Preschools N' Stuff

So I will admit that as a Mommy, I've been a little lackadaisical about preschool, perhaps ambivalent, maybe even a tiny bit fearful. A year and a half ago we had a BAAAAD preschool experience. Not the kind that scarred our tiny little tot for life...but perhaps Mommy and Daddy. We made it through two days at the awful-name-to-be-withheld-facility and quickly pulled our little preschooler O-U-T. And well here we are a year and a half later...I did mention the word lackadaisical didn't I? But this week...the Sun smiled it's face down on us, the heaven's opened wide and Mommy reached the PROMISED land. I found the perfect preschool (if such a thing exists). And the timing? Well it coulnd't have been more perfect. I just happened to call on the day of pre-school orientation, there just happened to be potentially 2 spots, I just happened to love the school, the director, the teachers (2 per classroom 2!!!) And all was right with the world as I came singing home to my family to let my hubby (not the tiny tot yet as the 2 spots were po-ten-tial) know, that I returned victorious, from my pre-school expedition. Then the hammer fell...no spot, now, but soon. So my ambivalence replaced with enthusiasm, my lakidaisical attitude replaced with exuberance and fear replaced with excitment...waits. We wait for the perfect pre-school, to have a spot for our beloved. And although I now anxiously await this wonderful place for my tiny tot, I know, know, know that I've found a wonderful spot for her to start school.
xo Maggie

Writer Envy

Oh yes, I fight it. I really do try. But writer envy often rears it's ugly head. So many great books, and why didn't I get to write them all? Here's a couple that tripped my trigger lately:

Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan



Oh and I've mentioned that I like these





And the author...just as cute as the cover? So not fair! Fabulous writer, great book, wonderful woman... (love you Ally)

Okay and the cover art on this one?



Well guess what? The book is just as great as the cover.

Ooo and this classic that I just read...I know how could I LIVE WITHOUT READING THIS BOOK?




So do we see a theme here? Umm, yes we do! Young Adult and Middle Grade books! Because guess why? Because my beloved family which by the way if FULL of adolescent or pre-adolescent, or someday will be adolescent, or post-menopausal but act like adolescent women who want to read something I wrote. Uh, yeah. My books...the Hollywood Girls Club Books very very fun in that grown up bad girl sort of way but definately not for the girls. I wouldn't even let my girls read them before 18 ahem their Dad says twenty. Dream on Chadaddy! So in response to this request I have in fact begun my first young adult book. Oooo. Do I love it. Of course I can DREAM that one day soon, I will keep company with some of the above writers. I mean without dreams we have what? NOTHING! How else does a girl from Bloomington, Illinois end up an author is Los Angeles? By way of motion picture agent??? Hmmm....dream big or go home.

Oh and this one...



Much love,
xoMaggie

Secrets of The Hollywood Girls Club

Hello everyone! I know it's been waaaayyyy too long since my last post. I've finished the second book in the Hollywood Girls Club series. Secrets of The Hollywood Girls Club publishes April 2008
The cover looks fabulous! Thanks to the folks at Crown.



Would love to know your thoughts on the Secrets cover. Love it? Hate it? I wasn't sure of the green until Lindsey the Fabulous sent me a color chip and now I want to paint my bedroom the same color.

I just finished the first 60 pages of my first Young Adult manuscript. Can't share the title just yet...but soon.

GREAT BOOKS
Recently I reread Amazing Grace by Megan Shull. Now I don't reread many books (so many books so little time). But Amazing Grace truly gets better each time! The story of a tennis phenom who chucks the star status for a normal teenage life. The book is exquisitely written and has a great message. Miss Shull's writing appears effortless. Although a Young Adult book, I highly recommend this book for all ages.

xo Maggie