I moved a few months ago.

Nothing major—just from the north end of the Salt Lake Valley to the south end, to be closer to my husband’s office (and, of course, to be closer to Bree Despain and all the other awesome South Jordan YA writers).  One thing I was very much looking forward to was the change of scenery along the roads I traveled most often.  I found one North Salt Lake billboard on Redwood Road to be especially troubling.  Tired of being normal? it asked in obnoxiously big letters.

This is something I personally I have never had the luxury of tiring of.  The less normal I got, the more frustrating the billboard became.  No, I would think, I am not tired of being normal.  What I am tired of is being abnormal.  Normal people don’t have to remind themselves to eat, or go to the bathroom.  Normal people don’t have to remind themselves how to sleep, or how to wake up.    Normal people’s brains belong to them and only them.

So much runs on auto-pilot when you’re a normal person.  The thought that someone wouldn’t be grateful for that— would even WISH IT AWAY—got me so worked up I had to consciously calm myself.  Let’s face it, I probably shouldn’t be driving anyway, but I definitely shouldn’t be driving angry.

Why is being normal not good enough?

Do you feel normal?  Are you tired of it?

Now we’ve moved into our new home.  It’s different on the south end of the valley than the north.  Now, I like by a lake that isn’t full of saltwater.  Now, I live equidistant from four libraries.  Now, I live across the street from a blue house.

But when I was driving around  my new city the other day  I passed a billboard.   And yep.  In obnoxiously big letters it asked:  Tired of being normal?

On December 8 years ago I came face-to-face with death.  On December 8 this year I came face-to-face with life. Even more than my birthday, I think of December 8 as my day.  It’s the day I circle on the calendar; the day I make plans for.  My parents give me chocolates.  A college roommate [...]

When your book releases in the spring, it makes for a busy summer.  BACK WHEN YOU WERE EASIER TO LOVE and I have become fast friends, like summer-camp-BFFs who form a lifelong bond in a couple of days.  Right now, we’re touring the world wide web on a blog tour courtesy of Teen Book Scene. [...]

The winner of my THIS THING CALLED THE FUTURE giveaway is Susan! Congratulations, Susan! Please email me at emilywingsmithATgmailDOTcom so I know where to send your book!

*UPDATE:  If you have not entered my amazing giveaway yet, you have until Thursday, May 19 at 11:59 MDT to do so!!  I’ll announce the winner on Friday. *Want a copy of my book? Enter my BFF J.L Power’s giveaway. Do it now, don’t wait, or I’ll look unliked. And I really, really hate that. [...]