2012 Author Wrap up with Kimberly Sabatini

It is time for the annual Author Wrap-Up and first on this month's calendar is Kimberly Sabatini, debut author of Touching the Surface!

GC: What was the best book you read in 2012? 

KS: I think the best book I read in 2012 was a tie between John Green's THE FAULT IN OUR STARS and Ruta Sepetys' BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY. They both just got me in the heart in a big way.

GC: What was your favorite thing you wrote in 2012? 

KS: My favorite thing that I wrote in 2012 was the rough draft for my second novel, THE OPPOSITE OF GRAVITY. I've learned that drafting is a painful process, so there is a lot of joy to typing THE END.

GC: What was your biggest writing struggle in 2012, and how did you

overcome it? 

KS: My biggest writing struggle this summer was having my boys home from school and my husband on a six week lay-over between jobs. And while it was wonderful, there was ALWAYS someone home making noise and needing something. And if that wasn't enough, for the last month we threw in some construction workers to keep me on my toes. We also did so many fun trips and activities that half the time I was never home. Between the fun and the fiasco, writing was not what I would have liked. The best way that I overcame the chaos was to load up on I could do in that kind of environment. I wrote lots of guest blog posts and interviews, send out swag packets, and I even hand wrote around 700 postcards to go out to indie book sellers. I was productive, but I missed sitting down and getting lost in the writing process.

GC: What can readers expect from you in the new year? 

KS: First of all, I'll be settling into what it means to really be an author. I'm writing this right before my book launches and I still don't know exactly what that feels like. It seems like I have a tornado of butterflies in my belly right now--nerves and joy all swirling together. I'm also looking forward to finishing my revisions on THE OPPOSITE OF GRAVITY and finding a home for it. And because I like to push myself to grow as a writer--I'm planning on joining NaNoWriMo for the first time this year to jump start that rough draft of my 3rd book. By the time you read this I can let you know how I did. *fingers crossed*

GC: Write down your 'Writing Resolution of 2013!' 

KS: My goal this year is to internalize the tools I've been given over the last two years because I've learned so much going through the publication process. Having an editor is like taking a master class. With book 2, it was obvious how much I've grown as a writer since I first drafted TOUCHING THE SURFACE, but I also saw myself duplicate some of the same issues I had to address in the revision process with my editor. My goal for book three is to be aware of what I learned and apply it on my own. I also want to tag on that this is the year that I remember to focus on writing. With your first book, the marketing and social media is a little bit insane. Although I mostly enjoy it, I think that this year is a good time to find my balance. *does Karate Kid crane move*

Thanks for having me on the Wrap-Up. Hope you all have a fabulous 2013!!!!