Hey guys! *waving* Yes! I’m still alive. I know some of you have been worried about me. 🙂 This has been my most busiest month (EVER!) as I predicted and I can’t even believe I was crazy enough to sign up for NANO.

BUT I’m so excited. I’ve been writing. A lot. Every morning dragging myself out of bed, gulping down coffee, and writing 1ks before I race out the door to school. Then every night after I tuck in my adorable and endless energy machines (my boys) into bed, I’m back at work, typing away.

This project has been difficult for me to write as I mentioned before because I’m trying out some new styles. And even though I plotted the novel, the characters seem to have a whole different agenda going on. They really have caused havoc to my outline. So I threw the outline out last night and came up with a whole different ending.

It’s hard. Sometimes I think it’s impossible. And even though I haven’t made it to the end yet, already I’m loving the results. The outcome is worth it.

Now speaking of great results, you MUST head over to Jessica Souders’ blog. She’s celebrating her book contract for RENEGADE and having a blow out contest. She’s giving away a writer’s pack and a reader’s pack. RENEGADE is a book you have to read. Between the creepy underwater setting, a kick-butt heroine and Gavin who is all hotness, you don’t want to miss out. 

So head over and win something awesome!

I’ve never done NaNoWriMo in the past because November is one of my busiest months of the year. My busiest is actually August and September with school starting. And then it’s November. But this year, I’m so determined to get my current writing project done. I’m half way through and I think NaNo can push me over the edge.

On top of doing NaNo, I’m going to be giving out prizes at the end of the month to celebrate my success! (If you’re an Orange County public school teacher, I know you’re laughing over that one right now).

So after I pass my 25% mark, I’ll be giving away a book, then at the 50% mark, then the 75% mark. If I make it to the 100% mark, I’ll give away 5 books total. So we’ll see what happens by Dec. 1st and how many books I’ll be giving away to my amazing blogger buddies!

You can check my side bar on the right to see how I’m progressing. Yeah, right now I’m at the big fat ZERO mark.

I probably won’t be posting much since I’ll be writing my butt off. But if you get a chance, send me good wishes, cyber chocolate and coffee. I’ll need them. 

One of my students brought me a bag of yummy treat this morning, happily telling me, “Happy New Year!”

My student is Indian and his family celebrates the Festival of Lights holiday by handing out presents and treats to friends and family members.

The Diwali holiday received it’s name because it’s literal translation is “row of lamps”. People light small clay lamps with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil. Firecrackers are often sent off to drive away evil spirits.


So wishing you all a Happy Diwali!

Today when I came home from work and opened my mailbox, I discovered my contributor copy of FUN FOR KIDZ magazine. I had totally forgotten I’d even wrote those articles for that issue! Thinking back, my oldest wasn’t reading when I wrote them three years ago. So it was an unexpected surprise to find him sitting on the couch, reading the magazine and learning from something that I wrote.

It made me smile.

Last week I had a friend I’d met in Korea (she’s now working in the Netherlands) come visit me. We had thought her trip wouldn’t work out but in the end it did! The next thing I knew, she was flying out to Orlando to visit! We had a blast together catching up and riding all the roller coasters at Disney.

Another unexpected surprise.

Then tonight, I kind of had a big breakthrough on my current writing project. I’m trying out some new things with this book and it’s kind of scary and overwhelming, but at the same time I’m learning so much from the process. And I love creating a new and fresh story.

So how about you? What brings a smile to your face today?

One of my favorite songs is “Sail Away” by Enya. I can totally picture myself jumping on board a random sailboat and slipping away into the sunset, my hair flying behind me like the movies.

Okay, so that’s totally cheesy, but sometimes I do have that urge to get away and escape. Do you ever feel this way? Like when the kids are throwing fits over their homework, or when I get too many emails from work, or when the cats have shattered my favorite bowl from Bali, or when FIRE ANTS invade my house.

That’s one of the things I love about writing. I can find that escape in my stories. After I put the boys to bed, I slip away to the front room, curl up on the couch with a million pillows, laptop tucked into my lap, and I start typing away. All the problems vanish and it’s just me and my own little world. I call it my Secret Place.

Tonight I told my youngest it was time to start working on his homework. He said, “Maybe later, Mommy. Right now I’m taking a break and relaxing in Bora Bora.”

I laughed so hard. I couldn’t deny that Bora Bora sounded perfect right about then.

Sometimes we as writers need to have that Secret Place where no one can find us and we can escape.

Do any of you have a Secret Place, too?

Here’s a picture of one of my favorite Korean treats. It’s got chocolate inside!

For many of you, the weather is getting cooler right now. Not here in Florida. But then I love the heat so bring it on!

When not teaching, I’ve been fast drafting my latest WIP which I’m so excited about. That and fighting FIRE ANTS. Yes, they have invaded our house! I have war wounds to prove it.

It was Chusok holiday for Koreans from Sept. 11-13 (for you Canadians and Americans, think the Korean version of Thanksgiving). So happy Chusok everyone! Here’s a great article about Chusok (or Chuseok, depending on how you want to translate it) from Korea Legal.org. Or check out this past post on my own Chusok experience.

My sister’s wedding pictures were posted on her photographer’s blog and I HAD to share the blog link with you because they are just perfection. Her photographer, Abby Liga, is amazing. And Julianne, my sister, looks gorgeous. You have to look at these pictures!

Kelly Polark has recently started up this great blog called Book Recs of the Rock and Famous to promote literacy. Go check it out too!