2. Smile for me because I have a new book coming out next summer and I'll tell you more about it this coming week!
3. If you live in NYC and want to meet the How to Be Bad girls, head to Books of Wonder tomorrow (Sunday!), 18th Street between 5th and 6th, at 1 pm. I wish I were in town! (Those are the HTBB girls pictured: Lauren Myracle, Sarah Mlynowski and E. Lockhart--how adorable are they?)
I'm feeling a lot of library love lately, so I thought I'd post photos (taken by phone--sorry so fuzzy!) of my local branch, which is two-and-a-half blocks from my apartment:
And the big beautiful Grand Army Plaza branch in Brooklyn, which is about 15 blocks away (and where I spoke last month, which was fantastic--all the students had read Violet! Even the boys!):
And finally, a book I'm looking forward to by Teri Brown (the premise just sounds awesome to me):
Feel free to share a local library comment or anything about a book you want to read that's coming out soon (like I need more for my list... yikes).
Do you guys watch MTV's The Paper? I do. Probably because I was a newspaper girl in college (yearbook in high school). And I'm making a declaration: I love Amanda Lorber.
She's the sometimes bossy, often decisive, uncannily upbeat Editor-in-Chief on the show. Why do I adore her? She's left out of most social engagements with the other editors, she's mocked behind her back, she's ditched for homecoming with a "Sorry, I'm grounded" text... and yet she's still incredibly persistent in her pursuit for what's best for the paper. And she keeps her head up. Are there tears? Yes. Do feelings get hurt? Yes. She's human. But she's also a mostly optimistic person, and at 17 years old when you're getting dissed left and right, that's a huge feat.
So last week I asked about titles, and found out about some great ones from you guys... I am especially excited about How to Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier. That has to be high on the Best Title Ever list. And the winner of Skin by Adrienne Maria Vrettos is... Steph! Send me your address, S, and the book will wing its way to you!
Now, this week I'm cheating slightly because I haven't finished reading the book I want to gift you next (re-gift, I guess--sorry!) but there is a contest running in the June/July issue of COSMOgirl! that goes on until June 30th and I'm telling you about it here. See that little text at the bottom of the page shown here? It tells you how to enter to win a copy of Violet by Design. So... click on the picture to zoom in... and go for it! (Bonus: Find your signature style at the same time.)
And, as I always love, love, love all the comments during contest time, I also will give away a copy of Violet by Design (signed) to one commenter here. My question is: What sidekick character from a book should have a spin-off novel about them? I want to hear which best friend or boyfriend or parent or rival or lurking stranger you'd want to hear more from, for whatever reason.
My answer: I think I'd like to hear Owen's back story from Sarah Dessen's Just Listen. He fascinated me.
Doesn't that just make me sound like I'm cool? I'm such a shameless namedropper, but I really have loved all of the books of E. Lockhart's I've read (a list which doesn't include How to Be Bad... yet!!), so I consider myself a fangirl here. And a good fangirl is also a big namedropper.
Also, just to add to E.'s lovely introduction, here are two more Vassar kids who are fabulous YA authors: Aimee Friedman and Dana Reinhardt. Who knew what creativity (and delayed adulthood) was brewing in Poughkeepsie?
Remember the contests that are still ongoing here (until Friday) and here (until tomorrow).
I wrote a story about what it's like to have an autistic sibling for Teen Vogue's June/July issue. Actually, it's really Annie Seggara's story about her complicated and loving relationship with her sister Emily. It was incredibly eye-opening to interview Annie, who's very poised, articulate and honest. The story is below.
I also wanted to give Teen Vogue props for this article about Ali Michael's struggles in the modeling industry. I blogged about her story earlier (Ali's tale really parallels the plot of Violet by Design), and I'm glad they gave it such space in the magazine. The more girls inside the industry speak out against the unhealthy weights of models, the more change can happen, I believe. Ali: You are completely awesome.
I'm writing a behind-the-scenes story about it for a magazine, so I can't reveal too much here, but I will say that it was colorful and fabulous.
There were lots of lovely models on the runway.
And when it was all over, I got white roses the next day.
Sigh. Happy Friday!
Oh, and PS: Go to Shooting Stars magazine to enter to win a marked-up copy of Violet on the Runway. That means I'm making notes in the margins about inspirations, side stories, random musings, etc. Just for fun!
This video is old news, but The Hazzards have a new one out now... and it's good, if a little bizarre and icky in a hilarious way. I just felt like posting my very favorite one ever.
They are all worth checking out... and not just because my friend Anne is the blond one.
And the winner of the swooningly great Boy Meets Boy is... Hillary! You are going to love this book, H, so send me your address.
Today's contest is for a copy of Skin by Adrienne Maria Vrettos. It's the deeply moving story of a family watching their daughter waste away while she suffers from anorexia, told through the eyes of a funny, confused and misunderstood younger brother who is unseen and unheard in his world. You will be into it, I promise.
For a chance to win the book, just comment below and tell me what one or two of your all-time top book titles are. I don't mean the contents, I mean the titles. A current favorite of mine (which I haven't had a chance to read yet!) is Someday This Pain Will be Useful to You by Peter Cameron. How fabulous is that title?! So what are some of your favorites?
And if that title didn't catch your attention, well, I just don't know what will.
Kidding.
I'm not sure why I'm on a product kick this week, but, as many friends know, I've been obsessed with Chico Bags lately. I refuse plastic bags at the deli, the grocery store, even sometimes at H&M! I say, "I've got my own," and then I pull out a hot pink Chico Bag. It's very impressive.
I just heard about these flip & tumble bags, and I think I might like them too. It's my little "I want to do something green" effort. Next up: I am so giving up bottled water at the gym in favor of my own perma-bottle. Anyone got a recommendation?
I just have to blog about this mascara because I am So. Into. It.Fiberwig actually paints extending fibers onto your lashes! I am not really a huge makeup girl--but my love affair with mascara runs long. And this is my best find yet. The fibers wash off easily, but man, you can give a red-carpet-worthy wink while you're wearing this stuff. Now if they would just do it in different colors, I'd be fully happy. Mascara girls: You will not be disappointed.
I've got three contests going on this week, so I'm just reminding you of them:
1. At Teen Fiction Cafe, post the widget to have a chance at winning an early copy of Violet in Private. (Just hit "share" to post and you'll get tons of options.)
Come visit me at teenfictioncafe.com, and get a chance to win an advance copy of Violet in Private... no joke! You just have to post this lovely widget somewhere... and tell me about it. Head over to TFC for details, and have a great weekend!
Today I'm giving away an autographed copy of David Levithan's Boy Meets Boy, which I read just this week (yes, I am so 2003). It's funny, it's smart, it's gentle and rough at the same time. I'm totally tenderized by it. That sounds meaty in a weird way, but I just mean that it left me feeling softer and smiley. And now that I've been exceedingly vague, I'm going to let you win it and read it for yourself.
So, to win, just comment below and tell me about a website you visit frequently. Could be a great blog, a fashion site, a news outlet, whatever. I have a bunch that I'm addicted to, but a new favorite is veryshortlist.com. I know the site isn't new, but like I said, I'm very 2003 this week.
A winner will be chosen next Wednesday, so good luck! Oh, and here's another contest where you can enter to win Alexa Young's Frenemies, which is out this week. Hooray!
1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people and post a comment to the person who tagged you once you've posted your three sentences.
Three sentences:
"Well, she never mentioned that part, but I suppose it could happen."
I am not cheered up.
Then, to make matters worse, Infinite Darlene coos, "So, sweetheart, are you ready for the committee meeting sixth period?"
(I may be cheating, but I'll tell you that Infinite Darlene is both the football team quarterback and the homecoming queen, and she's fabulous!)
And now I need 5 people to tag, but really I'm just going to say, do this meme if you're so moved, and let me know that I inspired you to do it by commenting below. It's a fun one!
In Justine magazine's latest issue, you can find a review of all three of our books (posted below--just click on it to see it up close). I especially like the right-to-the-point "Why You Should Read It" parts at the end of each review. You might get some new titles for your to-read list here... just sayin'.
PS-If you're a teenager and live in one of the below states and have read the amazing book RED, email me NOW. I have an awesome writing opportunity for you! (Girl reviews needed from: HI, KS, GA, KY, IL, MN, NV, NJ, OH, PA, RI, TX, UT, WV, OR, MO). Offer expires Wednesday.
So, the fashion editor at the magazine where I'm freelancing for a few weeks handed me this book and told me I should read it. "It's kinda like your book," she said. "But for adults." It's dark and deep and a beautiful read. I stumbled across this character description today and just swooned...
"At night, she sailed out wearing absurd clothes as if they were Givenchy gowns. Once when I complimented her on one of her mismatched earrings, she pointed at the sky and said, 'That earring means, Don't look at my finger; look at the moon.'"
How silly and lovely and brilliant and mad! I adore characters like that, especially fashionable ones. Isn't it fun to find the wild and crazy beautiful people in life?
The book is called Veronica, and it's by Mary Gaitskill. I like it that I have a "Veronica" in Violet on the Runway, too. Fate?
Oh, and I had to tell you about this contest, which is a good one, at a fun blog called Presenting Lenore. (And yes, that mention gets me another entry... hey, I like to win stuff too!)
Love, love, love all the ideas about what era you'd like to live in (or visit). I think I agree with some of you that it would be fun to go back for a medieval ball or a San Francisco 60s-style protest, but the here and now is pretty much where I'd like to stay in a permanent way. However, one of you will get transported back in time with Shannon Hale's Book of a Thousand Days, and the randomly chosen winner is... feudal-loving Ink! Send me your address, I.
This week, I'm giving away a copy of Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why. I actually read this book because a bunch of you guys mentioned it in blog comments (I'm listening!), and I'm glad I did. In case you don't know, it's about a girl who commits suicide and leaves tapes that describe why she did it... the protagonist is a boy named Clay who receives the tapes one day. We listen along with him... and Hannah's story is incredibly touching, not to mention eerie (I can't imagine listening to it on audio!). And not to get shallow, but don't you just adore what Hannah's wearing on the cover? Those soft ballet hues and the gorgeous shoes? So lovely.
Anyway, to win a copy of Jay's fantastic debut, just comment below and tell me what you're looking forward to as summer approaches. I'm going to my first backyard bbq on Saturday, so that's mine--hot dogs and burgers and watermelon and sunshine!
The lovely Jenn picked my blog to win the Arte Y Pico award, and it's pretty fancy. Thanks, Jenn!
Here are the rules:
1. Pick 5 blogs that deserve the award for creativity, design, interesting material, and also contribute to the blogging community, no matter what language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award itself.
4. The Award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of Arte Y Pico blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award. (Espero que hable espanol!)
5. To show these rules.
So I guess it's pay it forward time:
Kwana Writes: Author Kwana Jackson keeps us up to date with her dog Jack, and she's also totally on top of pop culture (all the best shows only).
Teen Fashionista: She's more on top of the magazine world than I am... and I work in it!
Beauty Blogging Junkie: Without Fabulista, how could I ever keep up with new Bonne Bell stuff?
Twinkle Juice: My friend Jessica takes gorgeous kid photos. I mean, the girl is seriously good.
Oh Very Young: Author Alexa Young's site, which is saucy and contest-filled.
Just fun ones to check out, and I thought this would be a good Marketing Monday because I still can't figure out how to get a blogroll going on Movable Type. Anyone have an idea?
Mom is here! Yay! Here's us a while ago, on my grandparents' old farm in West Virginia (no jokes--WVA is beautiful!). Feel free, however, to make fun of my heavily patterned, ruffle-strap overalls.
