21 Questions with... Denise Jaden

Denise Jaden
Losing Faith

September 7, 2010
Simon Pulse

I like to start out my days with a laugh. Soo… What makes you literally LOL?
Honestly, almost everything! I love to laugh. My husband makes me snort my tea through my nose too often. The latest thing that made me LOL was TREASURE MAP OF BOYS, the third Ruby Oliver book by E. Lockhart. I love to listen to audio books in the early hours of the morning, but I couldn’t with this one – I ended up waking the whole house up!

I'm the same way. I even laugh at things that shouldn't be laughed at. my bad.

Has anything AMAZING happened to you as a writer? (Other than getting published?)
I’ve had some amazing compliments come my way via editors and other published authors. I often have to pinch myself.

How about something EMBARASSING?
Oh, if only I had a whole page to list the embarrassing things! Well, to name a few, I’ve made a few major screw-ups on my blog, mentioning things I shouldn’t have or naming wrong names. I’ve addressed query letters to the wrong people. I’ve pretended that I’ve read authors books, only to be called out on it. The list goes on and on (but at least I love to laugh, even at myself, so there’s always that!)

How did you celebrate getting published?
I had some out of town friends staying with me at the time. After they’d helped calmed down my hysterics, they went out and bought some champagne so we could celebrate with that.

What/Who inspired you to become a writer?
Probably Jane Hamilton. It was her writing that made me start to fall in love with words and the way they could be put together.

If not an author, what would you have been?
I think I still do everything I would have otherwise done. Besides being an author, I’m also a professional Polynesian dancer. I’m a homeschooling mom. I do all the bookkeeping for my husband’s business. Even without writing, I think this would be enough to keep me busy.

Polynesian dancer? That's pretty sweet.

Can you in any way relate your life to your book title, Losing Faith?
I think no matter what someone’s beliefs are, everyone goes through times where they feel like they’re losing faith in something or someone, or just the world in general. I’m no exception. I have good days and bad days; days where I feel like life couldn’t get much better, and days where I can’t understand why such horrible things happen. When I was sixteen, a close friend of mine was killed in a senseless accident, and that was definitely inspiration, in part, for the title and subject matter of the book.

Why did you direct Losing Faith towards the YA generation?
I love writing for young people. I’m very young at heart, in speech, and I think I often act more like a teenager than an adult. It just felt right.

What's your guilty pleasure?
Baskin Robbins or Coldstone Creamery. It’s a toss-up.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your closet right now?
I love a ratty blue Old Navy T-shirt that I’ve had for years. Also, my fuzzy blue pajama pants.

What could you eat all day long and never grow tired of?
Sugar snap peas. (chocolate I would get sick of – I’ve tried that!)

What’s your favorite fairytale? Have you ever thought of re-doing it?
My favorite fairy tale is Beauty and the Beast. I think it’s been re-done enough though. I love going to see it live at the theatre when I can. Also, my critique partner is stellar at re-tellings and because I’ve seen through her process how difficult it is, I don’t know that I’d be able to do a re-telling justice.

When you get stuck writing, how do you unglue yourself?
Um, I work on interviews instead. Haha. Actually, I jump around a bit in my manuscript until I find some passion for it again. When I find a part that really entertains me, then I can usually go back and fix the tough spot.

Are you planning a release day party? I would.
I’m hoping to do an online release party and an in person one in my hometown, or near my hometown. Watch my blog http://www.denisejaden.com/Blogl for details. LINK

What’s something you can’t live without?
My computer. I’m getting to the point where I have to say my iphone too.

Write a mnemonic, using your first name, which describes you.
What’s a mnemonic? Dense Denise – how about that?

not quite what i was looking for, but it works. (=

Is there any moment in your life you’d like to relive?
Hmm. There are probably many, but the one that comes to mind was the first agent phone call offering me representation. It was the first moment that I felt truly validated as a writer.

What’s a random fact about you?
I’m not a huge fan of jewelry or flowers. I’d rather have ice cream.

Do you have any words of wisdom?
We all still have a lot to learn.

i like that.

What’s your favorite imaginary place to visit?
My head.

Now it’s time we put things in reverse. Do you have any questions for me?
What’s the last book you read that you really loved and why? I love to hear about what other people love in books.

Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten. I had never read a book with a similar premise so it was totally new to me and definitely original. I love how she worked the clues together and how everything like just matched up. It was pretty much amazing. Also, who doesn't love a chapter book with pictures? That right there is a dreal breaker.

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Thanks so much for having me!
Thank YOU for being here Denise.

Be sure to visit Denise on the web!

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21 Questions with ..... Shannon Delany

Shannon Delany
13 to Life

Shannon is a debut author this year. Her novel 13 to Life comes out in stores June 22!!!

I like to start my days out with a laugh. Soo... What makes you literally LOL?
My son. He's got a wicked steak, a great sense of humor and a stange sense of reality (by the way, we call *that* creativity in my household). He's in kindergarten and yesterday he flopped onto the floor in his dragon-hooded towel, his arm out, hand holding a foam sword. Looked like a warrior after battle---if warriors sported green terrycloth.

Has anything AMAZING happened to you as a writer? (other than getting published?)
Yep. Before the deal with St. Martin's Press (and after) we stared hearing movie producers asking to see the book. A couple small production companies and a really big one wanted a peek. I was thrilled. No idea where that interest will go, but it's always VERY flattering.

How about something EMBARASSING?
Trying to remember how to spell my earlier pseudonym. Yes, I should have known then that it wasn't a keeper. *sigh*

How would you describe your road to publication?
Three words: Bizarre and unexpected.

cute, i like that.

What/Who inspired you to become a writer?
I've always written and drawn. Although it wasn't a moment directly tied to writing, I have to say my mom inspired me when I was in kindergarten. I had homework and was supposed to draw a person. It totally intimidated me so I asked my mom to draw one for me. She shook her head. No. I was insistent. *I* couldn't do it. finally she picked up an envelope, flipped it over (this is a habit I got from her that makes my husband twitch) and explained she wasn't a good artist---that I could surely do better. She drew the most misshapen stick figure. Ever. I thought: *I* can do better than *that*! I went on to love art and writing because my mom did little things like that to bolster my confidence. The first book is dedicated to her.

that's really sweet--on both parts.

If not an author, what would you have been?
hmmm. That aptitude test I took in high school suggested forest ranger. Yeah. I've been a teacher (loved it), an artist (love it mostly), freelance author (which in a way I still am---crazy!), a tour guide for a well-known cave (cool except for the spooky guide crushing on me), a worker on Godiva's factory line (and Pepperidge Farms), the educational director for a privately owned zoo (Love. Giraffes), a counter of belts (Worst Job Ever), and a bunch of other things. I'm technically a farmer who also writes. so... I think one way or the other I'll always be a writer/author, artist, and teacher. I can't easitly separate them anymore anyhow. ;-)

wow, this reminds me of the "i've been everywhere" comercial. :)

Why did you decide to write a paranormal series?
The short answer? Life is weird. There is no normal to speak of. The longer answer? I've always been fascinated by the paranormal (and have had plenty of weird experiences of my own, thanks). I happened to be writing two stories (13 to life and another one I want to revisit eventually) for the Textnovel contest and although I *tried* to do one that was simply fiction I just couldn't. I mean, I *could* but the spooky stuff seems to be attracted to me. Just like that tour guide in my sixth answer. ;-) I studies stuff about the paranormal starting in middle school. My science fair projects were about fringe science. In high school I tested middle school kids for psychic abilities (and freaked them out when they tested me. ;-). There's stuff we can't easily explain. I'm cool with that. And it'll probably always show up in my writing and art in some way or other.

Can you in any way relate your life to your book title, 13 To Life?
That's an interesting question...Sure. For me, thirteen felt like the beginning of a new stage of life. I hated middle school---didn't fit in anywhere and was threatened and bullied. I think I was thirteen when my dad taught me how to throw a punch to protect myself. That was also around the time I started attending a local historical event regularly (one you got to dress up for and become someone else entriely). I realized life was really what you make it-- that *I* was whoever I wanted to be regardless of the way some kids treated me.

it took me longer than 13yrs to learn that. :) kudos to you for learning it so early.

How did you decide on 13 To Life being a series instead of a stand-alone?
I'd chatted with my husband about the possibitility briefly, them my agent called a day or so later. He said he felt pretty certain we could get a series deal if I felt I could do a series. I think I laughed. But then he wanted to know how many books we should push for (contracts can be so frikkin' scary). I said I thought I could get it to go to 4 or 5 but I only really knew how the first three would lay out. So we went for (and got) three.

What's your guilty pleasure?
Eating someonething delicious and ectravagant while wating an episode of Survivor. Yes. I'm twisted. ;-)

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your closet right now?
The blue and black top I wore to the Harlequin party at RWA in DC. Love it.

What coule you eat all day one and never grow tired of?
Nothing. I'm all about variety.

What's your favorite fairytale? Have you ever thought of re-doing it?
There are lots of fairytales I've thought of redoing (and one--Bab Yaga--that I did as a freelancer). I tend to like lesser known tales a lot (not necessarily Gimm or Andersen or Lang). There's a traditional legend that's been haunting my mind recently---a French tale that got retold as a poem a looong time ago (werewolf fans might know what I'm talking about). It's a book I have in Pietr's ownership in 13 To Life. I wouldn't mind re-envisioning it for a publisher.

When you get stuck writing, how do you unglue yourself?
Getting stuck isn't my problem, really. Staying focused is the more frequent issue. I get ideas for new novels and short stories pretty frequently. I have to sort of eorcise them before I can get back to the WiP I need to work on. If I do get stuck (in winter), I vacuum. There's something about that hum of the machine that kicks my brain into a different gear (probably a white noise thing). Otherwise I weed my garden. Getting my hands busy also frees my mind. However, if you ever see my garden, you'll know I don't frequently get stuck. ;-)

What's something you can't live without?
I could probably survive without almost anything, but I doubt I'd want to. Let's go with "Family" for the win. Note the capital "F"--blood relation is *not* a requirement of true Family to me.

Write a mnemonic, using your last name, which describes you.
Which last name to use....;-) Devilish Envisioner Loving All New (yetis? yams? yurts? yodelers? crap, I knew I shouldn't have gone with Delany...) Yarns.

Is there any moment in your life you'd like to relive?
A day at Cape May when my mother was alive and healthy--especially if Icould bring my son (at his current age) to meet her.

What's a random fact about you?
I didn't start off thinking 13 To Life would be anything but an experiment on the Textnovel.com website

Do you have any words of wisdom?
I'll steal Pietr's words (which Jess adds to later): "Live life fiercely."

How did you choose the title, 13 To Life?
It just came to me as a phrase and wouldn't stop rolling around in my head untill I used it.

Now it's time we put thinks in reverse. Do you have a question for me?
Do you have aspirations of becoming an author or are you absolutely happy reading and imagining the worlds others create?

I'd have to go with the latter. Although I love reading, I have zero creativity invested in me. I'm all sticks and figures. But I would love to be an editor or something of the sort. That, I could handle. :)

and here's an EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW of 13 to Life. ENJOY!!

13 To Life: Chapter 13, part N (used with the author's premission)

Sophia simply sucked on her straw, listening intently.
"I guess it itsn't," he admitted around a strip of beef jerky. "I just thought a male opinion..." He looked beyond me again.
"What? Because we can't figure this sort of thing out on our own?" I leaned across teh table, making it clear I could be the transgressor.

21 Questions with..... Shari Maurer!!!!

Shari Maurer

Change of Heart

April 23, 2010

Westside Books

I like to start my days with a laugh. Soo... What makes you literally LOL?

I can't always start my days with a laugh, so I try to end them with one. I fall asleep to Jon Stewart and The Daily Show most nights. And I know it's totally un-PC, but Family Guy is also pretty funny. My warped sensibilities often get a good giggle from The Onion. Maybe it's trite, but my kids and my husband have wicked senses of humor, so there's a lot of laughter in our house.

Has anything AMAZING happened to you as a writer? (Other than getting published?)

Sometimes it's the little things that are amazing. I was speaking to a seventh grade class and at the end one girl came up to me and told me I inspired her and she wanted to write a book. That was amazing!

How about something EMBARRASSING?

As a writer or just in general? Because plenty of embarrassing things have happened to me, but so far, the writing has been pretty low-key.

How did you celebrate getting published?

I still have the bottle of champagne chilling that I promised myself I'd open when I sold my book. I guess it's time to drink it, huh?!

What/Who inspired you to become a writer?

I've always been a huge reader, so it felt very natural to want to write. I adapted the sixth grade play from one of my favorite books, so in a way the writer in my has always been there.

If not an author, what would you have been?

I worked in the International Production for Children's Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop) in a former life. If the writing didn't work out, I think I would do some sort of event production.

Can you in any way relate your like to your book title, Change of Heart?

I married my first serious boyfriend (we met when we were 17) so I really haven't had any changes of heart.

I'm 17...and am now crossing my fingers. :)

Where did the inspiration for Change of Heart come from?

I had been watching a television progran on heart transplants when I saw a little girl who needed a transplant. They wheeled her into the OR and I saw the look on her face---unsure whether she was going to live or die-- and I was haunted by her. I knew I wanted to write a YA novel and tell the story of a girl going through a transplant.

In Change of Heart, Emmi gets a heart transplant, have you ever had any major surgery?

I've had two semi-major surgeries, but my daughter has open heart sugery, so I've seen it from both sides.

I really like the title Change of Heart, does it hold a double meaning as to the events in Emmi's life?

Absolutely. But I can't tell you why---you'll have to read the book! I actually had the title and built the plot from there.

What's your guilty pleasure?

Staying in bed and reading on a weekend morning.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your closet right now?

My ratty, old (I won't tell you how old) Duke sweatshirt that I bought Senior year of college.

it keeps the memorie alive, nothing wrong with that. :)

What could you eat all day long and never grow tired of?

I think it's a tie between sushi and SoCo Creamery's Mexicali Chocolate ice cream.

so i've never heard of that type of ice cream before but i suddenlly have this craving for it. it just sounds sooo good.

What's your favorite fairytale? Have you ever thought of re-doing it?

When my kids were little I used to tell them a version of the Three Little Pigs with their dad and their uncles as the pigs (sorry, guys!). I doubt it would be fit for publication, though.

you never know. they publish some crazy things now-a-days. :)

When you get stuck writing, how do you unglue yourself?

I often take a walk or drive. I think much better away from my computer. Also, if I'm really stuck in a story, I'll sometimes create letters or journal entries from the characters to try to get further into their heads. I've found it helps to figure out their motivations, which is great for plotting.

What's something you can't live without?

Sad to say, these days, I'd say it's coffee, tea or any other caffeinated beverage.

Write a mnemonic, using your name, which describes you.

She Hopes All is Right In the World. (okay, this one was a stumper, but I tried!)

and that's all that counts, that you tried. :)

Is there any moment in your life you'd like to relive?

I'd love to go back to summer camp during the first few weeks I was dating my husband. It would be fun to see our 17year oldselves and to experience that joy of new love again.

What's a random fact about you?

I still know the lyrics to most of the songs on Sesame Street.

Do you have any words of wisdom on life?

Always try something once. If it doesn't work, don't do it again..

Now it's time we put things in reverse. Do you have a question for me?

What makes you pick up a book and know it's something you'd like to read?

In no particular order: the cover, the author, the synopsis, the reveiws(if any).

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A GREAT thanks to Shari for being with us today!!

21 Questions with... Kristina McBride

Kristina McBride

The Tension of Opposites

May 25, 2010
Egmont USA

I like to start out my days with a laugh. Soo… What makes you literally LOL?
My husband. He’s hysterical and makes me laugh every day. It’s one of the things I love most about him.

Has anything AMAZING happened to you as a writer? (Other than getting published?)
I think one of the most pivotal moments of my author journey was when my agent, Alyssa Eisner Henkin, offered me representation. She’s amazing and I would not have made it this far without her guidance and support.

How about something EMBARASSING?
When my publisher sent me a computer file with my manuscript, all marked up and ready for a serious round of revisions, I had no idea what I was supposed to do. I had to call my editor and ask very specific questions about how I was supposed to make these changes. I’d never felt or looked like such a novice.

How did you celebrate getting published?
I celebrated my first (of 3!) offers by going for ice cream with my husband and two children.

What/Who inspired you to become a writer?
That’s a hard question. When I was young, I lived across the street from an old library, and as weird as it may sound, books have always felt like a part of me. Every character and setting I encounter feel real, like they are simply around the nearest corner. I cannot remember a time when I did not want to create a fictional world for others to experience, to do for others what so many authors have done for me.

If not an author, what would you have been?
I was a high school English teacher for eight years before I quit to stay home with my first child. That’s when I dove into my writing, knowing I actually had the time to make it happen. If I hadn’t been able to make this whole become-an-author dream come true, I’d be heading back to the classroom in the very near future. But the two-book deal with Egmont USA has bought me a little more time. We’ll see what the future holds.

How do you associate with your fans? Are there any who’ve made a strong impression on you that you can’t forget?
Geesh. Fans? I mean, this is all so crazy new, that word seems foreign. Right now, I’m thinking of the blogger at The Hiding Spot who posted my first official review. It was an amazing feeling to read her thoughts on my book! I had leftover pizza in the oven when I read the post, and was so excited to send the link to everyone I know that I totally forgot about my lunch. It burned to a crisp. Oops. Here’s a link, in case anyone wants to check it out: http://bit.ly/5SdDzA LINK

Can you in any way relate your life to your book title, The Tension of Opposites?
I think in some ways everyone can probably relate. Opposing forces pull people in many directions every day. Should I eat those M&M’s or work out? Read that new book or write that new book? Buy or save? Speak or remain silent? Back down or stand firm?

I know the feeling. =)

The premise for The Tension of Opposites is not one I’ve heard of before. What was the inspiration behind it?
One day when my daughter was napping, I had a rare moment to watch a little TV. As I flipped through the channels, I was sucked into an interview Oprah was having with a young man who had just been returned to his family after a four-year abduction. His story captivated and inspired me. Within days, the voice of Tessa, the sixteen-year-old main character in The Tension of Opposites, started speaking to me.

What's your guilty pleasure?
Chocolate. Hands down.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your closet right now?
Does my favorite purse count? Because it’s a thing of beauty. (I even blogged about it if you want to check it out: http://kristinamcbride.livejournal.com/1248.html) LINK

What could you eat all day long and never grow tired of?
Ice cream (Baskin Robbins, to be specific).

What’s your favorite fairytale? Have you ever thought of re-doing it?
I can’t pick a favorite – they’re all so much fun. I haven’t thought of using one as inspiration. But you never know what might happen!

When you get stuck writing, how do you unglue yourself?
I write. And then I write some more. I know that if a weak scene is in the way of a strong scene, I have to write through the muck to get to the good stuff. It’s hard to make myself sit down and write something that I think will probably be pitched in the end, but that’s how I work.

What’s something you can’t live without?
My family.

Which books are on your Must Have list right now?
I’ve recently been sucked into the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. I love everything by Laurie Halse Anderson, John Green, and Sarah Dessen. I think everyone should read Jay Asher’s 13 Reasons Why, and really think about how much the little stuff can affect the people around them. Savvy by Ingrid Law, and When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead are amazing. I also lovelovelove Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. (Are you sorry you asked?)


Is there any moment in your life you’d like to relive?
I’ve had a lot of amazing moments. My wedding. The births of my two children. Many days I spent in the classroom. And, of course, special writing moments: my agent’s offer of representation, the day she told me my revisions were complete, the days I received offers on my manuscript, and the day I accepted a 2-book deal with Egmont USA. But, no matter how wonderful those days were, I think I’d like to just keep going forward and see what other amazing experiences I can add to that list.

What’s a random fact about you?
I don’t like shoes with pointy toes.

I'm not that big a fan either.

Do you have any words of wisdom?
Chocolate makes everything better.

Now it’s time we put things in reverse. Do you have any questions for me?
I want to know your favorite piece of clothing in your closet right now!

Right now I am in LOVE with cardigans. They are soo cute. and You can easily dress them down or up. It's just great. I have this black one and it looks kinda granish, but I love it. It's just so cute and simple. (<------there it is)
Can we have a little teaser from The Tension of Opposites? Promise to keep our lips sealed.
Since I’m not sure how my publisher feels about this, I’m going to leave it blank for now. If you want to check back closer to the date you’re going to post this, feel free. I’m not trying to be stingy, just trying to make sure I follow all the rules

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A HUGE-O thanks to Kristina for being with us today!

Be sure to visit Kristina on the Web
Website: (Under Construction)
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21 Questions with... Rhonda Hayter

Rhonda Hayter
The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams

April 1, 2010
Dial Books

I like to start out my days with a laugh. Soo… What makes you literally LOL?
We have a little dog named Kitty who comes pounding through her doggy door every morning and leaping onto our bed in a frenzy of excitement every time she pees outside. I guess you’re probably supposed to stop giving them treats after they’re finally house-trained, but it’s too funny to give up.

Has anything AMAZING happened to you as a writer? (Other than getting published?)
How about getting my manuscript sold again, after my first publisher closed their doors... and Harcourt made me an offer ...and then again because my editor left Harcourt and went to Penguin...which finally published me. Ouch, wait a minute... the book isn’t actually in stores till April 1st, so I guess anything still can happen.

How about something EMBARASSING?
Nothing too embarrassing so far, it’s only my first book. But rest assured, I’ll embarrass myself yet.

How did you celebrate getting published?
My husband took us out to dinner and then he had the waiter bring over a bottle of champagne and say that it was from J.K. Rowling because she was such a big fan of mine. And unlike many jokes, which lose their impact the second time you hear them, the bottle that came from J.K. after the next publisher bought me was just as happily received. Maybe even more.

What/Who inspired you to become a writer?
Gee, I had a jillion inspirations but I think the way my parents used to reread my letters out loud and die laughing all over again (Slightly biased? Certainly not.) was an early affirmation that I could write if I wanted to.

If not an author, what would you have been?
Well actually I was an actress but if you can believe it, and I hope you’re sitting down when you read this...it’s actually even harder to get paid for being an actress than it is to make a living as a writer.

Can you in any way relate your life to your book title, The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams?
I suppose I might have been a bit of a worrier as a kid, and so I gave poor Abbie the same flaw.

so unfair for abby. =)

How did you decide on the name, Abbie Adams for the protagonist of The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams?
It’s funny, it was almost a subconscious thing. Witches made me think of Salem...which made me think of colonial America...and then the name Abigail Adams just floated up in my head.

Nice Crucible reference. We just read that this year.

The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams brings Sabrina the Teenage Witch to mind, especially the cat. Was Sabrina part of the inspiration behind Abbie?
I’ve never actually seen Sabrina the Teenage Witch and don’t know anything about it—but way at the back of my mind, I must confess there may be a trace of residual Bewitched from when I was a kid.

What's your guilty pleasure?
An obsession with Internet Scrabble. Sometimes it’s hard for me to get anything done..uh..wait a sec...let me just exchange this v and this c here...and I’ll..

=) it has to be one of my favorite board games.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your closet right now?
It’s not in my closet...I’m happy to say it’s on me, and it’s a big thick cozy hoodie with a zipper.

What could you eat all day long and never grow tired of?
I’m a milk chocolate gal and I don’t eat it all day, but sadly I do eat it every day. I’ve gotten snobbier about it as I’ve gotten older though and only eat good quality stuff. That’s gotta count for something.

What’s your favorite fairytale? Have you ever thought of re-doing it?
I think I’ve always loved the Ugly Duckling story the best and I don’t think of rewriting it but I do have an idea for a little novel that expresses a similar message. I’m too busy with Abbie right now to write it though.

When you get stuck writing, how do you unglue yourself?
Tragically I’m in the throes of that with some revisions I’m doing but as soon as I get unstuck I’ll let you know how I did it.

What’s something you can’t live without?
There are three somethings, my husband and my two sons. And…oh okay..alright…I admit it. Internet Scrabble. I’ve tried, I swear I’ve tried to give it up.

Write a mnemonic, using your last name, which describes you.
Hmm. Happy… Agnostic…Younger once…Trying to get toned…Education-minded…Reasonably disciplined.

Is there any moment in your life you’d like to relive?
Yes, my wedding and I’m planning to do it too, on our twenty-fifth anniversary.

awww. i want a wedding too. lol

What’s a random fact about you?
From first to sixth grade, I lived in Labrador in Northern Canada, where it was routinely twenty or thirty degrees below zero.

and i bet you miss it too... not really.

Do you have any words of wisdom?
Not everybody subscribes to this because people have writing critique groups that they show works in progress to, but for me when I’m in the middle of writing something, there’s one rule…which is that nobody can look at it unless they’re prepared to tell me it’s absolutely brilliant. I highly advise it for writers. Otherwise you’re criticizing yourself while you’re still in the invention stage …and that’s when your feelings are all tender and vulnerable and need to be protected. I tried a writing group once and it stopped me in my tracks. I still haven’t revisited the material I was working on, because my inner critic now savages it.

Now it’s time we put things in reverse. Do you have a question for me?
Was it scary starting a blog? Were you afraid no one would visit it?
I was really nervous, but excited cause it was something I had thought about doing for a while. I barely had any visitors at first, but that's just a right of passage so it was okay. I'm pretty much happy with how it turned out inthe end, but there's always roomfor improvement.

I guess i never sent question number 21. oops!


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Thanks for being here with us today Rhonda!

Be sure to keep an eye on Rhonda and Abbie Adams. She sounds like lots of fun, both of them.
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21 Questions with Daisy Jordan and GIVEAWAY

Daisy Jordan

Author of Everything Happens for a Reason, the Spin the Bottle Series, and All that Sparkles isn't Real Sapphire

I like to start out my days with a laugh. Soo… What makes you literally LOL?
The TV show Friends. Every time! I love it! Lots of other things too…I love to laugh…but Friends never fails.

It’s the New Year, what were some of your resolutions?
One of my biggest resolutions was just to keep my life going in the direction I want it to go. A big part of that is I’m going to try doing a lot more publicity for my books this year.

and that's when i come in. =)

Has anything AMAZING happened to you as a writer? (Other than getting published?)
My most amazing experiences have been talking to readers and when readers have left me messages and comments letting me know how the books touched them in some way. That’s why I write! Another amazing experience was going to Book Expo America in 2007 in New York City and doing a book signing there. I hope to go back!

How about something EMBARASSING?
I don’t get embarrassed too easily. So nothing I can think of right off the bat. My friends were all afraid they’d be embarrassed by my books because they thought I’d write about them and it would be obvious, but I haven’t done that, so they don’t have to worry!

What/Who inspired you to become a writer?
I have loved writing ever since I was little. My mom’s an English teacher, so I think that was definitely part of it. A book I read in college, The Snow Garden, was what inspired me at the time to start writing a new book, something really crazy and dramatic with a big twist people wouldn’t see coming, and that turned into the first book I published, Everything Happens for a Reason….

If not an author, what would you have been?
I have another job; I’m also a high school counselor and student council advisor. It’s awesome! I love it.

How do you associate with your fans? Are there any who’ve made a strong impression on you that you can’t forget?

I associate with them as much as I can through MySpace, and I recently started a Daisy Jordan Facebook page. I love to get messages from my fans. There are a couple I’ve stayed in touch with through MySpace who have asked me for writing advice or who always let me know when they’re reading my latest book and what they think about it, and those are my favorites! I also have two friends who I met because they read my books, and now we are really close! So that’s been a really cool experience.

Is there a specific reason as to why after writing your first novel, Everything Happens for a Reason, you wrote its prequel, the Spin the Bottle series, before going on to write its sequel, All that Sparkles isn’t Real Sapphire?
When I wrote Everything Happens for a Reason…, I had made a few mentions of the characters when they were in high school, and some of my readers said they loved the characters and wanted me to do more with those characters. So I decided it would be fun to go back to their high school days and write about that. I’m glad I did, because now I feel I know them so much better as characters, and it will be easier to develop their lives from here because I’ve explored their teenage years and have a base for why they are at the places in life they are now. All That Sparkles Isn’t Real Sapphire actually takes another character who was barely in Everything Happens for a Reason… and follows her to college at a different school than the school in Everything Happens for a Reason….

wow. That's pretty cool.

Can you in any way relate your life to your series title, Spin the Bottle?
I love this question! I love symbolism of any kind. In the game spin the bottle, you sit in a circle and spin the bottle, and you never know who it will land on. It’s the same thing repeated over and over, but a different person every time. I think my life tends to go in a circle sometimes, coming back to the same spot even though there are different people involved along the way and I never know for sure who will come into my life or play a role in it. That is how I’d say my life relates to the title.

Nice. I love your spin/take on the question. =)

If the Spin the Bottle series was to become a motion picture, who would play the main characters?
Check out my website to see! (daisyjordan.com) I have “Meet the Character” pages for each book, and you can click on each character. It will take you to that character’s individual webpage, where there is a link to a picture of a celeb I’d choose to play that character. Keep in mind celebs have a lot of different looks, so the pictures I’ve chosen represent them as I would want them to look in my movie. A little preview: Jill – Hilary Duff, Hilton – Sienna Miller, Lorylyn – Ashley Olsen with dark hair and eyes, Hillary – Ashley Tisdale

What about Mary-Kate Olsen? j/k =)

What's your guilty pleasure?
Us Weekly! I read every issue cover to cover! I love it!

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your closet right now?
My gray zip-up hoodie from Wal-Mart, of course. Like the one Hilton and all the girls wear in high school. I’ve had it since I was fourteen, but it’s not in my closet, it always hangs on the back of my computer chair so I can throw it on easily! I am wearing it right now!

since you were fourteen and it still fits? you must have a great figure! and a great taking care of clothes capability.

What could you eat all day long and never grow tired of?
Pizza!!!

what kind? i heart supreme.

What’s your favorite fairytale? Have you ever thought of re-doing it?
My favorite fairytale is The Little Mermaid. I redid it for my children’s lit class in high school.

you're just on top of things aren't you? =)

When you get stuck writing, how do you unglue yourself?
I usually take a break, sometimes even for a day or two, and don’t think about it at all. Then I come back to it and it usually flows. Or sometimes I sit down with a little pad of paper and plan out what’s going to happen next. Those are the only notes I ever take for my books, and there are not a lot of them.

What’s something you can’t live without?
My pets!

Is there any moment in your life you’d like to relive?
I am going to choose one I’d relive because of how fun it was – a spring break cruise I went on in college w/ 5 of my friends!

oooo. I can't wait for my college days.

What’s a random fact about yourself?
I am studying French right now. I took 4 years in school and I know a lot, but I want to become fluent.

Do you have any words of wisdom on life?
There are a lot of things I believe, such as “everything happens for a reason,” of course and “seize every moment, live it, and never look back,” things like that. I also strongly believe in travel because I think it opens your eyes to the world and makes you a different person. I like the quote from the Bon Jovi song “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” that says, “If it’s a million miles away or just a mile up the road / Take it in, take it with you when you go.” I think it’s really important to do this, because every place we go becomes a part of us. But overall, my best words of wisdom on life come from the song “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts – “If you’re faced with a choice and you have to choose / I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.” I believe in following your heart and doing what you know will make you happiest and what is most important to you!

I like those. especially traveling. I love to travel.

Why should I read any of your novels?
I hope you will find them relatable and somewhat funny, and that they will touch you as well. I hope they will somehow help you find meaning in some area of your life.

and as for those of you who are wondering where questiong 21 went, I guess it got lost. =)

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Thanks Daisy for joining us today.

Visit Daisy on her webpage or myspace. I'm sure she'd be glad to hear from you.

Time for a Giveaway
Today, ONe lucky winner will be going home with a copy of Really Good Friends, the first in the Spin The Bottle Series!! Yay!


Deadline: April 8, 2010
Who: EVERYONE! It's International!!!!


Just leave a comment answering one of the interview questions and spread the word.


About Really Good Friends LINK
"For Jill Sherer, high school's shaping up to be better than she could've imagined. From the first week of cheerleading practice, she and her best friends Hillary and Lorylyn are included in a circle of popular girls who open the door to a world of exciting social possibilities. And on the first day of school JIll meets Todd - hot, smart, athletic, funny, and a flirt - the boy of her dreams.
But things with Todd don't go as Jill had hoped, she and Hillary drift apart, and her circle of friends is shaken because of Lorylyn's new boyfriend. Desperate to get things back to the way they were, Jill, along with her new best friend Hilton - a gorgeous, intriguing girl who is the link between Jill's old friends and her new ones - anxiously awaits the one thing that never changes...Landon Kessler's parties.
There, on a lake outside town, everyone comes together time after time for dancing, drinking, skinny-dipping, and spin the bottle. Spin the bottle...the game that leads to new loves, bitter jealousies, betrayals, and breakups. The game that teasingly draws the circle of friends together, only to rip them apart in unforeseeable ways. But they keep coming back, some with hope, some with malevolence, some with amused interest, to be part of the saga that unfolds party after party, month after month..."

21 Questions with.... Irene Latham and Giveaway

Irene Latham
Debut Author of Leaving Gee's Bend

I like to start out my days with a laugh. Soo… What makes you literally LOL?
Our dog Mario. He’s a blue heeler mix, and you should see him go after an empty milk carton.

Has anything AMAZING happened to you as a writer?
(Other than getting published?) Oh my goodness, amazing things happen every day! But here’s one that stands out: when I read the book to my then nine year old son, his reaction was, “Mom, you sound like a real, professional writer!”

aww. too cute.

How about something EMBARASSING?
It’s so embarrassing I can’t repeat it here.

How did you celebrate getting published?
Quietly, privately, with my husband.

nice. =)

What/Who inspired you to become a writer?
My father is an avid reader and writer, and he still inspires me.

If not an author, what would you have been?
According to My Dr. Seuss’ My Book About Me: mother, farmer, veterinarian

Can you in any way relate your life to your book title, Leaving Gee’s Bend?
Growth happens when you leave the places you love best. Which means it’s really important to GO. And despite what you may have heard, you CAN go back.

What was the inspiration behind Leaving Gee’s Bend?
When I saw the art exhibit The Quilts of Gee’s Bend at the Whitney Museum, I fell in love with the colors and textures, how every quilt tells a story.

Were you already interested in the 1930’s or did you go in blind?
The Great Depression has always fascinated me, but there isn’t a lot written about the rural experience. So I learned a lot during the research process.

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse is a great one.

Were you always a writer?
Family legend has it that I was writing love poems (to my mother) as early as five years old.

What's your guilty pleasure?
I watch The Bachelor, in all its flawed, hopeful glory.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your closet right now?
This artsy scarf, hand painted, that says “Love kills.”

What could you eat all day long and never grow tired of?
I love seafood. But I’m pretty sure I’d get tired of it if I had to eat it all day long.

What’s your favorite fairytale? Have you ever thought of re-doing it?
I’m a sucker for Cinderella. And who knows? Maybe someday I’ll add my own to the many versions that already exist.

When you get stuck writing, how do you unglue yourself?
I go out and DO something. Like visiting a museum or the botanical gardens. Or I call an old friend. Or play with my three year old niece.

What’s something you can’t live without?
Freedom.

Which books are on your To Be Read list right now?
I’ve got a couple of Tenner ARCs on my nightstand: The Deathday Letter and The Secret Year.

Is there any moment in your life you’d like to relive?
Of course! That’s why I write for children – so I can go back and relive those moments and feelings.

What’s a random fact about you?
I’m left-handed.

Do you have any words of wisdom?
Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about CREATING yourself.

Now it’s time we put things in reverse. Do you have a question for me?
What’s your Six Word Autobiography? Can’t wait to hear!

I live for the Kodak moments.

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Thanks Irene for joining us today.

Visit Irene on her webpage. I'm sure she'd be glad to hear from you. LINK

Time for a Giveaway

Today, ONe lucky winner will be going home with a copy of Leaving Gee's Bend of their own!! Yay!

Deadline: Feb. 22, 2010
Who: US and Canada only.

Just leave a comment answering one of the interview questions and spread the word.

21 Questions with... Melissa Walker

Melissa Walker
Author of the Violet series and Lovestruck Summer.



I like to start out my days with a laugh. Soo… What makes you literally LOL?
Surprised Kitty on youtube. Works EVERY time. LINK

Has anything AMAZING happened to you as a writer? (Other than getting published?)
I once shared the cover of a magazine with Sarah Dessen (our hometown magazine, CHAPEL HILL). That amazed me! LINK

that is pretty much amazing!

How about something EMBARASSING?
This list could go on and on, but let’s just go with the time I got asked to leave a bookstore for photographing the shelves (I like to send “Shelf Shots” of my author friends’ books to them!). Weird?

What/Who inspired you to become a writer?
My parents—so supportive, so encouraging. The wanting to write came naturally. The taking it seriously came from Mom and Dad.

If not an author, what would you have been?
A magazine editor/writer, which I still am too! I love publishing. If you mean outside of that realm entirely, I’d run a movie theater. I’m a big popcorn girl.

How do you associate with your fans? Are there any who’ve made a strong impression on you that you can’t forget?
I mostly interact through twitter.com/melissacwalker and my blog at melissacwalker.com. There are lots of names who stick out to me for their continued enthusiasm and kindness in comments and emails. The list would be way long!

Can you in any way relate your life to your book title, Lovestruck Summer?
I ended up marrying the unexpected guy—the one who wasn’t quite my type at first glance—so I can relate to Quinn in that way.

Was it harder to write the Violet series or Lovestruck Summer? Why?
Both were really fun. Violet was probably easier because her character really did have my personality—Quinn was her own person and I had to think differently to write her.

If the Violet series was to become a motion picture, who would play the main characters?
I have no idea! I’d have to go with unknowns—real models maybe—so they wouldn’t come to the roles with baggage.

When writing Quinn from Lovestruck Summer, did Violet keep interrupting?
Ha! Great question. I did have to edit a bit for “Oops! That was more Violet’s voice than Quinn’s.” But I got the swing of it after the first few chapters.

What's your guilty pleasure?
Hoarders, the A&E show. So crazy, so good.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your closet right now?
I have a Luella Bartley (for Target!) strapless dress that I wore into a pool and it still fits/looks cute. That wins big points. (See attached photo.)

What could you eat all day long and never grow tired of?
Salt and vinegar chips!

What’s your favorite fairytale? Have you ever thought of re-doing it?
I’m gonna be generic and say Cinderella. I’ve never thought of redoing it exactly, but Violet is kind of a Cinderella story.

When you get stuck writing, how do you unglue yourself?
I go to yoga, go for a walk, take a nap, discuss the issue with my cats.

What’s something you can’t live without?
My friends. Love them!

Is there any moment in your life you’d like to relive?
Ooh, many! I’ll go with my wedding day—it was awesome.

What’s a random fact about you?
I like to eat bad foods while watching THE BIGGEST LOSER. It’s a sickness.

ironic maybe? lol

Do you have any words of wisdom on life?
Not my words, but certainly something I try to remember when I feel jealous of someone: “A rising tide lifts all boats.” So I celebrate everyone’s successes—they just make my own more likely! Plus, you’re more fun at parties if you’re cheering too.

What’s on your mind right now? =)
I really want to change into pajamas, but it’s only 8pm. Too early?

it's never to early. I always change hours before bedtime. it's soo much more comfy.

Now it’s time we put things in reverse. Do you have any questions for me?
Yes! What’s your current six-word memoir?
I enjoy learning, especially street smarts.

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Thanks Melissa for joining us today.

Visit Melissa on her webpage. I'm sure she'd be glad to hear from you. LINK

21 Questions Starring... Jessica Verday

Today we have with us author, Jessica Verday! Her debut novel, The Hollow will be released.. TOMORROW! If you don't already own a copy, consider yourself deprived. I've read nothing but good about it so go out to the stores and get yourself a copy...NOW!


Are you working on anything after The Hollow? If so can we get a sneak peek if not can we get a peek at The Hollow?
I'm currently working on book two of The Hollow. I'd give you a peek at the first line, but my first chapters tend to change. So instead I'll give you a peek at the first chapter of THE HOLLOW, available now on my website.

I like to start out my days with a laugh. Soo… What makes you literally LOL?
I can Haz Cheezburger pictures, the Subway commercial where people's pants are splitting and buttons are flying off...that one gets me every time.

Has anything AMAZING happened to you as a writer? (Other than getting published?)
Getting emails (and gifts!) from people who have read my words, or who haven't read my words yet, but want to... That's absolutely amazing and humbling.

How about something EMBARRASSING?
No, not yet. Fingers crossed it will stay that way!

What/Who inspired you to become a writer?
There is no easy answer to this because I feel like there are so many things that inspired me. Music, movies, pictures, paintings, books, snippets of conversations... One day I just took all of those bits and pieces floating in the back of my mind and sat down and wrote a book.

What would you do/be if you were not an author?
I don't know. Life presents us with any number of paths depending on who we meet/where we are at a certain time, so if I wouldn't have ever written a book? I don't know where I'd be right now.

How do you associate with your fans? Are there any who've made a strong impression on you that you can't forget?
One of the ways I try to reach out to my fans is by offering them a 'Get the Goods' pack via my website. I know that I LOVE to get mail and give presents, so I thought it would be cool to combine those two things. People sign up on my website and I send them envelopes filled with goodies. Stickers, postcards, temporary tattoos...sometimes I even throw in strange little things like paper bats punched out of colored paper. It's just a fun way for me to say 'Thanks for visiting me!' As far as fans who have made a strong impression on me, two people from Myspace, Jessy and Autumn have been supporters from wayyyy back in the early days. We've exchanged gifts and emails, and they have just been so, so awesome. They were some of the only people to personally receive an ARC from me from the small stash I was given and I am truly grateful for their friendship.

awww. that is too sweet. click here for a "Get the Goods" pack

Who's your best friend? How long have you guys (gals) been friends?
My husband Lee is my best friend. He's my biggest supporter, fan, cheerleader, brainstorming partner... He's the best. We've known each other for about 12 years and every day is still fun and exciting. We have the best fun just hanging out (and telling inside jokes!)

i heart inside jokes

What's a typical day like, when you're not writing?
Every single day is different for me. Usually though, it involves some type of checking email, responding to email, doing "non-writing"-writing tasks (like interview replies, talking to my agent, tasks for my publisher, etc...), catching up on writing news. All stuff that every author has to deal with crammed in during business hours.

What's a weakness of yours?
I am very bad at reading an email, and mentally composing a reply but not actually sending the reply until much later. It's terrible. I get so far behind that way and feel really bad for people who are waiting on my response each time I find out that I didn't send a reply when I thought I did.

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your closet right now?
My boots. I don't know if they really count as a piece of clothing, but I wear boots everywhere. Love 'em.

What could you eat all day long and never grow tired of?
Strawberries! Whole, sliced, in smoothies, on ice cream, on cereal... YUM!

What's your favorite fairytale? Have you ever thought of re-doing it?
Picking one is hard, but one of my favorites is Hansel and Gretel. The evil witch, the candy cottage, the horrible oven. I haven't ever really thought about re-doing that one, but I do have a story in mind to do a re-telling of Little Red Riding Hood.

that would be pretty sweet. i remember an epic of That's So Raven on Disney Channel where there was Little Red Riding from the Hood. it was cute.

When you get stuck writing, how do you unglue yourself?
Sometimes I watch movies that inspire me and get me thinking, sometimes I read new books that I've been waiting for... But sometimes it's just a matter of waiting for inspiration to strike again. (And hope it doesn't take too long.)

Which character from The Hollow do you relate to the most?
I relate to all of them in some way. With Kristen, it's the desire to be the best friend she can be to Abbey. With Abbey, it's little bit of how she feels like she can't always say things right and the way she views the world. With Caspian, it's the way he wants so desperately to fix things, to make things work any way that they can. I even relate to Abbey's parents a bit!

If The Hollow were to become a movie, who'd you like to play the main characters?
For me, Abbey has always been Alexis Bledel, and Caspian is a cross between Tom Felton (the hair) and Gaspard Ulliel. I'm not sure who could play Ben. Any suggestions?

Can you relate your book title, The Hollow to your life in someway?
Hmm, not really. THE HOLLOW title is slang for the town that Abbey lives in, Sleepy Hollow. In the book she mentions living in 'The Hollow' when talking to Caspian about Sleepy Hollow.

What's your favorite book?
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.

Where's your favorite pace to travel?
So far, it's been Reno/Las Vegas, Nevada. The air is dry and warm out there (I'm not a fan of humid heat), you can see for miles in every direction, and the landscape is just breath taking.

sounds nice. yea, i'm not a fan of humid heat either. talk about gross!

Which character, from The Hollow do you like the most?
They all are special to me, but I think Nikolas is my favorite. In my head I kind of see him as a Johnny Cash type character and I think he'd make a really great grandpa.

Anything else you would like to share with us?
Thanks for taking the time to do this interview with me! I hope you all enjoy THE HOLLOW...and remember, it's the first in a trilogy. There will be more answers in book two!

You were a pleasure to have Jessica. Wishing you more success with The Hollow and it's followers!
Be sure to friend Jessica on Myspace and Facebook and visit her at her website.

21 Questions Starring... Tonya Hurley ++++ CONTEST

Today we have with us author, Tonya Hurley. Her follow up to Ghostgirl, Homecoming, will be released on July 1! So if you haven't already read Ghostgirl, you still have about a week before Homecoming releases to get caught up! Also, if you stay tuned, Tonya and Lisa Sabater, her manger, have been gracious enough to offer up 3sets of Ghostgirl and Homecoming to 3 lucky commenters.

Are you working on anything new? If so can we get a sneak peak if not can we get a peak at Homecoming?
I am currently working on the third ghostgirl book!

I like to start out my days with a laugh. Soo… What makes you literally LOL?
When my twin sister gets hurt, not seriously hurt, but slightly injured.

do you push her down the stairs often? lol..j/k

Has anything AMAZING happened to you as a writer? (Other than getting published?)
Most definitely! I've gotten to travel to great cities and meet many extraordinary and kind people. I think the most amazing part is having people out there reading your work - that's unbelievable.

How about something EMBARASSING?
Where do I start? That's a long, long, list I'm afraid.

What/Who inspired you to become a writer?
When I was young we didn't have much money, so I would check Where The Wild Things Are out of the library all the time. I loved that book. At the end of the year the librarian actually gave it to me to keep. I'd read it so many times that I memorized the words, so I put masking tape over them and made up my own stories to the pictures each time I re-read it. That's my first 'writing' memory.

awww.

What would you do/be if you were not an author?
Well, I also write for film and TV, so I'd still be writing for something one way or another. I used to work in a Chinese restaurant and write crazy fortunes for the cookies and substitute mine for the factory ones when I was bored. I would wait until the customer came in for their take out and then go in the back while their order was being finished up and write specific things about them - what they looked like and what were wearing, sometimes I'd mention their exact car. I had a lot of time on my hands. I guess I could always fall back on that!

Did you ever write a bad fortune for someone you didn't like?

How do you associate with your fans? Are there any who’ve made a strong impression on you that you can’t forget?
I think I can really relate to the fans of ghostgirl and what they're going through, because I've gone through it. The basic feelings that the book talks about - longing, love, being accepted, sacrifice - carry on throughout life. I talk to a lot of the fans through www.ghostgirl.com, www.myspace.com/charlotteusher and ghostgirlbooks on twitter. They are extraordinary people with drive and passion, not to mention excellent taste in music!

Who’s your best friend? How long have you guys (gals) been friends?
My twin sister Tracy is my best friend.

my sister is my best friend also and we look so much alike (accoriding to others) we might as well be twins.

What’s a typical day like, when you’re not writing?
Going to the movies, listening to music, running errands, hanging out in the city and playing with my daughter, Isabelle Rose.

What's a weakness of yours?
Chocolate

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your closet right now?
Not sure about clothing, but I do adore my ever expanding shoe collection!

What could you eat all day long and never grow tired of?
See above. (Not the shoes, the answer before that one, although I have eaten chocolate shaped as shoes before...DIVINE)

What’s your favorite fairytale? Have you ever thought of re-doing it?
What a question! I'd love to re-do so many fairytales. I am dying to see Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland.

When you get stuck writing, how do you unglue yourself?
I'll dig out some of my favorite movies like Harold and Maude, The Royal Tenenbaums, or I'll go see and indie flick in the theater, go to small books stores, search for new music on the web, watch youtube videos, or hang out and talk to people on ghostgirl.com. But, mainly the best thing to do when you're stuck writing something, is to go off and write something else.

Which character from the ghostgirl series do you relate to the most?
I think I'm a little Scarlet on the outside, and Charlotte on the inside.

I have two personalities too. lol.

If ghostgirl were to become a movie, who’d you like to play the main characters?
Probably an unknown!

I'm all for that. When will auditons be again?

Can you relate your book title, ghostgirl to your life in some way? How about Homecoming?
Most definitely, I think we all want people to really know us for who we are.

What’s your favorite book?
I don't think I could answer that. I have many.

Where’s your favorite place to travel?
Paris and Maine. Although I am going to Spain for the first time this Fall to meet my publisher there and all the gg fans, so I'm sure that will top the list!

How exciting!

Which character, from the ghostgirl series, do you like the most?
I have a special place in my heart for all of them. The Wendys are always good for a laugh! I love Charlotte and Scarlet, obviously, but I have a real affinity for Piccolo Pam - oh, and I better mention Petula!

Anything else you'd like to share with us?
I used to be a drummer in a punk rock band.

CONTEST TIME!!!

Deadline: July 12. 11:59 California Time
Who: US Only. No P.O. Boxes. (Sorry)

+1 Leave a comment answering one of the interview questions
+1 Spread the word about the contest
+1 Tell me who/where you heard about the contest
+1 If someone heard about the contest from you

**picture of Tonya is credited to Kevin Mazur.

21 Questions Starring... Tera Lynn Childs

Today we have with us author, Tera Lynn Childs. Her follow up to Oh.My.Gods, Goddess Bootcamp, was just release on the 11, so if you already haven't you need to run into the nearest bookstore and grab a copy. Oh.My.Gods. was great and looks to me like Goddess Bootcamp will be just as good. Also, if you stay tuned, Tera has been gracious enough to offer up a copy of Oh.My.Gods. to one lucky commenter.

Are you working on anything after Goddess Boot Camp? If so can we get a sneak peak if not can we get a peak at Goddess Boot Camp?
I just turned in revisions for my third book, a story called FORGIVE MY FINS. It's about a half-mermaid princess attending high school on the mainland. Here's the blurb:

" Half-mermaid princess Lily Sanderson grew up in the underwater kingdom of Thalassinia. For the past three years she's been living with her human aunt and attending high school on the mainland, trying to blend in with all the other students and dealing with standard teenage life: a brainiac best friend, struggling grades, a biker boy neighbor who lives to torment her, and one massive, all-encompassing, sun-moon-and-stars crush. All while keeping her mermaid self a total secret. But when her one opportunity to hook the guy of her dreams turns into a nightmare she already regrets, it will take more than a saltwater bath and a quick swim home to get her life back to normal. If that's even what she wants. "

I like to start out my days with a laugh. Soo… What makes you literally LOL?
The TV show Psych, lolcats, anything written by Jaclyn Moriarty, comedienne Kathy Griffin, Joss Whedon (creator of Buffy, Angel, and Firefly—though not so much in Dollhouse), theatre folk (you know who you are!) and my best friend's kids.

I definitely miss watching Psych. Shawn and Gus are so great.

Has anything AMAZING happened to you as a writer? (Other than getting published?)
Getting to meet other writers is pretty amazing (like when I met Meg Cabot and she said she had my book!!!) and so is meeting readers. But I guess the most amazing thing so far is having sold the TV option for OH. MY. GODS. to a production company on behalf of High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale. It might never amount to anything, but it's still a fabulous dream.

How about something EMBARRASSING?
I embarrass easily, so this is hardly a fair question.

What/Who inspired you to become a writer?
I don't know if he inspired me to become a writer, but my masters’ thesis advisor inspired me to think about writing. During my thesis defense (where you have to listen to everything the committee thinks is wrong about your work—not unlike the book revision process, actually) he said, “Tera, you're a very effective writer.” Now, he was just trying to soften the blow of what came next, but it started me thinking about writing, and thinking of myself as maybe a writer.

What would you do/be if you were not an author?
Cry. Seriously, being a writer is the only thing I can even imagine doing (other than being, say, a professional traveler) so if I wasn't a writer I'd be seriously depressed.

Awww.. Flight Attendant is kinda like a professional traveler, but nothing compared to being an author.

How do you associate with your fans? Are there any who’ve made a strong impression on you that you can’t forget?
I associate with fans wherever they'll let me (MySpace, Facebook, Ning, Twitter, blogging). I love hearing from fans, especially when they have questions. There are two fans that really stand out. One is the girl who wrote me my very first fan mail (before the book even came out). I put her in the acknowledgements of GODDESS BOOT CAMP. Second is the girl who came to my signing at a local bookstore with a copy of OH. MY. GODS. that she'd already read and loved, and asked me to sign the cover with a silver paint pen. I had been having a really rough summer and the signing was otherwise a bust, but that really just made my day. My summer, even.

Who’s your best friend? How long have you guys (gals) been friends?
My best friend is my critique partner Sharie Kohler, who also writes as Sophie Jordan—she's a bestselling romance author who has come over to the dark side and will have a way cool fantasy YA trilogy out starting Fall 2010. We've been friends for five years, but it feels like forever—in a good way.

What’s a typical day like, when you’re not writing?
When I'm not writing? When does that happen? I'm lucky enough to not have a day job, so if there's a day when I'm not writing or thinking about writing, then it's pretty much a free-for-all. I might do some housework (blech), go shopping, and take in a museum or just road trip to some nearby destination.

What's a weakness of yours?
A personal weakness or a writing one? Personally, I would have to confess to being very impatient—an inconvenient trait for anyone in the publishing business. In writing, I'm aware of a few weaknesses: em-dash obsessions, letting my characters have rollercoaster emotional reactions, and not explain well enough for readers (or my editor) things that are very clear in my head.

Lol. I'm like that when I tell stories. It gets pretty bad sometimes. =)

What is your favorite piece of clothing in your closet right now?
My olive green cargo capris. Cute and comfortable. They're a couple years old now, but I would wear them every day.

I have a pair of green bermudas I’ve had for 3yrs now and love them way too much.

What could you eat all day long and never grow tired of?
Cotton candy. I blame my parents. Growing up, we had a very strict no-cotton-candy-unless-we're-at-the-circus rule. As soon as I went to college, I bought cotton candy whenever I saw it! I just know it's because it was forbidden for so long.

Haha. Way to rebel out.

What’s your favorite fairytale? Have you ever thought of re-doing it?
Cinderella. There are a lot of Cinderella-esque stories out there, and I do love a good rags-to-riches makeover book, but I guess I haven't found the right idea yet for redoing it myself. Maybe someday.

When you get stuck writing, how do you unglue yourself?
If I'm being a good girl, I push through it by writing (even if I think it's garbage) and brainstorming (either with a friend or with colorful markers and a blank piece of paper). If I'm being a slacker, I go shopping. That doesn't usually unglue me, but it makes me forget about being stuck.

I am all about the slacker option.

Which character from the Oh.My.Gods. series do you relate to the most?
Definitely Phoebe. We're the most alike (for probably obviously reasons). We have the same stick-straight, blah-brown hair. We are both high school athletes. We both have a vivid imagination. And we both fit somewhere in the middle ground on the social ladder—not popular, not unpopular. Just ... there.

If Oh. My. Gods. were to become a movie, who’d you like to play the main characters?
I'm not sure who I would cast if they made the movie today, but when I wrote the story (way back in 2005) I had some actors in mind for each role. For Phoebe, it was Amanda Bynes. Tom Welling (from Smallville) for Griffin. Chad Michael Murray as Troy, Kirsten Bell as Nicole, and Ali Larter as Stella.

I totally heart Amanda Bynes, she would do a kick-butt job.

Can you relate your book title, Goddess Boot Camp to your life in someway? How about Oh. My. Gods.
Hmmm... Well, if I can go for a metaphor here, I think you could say that every girl goes through Goddess Boot Camp in her life. Just growing up and learning to love yourself and take care of yourself and become a woman, that's tough stuff.

What’s your favorite book?
This is always such a hard question, because I have many favorites. My favorite book of all time is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. My favorite young adult book is Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart.

Where’s your favorite place to travel?
Everywhere! I haven't traveled nearly as much as I'd like—I've been to Canada, Mexico, and several countries in Europe. But I literally want to visit everywhere. Greece, Argentina, South Africa, Thailand... oh, the list could go on.

You should go to West Africa, Cameroon to be more precise. =)

Which character, from Oh. My. Gods. series, do you like the most?
Oh, you can't ask me that question! I love all my characters—just like any good mother. Phoebe is the most like me, so I identify with her the most, but I love Nicole's attitude and Troy's sweetness and Griffin's hotness—err, honor and even Stella's soft heart beneath her witchy shell. Sorry, can't pick just one.

Anything else you would like to share with us?
Please go to benjerry.com and beg them to resurrect their White Russian ice cream from the flavor graveyard. I'll love you forever.

Haha. Will do!

A Grand Thanks to Tera. We were glad to have you at the blog.
Be sure to friend Tera over at myspace and visit her at her blog.


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