Friday -- Revision Edition

Forgive me.  I've tried to write a Follow Friday and a Friday Five this morning and all I can think about is my revision.  Epic blog fail today, but I promise to get back on my feet next week.

In the absence any of my own ideas, here are some that belong to some others:

Mostly Reading YA is talking about book covers, and has chosen some doozies as example.

Some of my Apocalypsies siblings are on the Indie Next List for the Spring.  Some great titles here, people.  Get reading!

And with that, I have to go and tackle the 16th century.  See you next week!

3...2...1...HELP!

In exactly three months, GILT will be on bookstore shelves, ready to face the world.  I think I'm similar to all writers in feeling that this is a dream come true.  An event similar to a birth or a wedding.

Which calls for a party.

I love parties.  I spent nine months planning my own wedding -- not because I was bridezilla, but because I couldn't wait to celebrate with my husband, my family, and my friends.  I feel the same way with this launch.

The problem is, I haven't been to many launch parties.  In fact, I can count them on one finger.  So I'm  not entirely sure what to expect, what's expected of me, or what to plan.  I'm full of questions:

Do I have it on a weeknight?  A weekend afternoon?
Do I serve food?  Nibbles?  Cake?
Should I provide wine?  Sparkling cider?   Both?
Do I want to do a reading?  Give a speech?
Do I have door prizes?  Gift baskets?  Tons of swag?
Should my party have a theme?  Should I wear a costume? (please say no.)
Should we have decorations?
Do I have an after party?
Where?
Do I provide food there?  Themed food?  Open bar?
Invitations!  E-vites? Postcards?  Do I send them to local schools and libraries?


As you can see, I need your help.  Yes, yours.  Give me tips and anecdotes!  Ideas from launches you've attended or planned.  If you were me, what would your dream launch party look like?

RIP Catherine Howard

On Friday, I wrote about Catherine Howard's trip to the Tower of London.  She was executed on February 13.

One of the things that most fascinates me about Catherine is that she requested the executioner's block to be brought to her room the night before.  She wanted to practice with it, and make sure she got it right.  The girl who didn't really act like a queen when she was alive wanted to look like a queen at her death.

There's something very poignant about this, and I think it's a beautiful glimpse into her character.  It is something, perhaps, that many of us would not be able to do.  It shows courage as well as a little vanity.

Catherine's body was buried in an unmarked grave in the chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula in the Tower grounds.