PS-Vlog and Contest at Story Siren
I have to double post today: I did an Author Tales vlog for The Story Siren, and her monthly contest is only running until midnight, so go over there and check it out!
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contact & author appearances
*APPEARANCES*
Saturday, Sept. 06, 2:00 PM
Books in Fashion
with Rachel Maude, author of POSEUR
Watchung Booksellers
54 Fairfield St.
Montclair, NJ, 07042
Saturday, Sept. 13, 2:00 PM
Presentation with model Selena Breed
Rye Library
1061 Boston Post Road
Rye, NY, 10580
For more upcoming events, visit BookTour
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July 2008 Archives
Guest Blogging about Book Love, and win a copy of VIP
I'm over at Megan's, blogging about Major Book Love. Come visit me there?
PS-Gabrielle at Innovative is giving away a copy of Violet in Private, and I love what she's asking for in the comments! Go enter.
Thanks to Casey, aka Teen Fashionista, who blogged lovingly about Violet last week!
And also, to Regina, who reminded me that Violet in Private is a Cosmogirl "best beach read." Yay!
And to Carol, who liked Violet in Private!
Remember to email me if you want some bookmarks. Yay!
Win-It Wednesday: A Brooklyn Gift Bag
How crazy/fun/scary were all those dreams? Very. I loved reading them--thank you for sharing! The randomly chosen winners are 1. I dream of a world where beauty is an inside job and 2. CrystalGB! Crystal requested Wake, so that decides who gets what. Email me your addresses, lucky girls.
Today's Win-It is a little different. You see, last week I went to Prospect Park's Summer Soiree, which looked something like this:
There were a ton of Vogue editors there, as the magazine was a sponsor, and I went with a few friends, including my friend Brooke, who's in the completely bombshell red dress with me, below:
There was food and drink and dancing. This couple closed out the night and I think she is particularly fabulous (amazing dress! amazing hair! amazing moves!).
But the best news for you guys is that I snagged two gift bags, and one is for today's giveaway.
The contents: August Vogue (Kate Moss cover), Angelique Kidjo CD, adorable kissing-clasp coinpurse, various Bumble & Bumble hair products, a can of Izze pomegranate juice, 2 pens (random, I know), Louis Licari deep red nail polish (so pretty!) and a Sunglass Hut lens cleaner/repair kit.
In these tough economic times, gift bags are rare. And this all can be yours if you'll just comment below and tell me about the best party you've been to this summer (even if it's a party in your own room with a cupcake and a great book, which is my kind of party).
Happy Summer!
The Barefoot Contessa and Me
Just look at her admiring the bread! She loves bread! I love bread! She loves Paris! I love Paris! I'm slightly obsessed with Ina Garten, the happy Hamptons homemaker on The Food Network's Barefoot Contessa. Is that weird?
I love her house, which I know is not weird, because it's gorgeous and at the beach and has a manicured garden. I love her recipes, because they seem not too hard and one day I'll try making one. And when I got engaged this year, I immediately registered for the exact things she has in her kitchen (KitchenAid mixer, that shiny Le Creuset dutch oven) just so I can be like her.
I also dream of one day hanging out with my gorgeous and witty gay boyfriends like she does often at mealtime when Jeffrey (her husband of 39 years!) is stuck at work in Manhattan. Oh, and I want to look this freckled and young when I'm her age (she must be 60, right?).
Anyway, I'm rambling, but do you guys ever watch the Food Network? I find it oddly soothing, at least with certain chefs.
Ina, I would love to have dinner with you in the Hamptons. Please call me!
PS-Today is the final day to enter for last week's "Win-It Wednesday." Go here!
Cover Stories: Aberrations by Penelope Przekop
Penelope Przekop was the first author to get in touch about Cover Stories, and also, her cover is gorge (all flowy red hair and blue rose and a watery feeling). So, perfect.
Aberrations is her debut novel, though she is also the author of Six Sigma for Business Excellence (McGraw-Hill), and I haven't had the chance to read it yet, but I will soon, and then it will likely be up for a Win-It Wednesday contest. Woohoo! She also has a contemplative blog.
Without further ado, I give you Penelope's Cover Story.
"They say that if you can dream it, it can happen, so I pictured my published book every painstaking day. There were day-dreaming moments when I sketched out ideas but knowing that publishers usually design covers, I didn't take what I was doing too much to heart. Once the book was picked up by Greenleaf Book Group, I got more serious about it. I knew that I wanted something meaningful and unique. I wanted it to have intense colors as opposed to muted ones. Lastly, I liked the idea of somehow incorporating The Blue Flower scene/setting as it's one of my favorite parts of the novel.
[MW note: Cannot wait for "blue flower scene." How cool does that sound? I want a blue flower scene of my own!]
"I brainstormed with cover designer Sheila Parr about initial ideas, images, and concepts. We both liked the idea of using some type of blue flower. It seemed unique and would reflect a specific scene in the novel as well as the aberrations of life we all must deal with in some form. As for the hair, we started out thinking about somehow incorporating a braid, which evolved into the hair on the cover. Sheila suggested that a braid may influence folks to think of the book as a young adult novel, which was not the intent. She created numerous designs, which were circulated internally. I was able to see the top five covers, and provide my input. I was lucky because the cover I liked best was also their top choice. It was a fun process and I'm extremely pleased with the outcome. The designer loved Aberrations; she was dedicated to creating a beautiful cover that would inspire people to take a look inside.
"Of the five choices, the one that was ultimately chosen immediately jumped out at me. I loved it! I showed the options to several members of my family without telling them which was my favorite, and they all liked it best, too. My nineteen year old daughter, who is an avid reader, went crazy over it. My mother, who is in her sixties, loved it also. So all generations agreed!
"When my Six Sigma book was published, McGraw-Hill just sent me the cover and said, 'This is it.' It's a different type of book, of course, but I wasn't particularly crazy about it. Based on my experience and what I've heard, publishers are likely all a bit different in how they handle author input to covers. I think it's great to have input but I also counted on Greenleaf to make the best decision in terms of the science behind attracting readers and appropriately representing my novel in the marketplace.
"In the end, I absolutely love the cover! It's both meaningful and unique. The colors are perfect. I like it so much that I hope my next novel cover can mimic the style. I'd love readers to recognize my next book as being mine based on the cover, similar to Stephanie Meyers' covers, as well as other successful authors who have great followings. There has been a tremendous amount of positive feedback regarding the cover. One reviewer said that the novel lives up to the promise of its fantastic cover. I dreamed it and it happened. What a feeling!"
Thanks, Penelope! So, what do you guys think of Penelope's cover? Would you pick up Aberrations?
More Cover Stories soon.
Saturday Street Violets
Okay, so I have a bunch of bookmarks for Violet in Private, and I'd love to get them distributed to local bookstores and libraries all over... would anyone like a batch (of course feel free to keep one for yourself!)? Please let me know if you'll help distribute, and email me with your address so I can mail some out to you--tell me how many you'd like.
Librarians, booksellers, I'm happy to send them to you for your readers!
And THANK YOU. Seriously. If I knew how to make that "thank you" into a deep red color to express my love, I so would.
Photo Friday: The Brillante Award
I do love sparkly things. I'd like to thank Fabulista at Beauty Blogging Junkie for nominating me for this award! Fab has already helped me choose a mascara, a face wash and given me the inside info on Blake Lively (she loves Kerastase, Laura Mercier and Stila the best).
Here's the Premio Award rules:
The rules for passing on the award:
1) When received, you may post the premio to your blog.
Check.
2) Link to the blogger you received it from.
Check.
3) Give it to 7 blogs.
I'm bad at this--who wants a Brillante? You got one! (Does that devalue its brilliance? I don't think so.)
4) …link to those 7 blogs.
Do that in the comments if you post one.
5) …and leave those seven bloggers a comment about receiving the brilliant premio.
I will!
Happy Friday! Here's wishing you hair like Blake's.
Guest Vlog and Lip Gloss Lit + Contest Roundup
I did a guest vlog for Lip Gloss Lit today, so head over there and don't make fun of me!
This is what I'm talking about:
PS-Don't forget to enter to win Wake or Boy Meets Boy!
And here are some other fun contests (feel free to post more in comments that I don't know about...):
Kelly Parra is giving away an ARC of Invisible Touch (till Friday).
The Book Girl Reviews is giving away a copy of Cynthia Leitich Smith's Tantalize (till Friday).
Reviewer X has a copy of Brooke Taylor's Undone (till Sunday).
Jennifer Banash is giving away two copies of The Elite (till August 1st).
Win-It Wednesday: WAKE
Thank you guys for helping to spread the word about Violet in Private--I seriously appreciate the efforts! The winner of Twilight, chosen randomly, is... Bubbles! Send me your address, B.
This week, I'm giving away a copy of a really original, riveting debut by Lisa McMann: Wake (it's an autographed copy!). I can tell you that not only is the book really intriguing, but Lisa herself is also utterly awesome. Wake is the story of Janie, a regular girl in high school who has an unexpected little gift: She can drop into other people's dreams... Doesn't just that sentence make you wanna read it?! I know it does.
So to win the signed copy of Wake, just comment below and tell me about the weirdest (or funniest, or most memorable) dream you've ever had.
Oh, and no one ever claimed the signed copy of Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan (which is in my top 3 books I read this year--sooooooo good), so that will be a second prize for this week. I'll choose two winners--so just let me know which book you're playing for if you have a preference.
PS-Thanks for the early reviews of Violet in Private from Book Chic, The Story Siren, Book Muncher and The Ravenous Reader! If you guys have more word-spreading ideas, let me know. I'd love to write a book #4 for Violet!
Marketing Monday: Cover Stories, Violet on the Runway
A little while ago, Alea told me she's curious about how much input authors have with their covers. I always wonder too! So I'm here to share the story of Violet on the Runway's cover, and I hope to get some other authors to share their stories with me in a new "Cover Stories" series on this blog. (Authors, email me if you want to to share the dish on your cover.)
The original cover for Violet on the Runway is posted here. The only things that changed along the way were a bit of a shift (less of her neck) and fonts! (My name is in a different font on the final cover).
To start the process, my editor asked me if I'd like to submit a cover idea memo. I jumped at the chance, and emailed her lots of inspiration images from vintage books, like the ones below.
And here's what I wrote in my memo:
For each of these, the inspiration photo isn't a literal translation, just the look that sparked what I'm thinking, to help show it visually.
1. I like the idea of an underexposed photograph where a model's silhouette is visible but not crystal clear. (See Inspiration photo 1).
2. A vulnerable-looking girl, glamorously dressed but curled up in a chair with long, coltish legs hanging prominently. (See Inspiration photo 2).
3. The back of a model on the runway, with abstract-looking flashbulbs going off in front of her (so she is backlit and we just see her silhouette stance). This could go cheesy, but not if we give it a less-Nicole-Richie, more-iconic-star feel. Think old-school flashes, not so much Us Weekly red-carpet (See Inspiration photo 3, though I know it's a bit trippy).
4. A model's shape in the center of people's silhouettes all around her, possibly talking about her, buzzing, etc. (See inspiration photo 4... too retro?).
5. Something incredibly sparse and simple... a model's shadow within a giant spotlight or a runway stride silhouetted on black and white. (See inspiration photo 5).
So really, I feel like my cover was so true to what I suggested and wanted--the art team at Penguin's Berkley JAM did a fantastic job! And then they created this more whimsical cover for the Scholastic version of the book, which was fun too.
So, whose cover stories do you want to hear? I'll try to recruit some more authors, and I'll share cover stories for the other Violet books soon!
Happy Monday!
Saturday Surprise: Page Six!
How fun to have this gossip page mention appear today.
Here's what it says under the "We Hear" section: "THAT Nicky Hilton will host a clambake at the Grey Goose Manor in East Hampton tonight. . . THAT John Ventimiglia, who played Artie Bucco on "The Sopranos," is taking over the male lead opposite Meital Dohan in the off-Broadway play "Stitching," starting Wednesday . . . THAT Page Six gets a nice mention in "Violet in Private," Melissa Walker's new novel about the fashion industry, when 19-year-old heroine Violet Greenfield finds a photo of herself leaving a hot Manhattan club splashed in our column the next day."
It's no clambake in the Hamptons, but I'm so glad I can be a bold-faced name on Page Six in a way my mom can be proud of. Phew! I think Violet should be a bold-faced name, too, but I guess fictional characters don't get all the perks.
Happy Saturday!
Photo Friday: Pics from San Francisco
So I spoke at the Ypulse Mashup in San Francisco early this week (find out what I spoke about in Publishers' Weekly), and I also got to spend time with some awesome people, including authors David Levithan, Lisa McMann and Justina Chen Headley. Oh, and superstar MC Hammer. Okay, so I didn't really "spend time" with Hammer, but I did get this close to him:
And David and I got to eat at a diner called Mel's, which made me smile:
And I also got to see a screening of American Teen, which I'll post about soon. In the meantime, here's a photo of me and Jake, my favorite guy in the movie (he even gave me his "Team Jake" button, which I might give away in a contest after the movie comes out...if I can bear to part with it):
I'm going upstate for the weekend to the house we rented for the summer, which is crazy country beautiful:
What are you up to? Oh, and I'm twittering now, so find me if you are too!
Win-It Wednesday: Twilight
It was cool to hear your thoughts on independent bookstores last week! For those of you who've only been to musty or too-specialty ones, definitely look for more as you travel. There are some that feel just like home--I promise! And the winner of Love and Other Four Letter Words, signed by author Carolyn Mackler, is... Kate from myspace, who likes Ben Jelen (me too!). Send me your address, Kate.
Now, this week I'm giving away my copy of Twilight. I finally got around to reading this, and yes, I get why everyone is just gaga over it: Action + Romance + Hot Vampires? How could Ms. Meyer go wrong? I have to say that at a few parts I wondered if Bella was gonna develop her feminist side at all, but I was pretty entrenched in the story. I have to read the others now... soon. No spoilers, please!
I know probably everyone has this, but it's the hardcover one and it's in perfect condition. So, if you want to win it, just tell someone about the upcoming release of Violet in Private. It's less than three weeks away, and I would be so happy if you alert your librarian, bookstore friend, myspace list, etc. And bonus if you share info about this contest.
After all, with Breaking Dawn coming out the same week as Violet in Private, I feel closer than ever to Edward and Bella.
Just tell me below how you spread the word, and you're in! I'll pick a winner next Wednesday.
Oh, and PS-Release week is going to be F-U-N. Major gift bag up for grabs. That's all I'm gonna say.
Marketing Monday: Vlogs
What do you guys think of vlogs vs. blogs? I kind of like seeing people on video, but I've always been a little bit scared of it personally. (Side note: That picture at left is one that turns up when you google image "vlog"--seriously.)
That said, I overcame my fear to do a vlog for YA New York, so go watch it if you have three minutes and fourteen seconds. And, um, tell me what you think.
But remember what your mom told you: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. Although, full disclosure, my senior quote in high school was "If you can't say anything nice, come sit by me."
(Yeah, bit of a gossip habit, but that's all in the past.)
My vlogging inspiration? The lovely and vlogging Jessica Burkhart, who has some great vlogs on her blog about getting her book deal and the first year in the life of a debut author.
Anyway, Happy Monday, and do let me know if you have an opinion on vlogging vs. blogging.
Photo Friday: A post in pictures (mostly)
I am heading to San Francisco today for the
.
I wish I could get down to LA to see all the amazing authors who are taking part in
And, just for fun, here are three people I've gotten to interview in the last month (one in person, one via phone, one via email...). All three were incredibly nice. Really! I'll post the stories when they run.
Happy weekend!
Guest Blog: Stephanie Kuehnert on fashion punks and pink hair
Since Melissa visited my blog and talked music for the release of VIOLET BY DESIGN, I thought it would be fun to visit her blog and talk fashion for the release of my debut novel I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE.
When I was 18 and going to the very radical Antioch College, the sole goth kid among a group of punk friends, we had one friend who we called "Fashion Bug." We called him this because he was a bit of a "fashion punk," overly concerned about dying his hair and what he was wearing and he just primped way more than any punk rocker should. Because punk rock is about politics and music, not about how many safety pins are on your clothing and how big your Mohawk is, dammit!
And this is definitely true to a degree. I don't like it when people are into punk solely as a rebellious fashion statement and who think about their clothing choices more than their political choices (not that Fashion Bug really was like that, we just liked to tease him), but I ain't gonna lie, I do love clothes and have always had a unique sense of style. In a way my weird clothes probably led me to punk rock--not because I coveted punk fashion, but because my fashion choices made me a misfit and being a misfit I found solace in punk rock.
I started wearing stripey tights, Converse sneakers, and odd outfits from vintage stores, thrift shops and odd local boutiques when I was about 10. I did not fit in with my Gap and Keds wearing peers. It was okay. Eventually I found people who wanted to go shopping with me at Ragstock and the Alley on Belmont and Clark in Chicago. Those are very hip places now, but back in the early nineties, it was where the punks hung out. In fact the Dunkin Donuts on the corner was known as Punk'n Donuts.
The fashion icons of my teenage years were Spike from the original Degrassi High and early nineties Courtney Love (ie. smeared red lipstick and babydoll dresses). Vintage dresses (along with great jeans) are still my number one fashion weakness to this day. I have a closet full of them and can't help myself from buying more. As for the Spike influence, I actually asked my mom if I could do my hair like Spike's when I was ten and she put her foot down. I started doing funky stuff with my hair at the beginning of sophomore year of high school and haven't seen my natural color since. First, I put a blonde streak in it. Then I dyed that streak many different colors. Then I went totally platinum. Then gothic black. Then I put different color streaks in the black, like pink and purple and blue. Then back to platinum. Then I got a "real job" and decided to go with reddish blond. My hair was funky and respectable for about two years... until yesterday. How did I celebrate my book release day? By dying my bangs pink of course!!! Hopefully it will fade in the next few weeks because I don't think my boss is gonna like it very much...
Emily Black, the main character of I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE, shares my love for vintage dresses. And she planned to wear one for her first gig. Here is the excerpt from the book:
As un-punk as it was to do so, I even planned out what I was going to wear: a short, sea green, velvet dress that I'd found at a thrift store in Madison. I thought it complemented my father's Lake Placid blue '69 Mustang and that it just looked hot. I wanted to be a million times sexier and more mysterious than the false deities whose arrogance I'd fallen for at River's Edge.
Like Emily, I've been planning what I'm going to wear at my book release party forever. Well, at least since Christmas when my boyfriend bought me this awesome Sailor Jerry dress. So here's what I'll look like if you come out to party with me tonight:
Well, hopefully I don't sound like a total fashion punk, but hey, I don't really care. You'll usually find me talking music and politics, but today I'm pretty thrilled about my pink hair.
Note from Melissa: I love pink bangs, and I'm psyched on that dark-and-summery Sailor Jerry number. Have a great party, Stephanie! And everyone reading: Do you have your copy of I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone yet?
PS-Go visit Stephanie's blog to see an interview with the awesome Jolene Siana, and comment to win a copy of her incredible book, Go Ask Ogre!
Win-It Wednesday: Love and Other Four Letter Words (signed!)
It was so much fun to read about what you'd write about for Red. I hope some of you guys are inspired to get the book (paperback comes out in October), and to write some of your own stories! Last week's winner of the beyond inspiring, multi-autographed copy of Red: The Book is... Ames! She'd write her Red essay about "the compassion i share with my brothers (and about how they are also mean)." Send me your address, A!
This week, I'm giving away a signed copy of Carolyn Mackler's Love and Other Four Letter Words. This is the Printz-honor-winning author's debut novel, and it's the completely charming story of Sammie Davis, who is forced to deal with tons of change after her parents separate and her mom moves her to New York City. Sammie's voice makes this book--Carolyn is a master of characters you wanna be friends with, I think. I did a reading with Carolyn in June and she actually pulled out her old diary and read juicy parts. It was amazingly brave. I could never!
Anyway, to enter, comment below (bonus entry if you spread the word about the contest through myspace or facebook or your blog or any which way). In the comments, I want to hear about your favorite independent bookstore. Meaning, not B&N or Borders, but the local bookstore you go to for a more... intimate experience. What's it called? Where is it? What does it look like? And if you don't shop at an independent bookstore, just comment telling me that, and then see if you can find one in or near your town. They're like secret treasures, especially when you get to know some of the employees who can recommend great reads for you when they know your taste.
Mine is The Community Bookstore, and I just bought John Green's Looking for Alaska and ordered a bunch of other books! If they don't have the one you want, they'll always get it for you quickly. Yay!
Happy Wednesday!
PS-Wish Tasha a Happy 16th Birthday and win books! Double bonus.
PPS-This is me being insanely unorganized, but I know I promised to guest blog for a few people around the release of VIP (Side note: Isn't it cool that Violet in Private has that acronym?). I can't remember all my guest blog engagements! If I promised you a guest blog, remind me! Thank you!
Best-Friend Breakups
I'm over at Teen Fiction Cafe blogging about the pain of best-friend breakups, so come say hi over there if you're so inclined. There are also some other fabulous authors blogging about friendships and frenemies.
And there's still time to enter to win Red: The Book. I'll choose a winner tomorrow.
Plus, some more contests:
* Elizabeth Scott gives away six (!) summer reads.
* Reviewer X gives away a copy of Jennifer Banash's The Elite.
* So many awesome reviewers team up to give away a huge prize related to Stephanie Kuehnert's I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone (Happy release day, Steph!).
* Cynthia Leitich Smith gives away copies of Lisa McMann's Wake and Black Pearls: A Faerie Strand by Louse Hawes.
Add some contest links in the comments if you've heard about more... you know I love a chance to win!
Marketing Monday: DIY Fashion Sites
I had to share this story I wrote for US Airways' in-flight magazine, because you won't see it unless you're flying, and it showcases two really cool sites where you can design your own dresses. FUN.
Of course, the most economical (and chic) way to design a dress is on your own. Dress a Day is a fabulous blog that can help (and Erin even reviewed Violet on the Runway, once upon a time!). I've got zero sewing skills, but I can still dream. Have you ever made your own clothes?
Happy Monday!
PS-Thanks to Bookluver Carol for the Violet by Design review, and to Sabrina from YA New York for the 20 Questions interview, which was super fun!
PPS-Violet on the Runway is the Girls' Life Book Club pick this week! Head on over to join the discussion (I would be so happy if you did!). There are three other great books in the July lineup too.
Photo Friday: Videos I'm Loving Right Now
I had to share some music picks for the weekend. These are heavy in my YouTube Top 40 rotation this summer:
How could a song called "Violet Hill" not make me think of... well, Violet? I imagine Roger singing it to Violet sometimes. Yes, I'm a dork. And I keep thinking my characters are really alive. They are somewhere, right?
My college friends will make fun of me for secretly liking Augustana's single, but I do. What can I say? I'm actually listening to this a lot while I write LOVESTRUCK SUMMER, my new book for 2009... what that says about the romantic angle, I'm not sure. But I am into it.
I cannot not embed my girl Rihanna. This song makes me think of false friends I've had. More on that when I'm feeling like really opening up. Also, any song that starts with the words "You look so dumb right now" is pretty awesome.
Happy Independence Day!!! What are you listening to this weekend?
PS-If any reviewers are game to post reviews of the Violet books on borders.com, I'd so appreciate it. It's sad that there's nothing there! (I know borders.com is new, but still... bare bones!). Huge thanks.
Lost Beauty: Ruslana Korshunova
I wasn't going to post about this sad, sad reminder that we all face pain in our lives. "To outsiders, it appeared the one-time Russian Vogue cover girl was living a charmed life." In the Violet books, modeling is glamorized to some extent, but I also try to show the darker underside to the industry, as I've seen it. Thanks, Keri, for urging me to post something. RIP, Ruslana.
Win-It Wednesday: Bloody RED Heart
Thank you for all the amazing ideas for Violet in Private promotion--I am going to use some, and I will credit the idea people accordingly once I get organized--really! Remember to pre-order the book at your local bookstore if you want to be sure it's there. I would love, love, love that. Now, the winner of Lauren Baratz-Logsted's fantastic Secrets of My Suburban Life is... Lenore! I just won one of her contests, (yes, I love giveaways too!), but I promise her winning was all luck! Lenore, send me your address.
I've been putting off this giveaway for, oh, six months, because I kept thinking I might keep this book. I have two copies, but only one is signed and signed and signed by many of the 58 amazing girls who contributed to Red: The Next Generation of American Writers--Teenage Girls--On What Fires Up Their Lives Today, and also by the uniquely awesome editor of the book, Amy Goldwasser. Amy made sure that each and every word in Red came directly from the teenage authors, which is what a true editor does.
I can't rave enough, so I won't go on. I'll just say that this book will break your heart, ignite your passions, make you want to sing and dance and celebrate all teenage girls and how freaking smart and insightful they are.
Here's just one example, Aarian Marshall, reading from "Burning in Heaven":
See more on Red's YouTube channel, and read the authors' works on The Huffington Post.
To win the signed--yes, the signed--copy of the book, tell me this: What would your RED essay be about? (Enter through next Tuesday at midnight; double counts on your entry if you post about this on your blog or in a bulletin--just tell me.)
And have a Happy Wednesday.
PS-You can still win a copy of Violet by Design here at Shooting Stars magazine and a full set of Violet books here at Book Chic's blog. Good luck!
Tuesday Tribute: I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone
In tribute to how friendly and awesome debut author Stephanie Kuehnert is, I guest blogged about my very first concert over at Shooting Stars magazine yesterday, so check it out and comment to win a copy of Violet by Design.
Also, they're hosting a huge giveaway, so read the other posts for this week and enter, enter, enter!
Next week is the release of Stephanie's I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone, which has been on my wish list for ages. I know I ask you guys this question all the time, but it's an ever-evolving one: What book's at the top of your wish list this week?
PS-The always poetic Beth Kephart posted about Violet by Design yesterday, and I have to thank her. Check out her blog and her books for gorgeous writing that will make you want to read and read and read.