Happy New Year!!

 

Things are still busy – always a good thing – but I'm working extra hard on getting and staying organized this year, both personally and professionally. When you're doing so much and you have so much more that you want to be doing, it's far too easy to get bogged down doing…not very much at all. For instance, that pile of receipts that was building up for the greater portion of last year took several tedious, undisturbed hours to sort through and make sense of – two good hours that I could've spent being far more productive in the creative realm. But nevertheless, it got done, and I couldn't have been more thrilled. Note to self: Don't let paperwork build up, ever, unsorted, unchecked, unmonitored. Lesson learned.

 

I recently signed up for the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) International Winter Conference in NYC at the end of January. The last time I went was…two years ago? Since then, my writing goals changed a bit, from concentrating on my novel to working on freelancing, ghostwriting, and copywriting projects, which I am doing all of now. But while I love my current work, I'm aching to complete my children's literature novel. The idea is that this conference is the kick in the pants I need to sit down, tough it out, and finish my manuscript by, dare I say it, May 2010.

 

As for acting, we finished filming on a NYFA short film this past week. Nothing says commitment like 1 AM call times and bitterly cold temperatures in Central Park. I have gained a new level of respect for warm socks, winter boots, and the power of layering.

 

Also, we're happy to announce that the two-part film we're shooting in Boston, where I play one of the leads, has now been moved up to feature-length status and will be ready for festival submission by mid-February.

 

Stay tuned for more headshots, my updated reel, and additional writing excerpts to be up on the site soon!!

 

- Melissa