new website

Hey! I have a new author website. I feel fancy!

P.S. There is a GIMONGOUS picture of my head on the main page. You've been warned. It will be a picture of my cover once I get one.

*Thanks to Gretchen McNeil for all the help. She's so freaking amazing!

'tis the season

I hesitate to tell this story because my unhealthy morning addiction is quite embarrassing, but I will do it because the experience made me so happy!

I was pulling through the drive-through for my morning fix *coughMcDonaldshashbrownscough* when the lovely lady at the cash register said, "The gentleman in the car ahead of you paid for your meal. He said to wish you Happy Holidays!"

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. You don't know how this warmed my cranky Monday morning heart. It grew three sizes at least--well, it felt that way, but that could have been a slight heart attack due to the unhealthiness of my breakfast.

I've been in a good mood ever since, even though I had no access to my computer all morning. Smile on my face, spring in my step. Also, I've been trying to think of something nice I could do for someone else. Here's what I came up with:

The first person to e-mail me at jillehathaway (at) gmail (dot) com will receive a query critique*! I'll let you know when it's been claimed.

Happy Holidays, my pretties.

*or first five pages... your choice.

~~~
Update: The query critique has been claimed! Keep an eye out, though. I might be doing some more of these soon!

here comes the apocalypse!

 It figures the year I get published will be the year the world ends. At least I'll be in good company.

Check out my fellow Apocalypsies here at Facebook and here at Blogger! They're way cool.

more revision fun!

Yayyyyyy!

Today I hit the halfway point on my revision. (Well, almost. The way I'm cutting, it will probably end up being the halfway point.)

Random things:

1. I used earplugs in the library. They worked so well when a guy sat down next to me and started using an actual typewriter. Dude. Those things are LOUD.

2. When the library closed, I took my revision party to a restaurant that looked pretty dead. Yes, I revised a chapter while eating a steak dinner. With my earplugs in. I am so cool.

3. I'm almost finished building my website. I'll probably launch it sometime next week. I don't really get why I need a website, but it'll probably be helpful in the future if someone wants to find all my information in one place. Because I don't have a book cover yet, it will have a gimongous picture of my face on the home page. And because I'm vain.

What's up with you all?

snuggly friday

There's something so peaceful and satisfying about lounging around in bed on Black Friday instead of fighting the crowds to purchase Every. Single. Pillow. Pet. Available. Micky Mouse Clubhouse is on the TV, I'm browsing the Verla Kay Blue Boards, husband is snoring away. Maybe we'll go down to the pool in a little bit.

I understand that Black Friday is good for the economy and everything, but I'm so not drawn to the stores on a day I know everyone else will be there. Me, I like to shop the day before Christmas Eve. Keep it real.

So I'm declaring today Snuggly Friday. A day to veg out and eat leftovers. A day to never change out of your pajamas. A day to relaaaaaaaaax. And probably do some revising... because, let's face it, that deadline is coming up.

Mmmm, this morning is delicious. Or maybe that's the leftover pumpkin pie I'm having for  breakfast.

how to make the most of your thanksgiving

Close your eyes. Now you can't read this post. Never mind. Open them.

Imagine getting the most dreaded phone call. Someone you love more than anything in the world is in the ICU. It's touch and go. You're not sure they'll make it.

You drive hours to the hospital, not sure if you'll make it in time to say goodbye. You hope you won't have to say goodbye. You hope there is time for so many more hellos. You're not ready for goodbye.

You arrive at the hospital. You've missed visiting hours. They won't let you in. You go check into a hotel and wait around until visiting hours start up again. Finally, they let you in. You practically run down the hallway. Your loved one is tucked into bed, wires and machines everywhere. They have a towel around their face. You can only see their eyes.

They look at you. You squeeze their hand. You say how much you love each other. Trying to not show your fear, you talk about season 3 of Veronica Mars. It's time to go. You walk away, not knowing if you'll ever see them again.

The morning comes. The doctors have decided what to do. It will be tricky. There are risks. Possible brain damage. Possible death. You get to hug your loved one before they are wheeled away. They look scared. You are scared. You try not to cry.

Hours pass by. You do things to pass the time. You play chess with your brother. You try to read. You buy some socks at the gift shop.

A nurse comes into the waiting room. She is looking for you. She says your loved one has returned from surgery. The doctor comes. He explains what a close call it was. But everything will be okay.

Everything will be okay.

You will get to spend another Thanksgiving together.

THIS is what Thanksgiving is about.

how to revise in 15 easy steps

1. Don't read your manuscript for two months.
2. Read it through, all at once, while drinking some hot chocolate with whipped cream.
3. Read it again. Make notes of your ideas for improvement.
4. Cry a little when your scribbled notes reach 10 pages.
5. Buy some colored gel pens. Underline and circle things using your special color code.

For instance, mine is:

purple=character development
red=mystery/clues/red herrings
green=theme/symbolism
pink=ROMANCE!
orange=description/word choice/show vs. tell
(basically, make the writing not suck as much)
blue=paranormal element (make more clear)

6. Realize that color coding really does nothing for you except make you feel like you accomplished something. Which is SOMETHING, don't get me wrong. That's why it's a good step.
7. Open document.
8. Open new document.
9. Make a short list of things to do while re-writing chapter one. Make sure you include little boxes so you can check off things as you go. (Again, this helps you feel like you've accomplished something, and that is very important. Having a very short list for each chapter is key. Much less overwhelming this way.)
10. Re-write chapter one, cutting and pasting the parts that work (not very many) and writing the rest from scratch. As you do this, down two large coffees.
11. When you finish with chapter one, stand up and roar: "I'm the QUEEN OF THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!"
(Or, if you're a dude, king... unless you prefer queen. Whatever.)*
12. Get all jittery because you don't normally drink so much caffeine.
13. Make list of things to change in chapter two.
14. Revise chapter two (as you did with chapter one).
15. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.


*Sometimes step #11 will be replaced with holding your head in your hands and sobbing, but that's okay. All part of the process.

winner of BUMPED!

Congratulations, Zach Dailey! You won the coveted advanced readers copy of BUMPED by Megan McCafferty! I'll contact you a little later by e-mail to get your details!

debut author challenge 2011

So I just heard about this awesome thing called the Debut Author Challenge. The lovely Story Siren hosts it, and you sign up to read at least 12 debut novels throughout the year. And there are prizes!

So I'm looking forward to a ton of books in 2011. Here are just a few:

XVI – Julia Karr

Across the Universe – Beth Revis

Wither – Lauren Destefano

Clarity – Kim Harrington

Like Mandarin – Kirsten Hubbard

Liar Society – Lisa and Laura Roecker

Blood Magic – Tessa Gratton

Divergent – Veronica Roth

Possession – Elana Johnson

Bad Taste in Boys – Carrie Harris

The Near Witch – Victoria Schwab

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer – Michelle Hodkin

Dark Inside – Jeyn Roberts

If you'd like to sign up for the 2011 Debut Author challenge, go here!

Which titles are you most excited about in 2011?

Megan McCafferty talks about BUMPED!

I am thrilled to present to you, my DARLING blog readers, an interview with Megan McCafferty, the author of the New York Times bestselling Jessica Darling series and BUMPED (which I just finished and LOVED LOVED LOVED!!!).

But FIRST, here is a little about BUMPED:

When a virus makes everyone over the age of eighteen infertile, would-be parents must pay teen girls to conceive and give birth to their children, making teens the most prized members of society.

Sixteen-year-old identical twins Melody and Harmony were separated at birth and had never met until the day Harmony shows up on Melody’s doorstep. Until now, the twins have followed completely opposite paths. Melody has scored an enviable conception contract with a couple called the Jaydens. While they search for the perfect partner for Melody to bump with, she is fighting her attraction to her best friend, Zen, who is way too short for the job.

Harmony has spent her whole life in religious Goodside, preparing to be a wife and mother. She believes her calling is to convince Melody that pregging for profit is a sin. But Harmony has secrets of her own that she is running from.

When Melody is finally matched with the world-famous, genetically flawless Jondoe, both girls’ lives are changed forever. A case of mistaken identity takes them on a journey neither could have ever imagined, one that makes Melody and Harmony realize they have so much more than just DNA in common.

Doesn't that sound AMAZING?

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand now that you're salivating over the book, here's the interview with Megan! I warned her that we are mostly writerly people who are interested in craft, so that's what I focused on.

To start, could you tell us a little about yourself and your writing journey? I know you've written previous books (such as the Jessica Darling series), but you call this your first "real" YA novel. How is this novel different from your others?

I can’t imagine not being a writer. I’m not qualified to do anything else. Seriously. My last non-writing related job was working as a token exchange girl at Lucky Leo’s Arcade on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. (Yes, the same Seaside made infamous by Jersey Shore.)

My parents say I started making up stories as soon as I could speak in full sentences, and began writing them down after I mastered my ABCs. I kept a journal from the ages of 10 to 26, wrote for school publications, took every type of creative writing class I could sign up for in high school, college, and beyond. I thought my dream job was to be a writer for teen magazines until I actually got that job and realized I didn’t like being told what to write and how. So I quit that job to write what eventually became SLOPPY FIRSTS, which spawned four Jessica Darling sequels that kept me very happily occupied through the 00s.

The Jessica Darling series was published by Crown, which isn’t a young adult publisher but was willing to take a chance on a book they believed had young adult/adult crossover appeal. I hope BUMPED will also appeal to readers who are still in high school as well as those who graduated long ago. I do think fans will be surprised that I’m venturing in futuristic territory. But unlike most dystopian novels, BUMPED will make you laugh because that’s the kind of writer I am. I don’t do grim. There’s nothing in this book that isn’t rooted in reality, so despite the setting and circumstances, you’ll relate to these characters and see yourself or others in them. Oh, and there’s a really juicy love parallelogram. (It’s way more complicated than a simple triangle.)

Could you describe your typical writing day? What is your perfect writing environment? What inspires you?

I come home at 8:30am from dropping off my son at school and head straight for my office. That’s where I do all my writing because I can’t concentrate anywhere else. I allow myself a half-hour for emailing and timesucking on Facebook and Twitter, then select the ideal iTunes playlist for the day before finally opening up my document and getting to work.

I try to write straight through until lunch, but I always end up taking many breaks for green tea and gossip on Gawker and Jezebel. If I’ve made my minimum word count for the day (600) by noon, I hit the gym for an hour of cardio, or I do yoga if my back, neck  and shoulders are achy from so much sitting. If I haven’t hit my word count, I put myself back in the chair until I do. Either way, my work is done at 2:55pm when I hop on my bike to pick up my son. From that point on, I’m in mom/wife/friend/daughter/sister mode.

In your letter to readers, you mention the TV shows Sixteen and Pregnant and Teen Mom. Did these, in addition to movies like Juno, contribute to your decision to write this novel? Can you explain how you came up with the concept for Bumped and how it evolved?

My original inspiration goes back even earlier, to the infamous Gloucester High School “pregnancy pact.” Like many others, I was fascinated by the whole sordid story. What would inspire girls to become teen mothers by choice? Because I was still writing the final book in the Jessica Darling series, I didn’t pursue the idea then.

About a year later, the media was in a frenzy over Juno, and reeling from announcements by Jamie Lyn Spears and Bristol Palin. There were numerous articles arguing for and against abstinence only programming. One letter in the New York Times made a pro-sex education argument with the caveat, “while we would never encourage teens to have sex…” Something about that sentence made me stop and ask myself, “What if we did encourage teens to have sex? Under what circumstances would that be socially and morally acceptable?” I knew it would have to be something pretty apocalyptic, which lead to my invention of the Human Progressive Sterility Virus that causes infertility for everyone over the age of eighteen in BUMPED.

The rest of the story just kind of took off from there, but not after more research than I’ve ever done in my entire life! For months before I even started writing, I read books about the history of teen pregnancy, surrogate motherhood, sexual activity and religious orientation, the Amish, adoption, twins separated at birth and reunited as adults…so much more. I even audited a seminar at Princeton University about the politics of sex and gender roles. Hopefully, if I did my job right, none of that research will show. Because of the provocative subject matter, it was crucial that everything—especially the most shocking aspects of the novel—be based on reality.

You've done a phenomenal job of creating a believable picture of the United States in the not-too-distant future. I think world-building is so important to dystopian novels. What advice would you give to writers of dystopian novels in terms of world creation?

I didn’t focus on what in the world would change. I thought about what would remain the same.

In Bumped, twins Melody and Harmony take turns telling the story. Their voices are so distinct and strong. How did you accomplish this? Was it hard to switch back and forth? Did you have to write the chapters out of order so you could stay in one character's head and be consistent?

Getting the voices right was probably the hardest part of the writing process. After channeling Jessica Darling’s voice for nearly a decade, I was determined to make Melody and Harmony their own people, separate from each other, but also unlike any characters I’d created before. It took me a while to get to know them, not until many months into writing the first draft, to tell you the truth. But once I finally understood who they were, where they came from, and what motivated them to make the decisions they did, their voices flowed naturally. I could hear them in my head, which is probably why I found it easier to write in one twin’s voice for several days or weeks in a row before changing back into the other. Now that I know them so well, however, I’m finding it much easier to switch back and forth as I write the sequel.

Bumped is the first in a series, right? Can you tell us anything about your vision for the rest of the novels (without giving spoilers, of course)? Are you working on them already? Do you know where you'll leave our beloved Harmony and Melody? 

I know trilogies are so hot right now, but BUMPED will have one sequel and that’s it. Two narrators, two books. It feels right. I’m already more than 1/3 of my way through the follow-up, and yes, I already know what will happen to the twins at the end. I don’t know exactly how they’ll get to the final page, but this combination of planning and spontaneity seems to work well for me creatively.

What kind of discussions would you like your teen readers to have after reading Bumped?

BUMPED isn’t an “issue” book about teen pregnancy. It’s a book about making choices to live your own life, and the struggle to break away from what others expect of you. Both Melody and Harmony begin to question everything they’ve been brought up to believe, and find the courage to act in ways that are true to who they are, not who everyone else wants them to be.


So I hope this book inspires teens and not-so-young adults to speak candidly about subjects that aren’t so easy to talk about. Not only the sex and pregnancy stuff, but other complex issues the characters face, such as the pressure to live up to parental and peer expectations, or how class and gender warfare is waged in high school hallways on a daily basis. Let’s get these conversations out in the open. It’s not like NOT talking about these problems will make them go away on your own.

So, so true, Megan! Well, thanks so much for the interview and I wish you loads of success with this awesome book!

And now, my loverly blog readers, what you've all been waiting for! I have one copy of BUMPED to give away. The contest will end Monday, November 22nd at midnight EST. This contest is open to blog readers outside the U.S.


 Please leave your number of entries in the comments. Here's how to tally them up:

+1 entry for commenting on Megan's interview

+2 for following blog

+3 for tweeting contest

+4 for blogging about contest

different perspective

Well, I've had a tough past few days--the kind spent sitting in the ICU waiting room and gaining a whole new perspective on life. Happily, the doctors were rock stars and pulled off the best possible outcome. I've got a whole lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

What else is up with me?

-I got revision notes from my editor. I'm rubbing my hands together, anxious to get started on this next round of edits. Can't wait to make SLIDE even shinier!
-In addition to spending precious time with my family this weekend, I've got about 30 more literary analysis papers to grade--just in time for the research papers to come in.
-Donna Bray is completely AWESOME and sent me a copy of Megan McCafferty's BUMPED, a dystopian novel in which a virus has caused adults to be infertile and high school students are paid good money to act as surrogates. I'm halfway through and completely addicted.

So... What are you reading right now?

time to get serious

There are a few blogs I've read religiously throughout this whole crazy writing, querying, submitting process. One of those is Nathan Bransford's blog. Nathan has spent the last few years generously teaching writers about the publishing business. Today I learned that Nathan will no longer be a literary agent.

You can show him your appreciation by tweeting your thanks on the #thanknate thread on Twitter. 

the show must go on (yea-ah)

If you've seen me whining on Facebook or Twitter about my cold, I apologize. After a day of lounging about with a package of Nyquil gelcaps and a bag of Snickers, I'm feeling much better. I watched almost every single VlogBrothers video and read most of Maureen Johnson's blog before opening up my UF file and writing... I kid you not... a paragraph. Sigh.

I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but I directed plays a few years back. We did FATHER OF THE BRIDE one year, partly because I was obsessed with the Steve Martin movie when I was little and mostly because I was getting married that summer and had weddingbrain (yes, that is a physical condition). For decorations, we brought in a bunch of white Christmas lights and hung them up across the stage.

There was this scene when the wedding planner was supposed to plug in the lights, and it was going to be this voila! magical moment. During our opening night performance, he jammed the thingie into the outlet, and there was a huge spark. He was shocked! The whole audience gasped collectively, and I started running toward the stage. But then the kid just smiled and kept on going. He rocked the casbah. 

This little cold is nothing, compared to being ELECTROCUTED on stage. So, go ahead, kick me in the butt and tell me to get BACK to work. The show must go on, Monster Cold or no.

two updates on two awesome writers!

First, I want to congratulate K.M. Walton on her book deal! Here's her PM announcement:

October 29, 2010 Children's: Young Adult K.M. Walton's debut EVERYTHING'S NOT LOST, about two boys, a bully and his victim, whose very different circumstances at home have led them to become roommates in the same psych ward, to Annette Pollert at Simon Pulse, in a nice deal, by Sarah LaPolla at Curtis Brown.

 I'm so happy for her because I know she's worked so, so hard for this. So YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!!!! Can't wait to hold your book in my hands!

The second thing is that Gretchen McNeil's BANISH has now become POSSESS! Love the new name! Be sure to update your Goodreads and all that!

Such a lovely good news day!