Early Xmas Shopping

I love this sort of thing:

http://www.stupid.com/2012-Hot-Guys-Baby-Animals-Calendar-_p_2792.html

The Most Random Part of My Job

I love designing book covers and doing the trailers and the like, but it does mean I end up looking at a lot of random images, including:

I have no actual use for this photo, mind you--but it's just SO CUTE! Now I want a pet owl. That would bother my husband less than bringing home some of the other stuff I've come across.

* sigh *

Blogging and getting things done

If you're a regular reader here at Disgruntled Bear, you'll notice that posting has been a tad sporadic of late. I've had a combo of work and family health issues that have made my productive time their bitch. Anyhoo, I'll still post at least 2-3 times each week, hopefully in the general vicinity of MWF.

Thanks in advance for being cool about it.

Beth Revis is Right

Here's a great post about YA authors.
http://bethrevis.blogspot.com/2011/11/its-not-competition.html
It's very true, and it hits at the heart of Spencer Hill's mission of building up authors.

Cover reveal!

Like ghost stories? We have a freebie that's about to come out from Spencer Hill Press -- Angelina's Friend, a short story that shows the conflict from Angelina's childhood that comes out in her high school years in Angelina's Secret.

Come check it out at www.SpencerHillPress.com and download the free PDF or ePub version.

And the Winner is...

SPRING TIDE! 

Congratulations, Sheritha! For your partial critique, please send me the first thirty pages of your MS as a Word DOC or DOCX file at kate (at) katekaynak (dot) com.

Also, since MESSENGER'S HANDBOOK got more than a third of the votes, I'd like to offer Pamela a critique of her first ten pages, as well (please send your file as per the intructions above).

We had over 400 votes in this contest--thanks to everyone who took part! This was an AMAZING collection of queries, and I hope to see several of them in the submissions we receive at Spencer Hill next month.

Happy Monday!

Back on the Grid

Gah! Forty-eight hours without internet access--it was like being punished for a crime I didn't commit.

I'm back now, and I'm thrilled that hundreds of people have already voted in the Great Query Contest! You have until the 6th to do so.