Two things I love:

1. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. (Possibly the Best. Trailer. EVER. Don't believe me? Watch!)

2. Greek. How did I miss this show? HOW? But there is a certain pleasure in being able to watch tons of episodes. (I just finished the flashback one, and WOW.)

Two things to read:

1. Agent Michael Bourret talks about advances

2. Agent Jennifer Jackson on art vs. commerce--there's been a lot of talk from writers about this (and probably always will be!), but her response is, I think, both heartfelt and enlightening.

Now I have to go watch a certain something again.

I've been taking yoga classes for a while now, in a--perhaps futile--effort to become the kind of person who can perform a simple stretch without saying things like "Wait, is my leg supposed to make that popping sound?"

I didn't think I'd like it much, but I do. Oh, I'm not very good at it, and don't think I'll ever be, but I find that things like actually having to focus on relaxing is hard.

I mean, when you think about it, relaxing doesn't *seem* hard. You sit, you do nothing. Done! But real relaxation--letting go of all the things you're thinking (read: worrying) about, letting go of everything that's going on in your life and just *being*--has proven surprisingly hard for me. But I keep trying because those moments where my mind stops churning and I'm just....here, not thinking, but just present, are truly relaxing in a way I've never expereienced before.

Of course, I'm still the kind of girl who can come home from yoga class feeling vaguely smug (I managed not to fall over during any of the balance poses. I think I might be getting more graceful! And flexible! WHOO!) and whack herself in the head with the screen door. (So much for grace, eh?)

Before I head out to walk the dog (and yes, I'll watch out for the screen door!) I have some links to share:

An interesting post on second books and the "sophmore slump"

Justine Musk has a new writing essay up. Hurrah! I keep waiting for someone to snap up all her essays and publish them as a writing guide because they're just that good.(I mean, how can you not love this? "So I guess my point– assuming, of course, that there has been a point at all, which is kind of a lot to assume when you really think about it — is something about how the only way I can hope to stay in the game as a published writer is by, well…writing.")

Nathan Bransford wants to know how you feel about writers putting out a book a year--as both a reader and a writer. As you might expect, heaps of comments on this one.

Finally, I'm interviewed about Stealing Heaven over at the YA Authors Cafe.

I spent Saturday moving furniture around, which was about as much fun as it sounds. The thing about buying new furniture is that you have to get rid of the old furniture that the new furniture is replacing, and what seemed like a normal sized chair or sofa suddenly swells up and fills with large stones. (Oh, and if you're clumsy like me, you will drop things. Heavy things. On your feet. Unfortunately, as I bruise if you look sideways at me, the resulting bruises aren't nearly as dramatic as I think they should be. I've had worse bruises from the dog jumping onto my lap and she weighs way less than that stupid furniture!)

Anyway. It's things like this that make me worry about ever moving because if furniture turns cumbersome, what on earth can I expect from all my books? Don't get me wrong--I love my books, I can't go into a bookstore without drooling over at least four things and never leave without at least one book, but the thought of packing them all up? Shudder. I have bookcases that are triple filled, and whenever my parents come by, they always ask (in the way parents do where they pretend they are joking but you know they mean it) if I'm quite sure the second floor of the house will hold up under the weight of my books.**

Speaking of books, I want to say yay! and congratulations to last week's contest winners--Emily, Jacqueline, and Annie.

I also have a few more books to give away: Take Me There by Susane Colasanti, Cindy Ella by Robin Palmer, the dead & the gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer, and A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb. If you're interested in winning one of these, just leave a comment here by midnight EST on Friday, June 27th and then I'll pick four winners at random and each of those four people will get a book. You can enter no matter where you live (I will ship books overseas) and if you've won something from me before.

**I would never tell them this--but occasionally, as the floor creaks under one of my bookcases as I find a way to slide yet another book onto it, I do wonder if they might be right.

OH! I almost forgot, but last week, a commenter asked about BEA pictures, and I do have some--just click on the links embedded in this entry (I can never bring myself to post multiple photos in blog posts, as I always think about people who still have to use dial-up and how long it takes for even one picture to load) But yes, there are BEA pictures here.

Normally, I would be getting ready to watch Tour, but this year, I'm just not excited about it. I know there are a lot of opinions about what happened last year, but I wish Michael Rasmussen hadn't been fired by his team and kicked off the Tour. (There's a fantastic, but long article about what happened here)

It's just as well, anyway, as I'm working on copy edits now, and also have page proofs to do, and various other things. But I will miss the excitement of the Tour (I know you're thinking--um, Elizabeth, it's bicycle racing!--but seriously, it's great fun to watch.)

Before I head back to work, here are some interesting links:

Writers discuss publishers asking for a book a year

Thought-provoking post from Editorial Anonymous on sales peer pressure

Laura Anne Gilman writes about contracts

Agent Kristin Nelson is holding (running?) a poll about buying books (And as someone who just got a Kindle, I have to say that while I'll always love actual books, the Kindle is pretty freaking awesome--and it's nice to know I'm not the only one who likes mine!)

Agent Lucienne Diver has a long, detailed post about query dos and don'ts

To celebrate the fact that summer is here (at least, summer weather is!), I thought I'd give away some books. This week, I'll be giving away:

-- one copy of Stephenie Meyer's new special edition of Eclipse, which has the cover art for Breaking Dawn, a sneak peek at the new book, and more -- PLUS a Twilight tote bag!

-- one SIGNED copy of Melissa Marr's Ink Exchange

-- one set of the P.C. and Kristin Cast House of Night Series--Marked, Betrayed, and Chosen

For a chance at winning one of these prizes, just leave me a comment telling me how summer (or at least, the summer weather!) has been treating you so far. I'll take comments through midnight EST on Friday, June 20th, and then I'll pick three names at random and each of those three people will win one of the prizes! This contest is open to everyone, regardless of where you live (I will ship books overseas) or if you've won something from me before. (Just make sure you leave a way for me to contact you if you win, okay? Please??)

As far as how my summer has been treating me...let's just say I'm grateful for air-conditioning!

Oh! And don't forget, there's still time to enter the STEALING HEAVEN contest--answer three questions, and you could win one of a *bunch* of prizes!

(Also, congrats to Lenore, who won last week's contest and got a copy of Read My Lips!)

STEALING HEAVEN contest!!

Stealing Heaven is now available in your favorite local bookstore and so I'm going to have a STEALING HEAVEN contest because hey, I like contests! And also, this is my first ever hardcover novel, which is pretty exciting!

The STEALING HEAVEN contest is even easier to enter than any of my other book contests---all you have to do is email the answer to three questions about Stealing Heaven to me at elizabethscottcontest@gmail.com

Ready? Okay!

Here are the Stealing Heaven questions!

1. What's Greg's last name?

2. Where does the Donaldson family keep their silver, and what's on it?

3. What's the first thing Dani does using her real name?

Just email the answers to me at elizabethscottcontest@gmail.com

I'll be taking answers to these three questions through July 6th, and will announce the winners on July 7th.

And what are the prizes? I'm glad you asked!

One person will receive a sterling silver Elsa Peretti necklace from Tiffany that I think symbolizes Dani and Greg and reflects something Dani sees at the end of the book.

Twenty other people will each receive $20 gift cards to the bookstore of their choice.

Winners will be chosen at random, and please remember to send the answers to the questions to elizabethscottcontest@gmail.com

Terri Brown, author of the new book Read My Lips, is having a blog party all this week and giving away a ton of books and other prizes. Today she's giving away a copy of my latest novel, Stealing Heaven, so hop on over there and enter if you're interested in winning it or any of the other great prizes she's giving away today.

And since Teri was sweet enough to ask me to be part of her blog party, I'm going to give away a copy of Read My Lips! If you're interested, just leave a comment sometime today, June 10th (make sure you leave a way for me to contact you!) and I'll pick one winner at random tomorrow and send that person a copy of Teri's book!

If you're interested in getting a free note card of Stealing Heaven or Perfect You, getting an autographed bookplate, joining my mailing list, finding out how many books I have out and when the next ones will be in stores, learning more about where I got the ideas for each of my books, and when the book that's excerpted at the end of Perfect You is going to be out, click here.

Also, congrats to the winners of my latest mailing list contest: Rylie, Katlins, Brianna, Brooke, Hannah, Renee, Christina, Sarah, Ashley, and Jen

While I was away, I did guest blogs about writing over at Teen Book Review and Teen Troves--and many thanks to Teen Book Review and Teen Troves for asking me to write and share something with their readers!

And finally, Book Expo America, which is the reason why I've been gone so long.

In short, it was AMAZING. The thrill of signing books in the autographing area, where just two years ago I was waiting in line and never EVER thought I'd be on of the people behind the tables...WOW. Not to mention driving across the country, which--although exhausting--was plenty wonderful too.

Here are a few pics from Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. I also include one of my dog, who became quite the seasoned traveler (as you can see!) and one of myself, taken on the very last day. I think the bags under my eyes ARE my whole face.

Also, here's a look at the cover of Living Dead Girl--which was on display on the wall of the S&S booth (!!!) --and one of me at the booth signing I did on Sunday, with many thanks to everyone who took the time to stop by on the last day of BEA.

Oh! And I got to meet Melissa de la Cruz who is, in a word, FANTASTIC. Plus I got her to sign my copy of Fresh Off the Boat, which, if you haven't read it, you totally should. Right now. Seriously.

How have things been for you?

I'm home--YAY!

I've got loads of messages to answer and I'm going to get to them as soon as I can, I promise. In the meantime, though, I wanted to answer a few questions that have come up.

In the back of Perfect You is an excerpt for a book called Live! Nude! Mom. When is that coming out?

The title of Live! Nude! Mom. had to be changed, and is now called Something, Maybe. It will be out in March 2009.

How many books do you have out, and what books are coming next?

Right now I have three books out: Bloom, Perfect You, and Stealing Heaven.

Living Dead Girl will be out this September.

Something, Maybe (*called Live! Nude! Mom. in the excerpt at the end of Perfect You*) will be out in March 2009, and love you hate you miss you will be out in June 2009.

I'll put up more information on the 2009 books as it becomes available!

How did you get the idea for Bloom/Perfect You/Stealing Heaven?

Look under the Extras section of each of my book pages to find out how I got the idea for each story--and thanks for wanting to know!

Can you autograph my book for me?

It's awfully expensive for you to mail the book to me--and you'd also need to send along a big, postage-paid envelope for me to mail it back!

So, instead, I'd be *thrilled* to send you an autographed bookplate you can put in your book. You can also get note cards for some of my books as well.

Find out how to get an autographed bookplate or note card by going to my bio page. The information is on the right hand side, under Free Stuff.

How do I join your mailing list?

Just go to the contact page, and follow the directions on the right hand side.

Greetings from Arizona!

Right now, I'm trying to get used to this rather strange keyboard I'm using and restrain myself from hauling all my BEA loot out of the car. It's hard, though, because I got so many great books! But I'm not quite sure I'm willing to go through all the drama of putting them back in the car...

BEA was fabulous, and driving across the country has been amazing--I'm so used to there being *things* around that I'd forgotten how beautiful open space can be. I've taken some photos, and I'll try to share them when I get back.

If you're on my mailing list, don't forget that there's a contest going on for Stealing Heaven!

I'll also be running another Stealing Heaven contest, but that'll be starting in a few days. (Once I've gotten back across the country! :-) )