Stephanie Burgis, Writer - Summary Blog Feed http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/summary-rss.xml RSS Feed for Blog Summary from Stephanie Burgis, writer en Stephanie Burgis 2009 120 Literary families http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/literary-families.php On the Edge. It's a great fantasy adventure, it's also a wonderful romance...but what struck me this time, in combination with that mental list I made last week of the comfort books I'd want to carry with me everywhere, is that it's also a fabulous book about family...

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]]> Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:49:47 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/literary-families.php Stephanie Burgis The Great YA Bake Sale of 2010 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/the-great-ya-bake-sale-of-2010.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:57:45 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/the-great-ya-bake-sale-of-2010.php Stephanie Burgis Reading hiccups and a giveaway http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/reading-hiccups-and-a-giveaway.php First, the important news for UK readers: if you live in the UK, check out this giveaway at the BookBabblers! From now until 8pm Monday, 6th September, you can win a copy of A Most Improper Magick just by commenting on the post.

And speaking of books...

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]]> Fri, 03 Sep 2010 11:31:40 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/reading-hiccups-and-a-giveaway.php Stephanie Burgis Aww and Yum... http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/aww-and-yum.php This article made me come very close to tearing up - especially the photos near the bottom of the page. A 100-year-old male tortoise in Kenya has adopted an orphaned baby hippo, and the pictures are incredible. This one was my favorite - but really, if you love animals, click through to see the whole series. It's worth it...

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]]> Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:15:01 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/aww-and-yum.php Stephanie Burgis Links and Kindles and Comfort Books http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/links-and-kindles-and-comfort-books.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:10:40 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/links-and-kindles-and-comfort-books.php Stephanie Burgis Chocolate ecstasy http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/chocolate-ecstasy.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Thu, 26 Aug 2010 13:34:51 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/chocolate-ecstasy.php Stephanie Burgis Because I have the best friends in the world... http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/because-i-have-the-best-friends-in-the-world.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:02:30 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/because-i-have-the-best-friends-in-the-world.php Stephanie Burgis The scary side of parenting http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/the-scary-side-of-parenting.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:02:04 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/the-scary-side-of-parenting.php Stephanie Burgis Today I am actually... http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/today-i-am-actually.php Spy Mice, The Mother Daughter Book Club, and many more. Heather interviewed me as part of her "Pie of the Month" club, and I ended up sharing not only my Thanksgiving recipe for pecan pie (yum!), but also my number one most embarrassing moment as a writer...

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]]> Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:37:25 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/today-i-am-actually.php Stephanie Burgis Pre-Writing, Music, and Weekend http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/pre-writing-music-and-weekend.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Sun, 15 Aug 2010 15:40:59 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/pre-writing-music-and-weekend.php Stephanie Burgis Post-Party Giddiness http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/post-party-giddiness.php A Most Improper Magick. I had been soooooo incredibly nervous about this. In fact, I came very close to not having a launch party at all, because I was too nervous about the whole idea. (How does anyone even organize a launch party? What if the bookstore didn't want to have me and I felt stupid for even asking about it? What if - ?) ...

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]]> Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:37:22 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/post-party-giddiness.php Stephanie Burgis Hair, life, links http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/hair-life-links.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:12:13 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/hair-life-links.php Stephanie Burgis Weekend, dragons, and jacket photos http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/weekend-dragons-and-jacket-photos.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Mon, 09 Aug 2010 22:44:30 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/weekend-dragons-and-jacket-photos.php Stephanie Burgis Anniversary and romance http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/anniversary-and-romance.php Patrick and I got married..

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]]> Sat, 07 Aug 2010 10:56:50 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/anniversary-and-romance.php Stephanie Burgis Publishing, Writing, Treats http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/publishing-writing-treats.php A Most Improper Magick officially came out, and I've finally stopped running to my bookshelf every day to prove to myself that it really was published. It's gone in and out of stock at Amazon.co.uk (and stayed steadily in stock at the Book Depository); it's finally started to hit the shelves of a first few branches of Waterstones in the Midlands, although it'll probably be another week or so before it's unpacked at all the different Waterstones branches around the country...

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]]> Fri, 06 Aug 2010 17:13:03 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/publishing-writing-treats.php Stephanie Burgis Bravery and cookies http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/bravery-and-cookies.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:56:19 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/bravery-and-cookies.php Stephanie Burgis Prize pack winners, room stickers, and BODY http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/prize-pack-winners-room-stickers-and-body.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Mon, 02 Aug 2010 22:04:42 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/prize-pack-winners-room-stickers-and-body.php Stephanie Burgis Today's entry... http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/todays-entry.php Playing by the Book, my favorite parenting blog, where Zoe Toft blogs about the great books she and her kids have read together and comes up with (often awe-inspiring!) activities and crafts for her kids to accompany the books....

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]]> Mon, 02 Aug 2010 10:56:20 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/todays-entry.php Stephanie Burgis Publication Day Party! http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/publication-day-party.php A Most Improper Magick won't actually be on store shelves for at least a few more days (although at least my lovely local Waterstones already has big pictures of it all around the store, because they are AWESOME)...

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]]> Sun, 01 Aug 2010 14:15:15 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/publication-day-party.php Stephanie Burgis Best Mail Day Ever http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/best-mail-day-ever.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:25:37 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/best-mail-day-ever.php Stephanie Burgis Today I have landed... http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/today-i-have-landed.php Un:Bound blog, where I contributed a post to their "Writers Reading" series, talking about my lifelong obsession/addiction/whatever you choose to call it. ;)...

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]]> Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:06:36 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/today-i-have-landed.php Stephanie Burgis Because life is not all about the crazy http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/because-life-is-not-all-about-the-crazy.php Today I am not going to post about the crazy. (Or at least I'm going to try not to. Sometimes it leaks through.) Today I am going to post about something that made me really happy:

Sherlock: A Study in Pink...

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]]> Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:13:35 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/because-life-is-not-all-about-the-crazy.php Stephanie Burgis Full-on Crazy http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/full-on-crazy.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:21:33 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/full-on-crazy.php Stephanie Burgis Chocolate, magic, and a sparkly tiara http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/chocolate-magic-and-a-sparkly-tiara.php Today I am running back and forth around the web! Darren interviewed me at Bart's Bookshelf, "being an interview featuring chocolate, magic, and a sparkly tiara!"

At the end of the interview, there's another chance to win a British ARC - and again, this giveaway is open internationally...

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]]> Tue, 27 Jul 2010 11:15:24 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/chocolate-magic-and-a-sparkly-tiara.php Stephanie Burgis Today's entry... http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/todays-entry.php blogging about one of the books that changed my life forever...

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]]> Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:08:20 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/todays-entry.php Stephanie Burgis Random Sunday Questions and Luxuries http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/random-sunday-questions-and-luxuries.php Celtic Music from Wales CD, which I really like*, and I'm thinking again about how I really need to learn Welsh soon. It's easy to get by without knowing any Welsh, especially in our area of Wales (only an hour from the English border), but it feels silly not to learn it, and even a bit disrespectful. Unfortunately, the classes offered locally won't work for me for various practical reasons...

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]]> Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:36:47 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/random-sunday-questions-and-luxuries.php Stephanie Burgis Voting against perfectionism http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/voting-against-perfectionism.php A Most Improper Magick releases in the UK*, I feel like I'm standing in the middle of a whirl of to-do lists, all of them AMIM-related...but the single most important thing that's happened for me this week is that - incredibly - I actually hit THE END on my rewrite of Kat3! I still haven't sent it to my editor because I need to do a very quick last read-through for historical fact-checking and to make sure I haven't introduced any inconsistencies...but this still feels absolutely huge to me....

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]]> Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:32:29 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/voting-against-perfectionism.php Stephanie Burgis American announcements and a giveaway! http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/american-announcements-and-a-giveaway.php A Most Improper Magick). Here's the front cover, illustrated by the amazing French artist Annette Marnat...

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]]> Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:51:13 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/american-announcements-and-a-giveaway.php Stephanie Burgis The return of a lost love http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/the-return-of-a-lost-love.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:59:33 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/the-return-of-a-lost-love.php Stephanie Burgis Magick winner, house panic, and new challenges http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/magick-winner-house-panic-and-new-challenges.php is the winner of a British ARC of A Most Improper Magick! Congratulations! If you send me your mailing address, I'll put your ARC in the mail ASAP....

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]]> Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:04:06 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/magick-winner-house-panic-and-new-challenges.php Stephanie Burgis Heroine win and a day of decadence http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/heroine-win-and-a-day-of-decadence.php The Heroine's Bookshelf! Congratulations, Erin! Just send Erin a message with your mailing address, and the ARC will be shipped to you...

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]]> Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:58:34 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/heroine-win-and-a-day-of-decadence.php Stephanie Burgis Life shifts, music and chocolate chip cookies http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/life-shifts-music-and-chocolate-chip-cookies.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:21:50 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/life-shifts-music-and-chocolate-chip-cookies.php Stephanie Burgis And another giveaway! http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/and-another-giveaway.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Fri, 09 Jul 2010 15:57:26 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/and-another-giveaway.php Stephanie Burgis Heroines and a Giveaway http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/heroines-and-a-giveaway.php Blood Feud and adored the fact that the heroine, who started out as a delicate 18th-century debutante, has turned into a strong, mature woman who is far better at fighting than the book's 21st-century vampire hero (who is mostly described as "pretty", has a penchant for lace cuffs on his pirate shirts, and absolutely adores the fact that the heroine is so tough)...

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]]> Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:09:58 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/heroines-and-a-giveaway.php Stephanie Burgis Launch parties and giddiness http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/launch-parties-and-giddiness.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:49:51 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/launch-parties-and-giddiness.php Stephanie Burgis Today you can find me http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/today-you-can-find-me.php writing about my wonderful first dog, Nika, and the random act of kindness that brought us together. I hope you enjoy the entry, and please do leave a comment over there if anything occurs to you!

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]]> Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:54:29 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/today-you-can-find-me.php Stephanie Burgis Giveaway winner and chocolate problems http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/giveaway-winner-and-chocolate-problems.php It's Thursday, July 1st, one month before A Most Improper Magick is released in the UK - and according to Random.org, Tim (tjinkerson) is the winner of a signed cover proof!

Tim, please send me a message with your mailing address, and I'll put your signed proof in the mail ASAP.

And now that the business segment of this entry is taken care of...we need to talk about a problem. A serious problem...

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]]> Thu, 01 Jul 2010 16:33:50 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/giveaway-winner-and-chocolate-problems.php Stephanie Burgis Books, Owls, and Shopping Glee http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/books-owls-and-shopping-glee.php White Cat and Alyxandra Harvey's Blood Feud will be mine, along with a couple of adult romances and the latest (Billie Piper) version of Mansfield Park...

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]]> Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:12:40 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/books-owls-and-shopping-glee.php Stephanie Burgis Pride, pics, and a giveaway http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/pride-pics-and-a-giveaway.php decade...

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]]> Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:15:58 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/pride-pics-and-a-giveaway.php Stephanie Burgis Mad, Bad, and...well, possibly just bad after all http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/mad-bad-and...well-possibly-just-bad-after-all.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:06:18 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/mad-bad-and...well-possibly-just-bad-after-all.php Stephanie Burgis Blue Joe http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/blue-joe.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Thu, 24 Jun 2010 15:30:02 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/blue-joe.php Stephanie Burgis Father's Day - a celebration and rant http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/fathers-day-a-celebration-and-rant.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Sun, 20 Jun 2010 11:33:49 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/fathers-day-a-celebration-and-rant.php Stephanie Burgis Cover reveal and ARC winner http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/cover-reveal-and-arc-winner.php

I just got the OK from my UK editor to share my British cover with you guys! Here it is...

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]]> Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:10:49 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/cover-reveal-and-arc-winner.php Stephanie Burgis The good kind of tears, write-a-thon, and links http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/the-good-kind-of-tears-write-a-thon-and-links.php A Most Improper Magick - and it is *perfect*. Not just a great cover, but EXACTLY the perfect cover for the book I wrote and dreamed about for so long. When I saw it, I started to cry because it was so amazing that my book had been so perfectly understood....

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]]> Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:39:17 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/the-good-kind-of-tears-write-a-thon-and-links.php Stephanie Burgis Excuses, favorites, and an ARC giveaway http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/excuses-favorites-and-an-arc-giveaway.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Thu, 10 Jun 2010 17:05:11 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/excuses-favorites-and-an-arc-giveaway.php Stephanie Burgis Girls Behaving Badly - a Guest Blog by Saundra Mitchell http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/girls-behaving-badly-a-guest-blog-by-saundra-mitchell.php Note from Steph: I've been a fan of Saundra's blog for a long time, and I really admire the work she's done helping teens to make their own films as part of Fresh Films and Fresh Writing. Her YA novel, Shadowed Summer (which was nominated for an Edgar Award), is a delicious ghost story set in a small Southern town. It's coming out in paperback on June 8th, and I'm thrilled to be a part of her 30 Days of Summer celebration by hosting her here....

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]]> Fri, 04 Jun 2010 09:30:54 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/girls-behaving-badly-a-guest-blog-by-saundra-mitchell.php Stephanie Burgis Good shows, good books, a rant and belated birthday wishes http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/good-shows-good-books-a-rant-and-belated-birthday-wishes.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Wed, 02 Jun 2010 13:04:15 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/good-shows-good-books-a-rant-and-belated-birthday-wishes.php Stephanie Burgis Birthday gifts and happiness http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/birthday-gifts-and-happiness.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Sat, 29 May 2010 16:05:53 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/birthday-gifts-and-happiness.php Stephanie Burgis Sunburned and nervous http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/sunburned-and-nervous.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Mon, 24 May 2010 18:35:31 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/sunburned-and-nervous.php Stephanie Burgis Redefining Summer, and a Virtual Patio Party http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/redefining-summer-and-a-virtual-patio-party.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Fri, 21 May 2010 20:29:23 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/redefining-summer-and-a-virtual-patio-party.php Stephanie Burgis Time Out, and Comforting Distractions http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/time-out-and-comforting-distractions.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Wed, 19 May 2010 14:56:26 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/time-out-and-comforting-distractions.php Stephanie Burgis Sick Days and Heroes http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/sick-days-and-heroes.php I had a plan for the last few days. I was going to finish my final-final-FINAL British line edits for A Most Improper Magick and then do a bunch of rewriting on Thursday; I was going to travel to London and back on Friday; and then I was going to settle in for an intense weekend of rewriting, starting today.

Unfortunately...

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]]> Sat, 15 May 2010 11:22:42 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/sick-days-and-heroes.php Stephanie Burgis Changes (some unexpected, some secret), an auction, and a good book http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/changes-some-unexpected-some-secret-an-auction-and-a-good-book.php OMG! I only got woken twice! I'm in Heaven!...

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]]> Tue, 11 May 2010 15:51:02 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/changes-some-unexpected-some-secret-an-auction-and-a-good-book.php Stephanie Burgis Mother's Day (again!) http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/mothers-day-again.php I loooooove being a US/UK citizen and getting to celebrate 2 different Mother's Days!

On UK Mother's Day, I talked about me and my experience of being a mother....

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]]> Sun, 09 May 2010 09:18:50 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/mothers-day-again.php Stephanie Burgis Better Days http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/better-days.php what's causing this amazing mood? And then I remembered: MrD slept through the night last night, for the first time EVER!!!!...

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]]> Thu, 06 May 2010 11:53:32 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/better-days.php Stephanie Burgis Good news, bad news, and touchstones http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/good-news-bad-news-and-touchstones.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Tue, 04 May 2010 15:49:51 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/good-news-bad-news-and-touchstones.php Stephanie Burgis Unqualified Goodness http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/unqualified-goodness.php this blog entry by the very awesome Karen Healey, where she orders women to stop qualifying their achievements and start taking pride in them. (And I'd personally extend that order to the men I know, as well.)...

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]]> Sun, 02 May 2010 21:43:40 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/unqualified-goodness.php Stephanie Burgis Friday Five http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/friday-five.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Fri, 30 Apr 2010 21:45:28 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/friday-five.php Stephanie Burgis It's never too early to embarrass your children http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/its-never-too-early-to-embarrass-your-children.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:20:03 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/its-never-too-early-to-embarrass-your-children.php Stephanie Burgis The Scary Stuff http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/the-scary-stuff.php Waterstones.com update!)...

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]]> Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:09:16 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/the-scary-stuff.php Stephanie Burgis Worrying and advising http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/worrying-and-advising.php ohpleasepleaseplease! - but when I do look at Google Analytics, I sometimes worry. Here are a couple of the phrases that people have used to find my website lately...

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]]> Wed, 21 Apr 2010 22:30:27 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/worrying-and-advising.php Stephanie Burgis Life Without Balance http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/life-without-balance.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:06:45 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/life-without-balance.php Stephanie Burgis Unexpected Thursday http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/unexpected-thursday.php Today I woke up feeling human for the first time in days. The Death Cold had finally loosened its slimy grip, and WOW. I was a new person! I took a deep breath without coughing, felt like dancing instead of slumping, and actually found myself seized with the rare urge to GET THINGS DONE!

Well. That didn't work out quite as well as I'd hoped....

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]]> Thu, 15 Apr 2010 20:44:40 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/unexpected-thursday.php Stephanie Burgis Friends, Moondust, and Short Stories http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/friends-moondust-and-short-stories.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:02:02 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/friends-moondust-and-short-stories.php Stephanie Burgis Moving daze, publishing news http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/moving-daze-publishing-news.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:18:30 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/moving-daze-publishing-news.php Stephanie Burgis Finding our Tribes http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/finding-our-tribes.php after Eastercon instead of before...but all the same, the move is feeling pretty intimidating right now. Last night I was lying in bed reminding myself that for better or worse, at least it will be over soon. *Gulp.*...

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]]> Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:15:22 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/finding-our-tribes.php Stephanie Burgis Cons, Panic, and Excitement http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/cons-panic-and-excitement.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:06:47 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/cons-panic-and-excitement.php Stephanie Burgis Book Moods and Stuffed Dinosaurs http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/book-moods-and-stuffed-dinosaurs.php A Most Improper Magick yesterday morning, which meant...drum-roll...it was time to go back to my dragon novel! Or, well, not quite...because poor MrD was still sick, AND we had a (very cool, beloved, and exciting) houseguest arriving that night, so yesterday was be a mix of doctor's appointments, housecleaning, and cuddling/nose-wiping...

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]]> Tue, 30 Mar 2010 16:02:19 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/book-moods-and-stuffed-dinosaurs.php Stephanie Burgis Night Gardens, Copyedits, and Eastercon http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/night-gardens-copyedits-and-eastercon.php and MrD is sick, so all in all, my head is in a state of total mush right now. And of course it didn't help that I ended up watching In the Night Garden with MrD tonight for comfort when he was feeling feverish and sad...I actually like In the Night Garden (MrD's favorite TV show), but there is definitely a surreal quality to it. Also, every time I watch an episode, I end up with all the theme tunes echoing in my head, and not much else left in there...

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]]> Sat, 27 Mar 2010 22:31:19 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/night-gardens-copyedits-and-eastercon.php Stephanie Burgis Good friends and good books http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/good-friends-and-good-books.php drove down to visit! As well as being an awesome writer, Tricia is also an American living in the UK, which is how we first connected (as well as by having a wonderful mutual friend, , and - more recently - having become agency-mates). We've done lots of emailing and some skyping since we first met online, but it was so fabulous to finally get to hang out in person....

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]]> Tue, 23 Mar 2010 21:46:53 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/good-friends-and-good-books.php Stephanie Burgis Happy Saturday http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/happy-saturday.php hope to be able to move in April 1st but have been told that the house might not be ready yet on that date - and our current tenancy expires March 27th!), but right now I'm just massively relieved to have that next stage figured out. And if we end up having to put all our stuff into storage and go hang out in a holiday cottage somewhere in the Welsh mountains for a week or two...well, darn, is all I can say. ;p ...

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]]> Sat, 20 Mar 2010 23:25:59 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/happy-saturday.php Stephanie Burgis Craziness, Chocolate, and a free Kat Sample http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/craziness-chocolate-and-a-free-kat-sample.php Sigh. Still no news from either our future estate agents (to let us know whether we've been approved for the new house, and exactly what date in April we can move in) or our current landlord (to let us know whether we can stay until then, even though our contract runs out next Sunday)....

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]]> Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:54:27 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/craziness-chocolate-and-a-free-kat-sample.php Stephanie Burgis Chaos and news http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/chaos-and-news.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:13:30 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/chaos-and-news.php Stephanie Burgis UK Mother's Day and parenting surprises http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/uk-mothers-day-and-parenting-surprises.php one of those days, because I'm not completely unreasonable...but both days are great excuses for celebratory meals out or vegan brownies!...

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]]> Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:13:44 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/uk-mothers-day-and-parenting-surprises.php Stephanie Burgis Bad Week, Cheer-Ups http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/bad-week-cheer-ups.php anyway. What a cheat!)...

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]]> Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:15:55 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/bad-week-cheer-ups.php Stephanie Burgis Muppet love http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/muppet-love.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:14:26 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/muppet-love.php Stephanie Burgis I R Serious Writer (TM), and a gruesome TV side-effect http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/i-r-serious-writer-tm-and-a-gruesome-tv-side-effect.php OK, there are some days, ever since I signed my first book contracts, when I can actually pretend to myself that I am a Serious Professional Writer...and then there are days when I just can't.

Here is the most recent evidence, from my Friday night of prewriting play for the Austen-y dragon novel...

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]]> Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:47:13 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/i-r-serious-writer-tm-and-a-gruesome-tv-side-effect.php Stephanie Burgis Wistful Friday and Library Love http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/wistful-friday-and-library-love.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:51:12 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/wistful-friday-and-library-love.php Stephanie Burgis Inspiration and dragons http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/inspiration-and-dragons.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:25:35 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/inspiration-and-dragons.php Stephanie Burgis My big news - and ARC giveaway! http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/my-big-news-and-arc-giveaway.php Read full entry | View 2 comments

]]> Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:17:18 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/my-big-news-and-arc-giveaway.php Stephanie Burgis Home again http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/home-again.php amazing. I’ve only been to London a few times (usually for only a few hours at a time), and I always forget, in-between visits, how amazing that city really is...

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]]> Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:17:45 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/home-again.php Stephanie Burgis Bookish bliss and hair disasters http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/bookish-bliss-and-hair-disasters.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:18:10 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/bookish-bliss-and-hair-disasters.php Stephanie Burgis 5 Things on a Thursday http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/5-things-on-a-thursday.php was genuinely fun was getting to start a project and finish it within less than a week. Short stories: the yummy snacks of a writer's life!...

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]]> Thu, 18 Feb 2010 14:29:46 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/5-things-on-a-thursday.php Stephanie Burgis Book News http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/book-news.php A Most Improper Magick has changed. It's now going to be published on June 15th instead of April 20th. Of course I hate having to wait any longer - I want my author copies in my hands and on my bookshelf, now, now, now! - but I love that my publisher really cares about its success and is determined to bring it out at just the right time. Apparently, June is a really good month for my kind of book, so...despite the fact that it's forcing me to (finally) learn the art of patience, this still counts as genuinely good news...

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]]> Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:50:51 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/book-news.php Stephanie Burgis Monday comfort list http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/monday-comfort-list.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Mon, 15 Feb 2010 23:20:37 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/monday-comfort-list.php Stephanie Burgis Joyful burbling http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/joyful-burbling.php OK, you guys are going to have to forgive me if I sound a little giddy...because:

Today I finished writing Kat Book 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

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]]> Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:36:04 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/joyful-burbling.php Stephanie Burgis ARC giveaway and Sick Soup http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/arc-giveaway-and-sick-soup.php A Most Improper Magick is being held by The Story Siren, a fabulous book blogger. You can enter to win an Advance Readers' Copy of the book any time until next Friday, February 19th. Good luck!...

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]]> Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:50:54 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/arc-giveaway-and-sick-soup.php Stephanie Burgis Life Interruptions and a Call for Help http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/life-interruptions-and-a-call-for-help.php Still not King!)...which is kind of frustrating but also kind of a relief...

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]]> Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:45:55 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/life-interruptions-and-a-call-for-help.php Stephanie Burgis Sleepy brain, speedy book, scandalous shopping temptations http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/sleepy-brain-speedy-book-scandalous-shopping-temptations.php I'm too tired to write an entry tonight. The only problem is, that's what I thought last night...and the night before...and if there's one thing parenthood has taught me, it's how to write even when you're so exhausted, the world is starting to go blurry around you....

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]]> Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:17:01 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/sleepy-brain-speedy-book-scandalous-shopping-temptations.php Stephanie Burgis Serendipity, Turtle Steps, and Modified Success http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/serendipity-turtle-steps-and-modified-success.php Finding Your Own North Star, for the umpteenth time, and this time, like every other time I've read it, I've come across various bits that are newly helpful for this particular point in my life. But it's never happened with quite such spookily perfect timing, before...

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]]> Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:30:08 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/serendipity-turtle-steps-and-modified-success.php Stephanie Burgis Writing caves, glamor, and Regency-era TV fun http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/writing-caves-glamor-and-regency-era-tv-fun.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:05:52 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/writing-caves-glamor-and-regency-era-tv-fun.php Stephanie Burgis Tea, Werewolves, and Social Whirls http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/tea-werewolves-and-social-whirls.php I am LOVING all the food requests at the online ARC tea party. OK, it's become obvious that I have TOTALLY different taste in desserts than many people - but that's fun, too! And mostly, I just love that so many people are playing along. :)

(And FWIW, I personally believe that traditional cream teas are the most blissful culinary experience EVER. I grew up reading Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels novels where American heroines go to England and get teased by the hero for going SO INSANE over the cream teas...and guess what? They were totally right.) (In both respects, actually. Unlike me, Patrick is not a cream tea fan, possibly because cream is not vegan.)...

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]]> Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:12:11 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/tea-werewolves-and-social-whirls.php Stephanie Burgis ARC ahoy! http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/arc-ahoy.php I promised back in December that I would give away one ARC a month through April - and even in the midst of writing madness, I have not forgotten. But this time, you'll have to go on a visit with Kat to find it. She's been invited to take tea with 's Bertie and the fairies!

Join the teaparty and enter to win an ARC of A Most Improper Magick!

I love that Lisa let me write fanfic for her characters and world. And can I say...

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]]> Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:51:12 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/arc-ahoy.php Stephanie Burgis Writing, critiquing, and jewelry-shopping http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/writing-critiquing-and-jewelry-shopping.php that much time slide by. Sorry! I am still here, I've just been in mad, final-push mode on Kat3. I'm at about 64,000 words right now, which would mean I was nearly done if I was still aiming for 70,000 words, total...but there is NO WAY I'll be done at 70,000 with this one. That's the downside of writing the most complex book in the series, with the biggest number of characters and subplots - it does take longer to wrap up! (Just in case my editor reads this: but not too much longer, honest! I promise not to turn in anything that makes the desk shake beneath its weight. ;)) On the upside, though, I am really, really enjoying it, and I hope - knock on wood for me, please! - I really, really hope that other people will enjoy it too...

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]]> Sat, 23 Jan 2010 16:45:52 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/writing-critiquing-and-jewelry-shopping.php Stephanie Burgis Poe's birthday, and my first sale http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/poes-birthday-and-my-first-sale.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:15:40 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/poes-birthday-and-my-first-sale.php Stephanie Burgis Austen films and other weaknesses http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/austen-films-and-other-weaknesses.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:12:45 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/austen-films-and-other-weaknesses.php Stephanie Burgis Giving thanks http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/giving-thanks.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:50:28 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/giving-thanks.php Stephanie Burgis Happy Thursday http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/happy-thursday.php It's been a bad last few days for many reasons, foremost among them that MrD has been sick. Nothing dangerous or unusual - just a normal combination of winter illnesses for toddlers - but as I'm rapidly learning, any time my baby is sick, life pretty much grinds to a halt until it's over. I didn't quite give up writing in the past few days, but my wordcount shrank very, very low, and for once, I couldn't make myself regret it. When my baby's sick, looking after him - and decompressing while he sleeps - really does cancel out all my other priorities.

But! Today the whole world is shiny and happy because he's feeling better. Yayyyyy! Everything feels happier and lighter now, and all my goals suddenly sound so much more do-able. So I thought I'd list some of the things that are making me particularly happy today...

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]]> Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:58:49 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/happy-thursday.php Stephanie Burgis TV redemption, writing inspiration, and a touch of madness http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/tv-redemption-writing-inspiration-and-a-touch-of-madness.php OK, I admit it. As much as I truly disliked the Dr Who Christmas special, which was Part I of the season finale, and as much as I wondered if I should even bother to watch Part II after such a disappointing Part I...well, by the end of Part II, I was in tears. It totally blew me away.

I am so, so sad that David Tennant (my favorite Doctor ever) has left the show...which makes it all the more impressive that...

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]]> Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:01:02 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/tv-redemption-writing-inspiration-and-a-touch-of-madness.php Stephanie Burgis Sleet, Shame, and Resolution Difficulties http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/sleet-shame-and-resolution-difficulties.php Oddly, I am much less excited by the post-Christmas sleet than I was by all that lovely white Christmas snow. Sigh. I'm trying not to take it as a sign...

Apart from the sleet, though, everything is going really well. Or, at least... Ahem. Everything has been going well apart from The Horrible And Humiliating Pie Incident, but I don't think I'm quite ready to write about that in any detail yet. Let's just say...

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]]> Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:20:14 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/sleet-shame-and-resolution-difficulties.php Stephanie Burgis TV disappointment, present gloating, and free Christmas gifts http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/tv-disappointment-present-gloating-and-free-christmas-gifts.php bad. On the other hand, Patrick didn't dislike it as much as I did, so who knows? It's a subjective thing...

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]]> Sun, 27 Dec 2009 18:24:31 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/tv-disappointment-present-gloating-and-free-christmas-gifts.php Stephanie Burgis Christmas Eve http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/christmas-eve.php Christmas Eve on Sesame Street is playing in the background (on YouTube!), and poor Cookie Monster keeps accidentally losing the plot of all his letters to Santa. Meanwhile, Patrick is taking down the baby gate that we've used to protect our Christmas tree from eager toddler fingers this past week. All of MrD's presents are wrapped, along with most of the presents for other relatives, but Patrick and I are waiting until tonight to wrap each other's presents, because that's part of the fun...

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]]> Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:56:54 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/christmas-eve.php Stephanie Burgis Competition Winners, Good Books, and Good News http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/competition-winners-good-books-and-good-news.php random number generator to pick the winner and the two runners up, and this is what it chose...

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]]> Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:37:41 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/competition-winners-good-books-and-good-news.php Stephanie Burgis Werewolves and Copyedits and Guest Posts, oh my! http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/werewolves-and-copyedits-and-guest-posts-oh-my.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:01:43 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/werewolves-and-copyedits-and-guest-posts-oh-my.php Stephanie Burgis Christmas Joy and Mysterious Packages http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/christmas-joy-and-mysterious-packages.php

The other day, I read a blog entry that made me laugh and nod in recognition...

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]]> Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:03:12 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/christmas-joy-and-mysterious-packages.php Stephanie Burgis Computer Woes and ARC Giveaway http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/computer-woes-and-arc-giveaway.php Alas, there was no Christmas miracle at the Apple store on Saturday afternoon. Kind of the opposite, actually...

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]]> Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:18:25 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/computer-woes-and-arc-giveaway.php Stephanie Burgis Catastrophes and Agent Appreciation http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/catastrophes-and-agent-appreciation.php Yesterday something terrible happened. I mean, REALLY terrible (at least if you're a writer and you need this one single piece of equipment for everything you do, and you love it, and, and...okay, I'll finish my story first before I descend into panicky babbling). All of a sudden, my laptop crashed. I shrugged, restarted it...

...and a gray screen popped up with the picture of a folder with a bouncing question mark inside. In other words: it couldn't find my hard drive. And it hasn't been able to ever since...

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]]> Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:10:25 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/catastrophes-and-agent-appreciation.php Stephanie Burgis Books, books, books! http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/books-books-books.php her favorite MG books from 2009, and since I am (of course!) mostly buying books as Christmas presents, I thought many of you guys might be, too. So I figured I'd share the list of my top favorite YA and MG books that I read in 2009....

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]]> Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:16:43 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/books-books-books.php Stephanie Burgis The trouble with Christmas http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/the-trouble-with-christmas.php I love Christmas. Really, everybody who knows me knows that. I love picking out presents. I love listening (obsessively) to Christmas music, decorating the tree, lighting advent candles, indulging in long, drawn-out fantasies about how the presents will look under the tree on Christmas morning...

Well, maybe you're starting to see the problem...

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]]> Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:25:53 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/the-trouble-with-christmas.php Stephanie Burgis Back in the groove http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/back-in-the-groove.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:31:47 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/back-in-the-groove.php Stephanie Burgis Thanksgiving Winners and Christmas Glee http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/thanksgiving-winners-and-christmas-glee.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:44:36 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/thanksgiving-winners-and-christmas-glee.php Stephanie Burgis A startling discovery and a final reminder http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/a-startling-discovery-and-a-final-reminder.php Yesterday, I discovered somewhere very, very dangerous. It's a town called Hay-on-Wye, and the entrance sign welcomed us to: "The Town of Books"

YES. I always knew it had to exist somewhere, and now I've finally found it: The Town of Books!

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]]> Mon, 30 Nov 2009 13:06:17 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/a-startling-discovery-and-a-final-reminder.php Stephanie Burgis Bad ideas for mothers http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/bad-ideas-for-mothers.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:11:33 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/bad-ideas-for-mothers.php Stephanie Burgis Today's journal entry http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/todays-journal-entry.php ...is actually over at SFNovelists.com: A Literary Thanksgiving.

Today I'm talking about the writers who make me want to write. If you have time, I hope you'll stop by (and comment with a few of your own favorites)!

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]]> Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:06:40 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/todays-journal-entry.php Stephanie Burgis Traumatic shots and comfort reads http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/traumatic-shots-and-comfort-reads.php Oh dear.

29 years ago, when I was 3-1/2 years old, my little brother got his MMR vaccination shots...and I went into flailing hysterics on the floor of the doctor's office, so horrified and upset on my little brother's behalf (because I KNEW how much those needles hurt!) that I just couldn't cope.

So you can imagine how I felt this morning...

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]]> Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:49:08 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/traumatic-shots-and-comfort-reads.php Stephanie Burgis Thanksgiving Giveaway http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/thanksgiving-giveaway.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:26:01 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/thanksgiving-giveaway.php Stephanie Burgis Almost-Thanksgiving http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/almost-thanksgiving.php When you move to a foreign country, it's a real challenge to figure out which of your own traditions to keep, which to amend, and which to give up. Since I moved to the UK seven years ago, I've comfortably given up celebrating the Fourth of July. (Honestly, how would I celebrate it on my own anyway? Poor Maya is deathly afraid of fireworks, so we couldn't exactly hold a display in our back yard...)

But there's one American-only holiday that I just couldn't give up...

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]]> Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:09:35 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/almost-thanksgiving.php Stephanie Burgis Because I am a big geek http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/because-i-am-a-big-geek.php A Most Improper Magick - that's a full test version of the paper outer cover that will wrap around the book itself - first I screamed out loud, and then...why, yes, then the cameras came out! I couldn't resist...

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]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:41:08 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/because-i-am-a-big-geek.php Stephanie Burgis 16 months of short stories http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/16-months-of-short-stories.php SFWA has just opened its Nebula nomination period, and in response, a bunch of writers I know have been posting lists of their Nebula-eligible short stories.

I feel totally, totally conflicted about this. On the one hand, it makes a lot of sense. On the other hand, the idea of doing it myself makes me feel very weird, insecure, and uncomfortable. However, I've made a recent resolution to start acting genuinely proud of the work I do, rather than talking it down out of some weird version of Midwestern politeness, so...

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]]> Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:38:53 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/16-months-of-short-stories.php Stephanie Burgis Forests and Books http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/forests-and-books.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:31:41 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/forests-and-books.php Stephanie Burgis Castles and Farewells http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/castles-and-farewells.php Dave, who left this afternoon after a wonderful six-week visit. He helped us move house, he made both me and MrD fabulous omelettes, he watched "The Muppet Movie" with me and cooked so inventively that he actually persuaded me to like eggplant for the first time in my life...

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]]> Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:14:00 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/castles-and-farewells.php Stephanie Burgis Technical Question http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/technical-question.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:06:34 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/technical-question.php Stephanie Burgis True Names http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/true-names.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:42:27 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/true-names.php Stephanie Burgis A shockingly unusual circumstance http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/a-shockingly-unusual-circumstance.php Tonight I did something bizarre and shockingly unprecedented: I sat down with Patrick, and we watched a TV show. WHOA. It's been...

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]]> Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:53:58 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/a-shockingly-unusual-circumstance.php Stephanie Burgis Treats? http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/treats.php This last week has been full of lots of good things, but it's been an awfully tired week for me, as I've been slammed with post-move exhaustion at the same time as a new phase of teething has hit poor MrD. So even though lots of good things have been going on, I've been feeling kind of bleagh.

Being me, of course, my natural solution to any dilemma, no matter how large or small, is: read a book! ;) Luckily, this time my favorite strategy has actually been working...

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]]> Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:41:00 -0700 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/treats.php Stephanie Burgis Halloween, disillusionment, and good recipes http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/halloween-disillusionment-and-good-recipes.php Happy Halloween, everybody! For the first time in years, it actually feels like a real Halloween to me, because we're finally living in a neighborhood with lots of kids who trick or treat....

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]]> Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:22:15 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/halloween-disillusionment-and-good-recipes.php Stephanie Burgis Today's blog entry http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/todays-blog-entry.php check it out. Please do comment if anything strikes you!

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]]> Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:41:52 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/todays-blog-entry.php Stephanie Burgis Writing tips for teens http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/writing-tips-for-teens.php Whew. We've been settled in our new house for a few days now, and it's finally starting to feel like home. Our neighbors have been really friendly - there's a lovely feeling to the community around here - and today is the first day I haven't been to my favorite coffee shop. (I needed to take a day off to protect myself from their gorgeous vegan brownies. CANNOT RESIST!!!!)

So...

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]]> Sun, 25 Oct 2009 18:25:20 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/writing-tips-for-teens.php Stephanie Burgis Competition winners http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/competition-winners.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:39:19 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/competition-winners.php Stephanie Burgis Moving, friends, and little magics http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/moving-friends-and-little-magics.php

In the last few days...

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]]> Sun, 18 Oct 2009 12:29:30 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/moving-friends-and-little-magics.php Stephanie Burgis A long whine and a brief Hollywood touch http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/a-long-whine-and-a-brief-hollywood-touch.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:39:52 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/a-long-whine-and-a-brief-hollywood-touch.php Stephanie Burgis Lightening the load http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/lightening-the-load.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Sun, 11 Oct 2009 21:37:21 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/lightening-the-load.php Stephanie Burgis Bullet Points Galore http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/bullet-points-galore.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:45:46 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/bullet-points-galore.php Stephanie Burgis Book Trailer - And a Regency Competition http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/book-trailer-and-a-regency-competition.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:02:10 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/book-trailer-and-a-regency-competition.php Stephanie Burgis And http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/and.php Join me over at BLOGFEST!

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]]> Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:43:36 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/and.php Stephanie Burgis Feeling a bit unsteady http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/feeling-a-bit-unsteady.php Whew. Well, we're back in Leeds, after a week in Wales. We celebrated MrD's birthday, got the keys to our new house, paid for a DEEP clean of the carpets (which actually changed color when they were cleaned!), and best of all, I mostly got over my horrible cold. So I am feeling much less sorry for myself and and am much better company now, I hope. :)

We've got two weeks left in Leeds before we finally do our move, and I'm experiencing really mixed feelings....

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]]> Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:34:07 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/feeling-a-bit-unsteady.php Stephanie Burgis Tenners Tell All http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/tenners-tell-all.php read my answer over here (which involves hot chocolate and hysterical giggling, naturally! ;p ), and check back on the comments throughout the day to read answers from all the other awesome Tenners!

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]]> Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:42:22 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/tenners-tell-all.php Stephanie Burgis Kat Cover! http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/kat-cover.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:34:36 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/kat-cover.php Stephanie Burgis Today's blog entry http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/todays-blog-entry.php Here's how I answered...

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]]> Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:34:13 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/todays-blog-entry.php Stephanie Burgis Colds, keys, and family http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/colds-keys-and-family.php almost everything I write comes down to families in the end (and why that's true). I hope you like it!

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]]> Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:12:46 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/colds-keys-and-family.php Stephanie Burgis This weekend's blog entry http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/this-weekends-blog-entry.php One year later. In which I talk about how radically, astonishingly different life is now than it was one year ago... ;)

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]]> Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:33:01 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/this-weekends-blog-entry.php Stephanie Burgis Black Holes, Re-starts, and the Writing Life http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/black-holes-re-starts-and-the-writing-life.php Aiyee. What is it about Mothercare? At 11a.m., we decided to drive out there to buy a new car seat for MrD. I figured we'd be back by noon. Instead, we staggered back into the house after 2:00, weighed down by boxes and boxes and bags and bags of stuff, all of which somehow turned out to be vitally important.

Of course one plausible interpretation is: we're just total suckers when it comes to baby supplies. But even so, how could it all possibly take so LONG? Mothercare really is a black hole - time works differently there...

In better news, I've started Chapter Eight of Kat3 again, and it's going much, much better this time...

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]]> Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:23:17 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/black-holes-re-starts-and-the-writing-life.php Stephanie Burgis Autumn, Embarrassment, and Chapter One http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/autumn-embarrassment-and-chapter-one.php Autumn has definitely arrived in northern England. The leaves are starting to change, the sky is pale gray, the air is full of chilly mist, and we had to turn on the heating in the house a few days ago.

But hey! We just got good news yesterday...

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]]> Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:18:12 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/autumn-embarrassment-and-chapter-one.php Stephanie Burgis Blogfest begins! http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/blogfest-begins.php Hooray! Simon & Schuster's YA BLOGFEST has started, and when I looked through the full list of participating authors today, I felt...well, to be honest, I felt completely intimidated. Holly Black, Scott Westerfeld, L.J Smith, Sarah Rees Brennan, Sarah Beth Durst, Cynthia Kadohata, Becca Fitzpatrick...! The list goes on and on, full of really stunning authors.

And, um, me. Eek...

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]]> Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:54:48 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/blogfest-begins.php Stephanie Burgis New website! http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/new-website.php Whew! After months of preparation and planning, today my brand-new author website is finally online! Patrick designed and built the website for me (it is sooooo convenient to be married to a web developer!), I wrote the text, we came up with photos together...and I can't believe it's finally up!

I liked my old website, but I LOVE this one, which is much bigger and also more Kat-centered, with tons of behind-the-scenes info, Regency trivia, and more. There's going to be even more stuff on it soon - my plan is to update it regularly and gradually add videos, excerpts from the book (once my publisher OKs them! :) ), quizzes, competitions, etc...

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]]> Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:12:14 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/new-website.php Stephanie Burgis Friends, writing, and photos http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/friends-writing-and-photos.php Sigh. I love having guests, but it always feels so sad when they have to leave!

We had a great time with Tiffany Trent, who came on Saturday and stayed until this morning. We talked writing, books, pirate girls and perfect SF convention T-shirts...we went out to Bolton Abbey to show Tiffany what my imagined "Grantham Abbey" in A Most Improper Magick was based on (and ohhhh, that was a poignant trip, since it may well have been my Very Last Trip to Bolton Abbey, if we really do move to Wales in a few weeks)...and in a brilliant move, Patrick and I used the excuse of a houseguest to justify getting lots and lots of wonderful Indian curries from our favorite restaurants. Yum!!!

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]]> Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:52:01 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/friends-writing-and-photos.php Stephanie Burgis Jumping Off Swings http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/jumping-off-swings.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:51:28 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/jumping-off-swings.php Stephanie Burgis Excellent Distractions and ARC Panic http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/distractions-and-fear.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:01:50 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/distractions-and-fear.php Stephanie Burgis ARC joy! http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/arc-joy.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:38:27 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/arc-joy.php Stephanie Burgis The Paradox of Baby Time, and a Book Problem http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/the-paradox-of-baby-time.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:10:36 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/the-paradox-of-baby-time.php Stephanie Burgis Whew! http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/whew.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:53:09 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/whew.php Stephanie Burgis Offerings! http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/offerings.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:37:19 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/offerings.php Stephanie Burgis The only downside of having a dog... http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/the-only-downside.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:39:35 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/the-only-downside.php Stephanie Burgis Who Am I This Time? http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/who-am-i-this-time.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:51:50 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/who-am-i-this-time.php Stephanie Burgis Zombie Daze http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/zombie-daze.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:19:00 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/zombie-daze.php Stephanie Burgis And some Strange Horizons love http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/strange-horizons-love.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:27:12 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/strange-horizons-love.php Stephanie Burgis Thai Food & TV Rationalizations http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/thai-food-tv-rationalizations.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:05:05 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/thai-food-tv-rationalizations.php Stephanie Burgis Anniversary secrets revealed http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/anniversary-secrets-revealed.php Read full entry | View 0 comments

]]> Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:25:38 -0600 http://www.stephanieburgis.com/blog/anniversary-secrets-revealed.php Stephanie Burgis