Take Romeo and Juliet. Add The Outsiders. Mix thoroughly.
Colt and Julia were secretly together for an entire year, and no one—not even Julia’s boyfriend— knew. They had nothing in common, with Julia in her country club world on Black Mountain and Colt from down on the flats, but it never mattered. Until Julia dies in a car accident, and Colt learns the price of secrecy. He can’t mourn Julia openly, and he’s tormented that he might have played a part in her death. When Julia’s journal ends up in his hands, Colt relives their year together at the same time that he’s desperately trying to forget her. But how do you get over someone who was never yours in the first place?
Now here's what Jennifer had to say when I asked her a few questions:- What is the theme song for your book?
There are two songs I listened to a lot while I wrote The Secret Year: Fleetwood Mac’s “Big Love” (the 1997 version, NOT the earlier version) and Tom Waits’s “Temptation.”
2. Who is your mc's idol--living or dead?
He doesn’t have idols. He looks up to his older brother more than he would admit, especially since his brother isn’t living at home anymore and the sibling rivalry has died down a little. But otherwise, he relies mostly on himself and likes to figure things out for himself—not that that doesn’t sometimes lead him into trouble.
3. What inspired you to write this book?
I started with the idea of a secret relationship, a death, a notebook left behind. Now that I think about it, Julia’s notebook may have been inspired by the fact that I’m a writer—and doesn’t every writer look around at his/her jottings, at the stories and notes and journals, and wonder what someone would make of them if we suddenly disappeared? (Or is that just me?)
4. What are you working on now?
More contemporary YA.
5. Tell us something random about you.
Most people who know me online know that I like to hike. I love lupines, but they don’t grow near me, so I only see them on certain vacations. When I’m hiking in lupine country and I spot one in full bloom, I call, “LUpines!” in a high, excited voice. I tell my husband it’s an endearing quirk (he’s usually hiking with me).
You can learn more about Jennifer by visiting her web site: www.jenniferhubbard.com and you can order The Secret Year right now by clicking here:
Thanks for stopping by Jennifer!
So here is why I love writing conferences:
1. You get to hear many great and inspiring speakers. To name a few, this year we had: Richard Peck, Kathleen Duey, Michael Grant, Alex Flinn, Kadir Nelson and Henry Cole. I also spoke on the Debut Authors Panel with Jackie Dolamore and Marta Magellan, which I really enjoyed.
2. You get to hang out with writer buddies. Since we usually write in solitude, it's nice to actually socialize with your peers and not just a computer.
3. I really and truly come back inspired to dive right back in to whatever manuscript I'm working on. This time I finished a partial for Graveyard Shift (my current ms). Last year I completed Indigo Blues.
4. I am always filled with new ideas both for my current projects and for new stuff too.
So bottom line, try to get yourself to at least one conference a year! It's good for your soul! I so wish I was going to SCBWI NY this year but hopefully in 2011! Have fun everyone who is going this year!
1. On Thursday night we are kicking off the Miami SCBWI conference with a mass book signing at Books and Books in Coral Gables with so many wonderful authors, including Richard Peck, Kathleen Duey, Michael Reynolds... and I will be there signing too.
2. Then on Friday I get to meet up with fellow MTV author Stephanie Kuehnert and her hubby on their honeymoon.
3. Friday afternoon I'll be speaking on the Debut Authors Panel at the SCBWI Conference which runs through Sunday. There is still time to register if you're in the area or you want to hop a plane. www.scbwiflorida.com.
4. I'll be critiquing manuscripts this year so tomorrow I'm going to be reading. I glanced quickly at the manuscripts and looks like there is a lot of good stuff there!
5. And I want to get a good chunk of Graveyard Shift to my agent by the end of Jan. so I'll be writing a lot this week too:)!
Yay! I'll check back tihs week with conference updates and photos! Get ready 2010, here I come:)!
I'm talking, authors, bloggers, librarians, teachers, booksellers, readers, jugglers, you name it!
I have also been fortunate to have met so many lovely and talented authors through The Debs, www.feastofawesome.com, Class of 2K9, www.classof2k9.com and my fellow MTV peeps at mtvbooks.blogspot.com/
I wish everyone a very happy holiday season and I will be back with New Year's resolutions!
About Stupid Cupid
Felicity Walker believes in true love. That’s why she applies for a gig at the matchmaking company Cupid’s Hollow. But when Felicity gets the job, she learns that she isn’t just a matchmaker…she’s a cupid! (There’s more than one of them, you know.)
Armed with a hot pink, tricked-out PDA infused with the latest in cupid magic (love arrows shot through email), Felicity works to meet her quota of successful matches. But when she bends the rules of cupidity by matching her best friend Maya with three different boys at once, disaster strikes. Felicity needs to come up with a plan to set it all right, pronto, before she gets fired…and before Maya ends up with her heart split in three.
About Rhonda Stapleton
Rhonda Stapleton started writing a few years ago to appease the voices in her head. She has a Master’s degree in English and a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. Rhonda works as an editor for a legal publishing company and enjoys offering editing workshops. Rhonda lives in Northeast Ohio with her lovely, energetic family, who are more than enough to keep her busy when she’s not writing.
In the twelve minutes of free time she has each day, Rhonda enjoys reading, photography, writing poetry, singing in the shower (and in the car, at work, or basically anywhere that provides oxygen), drinking chai tea, and playing on the Internet.
Here's what Rhonda had to say....
1. What is the theme song for your book?
Wow, this is hard. Maybe that Taylor Swift Song where she sings, "she wears high heels, I wear sneakers..." Oh, wait! "You Belong To Me". That's what it's called!
2. Who is your mc's idol--living or dead?
I would have to say Oprah. And Judge Judy. My heroine thinks these are two strong women who know what they're doing.
3. What inspired you to write this book?
I totally wanted to write a story where the heroine had a weird job...I guess being a cupid is pretty darn weird, eh? LOL
Now go explore Rhonda's fab web site: http://rhondastapleton.com or place your order now for Stupid Cupid: http://www.amazon.com/Stupid-Cupid-Rhon
http://www.indiebound.org/book/97814169
Rhonda, thanks for stopping by! Happy holidays to all!
1. ACTOR--Since I was five I also wanted to be a movie star. I took acting classes throughout my childhood. Even though I was shy,I enjoyed being up on the stage. I started out in college as a double major: Creative Writing and Theater. At the end of my sophomore year I decided to ditch the theater component and opt for saving money and graduating a semester early. My parents were very happy with this choice. I never made it to "Hollywood" but I've always dreamed of having a cameo in my own movie!
2. RADIO DJ--During college I worked as a DJ and really loved this experience. I did send out audition tapes after I graduated. I got a call from one station in Martha's Vineyard that was interested but told me flat out that I would need to get a second job because radio did not pay very well. I decided not to make the move because I made more money babysitting!
3. JOURNALIST--In college I got a job at a local town paper. I was given the really exciting assignments like zoning hearings, school board meetings and neighborhood feuds. It was a great experience but it was not easy sitting through those meetings.
4. MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER--I do come from a family of teachers so this is a career path that has always interested me. I enjoyed teaching kids how to be better readers and writers. The kids also kept me on my toes and provided me with a lot of great material. I ended up teaching for seven years but eventually left to concentrate on my writing and taking care of my kids.
5. COPYWRITER--After receiving my BFA in Creative Writing my first job was at the supermarket deli counter. Yup. That was in addition to the job I already had at the movie theater. I totally panicked that I would never find a job in my field and rushed off my application to graduate school. I was accepted and received an MA in Marketing Communications & Advertising. I worked as a copy writer for several years, mostly while in grad school. I learned so much about the business world but I really missed writing for myself and wasn't the biggest fan of the cubicle.
These are just some areas that I dabbled in and they all helped shape who I am today. I treasure each experience and really learned a lot along the way. In my next life I plan to be a rock star, geologist and a resort tester.
So I am very thankful for all those that helped me spread the word and bought copies of the book. I do hope all you new readers enjoyed it. Hopefully Shrinking Violet will be around for a long time to come! And in 7 months it will join my newest arrival: Indigo Blues, due to be released July 1, 2010 from Flux!
Happy Thanksgiving to all:)!
What’s your drink of choice? Is it a small pumpkin spice latte? Then you’re lots of fun and a bit sassy. Or a medium americano? You prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps it’s a small decaf soy sugar-free hazelnut caffe latte? Some might call you a yuppie. Seventeen-year-old barista Jane Turner has this theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their regular coffee drink. She scribbles it all down in a notebook and calls it Espressology. So it’s not a totally crazy idea when Jane starts hooking up some of her friends based on their coffee orders. Like her best friend, Em, a medium hot chocolate, and Cam, a toffee nut latte. But when her boss, Derek, gets wind of Jane’s Espressology, he makes it an in-store holiday promotion, promising customers their perfect matches for the price of their favorite coffee. Things are going better than Derek could ever have hoped, so why is Jane so freaked out? Does it have anything to do with Em dating Cam? She’s the one who set them up! She should be happy for them, right?
About Kristina Springer
Kristina Springer has a Bachelor of Arts in English Education from Illinois State University and a Master of Arts in Writing from DePaul University. Her first novel, THE ESPRESSOLOGIST, was published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux on October 27, 2009. Her second novel, MY FAKE BOYFRIEND IS BETTER THAN YOURS, also from FSG, will be published in the fall of 2010. She lives in a suburb of Chicago, IL with her husband Athens and their four small children Teegan, Maya, London, and Gavin.
I asked and Kristina dished:
1. What is the theme song for your book?
Anyone at All by Carole King
2. Who is your mc's idol--living or dead?
Jane wants to go to fashion school so I'm thinking one of her idols would be Marc Jacobs.
3. What inspired you to write this book?
Love. And coffee. And my love for coffee. :-)
Thanks, Danielle!
So to order this book asap, check out these links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Espressologist-Kr
Indiebound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/97803743
And to learn more about Kristina and her upcoming projects, click here: http://kristinaspringer.com/
Thanks for stopping by Kristina!
About Flash Burnout
Fifteen-year-old Blake has a girlfriend and a friend who's a girl. One of them loves him, the other one needs him.
When he snapped a picture of a street person for his photography homework, Blake never dreamed that the woman in the photo was his friend Marissa's long-lost meth addicted mom.
In a tangle of life, death, and love, Blake will emerge with a more sharply defined snapshot of loyalty.
About L.K. Madigan
L.K. Madigan is a writer living in Portland, Oregon, who finds it odd to speak in the third person. Therefore:
Hi. I am married with one son, two big black dogs, hundreds of books, and a couple of beaters, I mean vintage cars
L. K. was kind enough to answer a few questions for me:
1. What is the theme song for your book?
It’s funny you ask this, because there are two playlists at the end of FLASH BURNOUT, so I’ve definitely spent a lot of time thinking about music for the book.
There are probably five songs that could represent the overall theme of the book, but if I have to choose just one, I’m going to fall back on a classic Cure song: “In Between Days.”
2. Who is your mc's idol--living or dead?
Blake wants to be a comedian, so it would have to be someone funny. I’m going to go with another classic: Richard Pryor.
3. What inspired you to write this book?
Blake was a secondary character in a novel I’d written before FLASH BURNOUT. He made me laugh, and I wanted to spend more time with him. He mostly made out with his girlfriend in that book, which wasn’t interesting enough to built a whole novel around.
Then the character of Marissa came to me – a girl whose life is starting to unravel, and who really needs a friend. How would a guy who is trying to figure out how to be a Boyfriend manage to balance that role with the job of Friend?
Head to L. K.'s web site to learn more about her-- http://www.lkmadigan.com
You can also order the book by following one of these links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Flash-Burnout-L-K-M
Indiebound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/97805471
Thanks for stopping by L. K.!
- Mood:
cheerful
For those that know me, I'm all about the music! So I'm excited to announce that Strust & Frets by Jonny Skovron is now available for all to devour!
About Struts & Frets
More than anything, Sammy wants to play guitar in a famous indie rock band. The problem is that his front man is a jerk who can't sing, his bassist is a burn-out who can't remember the songs, and his drummer is just out to lunch. But Sammy needs this band because it's the only good thing he's got going. His father skipped out before he was born, his mother is an overworked therapist with a drinking problem, his grandfather is slowly losing his mind to Alzheimer's, and the girl of his dreams is dating his jerk lead singer.
Now that jerk lead singer has entered them in a Battle of the Bands contest to win free studio time and guaranteed radio play. Sammy has two weeks to get them to sound like a real band, or face public humiliation in front of the entire local indie music scene.
About Jon Skovron
Jon Skovron is an insatiable music geek who can play eight instruments, but none of them well. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, has lived all over the US, and now resides with his wife and two sons in Washington, DC. His short stories and reviews have appeared in publications like Jim Baen's Universe and Internet Review of Science Fiction. Struts and Frets is his first novel.
I asked, Jonny answered:
1. What is the theme song for your book?To find out more about Jonny visit his web site: http://jonnyskov.com/
There is a lot of music in Struts & Frets. I'm not sure I could boil it all down to one song. But the two songs I listened to most while writing it was Story of My Life by Social Distortion and Wicked Little Town, the Breeders cover of a Hedwig and the Angry Inch song.
2. Who is your mc's idol--living or dead?
Joey Santiago, lead guitarist of The Pixies.
3. What inspired you to write this book?
It began when the sentence, "One thing I was sure of, our band was going to be famous" popped into my head and I just followed it from there. The inspiration is all of the incredible musicians out there who aren't and perhaps never will be famous.
And to order Struts & Frets from the comfort of your computer, click on one of these bookstore links:
o http://www.amazon.com/Struts-Frets-Jon-S
http://www.indiebound.org/book/978081094
Lauren Bjorkman's debut novel, My Invented Life is such a witty, humorous, original novel.
About My Invented Life
Roz and Eva are sisters, close friends, and fierce rivals. Roz fantasizes about snagging the lead in the school play and sexy skate god Bryan as her boyfriend. Sadly a few obstacles stand between her and her dreams. For one, Eva is the more talented actress. And Bryan happens to be Eva’s boyfriend. But is Eva having a secret love affair with a girl? Enquiring minds need to know.
Roz prides herself on random acts of insanity. In one such act, she invents a girlfriend of her own to encourage Eva to open up. The plan backfires, and Roz finds herself neck deep in her invented life. When Roz meets a mercurial boy with a big problem, she begins to understand the complex feelings beneath the labels. And she gets a second chance to earn Eva’s trust.
My Invented Life is set in a small California high school during rehearsals for a Shakespeare comedy.
About Lauren Bjorkman
Lauren Bjorkman grew up on a sailboat, sharing the forecastle with her sister and the sail bags. Against all odds, they are still friends. She enjoys making things up, chocolate in large quantities, and anything that makes her laugh. She lives in Taos, New Mexico with her husband, two sons, and a cat that plays fetch.
Visit her website at: http://laurenbjorkman.com/
Order the book right now at:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/My-Invented-Life-L
Indiebound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/978080508
So go out a grab a copy right now! Of course, even sweeter if read while eating Halloween candy but not necessary!
Here's what Susan had to say when I asked her a few questions:
1. How did you come up with the idea for the retelling of the story?
An Apple Pie For Dinner actually started as a writing exercise. I'd had a few books published for grown-ups, but wanted to try my hand at children's writing (seems to happen a lot when writers become parents!). I knew I needed to work on simplifying my writing style, streamlining, making every word count. So I tried retelling some of my favorite folktales from childhood. I stripped the stories down to bare bones, then rebuilt them as easy readers, changing settings and character details and such. An Apple Pie For Dinner was one of those exercises. Since I'm nuts for pie, I couldn't resist adding a fun and easy pie recipe!
2. Since you write everything from picture books to adult nonfiction, how do you balance it all?
I always seem to have a zillion projects in various stages simmering at one time. I guess it's just the way my brain works. I like being able to shift gears – if I'm stuck on one manuscript, I can pull out something else. Actually finishing a project is the hard part for me. That's where publishers' deadlines are so helpful!
3. Besides apple pie, what is your favorite dessert?
My husband's a former chef and makes this amazing seven-layer chocolate cake/pie thingie that'll ooze you right out of your chair. Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, bittersweet ganache... pure bliss. For my birthday in February, though, I've asked hubby to make a Chocolate Stout Cake we saw Hubert Keller put together on TV. Dark beer and chocolate – sounds good to me!
4. What are you working on now?
I've just wrapped up final revisions on Strike Up The Band: Amazing American Instrument Makers From Ragtime To Rock, a totally fun middle-grade nonfiction for Boyds Mills Press due out in fall, 2010. Next, I need to finish a middle-grade historical fiction about the Underground Railroad for which SCBWI kindly gave me a research grant. But, of course, there's loads of other stuff – I've outlined two other middle-grade historical fiction novels, I'm halfway through an underwater fantasy for tweens, I have the beginnings written of an easy chapter-book for boys... Time to put butt in chair again!
Susan VanHecke writes books for children and adults. Her titles for young readers include Rock 'N' Roll Soldier: A Memoir (HarperTeen, 2009) with Dean Ellis Kohler, An Apple Pie For Dinner (Marshall Cavendish, 2009), and Strike Up The Band (Boyds Mills, 2010), and, for adults, Race With The Devil: Gene Vincent's Life In The Fast Lane (St. Martin’s Press, 2000), adapted into an award-winning screenplay, and Roadwork: Rock & Roll From The Inside Out (Hal Leonard, 2007/Omnibus UK, 2009) with photographer Tom Wright, foreword by Pete Townshend. Of Roadwork, Barnes & Noble Booksellers CEO Steve Riggio said it’s “probably the best book on rock & roll ever published.” Susan is the children’s market columnist at Authorlink.com and a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
Order the book from Amazon by following this link: http://www.amazon.com/Apple-Pie-Dinner-S
Thanks for stopping by Susan!
Good luck!
Thanks to all that have participated in helping to save Tere's voice. No word on the printing status yet but will let you all know as soon as I get word. The campaign is still on!
Tomorrow stay tuned for my interview with Susan Vanhecke, author of Apple Pie for Dinner. A wonderful picture book that is a perfect holiday gift, complete with a yummy apple pie recipe!
Four Grand Prize Winners were drawn at random using random.org (thanks to Stephanie Kuehnert (
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
writerstephanie ) for introducing me to the site). All four winners will receive a $25 gift certificate to the bookstore of their choice or to iTunes. 1. Sarah Quigley
sarahquigley2. Marjolein Balm
3. Retail Daze
retail_daze 4. Emmarose1
emmarose1There are also six super duper winners who will receive one of the following amazing arcs donated by the lovely Book Butterfly. When you email me list your top three choices and I’ll try and get you one of those books. First email. First serve. And the Book Butterfly was initially one of those winners so I’m going to send her a book from my personal library instead.
1. Kim from Book Butterfly
2. J. Blair
3. Sammyjones57
sammyjones574. Katie from Ohio (post on Amazon)
5. Brigidsblest
brigidsblest6. Kristen from Bookwormminginthe 21stcentury
Your choices:
1. Ash by Melinda Lo
2. My Invented Life by Lauren Bjorkman
3. Give Up the Ghost by Megan Crewe (This book is claimed!)
4. Candor by Pam Bachorz
5. Violet Wings by Victoria Hanley
All winners email me at danielle (at) daniellejoseph (dot) com. Make sure to give me your mailing address. You have until midnight on October 26, 2009 to email me!
A huge shout out to all that helped spread the word about Shrinking Violet. I totally feel the love out there! As soon as I know if there are any changes in the printing status I’ll be sure to post. Fingers crossed! And the campaign is not over so keep your purple sweater up!
xo,
Danielle
About Candor
Oscar Banks has everything under control. In a town where his father brainwashes everyone, he’s found a way to secretly fight the subliminal Messages. He’s got them all fooled: Oscar’s the top student and the best-behaved teen in town. Nobody knows he’s made his own Messages to deprogram his brain. But then Nia Silva moves to Candor, and Oscar falls in love. He must choose whether to let Nia be lost to brainwashing—or to sacrifice himself.
About Pam Bachorz
Pam Bachorz grew up in a small town in the Adirondack foothills, where she participated in every possible performance group and assiduously avoided any threat of athletic activity. Pam attended college in Boston and finally decided she was finished after earning four degrees. Her mother is not happy that Pam’s degrees are stored under her bed.
Pam lives just outside Washington, DC with her husband and their son. She likes to read books not aimed at her age group, go to museums and theater performances, and watch far too much television. She even goes jogging. Reluctantly.
As far as she knows, Pam has never been brainwashed. Or maybe that’s just what she’s supposed to say.
I asked, Pam answered:
1. What is the theme song for your book?
YELLOW by Coldplay. It captures the sacrifice, wonder, and love that define Oscar and Nia's romance.
2. Who is your mc's idol--living or dead?
Oscar idolized his brother Winston, who died before Oscar and family moved to Candor, Florida. There's this fishing box that he always wanted to touch when Winston was alive, but his brother would never let him. Now Winston is gone, and Oscar can use it all he wants--but can barely bring himself to look at it.
3. What inspired you to write this book?
CANDOR is all about a planned community in Florida where everyone is brainwashed. I was inspired to write it when I was living in a Florida planned community (though as far as I know, nobody was brainwashed there... or maybe that's just what I'm supposed to say!).
To learm more about Pam visit her web site: http://www.pambachorz.com/
Now go buy her book (buy her book, buy her book:))...!
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Candor-Pam-Bachor
IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/97816068
Thanks for stopping by Pam!
There are nine prizes to be won so your odds are pretty good:)! Leave a comment here or on the original post if you still want to be entered:)!
And again, many thanks to those that have helped to Save Shrinking Violet! I'll let you know when I get word on the campaign's progress!
xo,
Danielle
The book fair is amazing and includes over 400 authors from around the country. Meg Cabot will be there, along with Sherman Alexie, Peter Lerangis and so many cool authors that I've always wanted to meet. This year they'e added a Kids' Comic Con which sounds like so much fun!
Check out the Fair's web site for more info: www.miamibookfair.com. This year it will be held Nov. 13-Nov. 15 at the MDC Wolfson Campus.
I better start saving or maybe I should purchase a wheelbarrow because I know I'll want to cart home tons of books!
And check out the awesome poster designed by Jeff Kinney!
So here's the scoop:
About Give Up the Ghost
Cass McKenna much prefers the company of ghosts over "breathers." Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody... and Cass loves dirt. She's on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.
But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass's whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.
As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim's life, she's surprised to realize he's not so bad--and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it's time to give the living another chance...
About Megan Crewe
Like many fiction authors, Megan Crewe finds writing about herself much more difficult than making things up. A few definite facts: she lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband and two cats (and does on occasion say "eh"), she tutors children and teens with special needs, and she has yet to make friends with a ghost, though she welcomes the opportunity.
Megan was kind enough to answer a few questions:
1. What is the theme song for your book?
"Trouble" by Lisa Germano
2. Who is your mc's idol--living or dead?
Cass is pretty cynical about everyone--she doesn't really have an idol. Probably the person she respects the most is her ghostly friend Chester, who sadly isn't around any more.
3. What inspired you to write this book?
he idea of a girl who preferred ghost friends over the living; figuring out why that might have happened and how it might change.
Check out Megan's web site for more info: http://megancrewe.com/. You can order Give Up the Ghost now: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Give-Up-Ghost-Meg
IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/97808050
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