Other Stuff

Win-It Wednesday: Happy New Year contest! Plus, who won Nick & Norah?

in

M6H0_261.jpg 2008. Woohoo! I'm psyched for this year. I don't really have any resolutions except to be grateful for all the good things in my life. I know that sounds super-cheesy, but whatever. It's true.And Vanessa can be thankful that she was chosen at random to win the autographed copy of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist! Send me your address, Vanessa! This week, I'd love for you to share any resolutions you have. Then I'll randomly choose a poster to win a lovely, brand new MAC lip conditioner (pictured above with dramatic black background). It's good for guys too--and you need it in winter! So, start listing those resolutions--and enjoy the new year! PS-The last contest asked for your favorite movie adaptation--and I am fascinated by all the different answers! I'm with Kelbey--mine is High Fidelity. I'm just a sucker for John Cusack. I may be confusing him with Lloyd Dobler, but either way, who can resist this guy? Not I, my friends. Not I. cusack2.jpg

Win-It Wednesday: Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

in

Who's excited for this movie, starring Michael Cera and Kat Dennings? I am! And even though we have to wait until October to see it, we can read the book (multiple times) in anticipation. Which is why if you comment over the next two weeks (until 1/2/08), you'll be entered for a chance to win an autographed copy of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. Okay, so I didn't quite catch the elusive Rachel Cohn, but David Levithan (a.k.a. Nick) has graciously signed the book for one lucky winner. So comment about whatever you like, but what I'd love to know is: What is your favorite movie adaptation of a book? Happy Holidays! PS-Sorry about the commercial. It's all MTV.

Steve Buscemi and Pink World!

in

pinkheader.gifThe lovely Lisa has put up an interview with me on Pink World, and she even used a post-wedding shot from my friends Kevin and Mary's soiree. I really like swimming in formalwear. Also, only slightly unrelatedly, Steve Buscemi held the door open for me at my neighborhood diner today. I get my iced coffee there every day (yes, even in the snow), and it was nice seeing him. He did, after all, play Mr. Pink in Reservoir Dogs, which brings us full circle to Pink World! So if you could have any celebrity hold the door for you, who would it be? For me, right now, it would probably be Taylor Kitsch, despite his semi-dorky dark website. I am so glad Friday Night Lights has more episodes to show in January. I love me some Tim Riggins!

Win-It Wednesday: UGLIES winner and new prizes!

in

VIOLET_BY_DESIGN2.jpg I love all the answers about what makes you pick up a book! Some of my favorite ideas are flipping to the middle to see if the story is reading well, the "OH! Someone who UNDERSTANDS!" moment, and smelling the pages. You guys are brilliant.What makes me pick up a book? I'm a cover + tagline sucker. I know how random covers can be, but if I love the art and the one-sentence note on the cover, I'm smitten. Now: The winner! A random number generator has deemed that out of the 79 entrants, Amy Hacker has won the signed copy of UGLIES! Email me your address, Amy! And for this week, I'm going to send you to visit several Chica Lit authors who have gotten together to do a holiday blog tour loosely based on the Twelve Days of Christmas. Each of the blogs is going to consist of a short story and a traditional holiday recipe and capped off with prizes. Today's contest is on Berta Platas's page (check her myspace blog), and you can follow the prizes for 12 days, through the blogs of Mayra Calvani, Caridad Pineiro, Lara Rios, Caridad Ferrer, Margo Candela, Kathy Cano-Murillo, Tracy Montoya, Jamie Martinez Wood, Misa Ramirez, Sofia Quintero and Toni Margarita Plummer. Phew! Happy 12 Days! PS-That image posted is the cover of my next book, Violet by Design, which comes out in March. (The final cover is a little different--quote from Carolyn Mackler instead of Sarah Dessen, and a tagline that says, "The girl next door is going places.") What do you guys think?

Marketing Monday: A Wise Group

in

new%20VIOLET%20Scholastic%20cover.jpg Author Teri Brown has recently put together a group called, "Fiction Writers Discuss Publicity," and I'm learning a lot. It's invaluable to me as a first time author, especially.Here is the official information, in case you wanna learn more about promotion and publicity, too: This group is for contracted or published novelists to discuss publicity tips on promoting their books. Included will be branding, methods, how to create successful events, cross promotion and other publicity tips. This is not for spamming the list with book advertisements, but rather a place to brainstorm and get tips on promoting your book. To subscribe send email to: fictionwritersdiscu sspublicity- subscribe at yahoogroups. com PS-That picture above is the Scholastic version of Violet on the Runway, done for the school book fairs. Different, pink and a little bit luminescent, right? But also fun. Yay!

Win-It Wednesday: Signed copy of UGLIES!

in

n138817.jpg First, the randomly chosen winner of the Lancome Color Fever Gloss is Heart-Broken Yet Again! I hope this helps, HBYA! Send me your address.This week's prize is fantastic--it's an autographed copy of Scott Westerfeld's Uglies, the first of the bestselling four-part trilogy (hmm...) about a future where a mandatory operation at 16 makes everyone conform to an ideal standard of beauty. I'm sure you guys have, um, heard of it. So, to win, just post on this blog or on myspace, and tell me: What makes you pick up a book and buy it? Is it the cover? The blurb from another author? The back-page summary? Reading the first page and falling in love? Some combination of those things? Or something else entirely? Enough questions: Do tell. Thanks--and good luck! PS-I'll be reading from Elizabeth Scott's Bloom tonight at the New York Public Library, Tompkins Square. Come if you can!