Laura Jane Cassidy

For the day that's in it...

2012-02-14T00:28:00.000Z

"I didn't need you, you idiot. I picked you. And then you picked me back." - John Green Paper Towns

Happy Valentine's Day!

Thoughts for a Thursday

2012-02-09T13:00:00.000Z

'Why spend your only life waiting to do what you know you can do?'

Lyrics from Josh Ritter's song 'Why' from his new six-song EP 'Bringing in the Darlings' which is out Feb 21! I can't wait for this, it'll feed by Josh Ritter obsession until his next album comes out!

Latest Writing Playlist

2012-01-31T21:48:00.008Z

It's been a while since I posted about music! I'm tragically behind on trends, I've no idea what people are listening to at the moment. Nevertheless, below is my latest writing playlist. I'm at the research and planning stages of my third book (one of my favourite parts of the book writing process) so I'm not doing my crazy thing of listening to songs on repeat, I just have a playlist on in the background. If anybody has any favourite songs at the moment, do share!

Lonely Boy - The Black Keys

I LOVE this song. I believe it was on the Vampire Diaries recently (I'm yet to watch that show but it looks like something I could get obsessed with).

Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye (feat. Kimbra)
I started listening to this again after seeing this.

L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N. - Noah and the Whale
I could listen to these all day.

The One That Got Away - Katy Perry (acoustic version)
I didn't realize Katy Perry is such a good singer live. Also, her hair is awesome.

Family - The Cast of Cheers
This song makes me want to dance.

Rolling in the Deep (cover) - Linkin Park
I love Adele, she can do no wrong. I really like this version too.

New York New York

2012-01-30T18:49:00.003Z

I'm going to New York at the end of February for one week. I'm so excited!

I was there once before with my family and it was so much fun. This time I'm going with my friend Claire.

I wanted to ask - do you have any recommendations of places to go/things to see there? (Especially places you might not find in your standard guidebook.) If so do leave them in the comments :)

Let's get Quizzical

2012-01-24T01:14:00.005Z

It's past midnight and I really ought to be asleep, but instead I'm awake pondering what questions might come up in next week's Children's Books Ireland Table Quiz. It's a table quiz with questions about children's books! *squee*

I LOVE table quizzes. Unfortunately it's difficult to keep them fair these days when so many people sneakily use their smart phones. But the ladies at Children's Books Ireland are professionals and I doubt they will take any such messing. Which is why I'm doubly excited. Last time our team (Team Sparkle) came fourth. A respectable position for first timers. But this year we mean business.

I believe this is the trophy we will be competing for:

*my precious*

My love affair with table quizzes started back in primary school when I was picked to be on the school table quiz team. I took this honour really seriously - I spent a lot of my time writing facts out on flashcards and memorizing them, watching shows like QI and forcing my family members to quiz me. When I left the golden years of primary school behind I didn't really keep up my collecting of trivia, and although I love table quizzes I'm not amazing at them or anything... BUT I do have very clever teammates.

I know it's the taking part that counts, and I suppose it doesn't really matter if we win or not, yada yada yada...

As long as we beat this guy:

One David Maybury - children's book blogger, Inis editor, reigning CBI table quiz champion and temporary arch nemesis.

I shall now return to my flashcards.

Imitating Life

2012-01-23T08:53:00.002Z

"So, are you gonna put me in your next book?"

I've been asked this more than once, mainly by people I've just met. I find it funny, but it also gets me thinking about how much my writing is affected by the people I meet and the things I do.

I wrote the first draft of Angel Kiss almost five years ago. I wrote most of Eighteen Kisses over the last twelve months, so naturally it feels much more raw. I'm actually amazed at how quickly something is going to go from my head to the shelves. Writing and rewriting Eighteen Kisses has given me a more immediate insight into how my life affects my writing. Like I've said before, I don't write about real people. But some characters are inspired by them; an encounter with someone might spark off an idea for a character. The character will probably evolve into something completely different and they will certainly become totally distinct from that person in my head. But I never forget where a character originated from. People close to me probably have theories about who inspired Nick in Angel Kiss, but I very much doubt that anybody would guess correctly. Mary Reynolds' character was inspired by a women who was in the same typing class as me when I was 17. Joe Clancy was inspired by an extremely friendly man who sold me my first car insurance. The village of Avarna is based on a place I visited when I was younger, and the interior of the Smyth's guesthouse is exactly like the one I stayed in with my family. Likewise, certain characters in Eighteen Kisses have been prompted by real people and some locations mentioned in it are places that I have been. Some places made their way into the book because I happened to visit them, some I would have gone to specifically because I wanted them to be in the book. So not only does my life affect my writing, but the things I write also have a big impact on my life.

With Eighteen Kisses there are certainly tiny pieces of me in there, things that my friends might recognize. But most of it is my imagination. I made up the entire mystery part of the plot and many of the characters are not based on anybody. In fact, some of my favourite ones where built completely from scratch and don't resemble anyone I know.

I think when I write a book it's sort of like a collage of my imagination and my life. It's like there's a stack of coloured paper that represents my creativity and another much smaller stack that represents my experiences. I cut the paper into pieces but only some of these pieces are used in the collage - and they are all jumbled together so that memories are mixed with fantasy and emotions are scattered beneath invention. As the book moves from draft to draft the collage is rearranged and changed, over and over again.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that my life does affect my writing and my writing also affects my life - in a beautiful, tangled messed up way. Oh and also: no, dude. I'm not gonna put you in my next book :)

January Happy Things

2012-01-17T04:41:00.004Z

Megan of Charade (one of my favourite ever blogs) is currently doing a 'Make Your Life Amazing' series where every day in January she posts fabulous advice on how to improve your life's awesomeness. Megan is so wise and her posts so inspirational, you should check it out!

This book is AWESOME. I've just finished it and I keep trying to put into words how awesome it is, but there are too many things to process and instead it has left me speechless with an actual physical ache is my chest made up of admiration and envy and joy. Read it!

image

Michelle Williams' performance in My Week with Marilyn and her sweet Golden Globes speech. Her award was so well deserved! I watched the Golden Globes on Monday night and got very excited because it means the Academy Awards are nearly upon us. I stay up to watch them every year and can't wait!

Has anything in particular made your January a little bit shinier? Do share! :)

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

2011-12-31T18:15:00.000Z

Happy New Year everyone!

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

Have yourself a merry little Christmas...

2011-12-24T14:25:00.000Z

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

2011-12-21T20:19:00.001Z

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

2011-12-21T20:03:00.002Z

"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

2011-12-02T18:01:00.002Z

'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!

2011-12-01T13:06:00.002Z

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...

2011-12-01T12:16:00.000Z

Roisin - 'couturestar06'

Congratulations Roisin!

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

Thoughts for a Thursday

2011-11-24T16:06:00.001Z

"I read for entertainment, and I write to entertain. Period." — Michael Chabon

A Little Update

2011-11-23T16:36:00.004Z

Hi Everyone!

I don't have much news to report as I'm still spending all of my time trying to get Eighteen Kisses up to scratch!

It was my birthday on Sunday though. I'm now 25! I spent Sunday writing, but on Monday evening I went out for Korean food in the Kimchi restaurant in Dublin. It was yum. One of the presents that my boyfriend got me was this awesome notebook! It is SO COOL. I love the pages! It's my new favourite! It's from chronicle books, which I hadn't heard of before, but their site looks fabulous.

I was super excited to see Angel Kiss in It's Christmas - the Irish Times Christmas gift and shopping guide today:

And don't forget, here's still time to enter my Christmas Giveaway, it closes on Dec 1st!

Eighteen Kisses Cover!

2011-11-07T19:33:00.004Z

Hi Everyone!

The Eighteen Kisses cover and blurb are appearing in various places around the interweb so I guess I can share them here now! Let me know what you think :) (I love it!)

Jacki King loves being back in Dublin - she's enjoying the music scene and interning at Electric magazine. She still has flashbacks to the murder case she solved the year before, though her friends, especially Nick, keep her distracted.

Until, one day, Jacki's frightening nightmares begin again. And when the police contact her about a local missing girl, she knows the two are connected.

Two years before, on her eighteenth birthday, Kayla Edwards disappeared.

No body has ever been found.

But now Kayla is communicating with Jacki from beyond the grave - and she won't stop until the truth is revealed . . .

Eighteen Kisses is available May 3rd, 2012!

You can add it to your Goodread's shelf now! :)

Call me Irresponsible.

2011-11-07T12:19:00.003Z

image

This month I turn 25.

The thought sort of fills me with panic. It's the kind of age where you're expected to act like a grown-up. 24 and under is considered 'young'. 25, as my brother pointed out to me, 'is half-way to 50.' Put it like this, if I were to suddenly develop a wonderful singing voice and go on X Factor next year, I would be in the OVERS category.

Lately there have been several signs that I'm not young anymore. The other day, I went into Paperchase and headed for the greeting card aisle, looking for a card for my friend. Did I buy him a 21st Birthday card? No. A Happy Graduation card? No. I bought him a frickin' Congratulations on your Engagement card.

Last month, I was giving a talk at a writing event and was describing how my main character is called Jacki and is 15 years old. I said 'I'm a bit older than that'. But then I suddenly realized, I'm not just a 'bit' older than Jacki, I'm a decade older than her!

And then the other day, I did the unthinkable... I bought a Michael Bublé album. I used to openly dislike him. He came to Dublin a few years ago, and I remember thinking how on earth could one of my friends publicly admit that she was going. He was so full of himself and ruined perfectly good songs. But I heard one of his older songs, 'Everything', on the radio a while back and to my surprise I really liked it. So I went home and looked up the video on Youtube. I figured there was no harm in liking just one song. I had it on repeat in the background while I was writing, and at one stage I was daydreaming and looked at the screen and thought.... hey, he's kind of hot. The next thing I knew I was watching 'An Audience with Michael Bublé.' I then bought one of his albums. Guys, I'm only a few steps away from buying this:

Somebody save me! I think I need to go listen to some Taylor Swift and read some John Green. At least I have 12 glorious days of 24-dom left.

Christmas Giveaway!

2011-11-04T10:34:00.002Z

*Giveaway now closed. Thanks!*

Hi Everybody!

I'm having a Christmas Giveaway to thank all my lovely blog readers for their comments and support over the last year!

The Giveaway includes lots of pretty stuff and guess what? They are all things that are mentioned in Angel Kiss!

It includes:
A Purple Paperchase Notebook (like the one Jacki writes her lyrics in).
A Hello Kitty purse (like the ones David brought back from Japan).
Two albums - Thin Lizzy's Greatest Hits and Paramore's Brand New Eyes (two of Jacki's favourite bands).
Black Bow Hair Clips (from Forever 21, like the one Emily wears).
Crochet Cupcake Decorations (the cupcakes in Angel Kiss are real, but I figured they'd get squished in the post... and these double as Christmas decorations! They're also from Paperchase.)
Some Like it Hot DVD (Jacki's Mum's fave movie).
And... a Sparkly Pink Reindeer! (not mentioned in Angel Kiss, but it's tradition!)
Also included in the giveaway is a signed copy of Angel Kiss, a limited edition Angel Kiss bookmark (also signed!) and a personalized Christmas card from moi!

And it all comes in a cute Christmas gift bag! (also from Paperchase... yes, I'm addicted).

To enter you simply have to:
1) Be a follower of this blog. New followers are welcome! (click 'join this site' in the right hand column. You can follow the blog using your twitter account.)
2) Leave a comment on this post telling me your favourite Christmas song - Jacki's is Fairytale of New York!
3) Include your email address in the comment. If you don't want your email address shown, simply leave it out of your comment and instead email it to laurajanecass@gmail.com

For an extra entry, you can also follow me on Twitter

*The Giveaway is open to followers Worldwide!*
If you're under 16, make sure it's okay with a parent/guardian before you enter :)
Closing date is December 1st (so that whoever wins will (hopefully) get the parcel before Christmas Day!)
A winner will be randomly selected and announced on December 1st. Your musical taste will in no way affect your chances :)

Best of luck! :)

*Giveaway now closed. Thanks!*

Thoughts for a Thursday

2011-10-27T12:56:00.001+01:00

"A politician thinks of the next election; a statesman thinks of the next generation."
- James Freeman Clarke

Today is polling day for the Irish Presidential Election. If you're eligible to vote, please do so and have your say! I'll be voting for Senator David Norris :)

Come have tea with me!

2011-10-22T16:55:00.003+01:00

Hey Everyone!

I'll be in Drogheda in Co. Louth next Wednesday October 26th as special guest at The Author's Tea Party, a monthly event run by Saltwater Scribblers in the Droichead Arts Centre.

It starts at 7.30 p.m. and is free! All are welcome!

From the facebook event page:
Saltwater Scribblers present The Author's Tea Party; a celebration of reading, writing and books with special guest Laura Jane Cassidy, author of Angel Kiss. All are welcome to this free event and it may be of particular interest to teens or those who wish to write for young people. Laura will be discussing her journey from idea to finished book as well as reading from her book and signing copies on the night.

This will be the first in a new series of special events. The Author's Tea Party will be held at The Droichead Arts Centre on the last Wednesday of every month and will feature different writers and guest speakers each month.

More info here

I've heard there will be cucumber sandwiches... how very Importance of Being Earnest! I'm super excited! Hope to see some of you there!

Thoughts for a Thursday

2011-10-06T14:38:00.000+01:00

“What separates us from the animals, what separates us from the chaos, is our ability to mourn people we’ve never met.”

― David Levithan

Coveted Cover

2011-09-25T19:17:00.000+01:00

Bookmarks to give away!

2011-09-16T12:53:00.003+01:00

I have limited edition Angel Kiss bookmarks to give away, designed by the wonderful Elizabeth Maybury. Each bookmark has a picture of Jacki on the front, the Angel Kiss cover on the back and they are all individually signed by me with black and red Sharpies :)

If you entered my reader giveaway a while back, you automatically get a bookmark (if you haven't received an email from me, remind me at laurajanecass@gmail.com), but I also have TWENTY more bookmarks to give away to the first 20 people who post a link to their Angel Kiss review in the comments below. The review can be on Amazon/Goodreads/your own blog/any other site you can think of. It can be an old review or one you've just written right this minute.

Remember to include your email address in the comments, or alternatively send it to laurajanecass@gmail.com
If you're under 16 do make sure you check with a parent/guardian that it's okay to enter!
This bookmark giveaway is open to readers worldwide!

A Little Update

2011-09-12T21:17:00.011+01:00

Hey Everybody! I'm back!

As well as finishing off 18 Kisses (I just have to complete final edits, then it's done!) some really cool things happened this month:

my dad, me and philomena

1. I got to meet Philomena Lynott, whose book My Boy is a number one bestseller. It's about her life as the mother of rock star Philip Lynott and it's great! This year is the 25th anniversary of Philip's death, so the book has been reissued with new material. I highly recommend it! Because Phil Lynott is Jacki's favourite musician, I decided to give Philomena a copy of Angel Kiss. I was really nervous in the signing queue and wasn't sure whether to hand it to her or not, but I thought she'd like the idea so I finally decided to do it. Not only did Philomena read Angel Kiss (in one night!) she rang me to tell me how much she'd enjoyed it, and how she'd fallen in love with Nick. She also said some really nice things to me that I will just never forget. I can't even explain how much her phone call meant to me, it was one of the best things ever.

my friends and i at electric picnic

eating chips

2. I went to the Electric Picnic music festival and got to read at the literary tent. I had great fun walking around wearing my 'performer' pass and pretending I was in a band :) Musical highlights for me included PJ Harvey, The Mighty Stef and Sound of Rum.

the dining hall at the monster book lunch

3. I took part in the Mountains to Sea Monster Book Lunch, which was just amazing. It was a literary lunch with an author at each table, and there were loads of kids and teens there. I got to meet some readers of Angel Kiss and also people who I'd known online for ages (Hi Amy Rose!). They were just as nice in real life which was awesome. Because it was the 'Monster' book lunch, each writer had to talk for three minutes about their favourite monster from a book. I picked Jacob from Twilight (he puts the Mmm in monster) and because I felt it hard to condense my extreme Jacob love into three minutes, I decided to write him a poem for the occasion. I've pasted it below, in case anybody wants to read it :) If you're expecting serious poetry, look away now...

Oh Jacob, you're so dreamy
Especially since you cut your hair,
I can't believe that Bella acts
Like you're not even there.

You are super hot
And sometimes furry too,
There's nowhere I would rather be
Than there in Forks with you.

You don't wear shirts that often
But some people just don't see,
That because of your high body temperature
It's kind of a *necessity*

You can run very fast
You're strong and can save lives.
And also, you don't sparkle
At inappropriate times.

So forget about that Bella Swan
And her daughter too...
Imprint on me Jakey
'Cause I'm the one for you.

Final Draft Fun.

2011-08-22T17:39:00.007+01:00

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Hey guys, so I'm *almost* finished the final draft of 18 Kisses. I left Dublin and went home to Naas for a month to stay with my parents and brother while I was completing it. My Mam's on holidays from work and thus is spoiling me rotten by cooking me dinners and listening to my final draft dramatics.

Being deprived of sleep and eating too much sugar and revising thousands of words a day can do strange things to a person. I thought I'd share some of the exchanges that have gone on around here in the past month, before I forget them!

I will talk to you all on Wednesday when I WILL BE FINISHED!! :)

My Dad (as we're driving up to Dublin): Could you not have done this last week?
Me: No, I have to observe Grafton Street at 10.15 a.m. on a non-bank holiday Sunday morning.
Dad: Right so.

Liam (on seeing all the empty packets on my desk): So, are jelly tots like your cocaine or something?
Me: ...yes.

Mam: Do you want me to get you more jelly tots or have you enough?
Me: More jelly tots!

Me: Liam, give me the name of a cool band!
Liam: You really need to start paying me for this...

My Mam and I on a research venture, standing on a farm gate, looking out into a field -
Me (very loudly): Could you bury the body there?
Mam: Yeah, definitely. That'd be the perfect place for it.
Me: Is it not too obvious?
Mam: Ah no, nobody would find it there.
Me: ... I really hope nobody's listening to us.

Me: Something smells.
Liam: It's you.

Mam: Are you okay, Laura?
Me: My keyboard is only typing symbols. I need to use my desktop.
Mam: Are you going to try fix the laptop?
Me: No, that's what it wants.

(at various times throughout the past week)
Dad: Are you okay? You look pale.
Mam: You look very pale.
My Godmother: Gosh, you look terrible.
Liam: You look like death.

Me: No sleep till 60k! *fist punch*

Mam (on hearing the fake crying coming from my writing room): Why are you crying, Laura?
Me: Because of all the words.

Vampire or Werewolf?

2011-08-16T13:15:00.002+01:00

image

A few weeks ago, myself and two friends were sitting outside, enjoying the sunshine. After we'd discussed more important things, the conversation naturally turned to boys.

"I don't know if I like him anymore... I think he's too much of a vampire."
"Yeah, he totally is. You don't want a vampire, you want a werewolf."
"Definitely. I need a werewolf."

My friend and I carried on this conversation for a few more minutes, while our other friend looked at us like we were insane.
"Hold on..." she said. "Do you guys... divide men into two groups? Vampires and Werewolves?"
"Yes..."
*a few seconds of awkward silence*
"That's genius," she said. "It's SO true."

The theory came to us after we'd watched Twilight on DVD a few times. Now, I LOVE Twilight, but I'm not a big Edward fan, I totally prefer Jacob. We gradually started to notice similarities between Edward and some of the boys we'd come in contact with, and hence labelled them vampires. Now, if you're on Team Edward, like some of our other friends are, you might actually want a vampire. But we are on Team Jacob, so we want werewolves.

Vampires are guys who:
Over-analyse things (they make a giant deal out of little things, and talk about these things for hours.)
Do things that are annoying/crazy, then try to say that you are the cause of their behaviour (like when Edward leaves Bella alone for months, and tells her he only did it because he loves her. Whatever, Edward!)
Are over emotional to the point where it gets annoying.
Get possessive and seem to take a major disliking to your other male friends.
Sparkle at inappropriate times.
etc.

Werewolves are guys who:
Are much less draining than vampires.
Say what they mean, and do not play mind games.
Don't make a big deal out of little things.
Don't feel threatened by your friends.
Don't wear shirts very often.
etc.

But beware, because as well as your obvious vampires and werewolves, you will also find vampires masquerading as werewolves. They will appear laid back and cool and totally not crazy, until you get to know them, when you'll find out that they are in fact more Edward than Jacob.

Take for example Rory's boyfriends from the awesome T.V. show The Gilmore Girls. Dean would be your typical vampire. Jess would be your typical werewolf. And Logan would be your typical vampire disguised as werewolf ("If you don't agree to marry me, I'm going to break up with you" is a line straight out of the Edward Cullen Guide to Dating.)

So, in my group of friends, the whole vampire/werewolf thing has kinda stuck. Do you subscribe to the theory?! :)

Thoughts for a Thursday

2011-08-04T21:20:00.000+01:00

"You can love someone so much...But you can never love people as much as you can miss them."

— John Green

Off I go, again!

2011-08-03T00:40:00.002+01:00

Hey peeps, I'm taking another Internet break, this time to finish off the final draft of my second book (exciting!). I find it useful around deadlines to turn off my Internet and phone and basically detach myself from civilization, so I shall talk to you all in two weeks' time! Hope you're enjoying your summer so far :)

Mr. President?

2011-08-01T23:35:00.027+01:00

I’ve been a fan of Senator David Norris since I was a teen. My Mum used to record programmes for me when he was on television, my Dad would ring me if he was on the radio and I'd even cut out and keep some of his interviews from newspapers. I rarely talk about current affairs or politics here (I find teenage fiction way more interesting...), but since I listed Senator David Norris as one of my heroes in my biography on this website, I thought I’d share my thoughts on him.

For my non-Irish readers, Senator David Norris is a civil rights campaigner, Joycean scholar and was Ireland’s first openly gay politician. In 1988 he took a case against the State, which led to the decriminalization of homosexuality in Ireland. He is currently seeking a nomination for the 2011 Irish Presidential election. I would love him to be Ireland’s next President. Over the past few months he has topped several opinion polls but his campaign has also suffered knock backs, and it’s still not certain if he’ll secure a nomination.

Leading candidates often get the hardest time, but I think some media outlets have been particularly harsh on Norris - dodgy poll questions, overly dramatic headlines, things being dug up from years ago that had either already been explained or are certainly not shocking enough to deny him a nomination. I suppose this kind of thing is to be expected in any election and I don't think any of it has that much of an effect on his supporters. I can understand why some people would be concerned, especially the way in which certain things were unveiled, but I didn't read anything that would change my opinion of the Senator. It seems that the real difficulty David faces is actually securing a nomination to allow him to run for President. I think if he does so, then he'll find he still has a huge amount of support from the Irish people.

The role of President of Ireland is mainly a figurehead position (the real power lies with our Taoiseach), but considering this I think it’s even more important to have someone like Norris in the position. Some people feel he’d be wasted in a figurehead role, but on the contrary I think he would be fabulous. Having somebody outspoken and super intelligent and enthusiastic representing our country is exactly what we need right now. We need a boost, and electing David Norris as President would give us that.

I’ve also heard some people say that David is too radical and we need a less outspoken person representing us internationally. I think what Ireland needs right now is to be the life and soul of the party, not the guy sitting in the corner looking grumpy.

A few years ago I was on a date, and was asked the question, 'What person, dead or alive, would you most like to have dinner with?'

‘David Norris!’ I said excitedly, without a second’s hesitation.

‘Why do so many people love him?’ said my date with a sigh. He probably soon regretted asking, as I’m sure I prattled on for ages. But the list of reasons why people love David Norris is vast. He’s intelligent, he’s witty, he’s enthusiastic, he has campaigned and continues to campaign tirelessly for human rights, he’s stylish, he is charismatic and he answers every question with honesty (avoiding the art of skirting around the issue that so many politicians have perfected). On that same date, I said if Senator David Norris ran for president, it would make my year. That probably makes me sound rather boring, but I wasn’t exaggerating. I’ll admit I’m not the most informed person when it comes to Irish politics. I enjoy researching topics before I vote on anything, but in general when a lot of politicians speak I find myself zoning out. But when Senator David Norris speaks, he has people in the palm of his hand. He makes me laugh and gives me hope and he just seems to always talk sense.

While I don’t think it should be the focus, I do think that having an openly gay President would be pretty amazing. I think it would be an absolute triumph for David Norris to be first citizen of a country where less than 20 years ago it was a crime to be gay. Above all, what David Norris stands for is equal rights. Maybe I’m naive but I think his election would help the fight for marriage equality. For a start, the fact that same sex couples can’t marry in this country would go from being discriminatory and unfair, to also downright embarrassing.

I hope David Norris gets a nomination and I hope he becomes president. Ultimately, I think it would lift the spirits of the nation. Obama visited us earlier this year, with his rock star persona and infectious enthusiasm and inspiring words. And although he gave us a boost, it wore off. We have our own political rock star, and I think he should be living in the Áras.

But regardless of whether Senator David Norris secures a nomination or not, he'll always remain a hero of mine.

*update August 2nd* Senator David Norris has ended his presidential campaign, after it became clear that he would be unable to get enough support from government members to secure a nomination. A missed opportunity for Ireland, I think. But as the Senator said himself in the speech he made today, quoting Samuel Beckett: 'Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.'

*update September* Due to enormous public support David decided to re-enter the race and has successfully secured a nomination! Woo! Vote Norris Number 1 :)

Thoughts for a Thursday

2011-07-28T21:46:00.000+01:00

“Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” - Roald Dahl

Novel Writing Workshop!

2011-07-22T14:34:00.002+01:00

In more event news, if anybody fancies a trip to Kildare next weekend, there is a fantabulous festival taking place - The Secret Garden Festival run by the very popular storytelling collective Milk and Cookie Stories. The Milk and Cookie storytelling nights in Templebar are always super fun and packed with people - sometimes they have to turn people away because it's full to capacity. They're that good! Last year I became a member of Milk and Cookies, and even worked up the courage to tell a story at their storytelling night. It was one of the most fun experiences of my life.

Anywho, Milk and Cookies have decided to go one step further and host their very own outdoor festival with camping, in the breathtaking surroundings of Martinstown House. It's taking place Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st July. Some of the things you can expect:

There will be storytelling and marshmallows around bonfires, music played beneath the apple trees and workshops of all kinds (novel-writing, balloon-making, swordfighting, Street Fighter, burlesque, yoga)! We will host our very own Royal Punble (a battle of puns that will push even the keenest minds to their limit). There will be games (croquet, horseshoes, swingball) and a dance-off (maybe Céilidh, maybe breakdancing). And for those adventurous souls who remember to bring their wits and a change of clothes – plans are underway to create the most epic waterfight the world (Kildare) has ever seen. It'll be like Halo with waterguns.

I will be at the festival on Saturday 30th July, teaching a Novel Writing Workshop. Do you want to learn how to finish your novel, improve it, or even just get started? I'll be imparting all the tips I've discovered over the last four years, top secret information you won't find anywhere else :)

Come along and say hi!

Festival membership is only €32 for the whole weekend (yup, that's not a typo.)

For more info or to book your ticket, go here.

Find The Secret Garden Festival on Facebook

Let's do lunch!

2011-07-22T13:04:00.003+01:00

image

Are you a kid or a teenager? Would you like to have lunch with Cathy Cassidy, Sarah Webb, Judi Curtin, Claire Hennessy, Denise Deegan, Anna Carey, ME, and lots of other fabulous writers? Well you can! Come to the Monster Book Lunch in Dun Laoghaire as part of the Mountains to Sea Book Festival. There will be a different writer at every table! It's on Saturday September 10th and is suitable for ages 9+ (early booking is advisable to avoid disappointment.)

In other exciting Mountains to Sea news, there is also a Family Book Quiz on Sunday September 11th with Quizmasters Judi Curtin and David Maybury.
I LOVE table quizzes, so am seriously excited about this. I love them so much that I put one in Angel Kiss, and also declared my love for them in my author bio... slightly obsessed. Myself and my writer buddies Claire Hennessy and Eimear Ryan will be on a team, come witness our scary competitiveness in action!
Tables are 10 euro and you can book here.

I would love to see some of you at Mountains to Sea! As well as the quiz and lunch there are also tonnes of other brilliant events happening for children and teens, and adults too. Writers appearing at the festival include superstars Darren Shan, Derek Landy, Roddy Doyle, Eoin Colfer, Patrick Ness and Meg Rosoff.

September is going to be seriously fun.

It's all over now

2011-07-15T17:26:00.002+01:00

I'm sitting in my house in Dublin, wearing my Hogwarts badge, about to go see Deathly Hallows Part 2 for the second time. I unexpectedly got a ticket to a press screening the other day and considered waiting, but I just couldn't turn it down. Tonight I'm going to see it with my best friends. When I think about how long we've been going to see Harry Potter movies together it makes me feel very old indeed. I won't say much about the movie, because I don't want to ruin it in any way for those of you who haven't seen it. But I will say that I thought it was amazing. I'm feeling a strange mix of excitement and sadness at the moment. I think a post I wrote last year before going to see Part 1 really sums up what I feel for the series, so I'll leave you with that:

The Harry Potter series has been such a huge part of my life so far, my friends and I literally grew up with it. I remember being eleven, finishing the The Philosopher's Stone in one day and dragging my Mum out to buy the next one. I remember the wait for The Order of the Phoenix being almost unbearable. I remember scrolling through the cast photos online, and feeling crazily jealous of Emma Watson. I remember being sixteen and not afraid to dress up in a wizard costume. I remember texting my friend Anthea and asking her what page she was on. I remember going to the cinema to see The Goblet of Fire and everybody whispering 'oh, cool!' when the guy in the Gryffindor scarf walked up the aisle. I remember reading continuously for twenty hours, eating a cheese sandwich with one hand and turning pages with the other. I remember thinking J.K. Rowling is my hero. I remember being so excited for Deathly Hallows, but also devastated because this meant it was all over. I remember thinking please don't kill off Ron. I remember watching little kids walking out of the bookshop at midnight, their heads down, already on the fifth page. I remember thinking this is insane. I remember thinking this is amazingly, incredibly magical.

Enjoy Deathly Hallows everyone!

18 Kisses Playlist

2011-07-14T17:00:00.006+01:00

pictures of you - the cure

sparks fly - taylor swift

nothing left to lose - the pretty reckless

don't believe a word - thin lizzy

emily's heart - jamie t

just like heaven - the cure

keep running - gemma hayes

hound dogs of love - the mighty stef

the sweetest thing - camera obscura

young americans - david bowie

take a bow - lea michele

floating - jape

lantern - josh ritter

you don't make it easy babe - josh ritter

i got love - the king blues

safe words - band on an island

beast of burden - the rolling stones

old town - phil lynott

I'm getting my rewrites in the post tomorrow and I have a month to do them, so I won't be doing much else other than writing and writing and writing for a while. Above is the playlist of songs I listened to on repeat when writing the first draft of 18 Kisses. Let me know if you have any musical recommendations, as you can see I have a varied taste :) The notebook is new and is from Paperchase, it has glitter AND a button, so obviously I had to get it.

"I said remember this moment, in the back of my mind."

2011-07-13T11:46:00.005+01:00

The Banqueting House

my Puffin Party goodie bag

A few months ago a pink envelope arrived in my postbox. I opened it up and found an invitation to the Puffin Summer Party. To say I was excited is an understatement, but not even I could have imagined how truly awesome the Puffin party would be. I recently flew over to London, and with my map in my hand I set off to find the party. I was looking for the Banqueting House and spotted two ladies carrying Puffin invitations, so decided to follow them. Turns out it was pretty easy to find, because it is massive! It was part of the Palace of Whitehall, which was the main residence of the English monarchs in London until all but the Banqueting House was destroyed by fire in 1622.

There were two big Puffin posters at the entrance, and I saw a flash and discovered that somebody was taking everybody's photo as they went in (here’s hoping I didn’t look too surprised in mine!). I left my jacket in the cloakroom and picked up my name badge, then spotted my editor coming in. We went upstairs and walked into one of the most impressive rooms I've ever seen. There were really huge chandeliers hanging from the beautiful painted ceiling and a red velvet throne up at the top of the room. There was a bar in the middle, with backlit pink Puffins around it! And everybody was so stylish! Lots of quirky jackets and primary colours and chunky plastic jewellery. I have seriously never been in a room with so many cool clothes.

There were so many people I admire there. I got to meet Meg Rosoff and Julia Donaldson and Sarwat Chadda and Phil Earle and loads more! I also spotted Lauren Child and Melvin Burgess. And of course the fabulous Puffin UK team, who are all so amazing.

When we were leaving, everybody got to pick a classic Puffin book to take home. They all had beautiful covers, and it was so hard to choose, but I eventually picked Call of the Wild because I loved that book when I was younger.

Whenever I’m moaning about having to rewrite something for the 7^th time or upset because I got a not so great review, I’m going to remember the feeling I got when I walked into the Banqueting House that night. My books are set in reality, but I kind of write a more heightened version, where everybody is stylish and all the places are cool and things are just… shinier. For the first time ever I felt like I was stepping inside one of my books, except this party was better than anything I could have dreamt up. I felt completely honoured to be there, to be invited to something where so many inspirational people were gathered. Back when I was younger and reading Matilda for the 56^th time or pre-ordering the new Artemis Fowl, I never thought I’d be at a Puffin party. It’s a night I’m going to remember forever!

Thoughts for a Thursday

2011-07-07T19:42:00.002+01:00

"...you put everything into your first love, because you really believe it's going to last forever. That is its triumph and its tragedy, the reason you will never forget it, and the reason it is so difficult to let go."

For this edition of Thoughts for a Thursday I thought I'd share with you my own favourite line from Angel Kiss.

Pictures of You

2011-07-07T19:08:00.004+01:00

As I mentioned last week, I'm now finished the first draft of 18 Kisses! I'm meeting with my editor next week to discuss the rewrites, but at the moment I'm catching up on all the other stuff I was avoiding during first draft madness, and thinking about book 3! (which is as of yet untitled.) I thought I'd show you some pages from my 18 Kisses scrapbook! In my scrapbooks I have photos that relate to the characters or the settings and also random things that inspire me or which sparked a particular idea. I also tape in passages from other books that I particularly enjoy! I can't give too much away about 18 Kisses, but you might get a feel for the story from my scrapbook pages :)

Quotes from Looking for Alaska by John Green.

In the pink notebook are my chapter notes, but unfortunately I can't show you those, they contain WAY too many spoilers :)

Angel Kiss First Chapter

2011-07-01T18:20:00.000+01:00

Thank you so much to everybody who has bought Angel Kiss or borrowed it from the library so far! Below is the first chapter, if you'd like to read it! Let me know what you think. :)

A Little Update...

2011-06-23T22:11:00.005+01:00

I have sent in the first draft of 18 Kisses to my editor! I actually can't wait to do the rewrites, because I really, really like writing this book! It took me a while to get my head around it, I wrote about 4 drafts until I was happy with how the story went, but I'm super excited now.

I am also super excited about the Puffin Summer Party, which I'm going to next week in London! My invitation came in a pink envelope, just one of the many reasons why I ♥ Puffin. I'm super excited about it, especially as I'll get to meet the Puffin UK team. I've spoken with some of the team through email and twitter but have never actually met them. My friend and I decided we'd go over to London for a few days, to catch a musical and do some sight-seeing and what not! I'm so looking forward to it.

In other news, I'm currently:

Listening to: Let it Break - Gemma Hayes
I really like this album, especially the track called 'Shock to my System.' You may recognise her tunes as they appeared in T.V. shows such as Pretty Little Liars and The Vampire Diaries.

Watching: The O.C.
I have rediscovered my love for this show (first and second season are awesome) and have also rediscovered my obsession with Seth Cohen. He's just so CUTE.

Reading: Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall. I'm late to the party, as she's already a mega super-star, but if you haven't read it then you must! It's like Mean Girls with a dash of supernatural, really realistic characters and wonderfully written. It is SO good. I am rushing out to buy Delirium right this second.

I missed you blog buddies! Now that I'm out of first draft seclusion I will be on here way more. I also really want to improve my time management skills... which is probably easier said than done, but I'm definitely gonna give it a try.

I hope you are all doing fabulously :)

Nearly There...

2011-05-30T00:09:00.000+01:00

The deadline for the first draft of 18 Kisses is fast approaching... Therefore I won't be on the Internetz again until June 10th. (If you see me on Twitter feel free to smack me.)
I will be camped out in my room wearing my giant hoodie, drinking tea, typing frantically, talking to myself and occasionally screaming at my printer.

In the meantime you can:

Review Angel Kiss for the chance to win a signed canvas print of the cover!
Add Angel Kiss to your Goodreads shelf.
Or, ya know, Buy It (available in all good bookshops).

Yes We Can.

2011-05-24T02:54:00.013+01:00

The sun was shining when I joined the queue today at Dublin Castle at 12.30 p.m. Not very many of my friends wanted to go to the Obama rally, and those who did had to work. I felt a tad lonerish at the prospect of standing by myself for 7 hours, but I was not going to miss this.

I've been an Obama fan for a while. I was on holiday in New York when he was running for the Democratic nomination, and I remember wishing he would win, but at the same time not wanting to get my hopes up. Like lots of other people I stayed up all night for the 2008 election, watching the results and crossing my fingers, praying that it would happen. I remember crying when the result was announced - tears of relief and absolute happiness. I remember the joy and hope that vibrated through the entire world that night. So I really wanted to hear, and maybe even catch a glimpse of, the man who made that happen.

The atmosphere in the queue was electric. People of all different ages and nationalities chanted "O-BA-MA", excitement radiating from their slightly sun burnt faces. Along with the sun came heavy rain, and up went thousands of hoods and umbrellas, but I heard nobody complain. People wore Obama jumpers and hats and had American flags painted on their cheeks. They chatted with strangers and took pictures and counted down the minutes until the barriers would open.

4 hours after I joined the queue, the Secret Service searched my handbag, and then I was in! I walked quickly, trying to get as close to the stage as I could. Our most talented broadcasters and movie stars welcomed on to the stage some of our most famous musicians. Then the wait was over, and our Taoiseach did the country proud with his enthusiastic introduction of the President of the United States.

The cheer that erupted from the crowd when Barack and Michelle Obama came onstage was just amazing. Obama's speech was incredibly inspiring - the crowd were crying and clapping and cheering and there were thousands and thousands of people there, but for the majority of his speech you could hear nothing apart from the wind and his voice as it boomed through the speakers. It was particularly magical when he said his most famous phrase in Irish - "Is féidir linn."

I was actually not too far away from the stage, but I'm pretty short so I couldn't see him as he spoke. I tried jumping up a few times, but mostly just watched on the big screen behind me. When the speech was over some people who'd been at the barrier moved away, so I was able to make my way up. I shuffled up as far as I could and stood on my tippy toes, managing to find a gap to look through. But I still couldn't see him. I decided if I stayed standing there long enough then maybe I would. I was content with having heard him speak, having felt the power of those cheers, but wouldn't it be so cool to see him? Five minutes passed, then ten, then fifteen. I stayed in the same spot, looking through the same gap. And then I saw them - Barack and Michelle Obama, walking and waving in our direction, looking amazingly cool and inspiring. I cheered along with all the people around me. I couldn't believe it - I was a few metres away from Obama, I got to see him in the flesh! He is so great. He has everything - the intelligence and the passion and the rock star persona (he talked on someone's mobile phone!) I watched as he gave one final wave and left, then I smiled and turned around and headed home. It was so amazing to feel part of such an historic event.

I'm sitting here now at my computer, still smiling. I can't sleep because I'm still so excited.

I think Obama's visit couldn't have come at a better time. Ireland has gone through a pretty tough few years. We're generally positive people but sometimes it's difficult to be positive, especially when you're suddenly trying to scrape together enough money to pay your mortgage. It's not easy to tell people to brighten up when they've been out of work for a year, when their friends have no choice but to emigrate, when they watch people who contributed largely to this mess walking away unscathed. But this week we've been reminded of all the things we worked so hard to overcome, and we've been reminded of the fact that we will overcome this recession too. As I walked home tonight I really felt like I was walking through a happier and more hopeful Dublin - a happier and more hopeful nation.

So, here are some things I learned today:
Stay positive, especially when times are tough.
Our country has overcome some big obstacles, and we are more than capable of overcoming this.
The best is yet to come.

Oh, and don't be reluctant to go to something, just 'cause you have to go to it by yourself.

Here's a link to President Obama's speech in Dublin, if you'd like to listen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngwyKsUg9Ms

Puffin Ireland Launch

2011-05-19T17:44:00.000+01:00

The official launch of Puffin Ireland takes place next Wednesday 25th May in Eason, O'Connell Street in Dublin at 6.30 p.m.

Come meet the first batch of Puffin Ireland authors - Judi Curtin, Mark O'Sullivan and ME! :)

All Welcome!

Thoughts for a Thursday

2011-05-19T02:14:00.000+01:00

I spotted this graffiti near my house the other day :)

Fangirl

2011-05-18T00:25:00.001+01:00

image source

Summer is getting ever so closer which means it's almost... Book Festival Season! I'm taking part in a few myself, like The West Cork Literary Festival, but mostly I will be hanging out at the likes of Dublin Writers Festival, stalking my favourite authors. When I was younger, meeting authors I liked wasn't really something that occurred to me, but these days there are lots of opportunities for readers to meet their favourites. I have a list of writers I'd love to meet, and have already ticked some off the list, including:

John Green
Alex Barclay
Claire Hennessy (with Claire I was lucky enough to make the transition from crazed fan to friend).
Derek Landy

Encounters with my favourite authors are not always seamless, for instance I met Derek at a book launch last year, and the conversation went something like this:
Sarah Webb: "Derek, this is Laura. She writes teenage fiction and has a book out with Puffin next year."
Derek: "Hi Laura."
Laura: "...I read your blog every day."

Nevertheless I hope to someday make awkward fangirl conversations with the following:
Sarah Dessen (love her!)
Jenny Valentine (Finding Violet Park = Amazing).
Eoin Colfer (if I got to talk to him I'd probably burst with excitement).
David Levithan (can't get much more awesome than David).
Neil Gaiman (so clever, so talented).
J.K. Rowling (this might just be too much for me to handle).

I'm eagerly awaiting the announcement of the Edinburgh Book Festival programme next month, I'm so tempted to go back there again this year, it was sooo good last summer.

Are there any authors you'd love to meet?

Who Says?

2011-05-17T00:48:00.000+01:00

image source

"Who says you're not star potential?
Who says you're not presidential?
Who says you can't be in movies?
Listen to me, listen to me.
Who says you don't pass the test?
Who says you can't be the best?"

Selena Gomez and the Scene - Who Says

Stay Positive :)

Kildare Readers Festival Tomorrow!

2011-05-13T22:12:00.002+01:00

Hi Everyone,

I'll be in Eason's Bookshop in the Whitewater Shopping Centre, Newbridge, Co. Kildare tomorrow from 3.30 p.m. reading from Angel Kiss and signing copies, as part of the Kildare Readers Festival!

If you're in the area do drop by and say hi!

Recent Purchases

2011-05-13T21:32:00.005+01:00

Books

One Day by David Nicholls - Amazing book. I wasn't crazy about the ending... but if it had finished where I wanted it to, it probably wouldn't work as well. I must have been one of the last people on the planet to read it, if you haven't, then you must!

An Abundance of Katherines - the only John Green book I haven't finished. I'm saving it for my summer holidays (which probably won't happen til Autumn) so that I can read it uninterrupted.

Looking for Alaska - John Green: I got this new Harper Collins edition free (one of the perks of being an occasional reviewer!), I love the heart on the cover.

Starter for Ten - David Nicholls: As soon as I'd finished One Day I went out and bought this. Angst and University Challenge - you can't get better than that! I'm reading it at the moment and have laughed out loud more times than I can count. Nicholls also has another book called The Understudy which I am unbelievably excited to read.

What We Say Goes - Noam Chomsky: I borrowed this from the library a few weeks back. I really enjoy reading Chomsky's views (even if I find some of them a tad extreme!).

Selected Poems - Dylan Thomas: I picked this up in my local Oxfam Bookshop. He's one of my favourite poets.

Fearne and Holly - The Best Friends Guide to Life: I wanted this book but it wasn't really something I'd buy for myself, so I was delighted when my friend surprised me with it.

The Lover's Dictionary - David Levithan: a love story told through dictionary entries. A contender for my favourite book of 2011.

Randomness

I have a lot of magazines with Hayley on the cover...

I went into Penny's (Primark) the other day on my way back from the post office, and bought this satchel in the sale for only €2!

I also got these necklaces, a deer and a cupcake, also €2 euro each.

Have you acquired anything cute lately, or done a similar blogpost? :)

Author Video!

2011-05-11T17:29:00.004+01:00

Hey everyone! If you wanna know some more about Angel Kiss you can watch the author video below! If you wanna hear me messing up and laughing a lot, you can watch the outtakes. :)

Thanks to David Maybury for shooting them!

Reader Giveaway!

2011-05-10T11:49:00.005+01:00

I was given some lovely canvas prints of the cover of Angel Kiss. I'm keeping one and giving the other to one of you! It's very pretty and would look great hanging on your bedroom wall (like mine is). I've also signed it, in gold pen no less!

If you read Angel Kiss and like it, I'd LOVE if you posted a review online. To be in with a chance of winning the print just leave a link to your review in the comments section of this post, along with your email address. (If you'd prefer to keep your email address private, just send it to laurajanecass@gmail.com) A winner will be picked at random. The reviews don't have to be super glowing for you to enter, your honest opinion is very welcome! Although if you weren't mad about Angel Kiss then you probably don't want Jacki watching you as you sleep.

Review can be posted on:
Amazon
Goodreads
Your own blog
Any other review site you like!

Giveaway is open worldwide until July 29th.

Good luck!

Angel Kiss Launch Night

2011-05-10T01:21:00.004+01:00

The launch on Thursday in Barker & Jones was the best night ever! Lots of my friends and family came out to help me celebrate, along with my editor Paddy and special guest Claire Hennessy. I made a speech... I was a bit nervous in the days leading up to it and wasn't sure what to say, but like I explained on Thursday, my original plan was to be an actress so I'd been practicing thanking everybody I know in front of the mirror since roughly the age of six - so I really just had to replace 'Thank you to the Academy...' with 'Thank you to Puffin..!'

The launch was so exciting and completely overwhelming - a night I'll never forget!

After signing over one hundred books, I think I've finally got the signature down!

The queue :)

some of my cousins.

looking slightly dazed but very happy!

Claire and I posing for the newspapers!

a view from above.

I love this picture.

me and my grandad!

the family!

bffs!

Number One New Release in Barker & Jones! :)

It's not a dream anymore...

2011-05-05T06:01:00.007+01:00

Release Day is here!

Angel Kiss is now available in all good bookstores and online.

It's published by Razorbill/Penguin in paperback and ebook!

I've been waiting for this moment for four years, and now that it's here I can really only think of one word to describe it...

wow.

"It's just a load of people talking about what they had for breakfast."

2011-05-02T17:20:00.016+01:00

image source

I remember discussing the phenomenon of blogging with a group of friends about three years ago, and the above quote was somebody's evaluation of it. I'd never read any blogs so I couldn't argue. I didn't think the whole blogging craze was something I would get in to anyway.

How wrong I was.

I stumbled upon my first blog by accident. It was linked from a fashion website and it was Carrie's Wish Wish Wish. I was captivated by her honest and interesting posts, the quality of her writing and photographs, and the novelty of regular access to another person's world. The beauty with blogs is that once you've found one, you are almost immediately introduced to a whole wonderland of others. I found A Cup of Jo, The English Muse, Afeitar, and Charade. I loved reading these blogs so much that I decided to set up one about writing and books. I was surprised and delighted to discover that there were hundreds of thousands of writing and book blogs already out there!

My aim was never to get a huge following or tonnes of comments, I just really enjoyed reading blogs and thought it would be fun to set up my own. I never realised that I was entering into such a supportive network of people who love reading and writing and fashion and music just as much as I do, and who have such interesting ideas to share.

Without blogs I might never have heard of such gems as Looking for Alaska or This Charming Girl or Camera Obscura. Blogging has really added to my life in a way I never expected. Although it may not feel like it at the time, when you put up that first post you're not talking to thin air - you're sparking what will become an amazing conversation.

I know some of my blog buddies will read Angel Kiss, and I'm awaiting their verdicts with the same anticipation as those from family and friends. There are bloggers reading this who I admire so much, who I have emailed for advice during some of my bleakest moments, whose archives I have trawled and whose blogs I visit every single day. And there are followers reading this who have sent me such sweet emails, who have encouraged me through tough times, and who have showed such amazing enthusiasm for my first book's release. Whether you're a blogger or a follower or both, I want to thank you so SO much for your support. Over the last two years we've chatted, debated, shared links, shared secrets and had so much fun.

If you pick up a copy of Angel Kiss, go to the acknowledgements at the back. If you're reading this, you're in there.

Thank you.

Release Week is Here!

2011-05-02T15:58:00.006+01:00

Hey Everybody,

I've left my secret writing location and am back in Dublin. It's exciting to re-enter civilization! I'm not completely finished the second book, but I shall be forgetting about it for the next few days because it's... ANGEL KISS RELEASE WEEK! Angel Kiss is officially released this Thursday, but it's in some bookshops and up on Amazon already. It's so weird to walk into bookshops where I've spend lots of time loitering over the years, to see my own book on the shelves:

I was really really nervous last week, and couldn't sleep or eat very much - I was in this weird state where I felt like I was going to faint or throw up, or both. I kept thinking what if nobody buys it? what if nobody likes it? But then I realized that I shouldn't really be worrying about this stuff, especially when it's completely out of my control. I'm very lucky to have a book coming out with such a fab publishing team, so I have to send Angel Kiss out into the world and just let it be!

The fear is still there, but luckily it's now mixed in with a lot more excitement. The thing I'm most looking forward to is hearing other people talking about my characters. They're so real to me, I can't wait to hear what other people think of them. I also can't wait for the book launch this Thursday, because it's a chance to celebrate with the other people who worked so hard for Angel Kiss - my editor, my agent and all my friends and family who have supported me in the run up to publication. It's going to be a great day!

Giveaway Winner!

2011-05-02T13:30:00.001+01:00

And the winner of the Puffin tote bag and the signed copy of Angel Kiss is...

Sabina! (@FreakChiq)

Thank you so much to everybody who entered, I'll be doing another giveaway in the coming weeks for anybody who posts a review of Angel Kiss (on amazon/goodreads/their blog etc.) so if you didn't win this time don't fret, there are more Angel Kiss goodies to be had!

Angel Kiss Launch!

2011-04-28T14:25:00.004+01:00

For anybody living in or close to Co. Kildare, the Angel Kiss launch will take place:

Thursday May 5th 2011 at 6.30 p.m.

in Barker & Jones Bookshop

2 Poplar Square, Naas, Co. Kildare.

Special guest is YA author Claire Hennessy!

I'll be signing copies of Angel Kiss on the evening.

All welcome!

Above are my launch invitations, designed by my wonderful friend Elizabeth Maybury.
(They're bookmarks!)

I've got my dress, I've got my shoes, I'm SO looking forward to it!

Talking YA at the Mindfield Festival

2011-04-26T20:06:00.002+01:00

I'm taking part in an event at the Mindfield Festival in Dublin this Saturday April 29th

called 'New Readers: Gritty Realities'. Myself and other YA authors Anna Carey, Sheena Wilkinson and Bridget Hourican will be discussing the phenomenon of teenage fiction.

Mindfield will be held in Merrion Square and has a 'vibrant programme of fully-interactive talks, readings, debates, workshops and much more, covering a full spectrum of culture including architecture, literature, slam poetry, technology, gaming, climate change, social entrepreneurship, fashion, art and design.'

Tickets can be purchased for the entire festival or for individual events,

More info about the event here

Angel Kiss Giveaway!

2011-04-25T21:51:00.006+01:00

*giveaway now closed *

Hey Everybody,

I'm giving away a personalized signed copy of my debut novel Angel Kiss, which will be published on May 5th by Puffin's teen imprint Razorbill, to one lucky blog reader! Also included in the giveaway is a can't-be-bought-anywhere Puffin tote bag!

To be in with a chance to win, you must:
1. be a follower of my blog (you can follow with google/twitter/bloglovin etc).
2. send your name and email address to laurajanecass@gmail.com (put 'giveaway' in the subject line).
If you're under 16 make sure you get permission from a parent or guardian! :)

It's one entry per person and a winner will be picked at random. The giveaway is open internationally and the closing date is Monday May 2nd at 1pm (GMT).
Good luck!

*giveaway now closed*

A Little Update...

2011-04-19T01:29:00.001+01:00

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Hello Everybody!

I've been in my writing hideaway for 20 days now, and it's going okay. I've got all my deadline essentials: pretty stationary, giant hoodie, music, and Gilmore Girls DVDs. There's a TV here but I've banned myself from it. I find watching the news and/or programmes I haven't seen before too distracting when I'm in extreme writing mode, and yet I like to watch maybe an hour of something a day to take my mind off plot problems and generally stop myself from going mental. Hence the DVDs. I've seen all the Gilmore Girls episodes loadsa times so they're not distracting at all. Kinda reminds me of when I was learning to drive, and I couldn't have the radio on because I found listening to new music or people talking too distracting. But my car was so old it couldn't play CDs, just cassettes, and the only cassette I find could in our house was The Eagles Greatest Hits. I'd have 'Life in the Fast Lane' playing whilst driving 30 mph and panicking whenever I came to a roundabout. It soon got to the point where I couldn't concentrate without The Eagles. Mysteriously my friends stopped asking for lifts...

Speaking of music, here's my writing retreat playlist! The following tracks are the ones I've had on repeat so far.

Young Americans - David Bowie
What a tune. I think at one stage last week I was actually dancing round my printer to this... I need to get out more.

If I Ever Leave This World Alive - Flogging Molly
My brother got me into these, I LOVE this song.

Don't Believe a Word - Thin Lizzy

I listen to lots of Thin Lizzy when I'm writing this series, it will become apparent why if you read Angel Kiss :)

Long Live - Taylor Swift
I'm still buzzing from seeing Taylor Swift live, she was so good. This is a really uplifting one!

Open Doors - Josh Ritter
Went to see him play in Dublin at the weekend, such a great gig. I'm an extreme Josh fangirl.

What's your favourite band? I need some new suggestions! :)

P.S. It's only 15 days till Angel Kiss is out! Madness!

Thoughts for a Thursday

2011-04-14T01:36:00.001+01:00

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"Every heart is a package tangled up in knots someone else tied."

Josh Ritter

I'm going to see Josh Ritter this Saturday! Cannot wait! He's one of my favourite musicians and his lyrics are just amazing. He has a novel coming out this year too, I reckon it's going to be great.

YAY!

2011-04-07T23:02:00.005+01:00

They're here! My copies of Angel Kiss are here! I went up to Penguin to collect them this morning and have been celebrating ever since. I've spent a lot of time staring at the book and admiring it...

And seeing how it looks in various places around my room.

And my brother has been taking lots of pictures of it:

My brother holding Angel Kiss

Me looking deliriously happy

My Grandad reading Angel Kiss!

Champagne!

My Mam and I

*clink*

It's out in exactly four weeks, on May 5th.

I'm so excited!

Thoughts for a Thursday

2011-03-31T16:43:00.009+01:00

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“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
George Eliot

Off I Go...

2011-03-29T02:31:00.004+01:00

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Hello Everyone,

Hope you're all doing fabulous. On Thursday I'm off for a month to a top-secret location (not a very exotic one) to finish my second book, 18 Kisses. I find that I need to remove myself from civilization in order to get books up to scratch (as was the case with Angel Kiss), so I'm not gonna fight it. I was feeling a bit blue over the past while, nothing major occurred but a few things I wasn't expecting to happen did (not writing related), and I kind of forgot to be positive and shut down, and was generally being difficult. I'm very wary of moaning on this blog, because I like it to be a positive place, but I also like to be honest and sometimes it helps to hear that you're not the only person feeling down. Megan's posts on emotional crisis and rebuilding over on her fabulous blog, Charade, really helped me out and made me realize that just because I'm not feeling the best right now, doesn't mean I'm going to feel like this forever. And there's nothing I enjoy more than writing, so I'm very excited to be immersing myself in it for the next month. As they say, life is full of ups and downs, and times like these make you appreciate all the good things you've got. So, if like me you've been feeling a bit under the weather, remember that things happen for a reason and that a brighter day is just around the corner.

A Little Update...

2011-03-18T23:30:00.004Z

Hmm, what have I been doing lately? Writing a lot, thinking a lot, reading a lot, realising that I still have much to learn. I've also been googling John Green quotes, because he just seems to understand life in a way that not very many other people do. I came across this one earlier, and it's now one of my favourites:

"The better you do at imagining what it's like to be other people, the happier you'll be."

Very true.

Next week I'm going to see Taylor Swift in concert. I can't wait! She is so wise, she is so cool, she puts feelings into words so perfectly and she is just generally awesome! I seriously haven't been this excited in a long time. I've been listening to Fearless all week (one of the greatest albums ever!)

Does anybody else like Taylor? Any of you going to see her? Some people don't get my Taylor obsession at all, but I think she is wonderful.

Angel Kiss is out in 47 days. I'm a teensy bit terrified, but in a good way. It will be nice to let it out into the world.

Thoughts for a Thursday

2011-03-03T12:41:00.000Z

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"I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than closed by belief."

Gerry Spence

(via Megan at Charade)

Dress Envy: Oscar Edition

2011-03-02T00:41:00.006Z

I wasn't feeling a lot of envy for the red carpet dresses this year, but I did quite like Mila Kunis' lavender gown. I love the delicate fabric and the lace detail. She looked so gorgeous. My future husband also looked dashing:

I'm such an Oscar fan and stay up until 5 a.m. every year watching the show. I started this tradition when I was a twelve-year-old wannabe actress. I'd go to school the next day and be almost asleep at my desk, but it was totally worth it. I tried to like this year's hosts, but I just couldn't warm to them. James Franco and Anne Hathaway reminded me of one of those couples where the guy is really grumpy and doesn't realise how awesome and pretty his girlfriend is, and she tries to make up for it by being annoyingly enthusiastic. I still really enjoyed the show though, you just can't beat Oscar night! One of my dreams has always been to attend it. That would be so cool.

Turn up the lights in here, baby.

2011-02-26T05:33:00.002Z

Lately I've been working vampire hours, staying up past 4 a.m. writing book 2. As usual I've been listening to music as I write, so before I go asleep I thought I'd share my latest playlist!

All of the Lights - Kanye West ft. Rihanna and Kid Cudi

I'm totally addicted to this song. I can't get enough of Rihanna, love her latest stuff.

Cheerleader - We are Losers

An infectious Dublin band to watch out for. I saw them in Whelan's and was really impressed. You can check out some of their tracks here.

Don't Believe a Word - Thin Lizzy

I read the Phil Lynott special issue of Hotpress magazine from cover to cover today. The late Thin Lizzy frontman is 25 years dead this year, and to mark the anniversary there will be an exhibition of memorabilia, song lyrics, and photographs etc. taking place in Dublin. I'm really looking forward to visiting it. As he was such an excellent wordsmith, the exhibition will be part of the programme for the Dublin UNESCO City of Literature celebrations. More info here.

Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd

One of the greatest songs of all time. (So many covers of it around that I'm not mad about... apart from this one.)

The Way I Loved You vs. Love the Way You Lie

I love both these songs so was super excited when I heard this mashup.

Make You Feel My Love - Adele

This version is so good. Adele is just amazing.

New Kanye and Adele albums are definitely on my wish list! As always, I'd love to hear your recommendations too!

It's not me, it's you.

2011-02-23T23:07:00.013Z

My books are written in first person. While I love writing this way, it comes with its problems. Besides the more technical difficulties of telling the story from one characters' perspective, there is another major thing I've discovered - people close to me think I'm writing about myself. Several people have asked if Jacki is based on me, and some are adamant that she is. I can't really blame them, as I'm guilty of this too. I'll read a story by one of my friends, and I'll wonder have they actually done that? or is that what they really think? While my personal experiences do affect my writing, I definitely don't write entire characters based on people I know. I see Jacki as sort of like a best friend, a person I know everything about, somebody I admire. Yet many of my friends have said: 'So Jacki is you right, who is Nick then?' I've spent a lot of time convincing the people close to me that Jacki is, in fact, not me.

As many of you know, I was very excited when I saw the cover of my book. I was going around showing it to all my family and friends. (Or rather my Dad was, and I was tagging along with him.) At least half of the people we showed had this reaction:
'Wow that's really nice.'
(Me) 'I know right!
'And she kinda looks like you.'
'Eh, what? That looks nothing like me.'
'Yeah she does, when you were younger!'

Then I remembered the long blonde hair, the black hoodie that I wore almost everyday...the studded belt. I can't really see that much of a resemblance, but my family apparently can!

Here I am at the Oxegen music festival.

Here I am playing keyboard in our ill-fated band The Biscuits (more on that here).

I swear guys, she's not me.
She is way cooler.

P.S. I can't believe it's only 70 days until Angel Kiss is released. I'm getting *seriously* excited!

Thoughts for a Thursday

2011-02-17T22:01:00.002Z

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"You know when you've found it,
There's something I've learned

'Cause you feel it when they take it away."

Damien Rice (Amie)

A Little Update...

2011-02-14T00:33:00.000Z

Hey Everyone!

I've been quite busy lately. I'm writing book 2, and also making plans for the launch of Angel Kiss. I had a marketing meeting with Puffin last week which went super. I'm so excited because the release of Angel Kiss is less than three months away! I haven't been online much lately because I'm really trying to concentrate on my second book. I'm finding the first draft so much harder this time around, because I'm very aware of the standard I have to reach. However, I will be making a much bigger effort to blog more regularly, because talking to you guys really brightens up my day.

I think I mentioned before that I volunteer at a monthly storytelling night in Dublin called Milk & Cookie Stories. After four months of giving out cookies and listening to other people's awesome stories, I decided to be brave last Tuesday and tell one myself. I was kind of nervous, because I was telling a true tale from memory (I'm used to reading fiction off a page!), but i think it went well. A few strangers came up to me afterwards to tell me they enjoyed my story, which was so nice of them! If you're in the Dublin area and fancy listening to or indeed telling a story, you should check out Milk & Cookies!

In non-writing related news, I went to see two amazing films recently. Black Swan and Blue Valentine. Black Swan was wonderfully creepy in an old school kind of way. The dancing was amazing and there were some rather scary moments. Natalie Portman is so inspiring too, so clever and gorgeous and talented. I enjoyed Blue Valentine even more. It was such an interesting and honest portrayal of a relationship. I never got the whole Ryan Gosling thing before, but I totally get it now. My housemates were right, he is HOT. The acting in this film is just superb, definitely Oscar worthy!

As today is Valentine's Day, I thought I'd share with you some of my favourite musings on love.

"Love comes when manipulation stops; when you think more about the other person than about his or her reactions to you. When you dare to reveal yourself fully. When you dare to be vulnerable."
~Dr. Joyce Brothers

"Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn’t it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses, you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life…You give them a piece of you. They didn’t ask for it. They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn’t your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so simple a phrase like ‘maybe we should be just friends’ turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart. It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind. It’s a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain. I hate love."
~Neil Gaiman

"So, it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, you and me, every day. Will you do something for me, please? Just picture your life for me? Thirty years from now, forty years from now? What's it look like? If it's with him- go. Go! I lost you once, I think I can do it again, if I thought that's what you really wanted. But don't you take the easy way out."

~Noah, from the movie The Notebook.

"Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired."

~Robert Frost

"Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence."

~Henry Louis Mencken

"Worse than the total agony of being in love?"

~Sam, from the movie Love Actually.

Sookie: "...I'm just so damn happy... you're not gonna die alone! I mean, somebody will be there, somebody will know, somebody will find the body and call the police and-'
Lorelai: "Yes, that is a relief."
~Gilmore Girls.

Do you have a favourite quote on love?

Thoughts for a Thursday (Valentine's Edition!)

2011-02-10T01:17:00.001Z

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'Love is handing someone a gun and letting them point it to your head, believing that they won't pull the trigger.'

- SpongeBob Squarepants

Coveted Cover

2011-01-31T16:50:00.002Z

I'm in love with the font on this cover. I've just finished reading this book, and thought it was amazing! As I spend most of my time writing, I find it very hard not to think about the writing process when I'm reading. But with When You Reach Me, I forgot that I was reading the words that a writer had written - I really felt like I was listening to a child's story from their perspective (if that makes sense!). I'm in awe of how great the voice of the main character was! This book really impressed me and I would highly recommend it.

Have you read anything amazing lately?

What's in my Bag?

2011-01-23T18:55:00.004Z

I got this River Island satchel for Christmas and am totally in love with it. I really like the colour and size. It's perfect for everyday wear, but I also use it when going out. I've been wearing it all month!

Here's what I'm currently carrying around:

Diary - I got this diary from Paperchase. I love the stripes and the pocket at the back.

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green - I'm reading this at the moment. I loved Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns so I have high hopes for this!

iPhone - After a tragic screen breaking incident at the airport last year, I bought this case for my phone. It's a bit inconvenient because I have to flip it open all the time, but the colour is cute!

Keys - Edinburgh is one of my favourite places in the world. I bought this keyring at the Fringe Festival last summer.

iPod - this makes crowded buses and train journeys bearable.

Pen and Pencil - I gave blood the other day and got a pencil with my blood type on it. I'm AB Negative. Only 1% of the Irish population have this blood type!

Strange as Angels

2011-01-08T02:14:00.006Z

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I've spent the past few days in various cafés, writing 18 Kisses. It's set in Dublin, which is rather convenient, as that's where I live now. As some of you know, I'm slightly obsessed with fancy notebooks. But I recently made a discovery - I think I write much better on yellow legal pads. It's thought that the colour yellow stimulates the mind, apparently F. Scott Fitzgerald was a fan! As well as writing on yellow paper, I've also been doing my usual thing of listening to songs on repeat while I'm working. I choose a song that fits with the chapter I'm writing, and then play it over and over until I'm finished. I'm not sure exactly why this helps, but it does! Here's the latest 18 Kisses playlist:

Fake - The Frames
Quite an emotional song, particularly good for writing dramatic scenes!

Just Like Heaven - The Cure
I was reminded of how much I love this song whilst re-watching Adventureland last week. If you haven't seen that movie yet, you have to watch it. It has everything - great characters, brilliant soundtrack, cute love story, and Jesse Eisenberg in a Neil Young t-shirt.

Dance With You - David Kitt

I think this is really romantic.
'All I wanna do baby is dance with you.'
It makes me smile.

Rock & Roll - The Velvet Underground
This wakes me up when I've been writing for hours.

Amie - Damien Rice
I was sixteen when Damien Rice's first album came out, and whenever I listen to it it takes me back.

California King Bed - Rihanna
Ballads seem to work particularly well when I need to get my word count up.

As always, I welcome any musical suggestions you may have, new or old!

Goal Getter

2011-01-03T19:47:00.002Z

It's 2011! Woohoo! A new year, a new decade, a perfect time for a fresh start. Hope you're enjoying it so far. Today I've been doing lots of organising- sorting out my computer files, writing stuff into my new diary etc.

Below is a piece on resolutions which I wrote the other day for the Inkwell Writers' Newsletter. It's all about setting goals and being positive. (I sometimes forget to be positive myself, but I'm going to make a real effort this year!)

It's that time of year again, when many people are making resolutions. I personally prefer to come up with New Year goals. Resolutions often involve denying yourself things, but goals are full of possibilities. So I begin each January by writing down all the things I want to achieve in the coming year. This has nothing to do with the fact that I've never been capable of keeping a resolution... I swear. Anyway, I started doing this back in 2009, when I wrote the following sentence in the first page of my new diary:

'2009...the year I sign on the dotted line.'

I wanted more then anything to sign a publishing contract. I'd finished my first book, but at that stage I had no offers and no agent. However, I did have a feeling that 2009 was going to be a good year. So I would read that sentence to myself almost every day. It's true what the say, a goal not written is only a wish. Writing it down made it seem more attainable. Months went by, but still I had no offers. Then on November 20th 2009, on my 23rd birthday, I signed a two-book deal with Puffin Books.

Aspiring writers often ask me for advice, and I always tell them to be positive. Even if you don't achieve the exact goals you write down, I really do think that the process will help you get there eventually. If you think and act like you're going to get published, this confidence will transfer over to your writing. If you believe in yourself, then agents or publishers are probably more likely to put their faith in you. Staying positive can be difficult at first, but it soon becomes a habit. A good attitude won't necessarily guarantee you a smooth journey (I should know, I got lots of rejections before I found my agent!), but it will inspire you to keep going. I'm so glad I didn't let myself give up after those rejections, because I ultimately signed with my dream publisher.

This year, my goals include getting my second book finished and I also have some high hopes for my first book, Angel Kiss! The way I see it, we have nothing to lose by being positive. So whatever it is you want for yourself this year, write it down (or type it into) that new diary now. I wish you the very best of luck. Here's to a happy and successful 2011, full of wonderful words.

Laura Jane Cassidy

My first goal of 2011:

Finish the first draft of Book 2 by February 8th. I'm going to give this my best shot. I have parts of Book 2 written but they are not good enough to show anybody. I need to write a lot more of it and also work on the bits I've already written. So I've set myself this deadline. And now that I've told you guys, I can't back out. Eek.

Other things I want to do in 2011:
Cook more interesting dinners. (Laura, step away from the waffles.)
Read every day.

So, what are your goals for this year?

Best of 2010

2010-12-29T16:38:00.000Z

T.V.

Glee

Pretty Little Liars

Modern Family

The Inbetweeners

Movies

Easy A

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Another Year

Inception

Albums

Light Shape Sound- Miracle Bell

Write about Love - Belle and Sebastian

Speak Now - Taylor Swift

So Runs the World Away - Josh Ritter

Books

Paper Towns - John Green

Just Kids - Patti Smith

Dash and Lily's Book of Dares - Rachel Cohn and David Levithan

The Summer I Turned Pretty - Jenny Han

Wishing you all...

2010-12-24T01:44:00.000Z

a very merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays everyone! Wherever you are and whatever you're doing, I hope you have an amazing time.

Looking forward to in 2011

2010-12-22T20:22:00.009Z

The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

I thought it was exciting earlier this year when I heard that David Levithan and John Green were collaborating for Will Grayson, Will Grayson but this is on a whole other level. David Levithan's forthcoming adult novel is a love story in the form of a dictionary! I am the kind of person who would be secretly excited if somebody told me I had to read an entire dictionary in 24 hours. And I adore David Levithan. I have a feeling this one is going to be special.

Delium by Lauren Oliver

Lauren Oliver's debut, Before I Fall, was amazing, and this looks even better.

"Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -the deliria- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy."

I hadn't been particularly attracted to any dystopian stuff until I saw this. It sounds like such a good idea for a story and I can't wait to read it.

Bright Young Things by Anna Godberson

When I heard Anna Godberson was releasing another series I thought, how is she going to top The Luxe? Well I think she might be about to!

"The year is 1929. New York is ruled by the Bright Young Things: flappers and socialites seeking thrills and chasing dreams in the anything-goes era of the roaring twenties."
Sounds amazing!

Strings Attached by Judy Blundell

"From National Book Award winner Judy Blundell, the tale of a sixteen-year-old girl caught in a mix of love, mystery, Broadway glamour, and Mob retribution in 1950 New York."

Blundell + Broadway = extreme excitement!

What are you guys looking forward to in 2011? I found all of the above through book blogs or twitter, and I'd love to hear about other exciting titles!

This Christmas I'll be Reading...

2010-12-19T19:07:00.001Z

A book by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn, set in New York at CHRISTMAS = Yay!

One of the best things about Christmas is the books! I especially love St. Stephen's Day (the day after Christmas Day) as I usually spend it sitting in front of the fire reading (and eating!).

I can't wait to start Dash and Lily's Book of Dares. What will you guys be reading this Christmastime?

Time to Celebrate

2010-12-17T12:52:00.006Z

Angel Kiss is finally, completely...finished!

I sent the copy-edits back to London on Tuesday, but I don't think it has really sunk in yet. I keep thinking I should be opening the Angel Kiss file on my computer. I started writing Angel Kiss in February 2007, when I was 20 years old, so it has been a major part of my life for the nearly four years. I feel weird now that it's finally done, but weird in a good way. I'm so happy to be finished rewriting. And I'm excited that publication day is getting closer. Only 138 days to wait!

Angel Kiss is available for pre-order.
and you can also add it to your Goodreads shelf!

Gorgeous Gift Books

2010-12-10T19:47:00.001Z

Who doesn't love getting books as presents? Especially pretty gift books! I recently did some loitering in my local bookshop and checked out the beautiful new arrivals. Here are my picks for this Christmas season:

I was such a fan of The Hills, except for the last series...it was nothing without Lauren! Her new book looks great, it's packed with lots of style advice and lovely pictures.

I gushed about this one before, and it's available now! It's a collection of rarely seen musings by Marilyn about life, love and literature and looks SO good!

Fearne and Holly's cute collaboration has such a cool design inside, and would be a great gift for your bestie!

The photographs in this new collection, chosen by Audrey Hepburn's family, are just stunning.

This one has been out since 2007, but I hadn't seen it before and it's definitely going on my wish list! It comprises of a fantastic selection of interviews including Truman Capote interviewed by Andy Warhol, Joni Mitchell by Cameron Crowe, and The Dalai Lama by Robert Thurman.

Give a book this Christmas!