I have to admit, I’m falling more and more under the spell of the exploding genre of Jane Austen spin-off novels. It’s a little like being in a secret club with loads of other people who love the original stories just as much as you. And the covers are just fabulous…

Just this afternoon I finished Austenland by Shannon Hale. I really enjoyed it. It was short but unique, and the writing style was quirky enough to appeal but not enough to distract. I currently have Me and Mr. Darcy (a Target Booksense Pick) on reserve at the library, and A Family Fortune in my TBR stack. I’m putting off Book 7 for this! But so far, so good.

A few weeks ago I did a Thursday 13 on Places I’d Love to Visit, and the books I blame for it. Well…if we count TV shows, I can now happily add Stars Hollow, Connecticut, quirky hometown of the Gilmore Girls. My husband and I marathoned our way through Season 2 (which was already overdue at the library) this weekend, and even got our two sons watching a couple of episodes. My older son (seven) thinks Rory is ‘cool’. And now I officially want to visit. I want to sit in the gazebo, stay at the inn, have burgers at Luke’s, and be there for a festival or two.

I’ve now seen the ‘jam hands’ episode Virginia mentioned, but I’m not yet to the Mary Poppins/bungee-jumping scene I saw mentioned on another blog. I’m starting to feel a little ‘in the loop’, and my husband is still just as hooked. He regularly looks away from the television at me, grinning, and says, ‘That’s a good line.’ Now Season 3 is on reserve at the library.

I need to figure out what else Jess has been in though…it’s really been bugging me. A-ha! Checked IMDB–he’s Peter Petrelli! From Heroes. AT LAST! Now I know.

Since half the year is already over (more than, actually), I thought maybe I should check my resolution progress. I didn’t really want to look, remembering that I’d said that this book–the one I’ve been working on FOR-EVER–will be done this year. But I did, and here’s the status…

2007 New Year’s Resolutions
1. Write six days a week. And on the seventh day, strive to keep my WIP fresh in my mind. I was doing this–100 words in 100 days, right??? But I derailed a bit on my vacation and haven’t started up again yet. I’m catching up with my critiquing and my laundry.

2. Resolve all those open questions surrounding my manuscript. So not accomplished. If anything, now there are more questions now that I have a critique partner.

3. Finish it, revisions and all. Yikes! I better get busy! One more month of summer vacation and both boys are in school–I might manage it yet…

4. Pitch to an agent in person. Did it.

5. Query 10-15 agents via email or snail mail. Didn’t do it…yet.

6. Refuse to get discouraged if I only get rejections. I was actually a little psyched by my last rejection–it was positive and encouraging.

7. Make the decision whether to pursue additional agents and traditional publishing or try going it alone again (via self-publishing). Still considering both options.

8. Read for pleasure–even a little bit–every day. Way, way, way behind. So many good books on my nightstand…

9. Tell myself everyday that my WIP is shaping up, getting better, and will eventually become a published book. Kinda-sorta.

10. Start on my next book. I have a new idea for a historical…I’m actually excited about it.

11. Blog five days a week on topics that will lure some more regulars. I’m still blogging about four days a week, but I have some new, fun readers.

And, taking a bit of advice from Jenny Crusie, I’m listing a few indulgences for 2007 too…

2007 New Year’s Indulgences

1. Take (note that’s not ‘make’) a little bit of time to write everyday. If I don’t take it, it’s lost to other things. Yes, yes, yes!

2. Read everyday…articles, novels, craft books, anything good. No, no, no.

3. Redesign and revamp my website and my blog–totally new look. More polished, more professional, more personality. At this point, I’m gathering ideas, thinking I’ll work on it this fall when I need a break from writing.

4. Organize my office…which basically means buy all those cute and useful little office products to cheer me up and make me more efficient. Then use them. Kinda, sorta. Progress has been made.

5. Reward myself for each 2007 Resolution accomplished. This probably means in books, but a luxurious vacation would be nice too. Oh, I’ve been suitably compensated with books. No luxurious vacation on the horizon though…
All right! So not too shabby. I’m actually encouraged. Now if I could just get this book finished…