All the bubble suit comments? They've made my husband's year, I swear. He's been sending me links non-stop. Current favorite:

http://www.natlallergy.com/prod/1177/i-can-breathe-honeycomb-carbon-masks.html

which he says I should get and wear in the car as I head to LA.

I think I could actually *hear* him laughing in the email he sent about that one.

I am half tempted to buy one and wear it to the next work party we have to go to. If nothing else, it would be a VERY memorable look. Heh.

Anyway! I am leaving for LA next week--I'll be at BEA, and if you're going, please come by and see me--my signing schedule is here

Also! Is there anything along the way and/or in LA that I *have* to see, or that you've always wanted to see?

I'll take comments about things on the way/in LA that I should see through midnight EST tomorrow, May 16th, and then I'll draw four names at random and each of those four people will get a free book! Though you can only reply once, you can reply no matter where you live (I will ship books overseas), or if you've won something from me in the past.

Books I'll be giving away are: She's So Money by Cherry Cheva, Devilish by Maureen Johnson, Theodora Twist by Melissa Senate, and Wake by Lisa McMann.

I also have some links to share:

Fifty Ways to Get Yourself Writing -- Loads of interesting suggestions here.

Author Kit Whitfield talks about the mid-book blues -- I really like her way of coping with them.

Paperback Writer has written a jaw-dropping amount of information about writing and publishing, covering just about everything--and now she's got it all in one place

And be sure to check out Justine Larbalestier's Writers Are Crazy. I think the title says it all.

Dear Body,

When I plan a relaxing weekend, you know what you shouldn't do?

GIVE ME HIVES.

There I was on Friday, planning to spend the afternoon--and then the whole weekend--doing nothing but relaxing (reading books, watching movies, spoiling my dog (though I'll grant you I'm not sure how much more spoiled she can get) ) and what do you do?

GIVE ME HIVES.

The first few I shrugged off. No big deal! I get hives! I'll be fine! They'll go away!

They didn't. They hung around. And they brought friends.

By Saturday morning, I was on a double dose of my regular antihistamine plus lots of Benadryl. Yes, it's true, I was relaxed (to the point of incoherence, even!) but lying around staring blankly at the ceiling while I dozed on and off for a WHOLE DAY was not relaxing. It was all I could do.

Even now, they still aren't gone, but please, immune system o'mine, have pity on me and ease up. Pretty please? I promise that if you relax, I'll relax, and then we'll both win.

Love,
Elizabeth


PS Congrats to Kate, who won the ARC of Evernight!

want to win a copy of STEALING HEAVEN?

Are you interested in winning a copy of my upcoming book, Stealing Heaven, almost a month before it's in stores?

Then all you have to do is head over to Claudia Gray's journal (cut and paste link: http://claudiagray.livejournal.com/14327.html) and leave her a comment telling her about your favorite fictional love story! The winner not only gets a copy of Stealing Heaven--he or she will also get a copy of Claudia's upcoming novel, Evernight, a fantastic YA vampire novel, AND a $25 gift certficate to Amazon.

What are you waiting for? Go enter! (and don't forget to leave your email address so Claudia can contact you if you win!)

I've also got some links to share:

One of agent Nathan Bransford's clients, Jennifer Hubbard, talks about going from blog reader to (soon to be) Published Author -- really inspirational, and Jennifer's book sounds AMAZING

Author Laura Anne Gilman and her agent, Jennifer Jackson, talk about the book deal offer process. Laura's post is here, Jennifer's is here, and it's fascinating to see how it works from both the agent and the writer's perspective

Yes, it's true--someone out there really does like writing a synopsis--and here's a blog entry that proves it

Author Shanna Swendson talks about how publishers position books (that is, pick the books they think will be bestsellers, and then market them accordingly)

Looking for an agent? Don't do this. EVER.

Finally, be sure to check out this fascinating interview with a former FSG editor who discusses why an editor can like a book and still not buy it, among other things. A great behind-the-scenes look at the world of publishing.

win a copy of EVERNIGHT--before it's in stores! (And Perfect You contest winners!!)

First, *thank you* to everyone who entered the Perfect You contest --you all are the BEST!

Here are the winners:

iPod nao winner:
Keli

Twenty $20 bookstore gift certificate winners:
Jennilyn, Renee, Christina, Megan, Briana, Shannon, Melissa, Elaina, Taylor, Dawn, Tara, Tasha, Valeria, Kelsey, Allison, Lauren, Caroline, Rylie, Lucie, and Breanna

YAY!

And now, I've got a real treat for you...

This week, I'm giving away an advance reading copy of Evernight by Claudia Gray--it's a fantastic novel--Twilight fans, you'll LOVE this book!

All you have to do for a chance to win is leave a comment here by midnight EST on Friday, May 9th, and then I'll pick one person at random and that person will win the copy of EVERNIGHT, which, in addition to being a great read, is also a collector's item because one of the main character's names is different in the final book!

Congrats also to the ten people who won a copy of Lock and Key: James, Karly, Lane, Kaylee, Lizzy, Hope, Ashley, Beth, Tina, and Muna

I was so excited about actually finally getting to update my blog yesterday that I completely forgot something important, and that's THANK YOU! to everyone at "Personal Profiles" in Eastern Middle School, especially Abbey-- you all made my first tv interview so much fun!

And okay, I've been asked about this a lot, so I'm going to tell you the UTTERLY HUMILIATING story of how I came to mess up my finger. (I hate typing hairline fracture. It makes me feel like I should stop typing and wrap my finger up like a mummy again. And I don't want to!!)

ANYWAY. Here's what happened. I was eating breakfast, half-asleep like I always am in the morning, and went to get the paper, which had--as papers do--slid off the table and onto the floor (who do papers do that? WHY?), and when I went to pick it up, I managed to--and this is the really humiliating part--FALL OFF MY CHAIR.

I know, you envy my grace, don't you? (And now you know why there was no dancing at my wedding--who knows what would have happened if I'd tried that???)

So I fall off my chair, and put my hands out to brace myself. I actually managed to land on them, which was all well and good except I managed to fall mostly onto my left hand, and specifically my left index finger, which made an awful cracking sound (seriously, it was nasty-sounding), and before I knew it, I was headed to the ER.

The moral of the story is: Avoid newspapers in the morning at all costs!!!

All right, not really. The real dream moral is this: clearly I shouldn't attempt doing anything in the morning, and should instead lie around in bed and have breakfast (and the paper!) brought to me.

Or I could, you know, try not to FALL OFF CHAIRS.

My finger is slowly getting better. Too slowly for my tastes--I miss typing! I miss being able to walk around without having my index finger taped to my middle finger too, although the taping does make for a rather outstanding pointing device--two fingers and a whole lot of tape--I could direct traffic!

The last few days of the Perfect You contest are here, and I've decided to go ahead and extend the entry deadline until Sunday, May 4th, because you've all been so sweet about my finger--thank you so much for all your notes! They mean a lot to me. (And I'll extend the deadline for winning one of the ten copies of Sarah Dessen's latest, Lock and Key, as well)

In other news, Stealing Heaven will be out in less than a month (!!) and if you'd like to read the first three chapters, you can download them here.

Hope you enjoy, and now I have to retape my fingers up and go back to not typing. BOO!

(the following message is from Elizabeth, but is being typed and posted by her husband)

Hi, everyone!

I spent this morning at the emergency room which is never any fun, but it's even less fun when you have a busted index finger and wait and wait (and wait some more) to find out that you (wait for it!)... have a busted index finger.

Right now, it's all taped up, but I've been told I'm going to have to limit my typing for the next few weeks. I'm hoping that is an overly generous timeframe, but at least for today, I'm trying to take it easy.

Moving on, I can't believe it, but there's only a little over a week left to enter the Perfect You Contest. And, as of today, anyone who enters also has a chance at winning a copy of Sarah Dessen's latest novel, Lock and Key!*

All you need to do is:

1. Buy a copy of PERFECT YOU and save the receipt.

2. Take a photo of the receipt with your cell phone, digital camera, etc., and then send the picture to me at elizabethscottcontest@gmail.com

Please make sure to include your name, as well as the email address it's best to contact you at.

3. Once I get the picture of your receipt, you'll be entered into the PERFECT YOU contest drawing.

Here are the prizes:

One person will receive an iPod nano OR a $200 gift certificate to the bookstore of their choice

Twenty people (yep, TWENTY) will each receive a $20 gift certificate to the bookstore of their choice

So, there's actually a total of twenty-one prizes (!) to be given away, and again, all you have to do to enter is buy Perfect You, and send a picture of your receipt to elizabethscottcontest@gmail.com

The contest will run through May 2nd, and I'll announce the winners here on May 5th.

Everyone who enters the contest between now and May 2nd will also be entered into a drawing to win a copy of Sarah Dessen's new book, Lock and Key. I have ten copies to give away, and winners will be picked at random and notified on May 3rd.