~~~Lara Zielin~~~

FAVE LINKEY-POO RIGHT THIS SECOND: The intro for He-Man. I recently saw a Facebook status update where someone was threatening to quote the whole thing because they had it memorized. But now I can’t remember who that was. Which is a bummer. Because probably that person is my hero.

Here’s the thing about the awesome reality show Tabitha’s Salon Takeover: Tabitha is so completely passionate about what she does, that you can’t help but be inspired. I know what you’re thinking. It’s reality television, Lara, how good can it be? Well let me tell you — it’s better than chocolate. Okay, that’s not true. But it’s still really, really good.

On a recent episode,  Tabitha said that at the end of the day, she can’t walk because she gives so much of herself to her clients. Some people might think, meh, all she does is hair. But her business is hugely successful (she has a three-month waiting list at her salon!) and shouldn’t we all get worn out, at least a little, by the things we’re passionate about?

I love how Tabitah chooses to live her life and run her business. She’s inspired me to give so much of myself to my books that I can’t walk at the end of the day.

But not so much that I can’t still apply lipgloss.

FAVE LINKEY-POO RIGHT THIS SECOND: A failed book banning from Wisconsin. And it’s not even anything crazy — just Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Despite the cheese, my home state can really make me mad sometimes. But thank goodness this story has a happy ending.

So, remember how I said all us writer folk need each other? Well, to underscore that just a bit more, I’d like to announce the wonderful, fabulous and hilarious Rhonda Stapleton will be road tripping to Ohio (glamorous Ohio!) with me in March for a writers’ retreat.

Because sometimes, when your creative juices aren’t flowing, all it takes is getting in the same room with a like-minded writer and daring the muses to come find you both. But the best part about this trip? I mean, obviously it’s being with Rhonda, but other than that is the fact the place where we’re staying … has its own railroad.

Its own railroad!!! Look!

I even asked them if the train would be up and running when we went there and they said yes. OMG, OMG, OMG. So. Excited.

In May, I am also going on a writers’ retreat with my awesome writer-lady friend Ellen Baker. We do more of a subdued Northwoods thing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. But man, are we productive.

So whether you have trains or woods, the point is to partner with people who can help you through the creative process. Writers rock! And we all need each other so we can rock harder. So our books can go to 11, as it were.

FAVE LINKEY-POO RIGHT THIS SECOND: If your Bluggie is just too flashy for Valentine’s Day, then please let me recommend the Hoodie-Footie. This genius product combines your three favorite things — your fave sweatshirt, your fave blanket, and your fave slippers — and uses the magic of marshmallow-soft fleece to fold them into one.

I have talked a little about how lucky I am to be part of the 2009 Debutantes, a group of writers who all had their debut novels come out in 2009, and who banded together online to support each other. Well, one of the practices of the Debs is that we all mail ARCs of our books to each other, and then we read them and leave comments on the pages and stuff.

I just got back the ARC of DONUT DAYS and, people, I have to say, it totally made me cry! The support and comments were awesome, and it truly made me realize how fortunate I am to belong to a group like this. I mean, look — the whole inside cover is packed with notes!

And the back cover as well!

And even the inside is riddled with little notes where people liked the writing!

Writers, we need each other. If you are trying to do this whole publishing thing solo, let me tell you — it’s way more fun to do it in a group!

The lovely Emma was nice enough to let me stop by her blog for a chat recently, and she’s giving away a signed copy of DONUT DAYS to one lucky person. If you want to be that person, head on over and enter to win. I love book giveaways! Yay!!