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.

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.

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!!

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.

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 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!

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!!

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