Sometimes Surprises are Good - and Time for a Book Giveaway!!!

I had a fabulous time in NY this past weekend. Even though it was Friday the 13th, it was a very lucky day for me! First of all, I had a fantastic meeting with my editor, Phoebe at the HarperCollins offices. I also got to meet her lovely assistant Jessica who I will also be working closely with. I got to see Phoebe's editorial process, her book and manuscript covered office, have a fabulous lunch with her, and then leave with a huge bag filled with HarperCollins books! And even though I hurt my back cause of the sheer weight of all my books that Phoebe gave me, I wouldn't have put a single one back!

I then went and had possibly the best dinner of my life with my best friend Sylvia and her fabulous husband Stu, who took me out to Socarat, this amazing paella bar on West 19th Street. We had these fabulous tapas, my favorites of which was an amazing anchovies dish and also their garlic shrimp. But the star of the night was the Arroz Negro, a crispy black paella seafood dish with squid ink that was incredible.

Ok not the best picture, sorry, the light was very dim in there and I didn't have a flash. But oh man was it good!!

So Saturday started with breakfast at a diner with Malinda Lo, author of Ash and Huntress, and Cindy Pon, author of Silver Phoenix and Fury of the Phoenix, and our buddy JJ, an editorial assistant from St. Martin's Press. After breakfast we all headed down to the Diversity in YA panel at Books of Wonder where I got the best surprise ever! Barry Goldblatt and Joe Monti, the best agent duo team in the world, showed up with a special surprise for me. My signed contract and my first advance check!! I admit it I freaked out. I jumped up and down, ran around in a big circle and had to sit down in order to keep my heart from jumping out of my mouth. I was a quivering mess. But how else was I to respond? I'm officially a paid author!!!

I was so out of it, I didn't have a chance to snap some photos of Barry and Joe or of the authors panel! I was a quivering mess inside. In fact, I didn't calm down until I was on my way home on the train, back to DC. I think it is that first check that makes you feel like a real author. I think I may have a heartattack when I finally get a copy of my published book. Barry has promised to send paramedics to deliver my finished book. I will most definitely need them!!!

So to celebrate, I'm going to have a signed book give away! I'm giving away one copy of Malinda Lo's Huntress and one copy of Cindy Pon's Fury of the Phoenix - both signed by the lovely authors themselves!

All you got to do is leave me a comment letting me know that you would like to be entered into my book give away. That's it! Just a comment right here on the blog! I shall pick a random winner this weekend. So come on, what are you waiting for? Comment already! These books are FANTASTIC!!!!