Christmas Music: How Soon is Too Soon?

Christmas festivities have always started pretty early at my house. Back in high school, my friends never believed me when I confessed to listening to Christmas music as early as October—until they came over and found "Christmas with the Beach Boys" in the tape player. This was completely my own doing as my mother, holiday fan though she is, always waited till November to bust out Bing Crosby and Co. And it seems the older I get, the earlier the festivities start.

Case in point: I'm listening to Tony Bennett's greatest Christmas hits as I type this blog post.

Also: I might've switched to the Peaceful Holidays station on Pandora last week. And stayed there.

September's super early, even for me, but I couldn't help but give in to the urge when it struck. Because Christmas music is warm and soothing, kind of like the cup of coffee and lit pumpkin-scented candle with which I'm also writing this blog post. I think it might even help keep me focused and increase my productivity—and if it does, then it can't be wrong, right? As the oh-so-wise Sheryl Crow claims, "If it makes you happy, it can't be that bad!"

How about you? Does Christmas music make you happy? If so, how early do you start listening? Any favorite artists or albums? (There are three months till the big day, after all...I could use some recommendations!) :)

Have a great day!

The Daily Beast Puts Siren on List of 10 Smart YA Books

The Daily Beast posted a list of 10 Smart YA Books for readers who have finished the Hunger Games trilogy and are looking for more...and Siren came in at #3! Here's what they said:

3) Siren by Tricia Rayburn

Summer vacation takes a turn for the sinister in Tricia Rayburn’s Siren. After her sister dies in a cliff-diving accident during the annual family vacation to Winter Harbor, Maine, Vanessa learns that her sister was keeping secrets… secrets that might be connected to the string of mysterious, water-related deaths plaguing the town. Both the narrator and the sleepy seaside town are finely drawn, and Rayburn never strays far from the engrossing plot that updates the lore of a supernatural baddie that’s as old as The Odyssey.

For the complete list, go HERE!

German Siren Excerpt Now Available!

I'm beyond thrilled that the Siren trilogy will be published in Germany. Ullstein, my amazing publisher, has posted an excerpt in advance of the 11/1/10 release date. If you have a second, check it out!

http://vorablesen.de/

Where I've Been & What I Found (at JFK!)

There are two very good reasons why I haven't posted in a while: revision and vacation. I received my Siren 2 editorial letter two weeks before vacation and had to hunker down to avoid revising while ON vacation. Then, having successfully hunkered and avoided, I went on an internet hiatus in hopes of achieving rest-and-relaxation maximization. I'm happy to say that this, too, was successful, with one small exception. After all, I couldn't go nine whole days without reading Chris Harrison's "Bachelor Pad" blog.

But vacation was amazing! I recently blogged about how, in movies, the Southwest is to me what George Clooney is to others, and last week I toured some of my very favorite sets. Following is a small sample.

I don't know if it's just that the landscape is so different from the one I'm used to, but anytime I see all that earth under all that sky, I'm a happy girl.

Another reason to be happy? I found Siren in a JFK airport bookstore! Here's proof:

Anyway, that's what I've been up to! How about you?? I hope you're enjoying the first days of almost-fall!