Finding the balance

Over the past year, I really haven't read as much as I used to. Part of that is because I'm in editorial now. Editors (and their apprentices) don't have the privelege of reading for pleasure as much as your average booknerd. But I've also been neglecting that side of me as well. When you read so much for work, it's hard to make the time for non-work reading. With a lot of my favorite adult authors coming out with books again (it's about that time of year, eh?) I am reminded that I have to give some time to this side of my life. I miss those authors who make me squee with booknerdiness: Kelley Armstrong, Charlaine Harris, Lilith Saintcrow (hi Lili), Tanya Huff, Sharon Shinn, Christopher Rice, and the like.

Now don't get me wrong...I love every single book I have worked on since I started at Little, Brown. I'm very lucky in that sense -- Jen and I have similar (but very broad-ranging) tastes when it comes to books for young readers. But in order to feed the book-loving soul, you have to read some non-work-related stuff, whether that means gory/cheesy true crime novels, Pulitzer prize winning literary fiction or (in my case) dark, urban fantasy. You need to nurture both sides of the fence and not push too much on either side, or things go out of wack. Burnout can happen, or you can fall behind on submissions, or you can miss deadlines. I guess the moral of the story is that you have to make time for the books you really love, because if you don't nurture your passion, it may desert you when you really need it.

Me? I've clearly chosen the workaholic route. My goal going into my second year is to continue working hard, but to not let myself forget about my life outside of work either. I've lost touch with a lot of good friends and a lot of great books because I was so focused and while I want to keep achieving and excelling, I also want to put some life back into my personal life.

I also need to start writing again, but that's a whole 'nother matter entirely...

Happy Job-iversary

I can't believe I didn't blog about this last week! Well...I'm about to submit another post but before I do that I have to mention this:

Last Tuesday, May 22nd, was my 1 year anniversary working in children's editorial! WOO!

I make reference to that in the post that's coming right after this, so I figured I should fill everyone in. Also, this deserved it's very own post.

Man caught hiding in plain sight at women's media function

I forgot to mention last night that I will be attending the (takes a deep breath) Women in Children's Media's Children's Book Publishing: Panel and Networking Event on the 31st. Now I know what you're thinking. But T.S. ---you may work in children's media, but you're not a woman." Well yes, this is true, despite what you may have heard, but I was assured by my boss, the lovely Ms. Jennifer Hunt, that I would not be the only male in the room. I also want to go and root for Jennifer and Alvina, who will both be on the panel.

And who might you be?

You know how sometimes people start seeing a new boyfriend or girlfriend and completely disappear? Yeah, I wish that's been the case with me. Unfortunately, it's not. I've just been busy and/or lazy and/or had nothing to say.

I've been working on some fun projects lately, despite feeling stressed and busy. This was a good week and it ended even better. Today was the first half day of the summer and the kick-off to summer hours. I love half-day Fridays---publishing has such great perks. Anyway, a bunch of us folk from Young Readers hopped on a train and made our way to the South Street Seaport. We sat around chatting, cracking each other up, eating from the food court, looking out at the water and just having a good time. After a while, the few of us who were left decided to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge before we headed our own separate ways. It was one of the best days I've had in a while. I got out, had fun in a comfy environment, and really enjoyed the nice weather. Then I slept the entire subway ride back from Brooklyn. HAHAHA!

Not much else to say for now. Life is good. I'll try not to be a face on a milk carton anymore. Happy looming summer!

Comic-mania

Living in New York is so great! Where else would you read a quote from a gay man about all the eye candy in a comic book store.

From: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/04/books/04comi.html?8bu&emc=bu
Chuck McKinney, 41, a voice-over actor and Web cartoonist, loves Midtown Comics. “The store is big, clean, well stocked and organized; and everyone gets a discount,” he wrote in an e-mail message. “And best of all there are lots of hot, ethnic straight guys to check out while I’m buying my comics.”

And speaking of gay comic book nerds, I am clearly becoming addicted. It all started with the new Buffy comic, which led to a recent purchase of the first Joss Whedon-penned Runaways comic. This, unsurprisingly, led to the purchase of four (count them, FOUR) Runaways back-issue graphic novels (so that I could catch up on the storyline, of course). And now it's looking like I'm about to pick up the first two issues of Loners, which is a new series inspired by a few issues of Runaways.

I clearly have problems. Are there any gay comic book addict groups I can join to help me with this problem? Hey, maybe I'll meet a cute comic nerd at my 12-step program and we'll fall madly in love and have to live in a series of interconnected cardboard boxes under the Verrazano Bridge because we've spent all our money on comics. Or maybe I could just meet a cute Marvel employee and kill two birds with one stone. Note to self: get on that immediately.