Cassette From My Ex

So this site, cassettefrommyex.com, completely speaks to the nostalgic music lover in me. I just had to dig out a tape from my college years and write an essay about it. Are there some lame songs on it? Yes. Do I still listen to it sometimes? Yes.Probably more about me than you want to know is laid out in this post, Crazy 8s. But I'd still love it if you'd go visit, leave me a comment, and read through some of the other essays too--while listening to the accompanying mixes, of course. Maybe you have a tape of your own to share (and if so, I must know what's on it). Do people make mix tapes anymore? I think they are the greatest love letters! This one is my favorite, musically. Happy Tuesday!

Marketing Monday: NPR!

Thanks to the lovely Amber, book reviewer extrordinaire for teensreadtoo.com, Violet on the Runway was included as one of last week's "Three Books for Teens Who Hate to Read" on National Public Radio's All Things Considered. You can listen to the broadcast here.Being on NPR has been a dorky dream of mine forever. It is possibly the coolest press I can imagine. Here was the three-book lineup. I'm excited to be in such amazing company (I still have to read Spud... but I'm sure it's fantastic). Yay!! PS-Thanks to Bookluver-Carol, Girl Headquarters, Hope's Bookshelf and YA Books Central for the recent Violet reviews!

Photo Friday: Dad

My dad died four years ago today, just after I turned 27. It was Father's Day, which fits, because my dad was always a bit of a wiseass. Anyway, I had to share this 80s photo of us together (above) on the train at the Museum of Life & Science in Durham, NC, and the tribute to a few dads that Glamour ran in their June issue (below). The third from the left is my dad (duh). His high school girlfriend, Jane Miller, really did fly in for the memorial and give me this old photo she had of him, which I will always remember as an endlessly thoughtful gesture. He's studying his lines for the Germantown Academy school play, Arsenic and Old Lace , and I love his plaid shirt--he's a Philadelphia private-school boy through and through in that shot. Have a great weekend, and hug your dad!

Dream Cars

I just read that the #1 choice of car for teens is the Ford Mustang. When I was 15, my dad and I started looking for cars together. I had a dream car in mind. Yup, a classic 1965 Ford Mustang. This was 1993, but there were still some Mustangs on the road in our town. We even test-drove a Carolina blue convertible one, and I nearly crashed it because there was just pure force under that hood.As you can see by the photo here, in which I'm almost 16 and obviously unaware that my socks look ridiculous, I didn't end up with a muscle car. Quite the opposite, in fact. I had saved babysitting and birthday money for about six years (yes, I'm a total nut but I really, really looked forward to getting my license). I bought an '88 Ford Festiva, which I named Ferdinand, on the day that the North Carolina Tarheels won the '93 NCAA basketball championship. It was cheap, it was a stick shift, it was the perfect little car. Actually, it still runs--I just sold it to my brother, who drives it around Chapel Hill to this day. I would love to hear what dream cars you guys had/have! Maybe with the price of gas you have a dream Vespa?

Win-It Wednesday: Not Anything

I feel like that title seems like you're not going to win anything this week, but it's deceptive!First, thanks for sharing your current reads. My to-read list is way longer, but that means my to-give-away-after-I-read list is growing too. So it's a win-win. Anyway, last week's winner of Maryrose Wood's Why I Let My Hair Grow Out is.... M! Send me your address, M. Now, this week's winnable book is Not Anything, by Carmen Rodrigues. And since I'm at the beach and feeling vacationy, I'll just share the blurb I wrote when Carmen gave me an early copy of the book: "Any girl who's ever fumbled her way through changing friendships, first love and real loss will find a friend in Susie Shannon." It's a lovely book, and you will like it! Promise. To win, just tell me what you're doing this summer. Camp? Family vacations? Getting ready for college? Working? Hitting a music festival? I'm writing a new book and also spending some time at the beach and then in the mountains with my friends. I am psyched. Happy Wednesday.

Marketing Monday: A Violet Video

So Daniel made this ah-mazing talking video about the Violet books, and I love it because he's awesome and he's in his kitchen and he has really strong opinions about America's Next Top Model. Daniel says, "The Songs If You Really Care Are: Mouthwash - Kate Nash and The Fortunate - Cartel." He hates the light streaks behind him but I like them--it's authentic. I also love that Violet on the Runway is lost in the abyss of his car. Thanks, Daniel! I may make "Violet Video" a contest one day... but that takes a lot of work so I'll have to give away more than one book. Re-post Daniel's video if you like it! PS-Since you can't see the link if you watch the video here, you can add me on myspace or facebook through these links. PPS-Thanks to The Book Vault for the review!

Photo Friday: Old School and New Birthday Pics

I'm over at Teen Fiction Cafe today, blogging about surviving high school. Here's what helped me: My friends! Yes, I know I'm an overly nostalgic dork. This is the actual cover of my 1995 senior year scrapbook. Won't you come leave me a comment on TFC? And here are a couple of pics from my birthday party last Saturday, which I shared with my friend Mariel, who let us wear feathers in our hair, which was awesome. Yes, even some people from that high school scrapbook were there. That second "F" on BFF means something, you know? Happy weekend! PS-The reading last night was great--these are authors you must know! Carolyn Mackler, Bennett Madison and Michael Northrop (whose book doesn't come out until next spring, which is why I can't link!). Check them out.

Glamour Story (and come see me tonight!)

Just a fun one I did for Glamour recently, where I found out that I am scarily normal about celebrities. But I decided to cancel my Us Weekly subscription this year... is that a sign I'm growing up, maybe a little? PS-Yesterday's winner, Book Muncher, tells me she already owns Maine Squeeze, so I had the random number generator work its magic again, and the new winner is... Dragon's Pizza! Remind me of your address, DP. PPS-NYC peeps: Come hear me read tonight at KGB bar with amazing authors Bennett Madison, Carolyn Mackler and Michael Northrop! (Details here.)

Win-It Wednesday: Why I Let My Hair Grow Out

The band names you guys came up with.... well, they rocked. I'm going to try to use as many as I can in Lovestruck Summer (I mention a lot of music in the book), so thank you for helping me write! The winner, chosen by random number generator, is.... The Book Muncher! Congratulations! Send me your address and a copy of Maine Squeeze will get to you just in time for the heart of beach read season. Today, I'm giving away a copy of Maryrose Wood's fabulous and fantastical novel, Why I Let My Hair Grow Out. It's the story of Morgan, a girl who gets dumped, buzzcuts her hair and dyes it orange, and then is sent on a bike tour of Ireland by her concerned parents. I loved watching her get more and more into her own badassness, and then delve into the forgotten fairyland of her childhood. Yeah, I know my summary makes no sense, but you just have to read it. It's delightful. And, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say it has one of the most gorgeous covers in recent memory. So to win Maryrose Wood's excellent book, just tell me what book you're reading right now... the latest on your nightstand. I'm nosey. On mine: Girl Overboard by Justina Chen Headley. Happy Wednesday!

A video? For me?

So I've been trying to make a Violet video for the third book, but I'm still figuring out iMovie. Here's my question: Who made this "Presenting the Violet Series" video? And what was it like? Oh, I wish I'd seen it before it got taken down! Author Lauren Mechling wrote a story for the Wall Street Journal this weekend about how book trailers don't help sales much, generally, but she also recognizes that they are fun?! Let me know if you made this video... I mean, how cool is it that someone took the time?Yes, I googled myself, okay? I admit it. Slow day. Here are some contests for you guys to visit. Love, M Write in Pen gives away books by Tina Ferraro Book Chic's big-a** giveaway includes a copy of Violet on the Runway! Elizabeth Scott, who's just plain awesome, is giving away an Elsa Peretti Tiffany necklace to celebrate the release of Stealing Heaven (it's a Gemini necklace, which is my sign, not that I think that should give me an edge, but...). Oh, and other prizes include 20 $20 gift certificates. That's right, twenty! And you can still enter to win Maine Squeeze right here! Don't forget to keep partying with Teri Brown! Feel free to post more contest links below in the comments! I just had these on my mind today.