A Short Post of Updates and One Big Congratulations

For once, I actually have a clear idea of what posts I need to write for this blog in the coming weeks. I also have a slew of things I need to do before I leave for Taiwan on the 4th of June (eeep!), which is sort of annoying because I want to write those posts!

To give you a heads up, here's what's coming: 

• I'm changing the blog name and the blog URL for reasons that I will mention in a post. This will most likely happen after the Writer's Voice contest. I know this will cause some confusion at first, especially if you're subscribed to me by email (I've read that you might have to subscribe again, but to the new URL) but bear with me and hopefully I won't lose any of you. 
• I am currently querying Hesperia, and you know what that means: new novel time! Drafting! I have a series of posts planned on my drafting process because I definitely feel like this blog needs one. 
• Expect *maybe* a post detailing my attempts at writing on the 15+ hour plane ride and my traveling essentials for writing stuffs. The *maybe* is there because I haven't traveled overseas for...four years? and there is a very real possibility I will lose all my baggage board the wrong flight set off the metal detector screw up somewhere and be unable to deliver the post. Sacrifice some offering to the cat gods for me please.

And now to the part of the post I've been itching to write*...

My biggest congratulations goes to Carissa (you should totally check out her blog because it has some really cool features and helpful tools for writers, but mostly because she's just awesome all around) FOR SIGNING WITH AN AGENT. Yes, signing with an agent is only one milestone in the long road to publication, but still, I am seriously SO EXCITED for her. About two years ago I read some of her first novel, and the writing absolutely hooked me. Everyone should watch out for her as the next big thing. 

*If you've followed me for some time, you'll see that I've done some similar posts of this sort (e.g. cover reveals and pub day posts). While there aren't that many, writing one always makes me sort of sentimental. I've been on the road of seriously pursuing publication for over three years now, which is not that long of time comparatively. Yet I've experienced the highs and lows, and I feel a lot of empathy with everyone on the same path as I. To see other writers whom I respect and admire attain what they deserve is so rewarding. I'm very lucky to be able to celebrate with them.  

Summer and Books and Stuff

A few matters to disclose!

My summer vacation begins soon! Very soon, as in two days. I am beyond excited, because that means four things:

1. I will have unlimited time in the world to sleep.
2. I will have time to write more of my WIP.
3. I will have time to write non-WIP related stuff, too. Like, this blog. And tweet. Yes, I am miserably failing at twitter (AKA I tweet maybe once a week.)
4. I will have more time to read.

Essentially, I will have time. Who knew that time could be so valuable?

In addition to the usual stuff that goes on this blog (my writing process, my WIPs, my musings), I hope to do more posts on books. Summer is the best time to catch up on new titles of the year and reread the old favorites and I'd love to share with you some of my to-reads, my favorites, and my go-to list for inspiration.

Speaking of books, you're wondering about that nonfiction book on the Vietnam War that I was talking about, right? Well, turns out that we DON'T have to take notes on it, but I DO have a book review that I will post tomorrow right here and on Goodreads. Tiger Force by Michael Sallah and Mitch Weiss was eye-opening, informative, and gruesome. If you know about the My Lai Massacre that occurred during the war, then you might not be surprised. If not, I would brace yourself before reading this. It delivers what it promises--a story of men and war--but it also goes much deeper than that, digging into the psychology and platoon politics on the field. I do have some criticisms, but that will all be in the book review.

Do you usually have more time in the summer to do writing/reading related activities?