Magnificent Monday: Ally’s Favorite Things

Hello, everyone!

Ally here. Shellie is working on the boring party of the writing biz (tax prep) so I am going to be bringing you your Magnificent Monday fix!

First things first, I’m thrilled to announce that I have completed draft 1 of Embassy Row 2 (currently titled, The Book That Made Ally Cry. A Lot.)

Editor David has the book now and is working his magic to help me come up with ways to fix all the things that are broken.

Side note: I hear from a lot of you who like to write; but often, you comment that what you write isn’t any good. You know what? What I write isn’t any good either. Hopefully, what I REWRITE is a little better. And then a little better. And a little better once more until it’s good enough to show to all of you.

As my mom told me when I was probably twelve or thirteen: you should never judge your first draft against someone else’s finished draft. And for the most part, you guys only see finished drafts! So keep rewriting. Goodness knows every writer I have ever met does a ton of it.

 

Now…side note over!

 

Every year during the holidays I think “Remember when Oprah had her TV show and used to do an Oprah’s Favorite Things edition?” It was where Oprah would talk about all of the stuff that she was really, really into (and then would usually give some of that stuff away to people in the audience.)

It was really cool and fun, and a lot of people looked forward to it every year.

Well, this year I’m bringing you . . .

ALLY’S FAVORITE THINGS
A not so comprehensive list of the stuff that’s rocked my world in 2014

1. Historical Romance Novels
So about a year ago I read A ROGUE BY ANY OTHER NAME by Sarah Maclean.

I knew Sarah a little bit because her first novel was YA (The Season). She and I have some very good mutual friends, so I’d always heard a lot about her, but I didn’t know her well, and I’d never read any of her books.

I got a copy of Rogue at a conference and when I unpacked I laid the book on my bedside table. Well, then one night I couldn’t sleep and I reached for that book, thinking that I’d just read for a little while.

The next thing I knew the sun was coming up.

Literally.

This. Is. Not. An. Exaggeration.

The book was that good. So soon after, I blew through all of the Sarah Maclean novels. (Note: with most historical romance series, it doesn’t much matter whether you read them in order or not. For the Sarah Maclean books, however, I’d HIGHLY recommend you read her “Rules of Scoundrels” series in order because the plot twist at the end of the third book is one of the single-greatest plot twists that I have ever seen. Ever.)

After Sarah Mac, I got started on Lisa Kleypas (I recommend starting with Devil in Winter), and on to Julia Quinn (read all the Bridgertons, but my favorite JQ is probably The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever.)

So…note: these are adult books. They probably aren’t appropriate for those of you who are tweens or young teens. But I know a lot of you are adults or are buying for adults this holiday season. And if you have never read historical romance–or if, like me, you hadn’t read it since you were a teen sneaking your mom’s old school bodice rippers–then you should definitely give one of these great authors a try.

They were one of my favorite things about 2014.

 

2. Libraries
Now, I know libraries are not new. And I’d bet everyone here already knows how awesome they are! But because of my new addiction to #1 on this list, I started using my local library even more than I ever have before. And I started using it in a brand new way!

I had heard, of course, that many libraries had started eBook collections, but I had no idea how many titles my library would have, or how incredibly easy it would be to check out, reserve, download, and “return” eBooks. It is AMAZING.

I have probably checked out fifty books this year. And I haven’t actually been to the library once.

I’m incredibly grateful to have this resource in my community.

 

3. Dylan O’brien.
Because…

Teen Wolf.

And Maze Runner.

And…come on!

(Any of you out there saying ‘Dylan O’brien is my new mental Zach!!!’ I say…well done.)

 

4. TSA Pre
As you have probably figured out by now, I have to travel. A lot.

And the TSA has recently started this program where you can go once have a really in-depth security interview, and if you pass that interview (and pay $85) you get to go through a much shorter, faster security line at airports.

So I did this. And it has pretty much changed my life.

 

5. Hot tea (with milk and honey)
Growing up, we never had coffee in our house in the morning. My parents always drank hot tea. And yet, amazingly, I never had a taste for the stuff. Ever.

But something weird happened in 2014: I started liking hot tea. Turns out, all it takes is a little milk and honey and hot tea turns into one of my favorite things! Funny, that.

 

6.  Alaska
2014 was the year when my family and I got to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Alaska to celebrate my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary!

It was AMAZING. And now I really, really want to go back. In fact, I’m strongly considering setting a book there, because Alaska is such a vast and wild landscape. I loved it. And it’s definitely one of my favorite things in 2014.

 

7. Homemade Pimento Cheese Spread
This one I blame entirely on Rachel Hawkins since she’s the one who taught me how to make it. And it’s amazing. And I hate her for it. Every day.

Recipe: Grate sharp cheddar cheese into a bowl. Add a ton of mayonnaise to the bowl along with some pickled red peppers, thinly sliced. Season with salt, pepper, and a dash of cayenne pepper. Cover tightly and refrigerate. Enjoy. Gain 15 pounds.

 

8. Scholastic
I have been so, so, so blessed in my career to work with so many amazing people!

And one of the highlights of 2014 for me was getting to know all the people at my new publisher, Scholastic.

I assure you, they are treating me so well and working so hard to bring ALL FALL DOWN to you guys in the best way possible. I’m extremely excited for all the things that 2015 has in store!

 

9. Grace
I know most of you haven’t met Grace yet, but you will very soon, and I can promise you this: she is very different from Kat and Cammie. But if working on Embassy Row 2 throughout 2014 has taught me anything, it’s that Grace is a very complicated and interesting character. I’m really, really grateful to get to be the author who writes her. And I hope I can do her justice and that you guys will like her as much as I do.

 

10. All of You!
Recently, the big publishing industry journal, Publisher’s Weekly, did a roundup of “Accidental Bestsellers”, and in it was the Gallagher Girls. (Read the full story here.)

It is kind of remarkable to think about how my career began and where it is now and how very, very fortunate I have been every step of the way.

And I’m so, so grateful to all of you for reading the books and telling your friends about them and helping to be one of the highlights of my life.

 

Have a very happy holiday season, everyone!

Ally