the meantime, I thought I'd share with you my...


Favourites of 2011! 

T.V. Show: Modern Family

This show makes me so happy. It's just so hilarious, I definitely think it's the funniest show on t.v. at the moment. I love Cam. And Gloria!

Book:  Anna and the French Kiss

I know this came out last year but I only read it recently. It's amazing. I love Stephanie Perkins and I love her writing. It's been a while since I found an author that I'd pre-order/stay up all night reading/possibly start crying if I met them, but she has now been added to the list!

Song: Lego House by Ed Sheeran

'My three words have two meanings, there's one thing on my mind...' I love this line. 

Album: Let England Shake

I listened to this album a lot this year! I also saw PJ Harvey live at Electric Picnic in September. She was awesome.

Film: Crazy Stupid Love

This film is so much fun and I totally didn't see the ending coming! I possibly saw better films in 2011 but I was in a really happy mood the day I went to this and Ryan Gosling AND Emma Stone are in it so these things combined make it my favourite!

Stand out moment: 2011 had so many amazing book related moments! Holding the first copies of Angel Kiss, my book launch, the Puffin summer party, being reviewed in the Irish Times, meeting Philomena Lynott, Alex Barclay saying she liked my book, finishing Eighteen Kisses, that time Sarah Dessen replied to my tweet... they are endless! But I think the ultimate stand out moment for me was when I got up one morning to find an email in my inbox from a 12-year-old girl called Marina. She'd just finished reading Angel Kiss and liked it, and wanted to know if I was writing a sequel. This was the first such email I'd received from a person I didn't know or hadn't asked to review my book. Somebody I'd never met had picked up and read my book and liked it. For so long I'd wanted that to be possible. It was at that moment I realized - oh my gosh, I've finally done it.

Rewriting

"Half my life is an act of revision."  John Irving


A lovely reader, Emily, asked me to do a post on rewriting. As I've spent the past eight months rewriting Eighteen Kisses, she got me at the perfect time.  It's quite difficult to describe exactly how I rewrite, as it varies from book to book, chapter to chapter, but below is some insight into my rewriting process!


After I finish a first draft, I usually rewrite it at least twice before anybody sees it. There are a number of famous quotes about first drafts, some suggesting that they are all terrible, that they are all rubbish. I don't agree! Sure, I usually cringe at mine and don't show them to ANYBODY, but they are also the start of something amazing, are made up of great parts (and not-so-great parts), and often include pretty paragraphs and sentences that will stay in their original state right up to the finished product. They are beautiful in their own way and finishing one is something to be very proud of! But, obviously, they need lots of work.


I usually start by rereading the first draft a couple of times in order to get my head around the entire story.  When I was little I used to have this blow-up globe that was much bigger than me and, even though I tried, I couldn't get my hands to meet when I was holding it. My arms weren't long enough to reach around the whole way. When revising first drafts it often feels like I'm trying to get my head around the story, and it always reminds me of the globe! I need to reread it in order to understand the structure of it. I usually make big decisions about the plot and major changes happen in this second draft.  I delete a LOT, and also add much more. 


I then reread this  and make any minor adjustments. Then I leave it for at least four days to give my head a rest.  Then it's onto the third draft. For me, the third draft involves handwriting out the entire book, as I find it much easier to make improvements this way, even though I type all first drafts up on a computer.  Some people probably think handwriting out the entire thing is insane, but I found it helped a lot with Eighteen Kisses. I can only write on yellow paper with a certain type of pen... it's mildly scary.  


After the third draft is finished, it is sent to my editor, and renamed 'first draft', as it is the first one my editor will see. I am extremely lucky to work with AMAZING Puffin editors, who give incredible notes and help me turn my books into things I can be really proud of. With Eighteen Kisses there were about five different drafts, and it went through a lot of changes before it was ready.


I find rewriting in big bursts to be useful, so for example I'd prefer to work for 12 hours straight rather then 6 hours each day over two days, but I think it's different for everybody. I also find reading chapters aloud to be really good for spotting things that could be improved, and can often be found in my kitchen whispering words to myself at 4 a.m. I also put the final drafts on my eReader, I find mistakes easier to spot when the draft looks like pages of a book rather then a word document. 



If anybody has a specific question about rewriting, do leave it in the comments and I'll answer them after Christmas! I'd also love to hear about your rewriting experiences! 

Christmas Gifts for the YA Book Nerd

'Don't Forget to Be Awesome' Poster - DFTBA Records

Where's Fluffy t-shirt (from Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist) - Cafepress

The Hunger Games earrings - Amazon

Scrabble tile cufflinks - Sassysteampunk on Etsy

Pretty Little Liars: The Complete First Season - Amazon

Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd - Amazon

Jacob life-size cutout - AllPosters.com

Part 2 coming soon :)

I'm in Waterstone's this weekend!

Hi Everyone,


Just to let you know I'll be in Waterstone's Drogheda this Sunday 4th December at 1p.m. talking about writing, books and signing copies of Angel Kiss. Waterstone's Drogheda is one of my favourite Irish book stores, the staff are so knowledgeable and have been super supportive of Angel Kiss from the very beginning! They also have a great selection in their store, whenever I go in there I want EVERYTHING :)


From the Waterstone's Drogheda facebook page:


"We have a special event with author Laura Cassidy at 1 p.m. on Sunday 4th December. Laura will be giving a talk on writing, scrapbooking, and why you shouldn't cheat at table quizzes... definitely not to be missed. Free to attend, all welcome. We LOVE Laura's book Angel Kiss at Waterstone's Drogheda, and she will be signing copies on the day too."


Come say hi!*


*some blog readers have said that they saw me at an event but didn't introduce themselves because I looked busy... I'm never too busy for you guys! SO if you ever see me do say hello! :)

And the giveaway winner is...

Roisin - 'couturestar06'


Congratulations Roisin! 


Thanks to all those who entered! Stay tuned for more giveaways in the future :)