The last of the bunch

Today is my turn to introduce myself. I’m last on the list, but hopefully you’re still hanging on waiting for us to get to the interesting stuff.

As Tracy mentioned, I’m a native Californian just like Tess, currently living in San Diego. I grew up in Los Angeles and I will always call it home. Sometimes I miss LA life, but then I remember the never-ending traffic and smog so thick you can taste it, which makes me appreciate my life in SD. Just like everyone in LA (or so it seems), I ended up working in the entertainment industry and still find myself there six years later.

After devouring every book out there (I read two books a week), I decided to try my hand at writing one myself. My outlet was always drawing and painting growing up, leading me to an art degree. I find that writing has a lot of the same processes as painting. Instead of telling a story and conjuring an emotion through shape and color, I now use words.

I’ve come to not only love the words and language that make up my favorite books but understand the struggles and hardships of the authors that are putting themselves out to the public. Really, that’s what writing is to me, letting someone see you with your guard down through your characters. I put my experiences and observations into my writing and I hope that shows. YA books aren’t afraid to tackle the tough topics in teen’s lives, as well as every day situations that aren’t always the “cool” thing to say or do. That’s why I was drawn to writing YA and am proud that I do.

Outside of writing and reading any book I can get my hands on--I think my TBR list is now in triple digits--my other great love is hockey. Name a NHL team and I can talk your ear off about every player and why they are a good or not. You’d think I was the one from Canada, eh?

We’ll have a great time on this blog and we can’t wait to get started. There’s sure to be great debates when discussing topics from our daily lives, book reviews, author interviews and of course, just gabbing about writing and its process. Don’t be afraid to comment if you don’t agree with us or do for that matter. This blog is about touching on tough topics and getting your voice heard.

Until next time…

Hello, the second

I'm up at my usual 5:10am, sitting at my desk with a half drained cup of Chai tea cooling in a perky Walmart mug.

And it's my turn to say "Hi" on YAedge.

So, like, hey there.

I'm the odd duck in this roost of California chicks. I live in Cold Lake, Alberta. We have one movie theatre (we're blessed with melting reels, no sound, and water leaks from the ceiling tiles - but the popcorn is always killer). We have a few video stores (which help us get through winter – all 11 months of it) and a Tim Horton's on either end of town (we're addicts).

I write YA fiction. Since I work as a library technician in an elementary school, people usually assume I write picture books. I don't. Although I'd love to try a graphic novel. I've been a singer/songwriter for many years, taught guitar lessons, cut a few indie cds and I love my Thunderbird bass (it's so big even boys are scared to play it).

My first book is in edits for print with The Wild Rose Press's Climbing Rose (YA) line. You can find more info at my pen name's Myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/judithgraves She's a real hoot.

I'm also writing an edgy YA story about a girl who wants to lose her virginity and the guy she's chosen to de-virginize her is a rehab grad on a six month vow of celibacy. "Losing It" is a quirky, strange mix of sarcastic family drama and romance. I call it Little Miss Sunshine meets Juno (before she got knocked up).

Here's to landing a big fish.

I have the dubious honor of making the first official post in our blog. So, hello out there.

This is my introductory post. So that means I have to talk about myself. I apologize if I bore you. 

My name is Tess Sharpe, I'm a native Californian who can't seem to leave the state. I am a stage managing, costume sewing, set-painting, shakespeare reading, acting and directing theatre geek. 

And I write books, which is primarily what will be talked about in this blog.

I aim to make my characters as realistic as possible in the world that they are living in. I like to be as truthful as I can get. Even when it's uncomfortable.

I tend to write about subjects that either piss me off or confuse the heck out of me. My liberal political beliefs do play a large part in my writing, because I write a lot about gay characters and their struggles. 

I usually stay in the real world for my settings, though I love to read fantasy and magical realism and someday hope to have the courage to venture into those waters.

In MY real world, I spend a lot of time pacing up and down the aisles of the theatre, watching rehearsal or performances with my head-set picking up the police scanner and having things like "SUSPECT IS MOVING DOWN CYPRESS" blaring in my ear, making me jump. I also find time to read an excessive amount, waitress on occasion, sleep, do a little yoga, and hopefully write something each day.