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.
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.
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 Designhere at Shooting Stars magazine and a full set of Violet books here at Book Chic's blog. Good luck!
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.
I made it onto the Contributors' Page of Teen Vogue with August's "Fan Club," a story I wrote about girl crushes (starring a few blog readers--thanks for the quotes, you guys!). They even showed the cover of Violet in Private--yay!
You can read the article below, and email me if you want to help out with the next one... I'll let you know what it's all about and how you can be quoted in the story (Teen Vogue doesn't use last names, so don't be shy).
I think the piece makes it kinda clear that my latest girl crush is Rihanna... who's yours?
The New York Times published a great article last week on Italian Vogue's latest issue, which features all black models photographed by famed photographer Stephen Meisel. It's influenced a bit by Barack Obama's nomination, by the important talk about the lack of models of color on the runways and in magazines, and by the particular interests of the editor-in-chief, Franca Sozzani.It's an issue--like the super skinny problem--that I hope stays in the spotlight for a while and leads to change. The slideshow, which you can watch here, is just gorgeous! And in the magazine--which will hit the US sometime next week--these photos cover 100 pages!
PS-Vogue has a really good story in the July issue called "Is Fashion Racist?" Check it out if this topic interests you. Happy weekend.
Those are the titles of two novels in Jenny O'Connell's new "Island Summer" series (minus the ice cream part). I'm into the combo titles... and all they imply. I haven't had a chance to read the books yet, but I did have a chance to talk to Jenny while she's on her Girlfriend Cyber Circuit tour, and I got her answers to three incredibly important questions:1. Did you have a point in your life--a certain summer maybe--when you made a really big change, or felt something shift?
There was a summer like that and actually wrote about it in the anthology It's a Wonderful Lie. I'd had the same boyfriend through college, and after college we lived together. After five months living under the same roof, we broke up. Just in time for summer. For the first time I was on my own, I got my own apartment and lived alone. It's a very strange feeling being alone when you're used to either being with friends or your boyfriend. It ended up being the best summer ever and I think it changed me from being someone who always had to be out with friends doing something into someone who could just hang by herself and enjoy it.
2. What parts of you can we see in your characters?
Actually, Kendra (in Local Girls) and Winnie (in Rich Boys) share my favorite ice cream!! We all prefer chocolate with sprinkles. There is a lot of me in my characters, even some similar experiences. The thing is, when it's happening to Kendra or Winnie I get to choose how it turns out!
3. Did you ever have an amazing summer love? Do share!
Between my sophomore and junior years of high school I spent the summer at The Rhode Island School of Design in Providence (my parents were convinced I was an artist, but after seeing the other people I was there with I realized I wasn't nearly as good as they were). On our first night at school some girls and I walked up to Thayer Street for ice cream. As we were about to walk into the ice cream store, this guy walked by us with his friend. He was absolutely adorable, totally hot. I watched as he walked away and then I went into the store for a chocolate ice cream cone with sprinkles. After we'd all ordered we walked outside and a second later there he was again, walking past us the other way. I knew it was my chance to do something or I'd never see him again. So I stepped in front of him and said, "Hi, want some of my ice cream?" Looking back I can't even believe I did that (and no, he didn't have any of my ice cream). But he stopped and we talked and we ended up going out on a date and spending the whole summer together. He was about to start as a freshman at Brown and lived outside Providence. We went to Newport to the beaches and had an amazing summer (even if I never did become a fabulous artist). When I left to go back home he came to visit me and I even went up for a few days to visit him before he started college. We had a blast, and that was the end of it. Funny thing is, when I was in college my freshman year some friends and I went to Brown for the weekend and I saw him. He was still adorable. But, much to my heart's dismay, we didn't walk off into the sunset together.
Ooh, but that is still a great summer story. Anyone else have a summer love tale to share?
PS-Go to Jenny's blog for a chance to win a Local Girls/Rich Boys t-shirt!
PPS-Watch the trailer and go to Jenny's website to learn more about the series. Does it look ultra summery, or what?!
Thanks for sharing your summer plans last week and indulging my inner busybody! The randomly chosen winner of Not Anything is... Katie in NC, my East Regional Library friend! I know you're off with your grandparents, Katie, but let me know your address when you return. Now, this week's contest is for a signed copy of Lauren Baratz-Logsted's Secrets of My Suburban Life. This book got to me because the main character, Ren, has such a great voice. And she writes letters to her mother, who died in an accident involving Harry Potter books. Not kidding. The plot was fun and intriguing, and the letters themselves broke my heart and then put it back together again.
So, to win a copy of this book, just comment below and tell me what you'd like to see during release week for Violet in Private. I'm thinking of daily contests, natch, but anything else you'd love? Let me know! Or just say hi if you don't have an idea, that counts too.
Happy Wednesday.
PS-If you want to get a copy of Violet in Private on August 5th, ask your bookstore or library to pre-order it for you. That will ensure they have it... (for those of you who've had trouble finding the Violet books). Also, that will make me really happy. Thanks!
PPS-If you give me an idea that I end up using, I'll send you an advance copy of Violet in Private... I just thought of that. And I'll do it!
PPPS-If you post about this contest, in a myspace bulletin or on your blog or wherever, I'll count your entry twice... just let me know in the comments below.
Ok, I'm done!
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!
