Photo Friday

It's getting cold in New York City... I miss summer in Austin.

My So-Called Obsession

For some reason, I can't stop watching this clip today. There are fewer than 20 words (I'm a dork; I counted) spoken in this scene from the epic My So-Called Life, and yet it makes me swoon. Maybe it's because this show was on during 1994-95, my senior year of high school. Maybe it's because I felt so much like I was Angela Chase that I dyed my hair bright red the summer after graduation. Maybe it's because Jordan Catalano was so effing HOT.In any case, I hope you enjoy:

Win-It Wednesday: Clinique Superbalm Gloss!

Congratulations to Christy the procrastinator, whose name rose to the top of the hat in last week's contest! (The hat looks like the one at left... it's a Brooklyn Dodgers throwback hat.) Christy gets an autographed copy of Violet on the Runway. (Email me your address, Christy!) The song, as lots of you knew, is Tuesday Morning by the Pogues. Love it!Now: this week's contest. Tell one friend about Violet on the Runway (bonus if your friend is a librarian or bookseller), and then post a comment to tell me who you told... here or on myspace. I'm trusting you guys on this one! All entrants' names go into the hat, and the winner (announced next Wednesday) gets a brand new Clinique Superbalm Gloss in Ginger! See how pretty?

Marketing Monday: Go Local!

Even though my local paper could technically be considered The New York Times, I knew that there were other places to contact when I needed help getting the word out about Violet on the Runway.In my borough of Brooklyn, I thought about all the smaller newspapers that exist, and I set up an interview with The Brooklyn Eagle. And Brooklyn isn't my only home--I still consider Chapel Hill, NC, where I grew up, my hometown. So I got in touch with UNC's The Daily Tarheel. Both small, community-minded publications, both great places to promote. Don't forget your local paper(s)!

Photo Friday: Wig Out

See, I still do Halloween. Sort of. Here's me (in blue) with fabulous authors Sarah Grace McCandless and Jolene Siana. What did you dress up as? Pictures! Pictures!

Win-It Wednesday! flip.com

Today's contest is easy-peasy. Anyone who answers correctly, here or on myspace, will be entered to win an autographed copy of Violet on the Runway. First, you have to watch my flipbook, here. Seriously, flip.com is FUN. Make one of your own! Then, the question is: What magazine cover appears on page 9 of the flipbook? All correct responses posted by next Tuesday will be pulled from a hat, and I'll announce the winner next Wednesday! PS-I'll throw in a Juicy Tube if you know the song title and artist. PPS-I realize you can cheat at this by looking at comments, but I hope you won't!

Good Will for Goodwill

Did you guys hear that the DC Goodwill has a fashion blog? I read about it in the Washington Post yesterday and just had to share. The DC Goodwill Fashionista is a fabulous blogger, and this entry is especially special.I once found an amazing glitter shirt at Goodwill that said, "Anything boys can do, girls can do better!" I wore it for almost all of my third grade year. So I ask you: What was your all-time favorite Goodwill find? PS-If you don't have a Halloween costume yet... well, you know where to go!

Marketing Monday: Your Friends' Blogs Are Your Friends

When Violet on the Runway came out, I sent out a big email to family and friends, as you do. And in that email, I said, "If you have a blog, I won't be mad if you mention the book." Et voila! Instant publicity in niche markets (i.e., among my friends and their friends and their friends' friends). You never know who might stumble upon your book that way. Big thanks to: Ben, on Lausanne Found Claire, on zulkey.com Sally-Anne, on A Zesty Enterprise Steve, on Per aspera Stephanie L., on Pop Culture Junkette Dave, on grossy's blog Sarah D., on I-Am-Your-Mom Luddy, on Luddy's blog Stephanie B., on Spread Eagle in NYC And if you have a blog... well, email me. PS-Congratulations to Sara, who won this week's Win-It Wednesday by posting on myspace! Her name came to the top of the hat drawing (all names, including melissacwalker.com and myspace.com posters, were entered). Sara, email me your address and I'll send your prize.

A new blog I love, keep winning it, and a few good reviews

Thursday's cupcake is for Beth Kephart, whose new book, Undercover, has gotten amazing reviews. I cannot wait to read it, especially after stumbling upon Beth's blog, which is incredibly well done, and encourages everyone to fall in love with writing.I quote, from Tuesday's post: "A child asks: What is the surest way to success as a writer? Success being (the child says) fame, being fortune. Because it happened to J.K. Rowling. Because it should happen to us all. I want to say: Change the terms of your equation. Seek, first, conversation with yourself. Then conversation with others. Then impact." Um, WOW. Go read it! Feel free to keep posting on Wednesday's contest--I'll wait until Sunday to pick a winner. Lastly, a couple of good reviews for Violet on the Runway came out this week--yay! Here they are: Flamingnet Beauty Blogging Junkie The Foursquare Clark Magnet High School Chronicle

Win-It Wednesday: Girls That Growl

Mari Mancusi's awesome series, starting with Boys that Bite, and then Stake That!, has a third chapter: Girls That Growl.In the continued adventures of vampire twins Rayne and Sunny, cheerleaders can be, well, b*&ches. Leave a comment here, or on myspace, for a chance to win an autographed copy of Girls That Growl. I'll choose the winner randomly by drawing one commenter's name from a hat (promise!). Well, I might use a bowl, but you get the idea. So tell me, have you read Mari's books? What's your favorite teen novel so far this year?