I can’t remember if I posted this or not, but I have Hot Mama bookmarks to give away! Who-hoo!
The bookmarks are very, very nice. They’re oversized, and the color absolutely rocks. They look even better than the Karma Girl bookmarks.
As always, these are free to readers. If you want some bookmarks, send me an e-mail at jennifer@jenniferestep.com to learn how to get them.
Happy reading! 😎
Summer is almost over. I can’t believe it’s almost September already. Where did the time go? Shaking head.
Back in June, I posted about some things I needed to do this summer. I thought I’d give myself and you guys an update and measure my progress. So, here’s my list, along with whether or not I finished the projects.
Done. I got a couple of Hot Mama ARCs in the mail last week. Who-hoo! 😎
2) Finish up Bigtime 4, aka Nightingale.
Done. Mostly. I sent it to the agent, who liked it. (Yeah!) Right now, I’m working on some minor revisions for her, which I plan to finish by Sept. 1, if not before. ÂÂ
3) Write a rough draft of Bigtime 5, aka Fangirl.
Done, but it’s really, really short, and it really, really sucks. It needs some serious tinkering.
4) Finish up my paranormal spy book, aka Live and Let Spy.
Almost there. I’ve printed out the final draft. I need to read through it and do some minor editing before I sent it to the agent, and see what she thinks about it.
5) Write a rough draft of the second spy book, You Only Spy Twice.
Done, but like Fangirl, it’s really, really short, and it really, really sucks (all my first drafts do). But at least I have an idea of where I’m going and now I know that I can make a series out of this.
6) Update the Web site with Hot Mama extras, new contests, photos, etc.
Done. Mostly. I need to fix some typos and tweak a few things. I’m also waiting for some more art elements and Easter eggs from my Web site guru.
7) Get bookmarks made for Hot Mama.
Done. As always, these are free to readers. If you want some, send me an e-mail at jennifer@jenniferestep.com.
8) Update my pitch letters and promo materials for Karma Girl and Hot Mama.
Done. Mostly. I need to edit the letters and promo stuff for typos, but I went ahead and sent the info to my publicist at Berkley.
9) Dazzle everyone with my wit and brilliance at RWA Nationals.
Well, I went to RWA. Whether I dazzled anyone is debatable. 🙄
10) Get my head examined for thinking I can get all this accomplished in three months. 
This one still stands.
Overall, I didn’t do too bad. Now, I need to make my list for fall … 😀
What about you? Did you accomplish your summer writing goals? Inquiring minds want to know …
Okay, this is going to be my last post on Harry Potter. I’m sure others have and will continue to talk about it far more eloquently than me. But I hope y’all have enjoyed reading my thoughts.
To sum up, I absolutely loved the book. Rowling has created such a wonderful world, such great, conflicted characters, such a rich vision that was fully realized from Book 1 all the way to the final page of Book 7. The books truly are classics, and I’m sure their reputation will only grow with time.
So, here’s to you, J.K. I hope you visit Harry & Friends again one day. (I really, really, really do). But if not, thanks for the memories. 😎
Another thing that bugs me about the Harry Potter books, especially in this last one, is the four Houses — and why nobody good is in Slytherin.
Sure, I know it’s the home of Draco Malfoy and his cronies, and has a history of producing some really bad eggs, like Voldemort. But surely, somebody in Slytherin is good — or at least a halfway decent human being. I wonder if this is some English class thing that I just don’t get. That Rowling is making some sort of statement. That good people are salt-of-the-earth Gryffindors and high-class, high-born snobs are Slytherins.
And I always wanted to see more characters (and just more in general) from the other two houses, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. I know Gryffindor was where Harry and Rowling’s heart was, but her world was so rich — I wanted to get a peek into the other Houses. I don’t think we ever see the inside of Hufflepuff, and we only get to see Ravenclaw in Book 7. (Right? I can’t remember …)
What about you? Do the Houses bug you? Inquiring minds want to know …
Oh, Severus.
Finally, finally, after seven books we understand why you seem to hate Harry so much and whose side you’re really on.ÂÂ
The side of love.
Severus works for Dumbledore. He protects Harry. He double-crosses Voldemort. He risks his life countless times. He incurs the wrath of the Order of the Phoenix. He lets others assume the worst of him – all because of love.
Severus fell in love with Harry’s mom, Lily, when they were children. And it’s the reason he does everything he does. I have to say I didn’t see that one coming. Never even thought about it. But it makes perfect sense. The scenes of Severus and Lily are some of the most poignant in the whole book. Years after Lily’s death, Severus still makes his Patronus take on the form of hers — a silver doe. How sad and romantic and heart-breaking is that?ÂÂ
In the book, Rowling calls Harry, Severus, and Voldemort “the lost boys.” Really, they’re archetypes. Harry is ultimate good, Voldemort is ultimate evil, and Severus is stuck somewhere between the two.
To me, Severus is the most interesting character of the three. He could so, so easily be evil. But because of Lily, he chooses to be good. And that, I think, is the ultimate sacrifice. To strive against your nature, to try to be better than you are.ÂÂ
I don’t think Severus hates Harry. Certainly, he doesn’t love him. At least, not in the way most people love. I think looking at Harry is just too painful for him. That Severus knows that perhaps Harry could have been his son, if he hadn’t called Lily a Muggle. That he sees his betrayal of Lily (which eventually led to her death) every time he looks at that scar on Harry’s forehead. That Severus realizes what he’s lost.
We saw Voldemort’s fractured soul in the train station. How hideous and twisted it was. I’m going to choose to think of Severus at peace. Perhaps playing with Lily when they were children. Or in a portrait in Dumbledore’s office, talking with the other headmasters of Hogwarts.
It’s a place of honor. And Severus belongs there.ÂÂ
What about you? Do you love or loathe Snape? Inquiring minds want to know …
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