~~~Lara Zielin~~~

The lovely Emma was nice enough to let me stop by her blog for a chat recently, and she’s giving away a signed copy of DONUT DAYS to one lucky person. If you want to be that person, head on over and enter to win. I love book giveaways! Yay!!

FAVE LINKEY-POO RIGHT THIS SECOND: Another exciting episode of “Guy From Nickelback, Private Eye.”

Recently, I had the great honor of being asked to interview Cynthia Leitich Smith for a freelance story. She proved to be a force of nature — as a writer, a professor, a community-builder in the literary world, and more. If you haven’t checked out her books TANTALIZE or ETERNAL, you totally should. Amazing stuff.

Of course, Cynthia being Cynthia, she turned the tables during our talk and started interviewing me. You see, this is why I love her. She’s genuinely interested in people — and especially writers.

Anyway, girlfriend was gracious enough to host me on her blog and put our interview out there for all to see. She also gives “Editing Letter” a shout-out, which is so awesome. Stop by and read the interview if you have the chance but, if not, no worries — go to the bookstore instead and get TANTALIZE or ETERNAL.

FAVE LINKEY-POO RIGHT THIS SECOND: Oh, man, there are so many good ones right now, but I think this video of Heidi Montag’s interview with Access Hollywood after her 10 (10!!) plastic surgeries is straight up awesad (that’d be awesome and sad). I mean, she almost died … like Michael Jackson. Oh, and her new album supposedly is as amazing as Thriller. Sigh. If that doesn’t trip your trigger, though, here’s a toad that likes to be petted. Aw.

Since it’s been a while since I’ve blogged (sorry!) I thought I’d give a general update on where things are at, book-wise. Because, you know, that’s what all the cool authors are doing.

Ah-hem. Currently, I’m hard at work editing my second novel, which, in case I haven’t shouted it from the mountaintops enough, is called PROMGATE. I just checked Amazon.com and it’s not up there yet — probably because it doesn’t come out until 2011. If you search PROMGATE on Amazon.com, it spits out a book about fine particle emissions. I don’t know what those are but … ew.

Anyway, as you may recall from my video Editing Letter, editing novels is not my favorite thing. At all. I am really struggling right now with character motivation, but because I have a good editor and smart friends, I think I’m going to figure out a way to make this work.

It’s just … can I be honest? I read books by the amazing Laurie Halse Anderson and Laura Ruby and I think — dearlordbabyjesus, they are so good. How am I ever going to get to be that good? It’s kinda stressful, ya know?  (On the bright side, at least my name also starts with L.)

I guess this is what they call it when that little thing calls self doubt creeps around the corner and peers at you. Wuddup, self doubt. I’m Lara. I’ve seen you before. And I know how to make you go away. It’s a little four-letter word I like to call W-O-R-K. Which I’m off to get done.

PROMGATE is going to rock the house, y’all. Once I get past this little hump.

I’m just saying.

I am so completely floored and overwhelmed by the awesome outpouring of Bluggie love on the interwebs. Thanks to all who RT’d the link and posted comments on larawrites.com. I’m sorry there could only be two winners — one for the Bluggie and one for the badass needles — but that’s how we roll living the Snug Life.

I am so happy to announce that Robin is the winner of the personalized Bluggie (it is going to be awesome, let me tell you!) and @LadyHawkins is the winner of the badass needles!

Robin, please promise me you will take a picture once you get your personalized Bluggie. I can’t wait to see you in it. Please allow two weeks for construction. This bedazzling could take a while, you know?

Thanks again for all who helped make Bluggie so popular last week. You guys rule!

As if winning a personalized Bluggie wasn’t enough, I’m also giving away the badass needles featured in the video! Same rules apply. Boxed wine sold separately.

It’s the WIN A SWEET, SWEET BLUGGIE contest!

Okay, you know you totally want a Bluggie: a Snuggie with bling.

So how do you get one? I’ll tell you!

1.) If you haven’t already, watch my Snug Life video!

2.) Forward the video to a friend, RT the link, or post it up on your Facebook page.

3.) Use @larazielin in your RT or leave a comment here to let me know how you passed along the magic that is Bluggie.

That’s it! That’s all you have to do to to be entered win. But, let me just tell you — this isn’t any old Bluggie. This Bluggie will have your name emblazoned on the front, so that it’s customized to your own pimpocity levels. It will have tons of bedazzling sparkles that will make you stand out in a lineup. It will be, in a word, the greatest Bluggie ever. It will be YOUR Bluggie.

So please, forward the Bluggie vid widely, and RT or comment here when you’re done. The contest will end on January 10, with a winner chosen Monday, January 11.

Badass needles forevah!!

Did you get a Snuggie for Christmas? Are you a white girl? Do you love YA novels?

Then check out Bluggie: the blanket with sleeves … with bling!

FAVE LINKEY-POO RIGHT THIS SECOND: A kitteh on a Roomba makes for much funny. But add a friendly pit bull into the mix plus a Ludacris song, and you get this hilarious scene. (Also, I’ll say this is the first time I’ve seen a kitteh and a Ludacris song paired harmoniously. Or, actually, ever.)

So. 2009 happened.

Apart from Amos eating our advent calendar, it was pretty freaking awesome.

I’m looking ahead to 2010 and thinking about what goals I’ll set for myself. This helpful blog post from Colleen put goal-setting and resolutions into an awesome perspective, and I recommend it for anyone who’s saying “I want to do X in 2010.”

Well, I want to do X in 2010. And how do I personally solve for X? In a few ways, of which I’ll share two:

1.) I want to compete in a duathlon, a run-bike-run race. It’s sort of like a triathlon without the swimming part. There is one in Sylvania, Ohio, on August 8, which is a 5k run, a 40k bike, and then a 10k run. Now that I spin and run regularly at the greatest gym of all time, Ypsi Studio, I want to keep it up and train for what would be the most challenging physical activity I’ve ever engaged in.

2.) I want to write more regularly, with the goal of completing two novels this year. Well, two and a half if you count the edits I have to do on PROMGATE. As some followers of this blog know, I write in fits and starts. I’ll go weeks without penning anything, then I’ll sit down and pound out 20,000 words. I’d like to be a bit more balanced in the time I take for writing.

Now that I’ve made mine public I suppose I’m super accountable to what I’ve posted. Which is cool by me. I think.

So … anyone else feel like sharing their 2010 resolutions? I promise, you can just share: we won’t hold you to them. Much.

We have a winner! Er, actually two winners from the Starlight & Superfish video contest!

Congratulations Cathy, you won a signed copy of DONUT DAYS!

And Kristen, you’ve won a $10 Dunkin’ Donuts gift card!

Thanks, everyone, for commenting and playing!  Hooray for awesome movies and awesome movie promo videos!

I am very fortunate to share a home and a heart and a life with one of the most creative forces on the planet: my hubby, Rob [cue *awwwww* sound].

He has a new film, Starlight & Superfish, which is on submission to a number of film festivals as we speak. (Exciting, right?). There is also a way cute, fun short music number they created to help promote the film. It’s funny! It’s quick! It’s awesome!

AND IF YOU WATCH IT, YOU CAN WIN A FREE, SIGNED COPY OF DONUT DAYS OR A $10 DUNKIN’ DONUTS GIFT CARD ZOMG I’M NOT EVEN KIDDING RIGHT NOW!!1!

I will be giving away one book and one gift card just for watching the video. You know you want them.

So here’s how you get them.

1.) Watch the video (embedded below for your convenience!).

2.) Leave a comment on this page so I know you watched it, and please tell me how many views the video had when you watched it.

3.)  Please also leave a comment on the YouTube site if you feel like it, and/or become a fan of Starlight & Superfish on Facebook.

That’s it! Three easy steps to fabulous prizes. The contest will be open through midnight on December 19th, winner announced on the 20th.

Happy video watching, and good luck!!