Between reading every night and whenever I can sneak it in durning the day, then reading to my kids every night and listening to audio books, I managed to rack up a respectable 107 books read in 2011. I thought I would be happy about this until I realized a couple of things…
I think I’m a slow reader. I’m watching bloggers, friends and my uber awesome agent Michelle Wolfson tear through books at a mind boggling speed. What’s weird is that until now, I had no idea that I was such a slow reader. Because I’ve always read a high volume of books, I’ve been under the impression that I was fast.
Yeah…I was living a pipe dream.
I’ve never been more aware of this than this week. Gina Rosati of the Class of 2k12 is the first person (that I know of) to get an ARC of TOUCHING THE SURFACE. She’s the first in line for the Class of 2k12 ARC TOUR. This means that she is READING IT RIGHT NOW–ironically at the same time that I’m reading it for my last round of edits. I started days before her and I’m crossing my fingers that she doesn’t finish before me. Why do I care? Well, because I’m weirdly self conscious of my overly long second toes and now my pokey reading skills. Duh.
My second reading worry is that after making friends with all these wonderful debut authors, I’ve come to realize that if I only read their books–I still wouldn’t have enough time to read them all. I’d come up short by about 40-50 books at least. *sheesh* This doesn’t leave me any reading time for the books I read with my kids, adult books, or books by already established authors that I love or I’m interested in!!!! *head thunk*
And of course, if you’re wondering, this in no way prevents me from buying more books. Because hell, I’m an optimist!! I work hard to be a better dance. I train to run faster and longer. By golly, I’m going to read more books. Is it realistic? Can I become a faster reader? Who knows, but I think I’ll have a fun time trying!!!! And if I can’t learn to read a little faster than I’m just going to have to do less laundry. :o)
So, my Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge goal is 110 books. Secretly I’m hoping to make at least 120–maybe even 125.
What’s you’re reading goal for 2012?
Tags: 2012, Goodreads, Kim Sabatini, Kimberly Sabatini, reading, Slow reading, YA Author, YA Novel, YA Writer
I went skiing for the first time this weekend. Once, twenty years ago, I slapped on a set of skis (without any instruction) and slid down a big hill on my butt, but I’m pretty sure that doesn’t count as experience.
I started off the weekend taking a two hour private lesson with the hubby. Our instructor–aka Big Jim–was a sweet and easy going teacher. Then he asked me to put on the skis and move forward down this giant hill gentle slope so we could take the little lift up. My first thought was–he must be joking. Why was he overestimating my ability to 1) stay upright while moving in a downward direction and 2) stop once I started. But I figured if this guy was willing to play a human game of bowling with all those people at the bottom of the incline, I was brave enough to see how many I could knock down.
Obviously, Big Jim could smell talent. Because once I got my snow legs under me, I was pretty good for a newbie LOL! With a little instruction, some dancer’s balance and my runners legs, it wasn’t long before I was kicking fluffy butt on the bunny slopes. But, it was very interesting to me to realize that I could have good balance and strong legs, but I still needed to understand those key pieces of instruction to make me comfortable on the slopes. All the little tidbits were helpful, but there was one in particular that really stuck with me and I think it translates very well to real life…
*The best way to slow down or stop yourself when you’re going too fast, is to gently turn and go back uphill.
I know this sounds like the most obvious piece of information EVER–kind of like–if you fall down, the best way to get up is to stand on your feet, but I swear it hadn’t occurred to me. In my mind, the whole point of skiing is to go DOWN THE HILL and the best way to slow down is to hit the brakes and snow plow. And of course–if that doesn’t work–fall down.
But, seriously, shouldn’t it be obvious that reversing direction slows that trajectory?
My mind kept returning to the simplicity of the concept. When life is moving too fast. When things are out of control–slow down and turn around. Go back to the place and the speed where you feel comfortable.
Wait for it…you know it’s coming…
In my mind, being a debut author is an exhilarating, once in a lifetime, wind-in-your hair kind of journey and sometimes–without warning–you find yourself traveling downhill way too fast. I’ve seen people throw on their snow plows while leaving a smoke trail behind. They rapidly burn through all the energy that they have. I’ve seen people crash when they couldn’t put the breaks on fast enough. I’ve felt myself have those moments where things begin to happen way too quickly and in a panic, I make a not so advantageous snap decision. And then I’m kicking myself afterwards.
I think that from now on, I’m going to try to remember what I learned on the slopes. I don’t need to panic, I just need to make a gentle turn and head up hill until I’m moving slow enough that I can make a thoughtful decision about where to point my skis next. I need to use my environment and my skills to my best advantage. There is nothing wrong with setting your own pace and being comfortable. It’s a lot more fun to make it down the hill dry and on your skis than it is to roll down on your face–cold and wet–too afraid to ever try it again. :o)
So, have you ever been skiing? Best tip? Funniest story? Biggest fear?
Tags: debut, Kim Sabatini, Kimberly Sabatini, skiing, YA Author, YA Novel, YA Writer
Today is my 1st Anniversary!!! It’s been one year since I signed with Michelle Wolfson of Wolfson Literary Agency and became part of the Wolf Pack. I adore my agent and love my agency sistahs!!! Without a doubt, this is the perfect place for me.
It’s my tendency to write something emotional on such a momentous occasion, but right now I want to have a smile on my face as I enjoy how lucky I am. I need to celebrate. Time to shop!!!! I just ordered this…
…from Cafe Press. I can’t wait for it to get here!!!!! Wahoooooo!!!!!!
Want to be part of the celebration? In honor of my Wolf Pack Anniversary, feel free to ask any questions you’d like about the process of landing an agent. I’ll do my best to give you a helpful answer. Or you can just join me in raving about how wonderful Michelle is. <3
Don’t forget that you can follow Michelle Wolfson on Twitter–seriously, you don’t want to miss it! You can also find my Wolf Pack twitter list HERE. Come and hang with the Pack!
Tags: Anniversary, Kim Sabatini, Kimberly Sabatini, Michelle Wolfson
Right about now–the first week of the new year–folks are hard-core into their Resolutions. Overall this is a wonderful thing. All around the world, people are striving to become better versions of themselves. Yay!
BUT…
Sometimes they annoy me.
So here is my pet peeve for the new year. I absolutely hate going to the gym in January and having to wait to use a machine (that the eleven other months of the year) is usually empty. Grrr. This hasn’t been as bad for me this year because I’ve come to love running outside, but that won’t hold out forever. Weather is a fickle friend. Soon–inevitably–I’ll be in that gym. Glaring at the resolute as they mess with my workout mojo. In my heart I’m happy they’re at the gym. I really am. I just wish they weren’t there at the same time as me. :o)
Come on–get grouchy–what’s your pet peeve for the New Year?
Tags: Kim Sabatini, Kimberly Sabatini, resolutions, YA Author, YA Novel, YA Writer
I mean this with all my heart…It is my pleasure to share this book with you…NEVER EIGHTEEN by Megan Bostic.
Seventeen-year-old Austin Parker wants to help the people he loves live—even though his own future is uncertain.
I had the dream again. The one where I’m running. I don’t know what from or where to, but I’m scared, terrified really.
Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. But in the short time he has left there’s one thing he can do: He can try to help the people he loves live—even though he never will.
It’s probably hopeless.
But he has to try.
The book trailer for NEVER EIGHTEEN.
Never Eighteen will be released from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt January 17th, 2012. You can preorder NEVER EIGHTEEN here…
Kimberly Sabatini’s Review of NEVER EIGHTEEN by Megan Bostic.
This was the very last book I read in 2011 and it seems to me that it was supposed to be that way. My dad passed away in 2005 during the early morning hours of New Year’s Day. Today it is New Year’s Eve–seven years later. I’m not sure you ever get over losing a parent or a child, but the way that I’ve tried to make sense of my personally horrific loss, has been to make my life matter. In honor of my father, I’ve chosen to live with courage and hope. The truth is that I would not be a debut author if my father died. So bitter sweet.
As I’m writing this review, I’m terrified that I won’t be able to do it justice, that I’ll be unable to express just how much it moved me. This book is beautiful. It speaks softly, but resonates deeply. It has everything that a real life has…love, shame, mistakes, friendship, hate, hope, loss, fear, regret, laughter and belief. It has the belief that it is never too late to want more from your life–even when life is short.
I found a connection with every single character in this book–saw myself in bits and pieces of every human interaction, but I loved Kaylee and Austin. They will haunt me–I’ll think about them often. This is one of those books that doesn’t feel like a story. It feels like it was real. I know them now and they are a part of me and I’m better for having had them in my life.
Megan Bostic is my fellow debut author at the Class of 2k12 and the Apocalypsies, but I urge you to champion this book. My love and admiration for it have nothing to do with my connection to her. This is a book that matters. This is a book that I believe in.
I would be extremely grateful if, when you read this book, you’ll stop by and share your thoughts on it with me.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Megan (that’s with a long “e”) Bostic is a mere human trying to find her place in the universe and an all-around great girl. Despite the rain and gray (she’s truly solar powered) making her extremely angsty, she’s lived in the Pacific Northwest her whole life, and still does, with her two crazy beautiful girls.
She thrives on the challenges faced in her journey to publication and has documented it vlog style. You can find her Chronicles of an Aspiring Writer on
Youtube.
Her writing process she lovingly calls “organized chaos”. She writes on her laptop at the kitchen table next to the sliding glass door so she can absorb as much sun as she can. The “organized” part of the process mostly takes place in her head and involves the beginning and the end of her work in progress. The “chaos” part is pretty much how she sits down and writes with reckless abandon, not stopping to fix, revise, edit, or even breathe until she’s done.
When not writing, Megan is usually chauffeuring her teenage daughters and their friends, watching her girls play soccer, watching movies and TV shows on Netflix, hanging out with friends, spending time at the ocean, or walking the Narrows Bridge.
Megan loves the color black, monkeys, and is a notorious
Facebook addict. She’s a proud member of The Class of 2K12 and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. You can also find her on
Twitter,
Goodreads, and anywhere else cool authors hang out.
In addition to Youtube, Twitter and Goodreads, you can also find out more about Megan Bostic and NEVER EIGHTEEN here…
Tags: debut, Kim Sabatini, Kimberly Sabatini, Megan Bostic, Never Eighteen, YA Author, YA Novel, YA Writer
