~~~Lara Zielin~~~

FAVE LINKEY-POO RIGHT THIS SECOND: Another exciting episode of “Guy From Nickelback, Private Eye.”

Recently, I had the great honor of being asked to interview Cynthia Leitich Smith for a freelance story. She proved to be a force of nature — as a writer, a professor, a community-builder in the literary world, and more. If you haven’t checked out her books TANTALIZE or ETERNAL, you totally should. Amazing stuff.

Of course, Cynthia being Cynthia, she turned the tables during our talk and started interviewing me. You see, this is why I love her. She’s genuinely interested in people — and especially writers.

Anyway, girlfriend was gracious enough to host me on her blog and put our interview out there for all to see. She also gives “Editing Letter” a shout-out, which is so awesome. Stop by and read the interview if you have the chance but, if not, no worries — go to the bookstore instead and get TANTALIZE or ETERNAL.

FAVE LINKEY-POO RIGHT THIS SECOND: Oh, man, there are so many good ones right now, but I think this video of Heidi Montag’s interview with Access Hollywood after her 10 (10!!) plastic surgeries is straight up awesad (that’d be awesome and sad). I mean, she almost died … like Michael Jackson. Oh, and her new album supposedly is as amazing as Thriller. Sigh. If that doesn’t trip your trigger, though, here’s a toad that likes to be petted. Aw.

Since it’s been a while since I’ve blogged (sorry!) I thought I’d give a general update on where things are at, book-wise. Because, you know, that’s what all the cool authors are doing.

Ah-hem. Currently, I’m hard at work editing my second novel, which, in case I haven’t shouted it from the mountaintops enough, is called PROMGATE. I just checked Amazon.com and it’s not up there yet — probably because it doesn’t come out until 2011. If you search PROMGATE on Amazon.com, it spits out a book about fine particle emissions. I don’t know what those are but … ew.

Anyway, as you may recall from my video Editing Letter, editing novels is not my favorite thing. At all. I am really struggling right now with character motivation, but because I have a good editor and smart friends, I think I’m going to figure out a way to make this work.

It’s just … can I be honest? I read books by the amazing Laurie Halse Anderson and Laura Ruby and I think — dearlordbabyjesus, they are so good. How am I ever going to get to be that good? It’s kinda stressful, ya know?  (On the bright side, at least my name also starts with L.)

I guess this is what they call it when that little thing calls self doubt creeps around the corner and peers at you. Wuddup, self doubt. I’m Lara. I’ve seen you before. And I know how to make you go away. It’s a little four-letter word I like to call W-O-R-K. Which I’m off to get done.

PROMGATE is going to rock the house, y’all. Once I get past this little hump.

I’m just saying.

I am so completely floored and overwhelmed by the awesome outpouring of Bluggie love on the interwebs. Thanks to all who RT’d the link and posted comments on larawrites.com. I’m sorry there could only be two winners — one for the Bluggie and one for the badass needles — but that’s how we roll living the Snug Life.

I am so happy to announce that Robin is the winner of the personalized Bluggie (it is going to be awesome, let me tell you!) and @LadyHawkins is the winner of the badass needles!

Robin, please promise me you will take a picture once you get your personalized Bluggie. I can’t wait to see you in it. Please allow two weeks for construction. This bedazzling could take a while, you know?

Thanks again for all who helped make Bluggie so popular last week. You guys rule!

As if winning a personalized Bluggie wasn’t enough, I’m also giving away the badass needles featured in the video! Same rules apply. Boxed wine sold separately.

It’s the WIN A SWEET, SWEET BLUGGIE contest!

Okay, you know you totally want a Bluggie: a Snuggie with bling.

So how do you get one? I’ll tell you!

1.) If you haven’t already, watch my Snug Life video!

2.) Forward the video to a friend, RT the link, or post it up on your Facebook page.

3.) Use @larazielin in your RT or leave a comment here to let me know how you passed along the magic that is Bluggie.

That’s it! That’s all you have to do to to be entered win. But, let me just tell you — this isn’t any old Bluggie. This Bluggie will have your name emblazoned on the front, so that it’s customized to your own pimpocity levels. It will have tons of bedazzling sparkles that will make you stand out in a lineup. It will be, in a word, the greatest Bluggie ever. It will be YOUR Bluggie.

So please, forward the Bluggie vid widely, and RT or comment here when you’re done. The contest will end on January 10, with a winner chosen Monday, January 11.

Badass needles forevah!!

Did you get a Snuggie for Christmas? Are you a white girl? Do you love YA novels?

Then check out Bluggie: the blanket with sleeves … with bling!