Laura Bowers

I'm a cross-poster today!  (Oh, the scandal.)  This was posted on the Class of 2k7 blog, but I wanted to post it here as well because I really like the interview I did with Sarah about her amazing young adult novel debut, HEAD CASE.  Enjoy!

“One mistake.
One bad night.
One too many drinks.”

Frank Marder is a head, paralyzed from the neck down, and it’s his fault. He was drinking. He was driving. Now Frank can’t walk, he can’t move, he can’t feel his skin. He needs someone to feed him, to wash him, to move his body. Now he must learn to deal with his lack of independence, his parents, his sister, his friends.

Will he ever feel like a whole person?

When you're a head, do you ever get to forgive yourself?

But if you ask most of the people who post on www.quadkingonthenet, he hasn’t been adequately punished. Two people are dead because of him. Frank should go to jail. Only “Anonymous” disagrees.

A powerful and heartbreaking debut novel about a guy who had it all… until he drank that one last beer and got into the car. Head Case will make you consider how we judge each other. And how we can move beyond our mistakes—with honesty, compassion, and even humor.

“…full of humor and the strength of the human spirit.”—Reading Rants

"It will make a strong impression on readers with its raw emotion and bitter narrative tone."—Booklist

"Aronson's raw first novel delves into the emotions, mobility, daily functions (e.g., eating, talking on a phone and using a computer) and even the pleasures and sex of quadriplegics. Above all, it asks us to consider how we value individuals with disabilities."—Kirkus Reviews

"First time novelist Sarah Aronson's take on a situation that most people would consider nightmarish manages to not only be hopeful, but also full of humor and the strength of the human spirit."—Reading Rants


( Click here to get the full scoop from my interview with Sarah! )

Happy Tuesday! Today we have Jo Knowles joining us in the beauty shop. Jo is the author of the YA novel, Lessons From A Dead Girl (Candlewick Press), the story of an abusive friendship and one girl’s struggle to find understanding and forgiveness.



Welcome, Jo! Grab some coffee, get comfy in the beautician’s chair, and let’s get down to the gossip.

Thanks, Laura! It’s so nice to be here!! I could use some highlights and a trim.

Wow, you truly are a brave woman if you trust me with scissors.  ;)  Okay, first off, when’s the last time you’ve treated yourself to a manicure?

Actually, I have NEVER treated myself to one. I’m so embarrassed! I’ve had two manicures in my life. One for a friend’s wedding—she paid. And the most recent (10 years ago) for my own wedding. A friend of mine was a little horrified that I wasn’t planning to have my nails done so she went out and bought me a gift certificate. I can’t help it. I’m guess I’m just not a painted nails kind of gal. :-)

Nah, neither am I.  What’s the most regrettable hairstyle you’ve ever had? Any mullets? Rat tails?

A few days before I started high school I cut my hair short and got a perm. I looked like a mousey Orphan Annie. It was a really regrettable way to start my high school career.

What beauty product can you not live without?

Oil of Olay hydrating lotion. I’ve been using it forever.

In my novel, the ladies have fun answering the “Hypothetical Questions of the Week” from their favorite tabloid. So here are some for you:

HQ #1: You’re a big-time celebrity who just had a baby. If you were competing for the most bizarre celebrity baby name, what would it be?

Pickle (girl or boy)

HQ #2: Paparazzi are stalking you, looking for shots of odd things authors do while writing. What do they catch you doing, hmm?

Eating Smarties for breakfast.

HQ #3: You’ve been locked in a bank vault with that guy from The Twilight Zone, so you finally have time to read! What’s the first book you crack open? (And don’t worry—no one stepped on your glasses.)

I’ve always wanted to read War and Peace?

HQ #4: If I asked the members of your critique group who you’re most like when critiquing manuscripts, would they choose Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul or Simon Cowell?

Probably Randy. I think it’s really important to be honest AND nice. :-)

HQ #5: If you followed the career path you chose for yourself in high school, what would you be doing for a living now?

I think I changed my mind about 500 times in high school. So let’s see. Either a photo journalist, a nurse, a private investigator, a veterinarian, a teacher or a graphic designer.

The Lightening Round—no more than two words per answer!

Do you . . .
    Outline or wing it?   Wing it
    Talk about works-in-progress, or keep your trap shut?   Talk
    Sell by proposal or completed draft?   My choice?
    Love to edit or cringe at the thought?   Love it
    Prefer writing a new book or marketing the old?   Both
    Write better at home or in a coffee shop?   Coffee shop
    Read your released book or no thank you, I’ve read it enough?   Just passages

And finally, what’s your favorite . . .
    Time to write?   Daytime
    Movie?   Princess Bride
    Book? Author?   Impossible to choose!
    Song?   It depends on my mood. ;-)
    Pair of shoes?   Flip flops
    Guiltiest pleasure?   The E! channel
    Line from a movie?   That day, she was amazed to discover that when he was saying "As you wish", what he meant was, "I love you."

Thanks for joining us, Jo, and for being brave enough to let me work with your hair.  Those chunky highlight stripes look . . . um, real nice, sweetie.  And about those lopsided bangs . . . asymmetrical hair-dos are due for a comeback, right?
Have a great holiday!

Congratulations and a mighty woo-HOO to my fellow Class of 2k7 members, Jay Asher, for the recent release of his young adult novel, 13 REASONS WHY and A.C.E. Bauer for the release of her midgrade novel, NO CASTLES HERE!

NO CASTLES HERE is still on my embarrassingly large pile of to-read books, but I have read 13 REASONS WHY.  Oh my gosh, the book is fantastic!  One of my favorites that I've read this year.  Bravo, Jay!

Here's the scoop on A.C.E.'s book, one I can't wait to read:



Camden, New Jersey, is the armpit of the world, as far as Augie is concerned. Home to losers and bullies, its schools offer nothing to someone who isn’t smart, isn’t stupid, and who isn’t a troublemaker. When Augie escapes to Philadelphia dreaming of castles and promise, he becomes a thief and steals a magical book of fairy tales.

Life only gets crazier. For sixth grade, Augie is assigned the meanest, toughest teacher in school. His mom signs him up with a Big Brother he doesn’t want. And he discovers that even in his world, there might be such a thing as a fairy godmother.

Augie is eleven-and-a-half. This is his time for adventure. He hadn’t figured it would begin in a bookstore.

Here's what they're saying about NO CASTLES HERE!

“Bauer balances tone and content beautifully in this superb debut… Complex characters and an infinitely readable text make this one of the strongest titles of the year.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Bauer’s a first time author, but you’d never know it from reading this book. This story is the perfect balance of magic and realism. The characters stick with you, the message isn’t messagey (a good thing, in my eyes), and the first page is suitably gripping. A book kids would actually enjoy reading.” — Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production, listing No Castles Here among her pick of Newbery contenders.

“A successful mingling of genres and a testament to the powerful truths in timeless tales.” —School Library Journal

Now Jay's:



The rules are pretty simple. There are only two. Rule number one: You listen. Number two: You pass it on. Hopefully, neither one will be easy for you. (from Cassette 1: Side A)

Hannah Baker records the defining moments of the past few years of her life onto seven audiotapes. Thirteen stories involving several people at her school. She packs the tapes into a shoebox and mails them to the first person on the list. Then, she goes home to kill herself.

Two weeks later, Clay Jensen comes home from school to find a box with no return address leaning against his front door. Inside are seven audiotapes, their sides labeled 1 through 13 in blue nail polish. He has no idea what’s on the tapes, which is kind of exciting…until he presses PLAY.

With Hannah’s voice as his narrator, Clay spends the rest of the night wandering through town, visiting places mentioned on the tapes, unearthing the thirteen reasons why Hannah chose to kill herself.

And one reason belongs to him.

“Very clever premise, strong voice, perfect suspense. This one will keep you reading. Jay Asher is a fine storyteller.”— Chris Crutcher

“A spectacular first novel. Jay Asher tells his story with such honesty and simplicity that the tragedy feels shatteringly real.” — Gordon Korman

Congratulations, A.C.E. and Jay on the releases of your books!

Okay, I need to play some serious catch-up now that I'm FINALLY done this round of editing.

First, a major congratulations to Class of 2k7 member Sara Zarr, for being selected as a finalist for the National Book Award with her novel, STORY OF A GIRL!   You ROCK, Sara!!!!!



Second, congratulations and a major woo-HOO to both Jo Knowles for the recent release of her young adult novel, LESSONS FROM A DEAD GIRL, and to Sundee Frazier for the release of BRENDAN BUCKLEY'S UNIVERSE AND EVERYTHING IN IT!



By Jo Knowles:

FF=Friends Forever. That’s what Leah tells Laine when she writes the letters on her hand in the fifth grade. But theirs is a complex and abusive friendship, and it’s only after Leah is killed in an accident that Laine begins to make sense of their complicated past.
How long does a childhood promise written on the palm of a hand last? Is there really such as thing as friends forever? Only Laine can answer. To do so, she must explore a troubled friendship, find its core, and decide whether she can forgive Leah—and ultimately, forgive herself.

"This suspenseful, disturbing debut will help older teen readers understand that abusers are victims, too. If you enjoy the emotional, gritty work of E.R. Frank or Ellen Hopkins, you're gonna love Jo Knowles."--Jennifer Hubert, Reading Rants.

“This book is beautifully written...Knowles doesn't just give us a look at the secret and troubled lives of children, and how that haunts the adults they become. She also gives us forgiveness and understanding. This could easily have gone the after school special route of making Leah eeeviiiillll. But; she isn't. She is a broken child. And by the end, the reader weeps for both Leah and Laine.”—Liz Burns, A Chair, A Fireplace And A Tea Cozy

"...a powerful book that doesn't shy away from difficult topics... I think that Lessons from a Dead Girl would make a great discussion book for high school students, especially those who have been, or might be, bullied or abused...Knowles tackles questions about friendship, sexual orientation, and standing up for oneself in abusive situations...Even though the details of this particular story are fairly dramatic, the friend to friend dynamics are, no doubt, played out in middle schools and high schools every day. Jo Knowles has captured this phenomenon brilliantly."—Jen Robinson, Jen Robinson’s Book Page




by Sundee Frazier.

In ten years, I’d never once met my grandpa. My mom didn’t want to talk about him. Now suddenly I’d discovered him, and he was a scientist, just like me. Where had he been? Why couldn’t we talk about him? This is what I found out… Ten-year-old Tae Kwon Do blue belt and budding rock hound Brendan Buckley keeps a “CONFIDENTIAL” notebook for his top secret, scientific discoveries. And he’s found something totally top secret. The grandpa he’s never met, whom his mom refuses to talk about or see, is an expert mineral collector, and lives nearby! Secretly, Brendan visits Ed DeBose, whose skin is pink, not brown like Brendan’s, his dad’s, or Grampa Clem who recently died. Brendan sets out to find the reason behind Ed’s absence, but what he discovers can’t be explained by science, and now he wishes he’d never found him at all…
Brendan’s genuine gusto for learning and digging for the truth will have readers rooting for him throughout this story of one boy’s attempt to understand race and reunite his family.

"Brendan is an appealing character with a sense of honor, . . . curiosity and intelligence. A good, accessible selection to inspire discussion of racism and prejudice."--Kirkus Reviews, September 15, 2007.

"This is an absorbing look at a 10-year-old boy who has never had to deal with race and prejudice, who collides into years of anger and hurt in his family and must create a new identity for himself. . . . Frazier writes affectingly about what being biracial means in 21st-century America."--School Library Journal, October 2007.

Congratulations to both of you ladies!  And, if you'd like to get the full scoop on Jo, Sundee and other members of the Class of 2k7, check out the interviews that are being posted on our blog!

Have a great one!

 

Yeah, I know. Shop Talk Wednesday doesn't sound as cool as Shop Talk Tuesday, but yesterday was a total bear. ;)

So today, we have a fellow Class of 2k7 member Eric Luper joining us in the shop! (eluper  .) Eric is the author of Big Slick, a young adult novel that Richie Partington of Richie’s Picks calls, “an action-filled tale involving hot girls, hot cars, very dangerous people, serious desperation, and some seriously bad choices,” and Kirkus Reviews says has “powerful momentum, upping the ante and racing the reader’s pulse like an amphetamine.”



Welcome, Eric! Grab some coffee, get comfy in the beautician’s chair, and let’s get down to the gossip.

When’s the last time you’ve treated yourself to a manicure?

Quite honestly, I’m not sure I’ve ever had a manicure. In fact, most of the haircuts I’ve had have been in a barbershop with an old Italian guy whose idea of cleaning his place is sweeping most of the hair from the last guy out of the path from the stack of Playboys to his barber chair.

What’s the most regrettable hairstyle you’ve ever had? Any mullets? Rat tails?

When I was in high-school, I tried to let my hair get long in the back. I’m not sure if it was technically a mullet, because I had no idea what a mullet was. I just knew I wanted to look like Rick Springfield. The problem was that my hair is curly, which resulted in a bushy mess back there. Finally, I gave up and had it all chopped off. The rest of my hair started jumping ship soon after and I’ve kept it short since then. There’s nothing sadder than a guy with thinning hair who tries to compensate by growing a ponytail.

Yeah, I'm with you on that, Eric.  BTW, the definition of a mullet:  Business in the front, party in the back. ;)

Okay, the ladies in my novel always answer the “Hypothetical Questions of the Week” from their favorite tabloid. So here are a few for you:

HQ #1: For one day, time travel is a reality and you have the opportunity to visit any famous deceased author you want. Who do you pick?

Edgar Allan Poe. I’ve read a lot of his work (not that my writing takes after his at all) and would love to meet the man behind all of those twisted stories. I might decline the opium though. However, I suspect the image I have in my head is far better than the real thing would be.

HQ #2: If you could hit the rewind button, which book published by another author do you wish you could have written? Which movie screenplay?

I read The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak with awe, but if I could pick a book to have written I think I’d choose Breakfast of Champions by Vonnegut. The offhanded, casual voice in that book, along with the humor, just amazes me. And it amazes me every time I reread it. Now you have me wanting to go reread it again!!

As for screenplays, I’d have to go with Pulp Fiction. It was just so innovative and fresh. I remember coming out of that movie both confused and in awe and it brought me straight back to the cinema the next week. However, the screenplay I’d love to work on would be an adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel, The Dark Knight Returns, the absolutely brilliant story of Bruce Wayne over 20 years after he hung up his cape for the last time. There’s a crime wave and the 60+ year-old caped crusader goes back into business. It’s intense.

HQ #3: You magically find a $100.00 bill in your box of cereal. In what frivolous way would you spend it?

I don’t really have a single thing that I’d run off and spend it on. It’s more like I’d put the bill in my wallet and squander it on random stuff. Pizza, some coffees, maybe a cigar or a bottle of wine…and before I knew it, the money would be gone. And I’d have a sense of regret that I could have spent the money on something better, but I’d have no idea what that “something” would have been. Does that make me a squanderer? Perhaps I’m a squanderer.

HQ #4: TV execs are offering you a spot on a new reality show for writers. Do you say yes? If so, how would you be portrayed? (i.e. the boss, whiner, bore, paranoid-wreck, etc.?)

I would love to be on a reality show, but it would depend on the prize. It would have to be really good to drag me away from my family. I went to a writing retreat this year in New Hampshire (thank you, Jackie Davies!) and I holed myself up in my room all day every day. I challenged myself to write 10,000 words over the weekend. Needless to say, people rarely saw me except at meals and after dinner. I ended up writing over 11,000 by Sunday and it pushed me over the hump to finish my second novel. I suppose in reality show terms that would make me the anti-social hermit that no one likes.

HQ #5: You’re a big-time celebrity who just had a baby.  If you were competing for the most bizarre celebrity baby name, what would it be?

If I were able to have a baby, just that fact alone would make me a big-time celebrity. However, if I were a big-time celebrity for something else and my wife had a baby or we adopted a newborn I think I might name him “The Baby Formerly Known as Fetus” and he would have a symbol to represent his name. That, or “Spencer.”

(Laura's note to self:  Reword that questions for guys!  Hehe.)

HQ #6: Paparazzi are stalking you, looking for shots of odd things authors do while writing. What do they catch you doing, hmm?

Just yesterday I spilled a filled-to-the-brim 20-oz Starbucks coffee down the front of myself and right onto the brand spanking new carpeting in my office. I burned my forearm and ruined a shirt and new pants. More importantly, it was the first outfit I had actually taken the time to iron in like 6 months. So, it just goes to show you that you should never iron anything. I’m sorry…what was the question?

The Lightning Round—no more than two words per answer!

Do you . . .
    Outline or wing it?     Wing it
    Talk about works-in-progress, or keep your trap shut?     Talk some
    Love to edit or cringe at the thought?     “Darlings” Killer
    Prefer writing a new book or marketing the old?     Writing anew
    Write better at home or in a coffee shop?     Not sure
    Read your released book or nope, I’ve read it enough?     Read passages

And finally, what’s your favorite . . .
    Time to write?     Evenings to write new stuff; daytime to edit
    Movie?     Pulp Fiction
    Book?   Whatever I’m working on at the moment, yes, I’m egotistical enough to say I like my own work best!!!
    Song?     Baby Elephant Walk
    Pair of shoes?     My electric-blue Nike trail runners
    Guiltiest pleasure?     Sadly, the Internet…
    Line from a movie?     Tie between Thulsa Doom saying “Contemplate this on the Tree of Woe” in Conan the Barbarian, and Newt saying “…it'll be dark soon, and they mostly come at night... mostly,” in Aliens.

Thanks so much for stopping by, Eric, and best of luck with your recently released BIG SLICK!  And hey, can you tell me when the next retreat is?  That sounded heavenly--I could use some anti-social hermit time.  Oh, and I want you to know that whenever I hear Baby Elephant Walk, I will automatically think of you. ;)

Congratulations and a mighty woo-HOO to my fellow Class of 2k7 member Sarah Aronson for the recent release of her young adult novel, HEAD CASE!



One mistake.
One bad night.
One too many drinks.

Frank Marder is a head, paralyzed from the neck down, and it’s his fault. He was drinking. He was driving. Now Frank can’t walk, he can’t move, he can’t feel his skin. He needs someone to feed him, to wash him, to move his body.

When you’re a head, do you ever feel like a whole person? Will Frank ever get to forgive himself.

Head Case will make you consider how we judge each other. And how we can move beyond our mistakes—with honesty, compassion, and even humor.


"(Head Case) will make a strong impression on readers with its raw emotion and bitter narrative tone." -- Booklist

"Aronson's raw first novel delves into the emotions, mobility, daily functions (e.g., eating, talking on a phone and using a computer) and even the pleasures and sex of quadriplegics. Above all, it asks us to consider how we value individuals with disabilities. " -- Kirkus Reviews

"First time novelist Sarah Aronson's take on a situation that most people would consider nightmarish manages to not only be hopeful, but also full of humor and the strength of the human spirit." -- Reading Rants

"A scary, thought-provoking glimpse at life without control. " -- Teens Read Too


Congratulations, Sarah, I wish you great success with your compelling novel!

Okay, I'm trying to get caught up here in blogland. So, here's a belated congratulations and mega woo-HOO to my fellow Class of 2k7 members Thatcher Heldring and Heather Tomlinson for their recent releases!

Thatcher is the author of TOBY WHEELER: EIGHT GRADE BENCHWARMER that was released this past August 14th.



Toby Wheeler had a few things in mind when he joined the basketball team at Pilchuck Middle School. Being a benchwarmer was not one of them. How is he supposed to help his team win a league championship sitting on the end of the bench? Even worse, a promise made to an archrival in the heat of the moment means the stakes are even higher. Meanwhile, his best friend doesn’t seem to care about anything but his band, and his Coach already has it out for him—could it have something to do with the new girl in town? For Toby, finding a way to show the world what he can do will require practice, determination, and belief in one important truth: it takes an entire team—even the benchwarmer—to win one game.

"A truly great basketball story.  Every hoops fan will love this book." --Phil Jackson, Member of the NBA Hall of Fame and Head Coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.


Heather is the author of THE SWAN MAIDEN, that was recently released on August 7th.



In the quiet hour before dawn, anything can happen. A third daughter can dream of being a creature of flight and magic, of wearing a swan-skin like her sisters. But Doucette must run the castle household while her older sisters learn to weave spells. Her dream of flying is exactly that—until the day she discovers her own hidden birthright.

Sudden, soaring freedom—it is a wish come true. Yet it comes with a price. As Doucette struggles to find her own way in the world, she risks losing the one she loves most of all.

An age-old fairy tale told in a refreshingly original voice, Heather Tomlinson’s stunning debut is fantasy at its most eloquent and richly imagined.


Congratulations, Thatcher and Heather, for your fantastic book releases!  I wish you both the very best!

Happy Tuesday, all!

Today Judy Gregerson, author of the novel BAD GIRLS CLUB, is in the beautician's chair! The Midwest Book Review is saying BAD GIRLS CLUB (, that was just released today,) is as riveting as Dave Pelzer’s A CHILD CALLED IT, but better and they recommend every young adult read it. This seems to be echoed by other reviewers, including a psychologist who works with teens who recommends that it even be added to health curriculums in school.



So welcome, Judy! Grab some coffee, get comfy in the beautician’s chair, and let’s get down to the gossip.

What’s the most regrettable hairstyle you’ve ever had? Any mullets? Rat tails? Come on, we promise not to laugh!

Ok, so I went to Macy’s when I lived in NYC and I got a ‘Fro. It was a very short, sticking-out-all-over ‘Fro and I hated it. What I hated most was that it was so round. I think I was so totally humiliated and horrified by this hairdo that I wanted to die. And I think that at some point I cut my hair really short to get rid of it.

What hair styling product can you not live without?

Well, I couldn’t go a day without my hair glue. I have very thick and coarse hair and it’s naturally curly, to boot. Recently, it’s developed some rather odd cow-licks. It goes whatever way it wants, which is why I keep it short. But hair glue. Let me tell you. There’s nothing like it!

How long have you been with your current stylist and what are your appointment conversations like—chatty and personal, or quiet and professional?

I am my own stylist. I have cut my own hair for a long, long time because I’ve found few people who know what to do with it. I did once have a hair stylist in Syracuse who actually cut it to about less than a half inch long. This cured me of going to salons.

Time for some “Hypothetical Questions of the Week:”

HQ #1: For one day, time travel is a reality and you have the opportunity to visit any famous deceased author. Who do you pick?

Well, I think I’d have to spend the day with Sylvia Plath. I would hope, though, that I caught her on a GOOD day because I’d want to pick her brain about how she wrote a flashback inside a flashback inside a flashback and then transitioned back to the present in about one sentence. That’s all I need to know. I would, however, talk to her about other things, but this would be VERY important.

HQ #2: If you could hit the rewind button, which book published by another author do you wish you could have written?

I wish I had written The Bell Jar because it’s such a perfect first novel. How she came running out of the gate with that book, I don’t know. But I wish it was me. I’d also like to make the money that book has produced.

HQ #3: You magically find a $100.00 bill in your box of cereal. In what frivolous way would you spend it?

I’d either buy shoes or bras.

HQ #4: Paparazzi are stalking you, looking for shots of odd things authors do while writing. What do they catch you doing, hmm?

Well, they’d find me getting up and down to do things like vacuuming or standing and staring out the patio door (they’d probably find that the oddest because I think by staring and really do nothing but stand there). They might find it curious that I sit on the patio and talk to myself.

HQ #5: If you followed the career path you chose for yourself in high school, what would you be doing for a living now?

Well, I’d be a cop for about a week, or at least until someone shot at me. Then I’d be a social worker. That might last a few weeks or until I got bored. After that, I’d be an advertising executive. But since I’ve already done that, I’d move on to be a writer. Those were the only things I wanted to do when I was in high school.

The Lightening Round—no more than two words per answer!
Do you . . .
Outline or wing it? Both
Talk about works-in-progress, or keep your trap shut? Talk some
Sell by proposal or completed draft? Both
Love to edit or cringe at the thought? Love
Prefer writing a new book or marketing the old? Market
Write better at home or in a coffee shop? Home
Read your released book or no thanks, I’ve read it enough? Had enough

And finally, what’s your favorite . . .
Time to write? After 10 p.m.
Movie? Gladiator
Book? Poison
Author? Kathryn Harrison
Song? Baby I Need Your Loving
Pair of shoes? My sandals
Guiltiest pleasure? Mint patties.

Awesome, thanks for stopping by Judy, and congratulations on today's release of BAD GIRLS CLUB! 

They just keep coming!  A major, MAJOR congrats to Class President and Founder of the Class of 2k7 Greg Fishbone, for the 07-07-07 release The Penguins of Doom (From the Desk of Septima Nash!) 

"Penguins of Doom (From the Desk of Septina Nash), by Greg R. Fishbone, is a fun romp aimed squarely at middle grade readers." - Jen Robinson,

Septina Nash is a 7th grade seventh child with purple hair and a knack for popping up in music videos. After her triplet-sister mysteriously disappears, Septina finds herself stalked by penguins, pursued by a mad scientist, and on the fast track to an Olympic medal in freestyle skateboarding. Along with her more reality-minded triplet-brother, Quinn, Septina hurdles from one adventure to the next: surviving for ten minutes in the world’s most dangerous truck stop, launching a polar expedition, and collecting an enormous amount of empty yogurt containers.

Is it any wonder why she can’t complete her math homework on time?

For more scoopage, checkout Greg's u-tube video!  And congratulations, Greg, I wish you the very best!

So many awesome books coming out, so little time to read!  Congratulations and a whopping woo-HOO to Class of 2k7 member S.A. Harazin for her recent release of BLOOD BROTHERS!


Without his job at the hospital, Clay would be lost. The hard work, the struggles of the patients, the drama in the ERÑit makes his days worth something, and gives focus to his dream of someday becoming a doctor. Clay can't afford to go away to college like the rest of his graduating senior class, but what other 17-year-old has delivered a baby or helped save a life?

Still, Clay wishes his life could be more like his best friend Joey's. Joey has it all—a great family, a good college waiting for him at the end of the summer, money, a car. Clay has to bike everywhere, and the miles are starting to wear him down.

But Joey's golden future shatters one day when he overdoses at a party. Now he's clinging to life at the hospital where Clay works, and Clay may even be implicated in Joey's injuries. Tension and emotion rise as those who love Joey gather and wait. Clay will do whatever he can to find out what happened at the party, and to help Joey recover. But to survive this ordeal Clay must draw on a strength he never knew he had.

"This compelling story, told in diary entries that cover hours and days, never loses the pace as Clay races to discover what happened during Joey's last day.  The antidrug message is never didactic, and the story will grab readers from the first sentence." -- Kirkus

“BLOOD BROTHERS is a gritty mystery which is relentless in its pacing… The author’s long career working in hospitals, beginning as a teenager, is clearly responsible for the vivid depictions of hospital work … will hold the interest of all but the most squeamish readers.”  -- Richie's Picks


Major congratulations on your release, and I wish you the very best!

And yet another fantastic book from a Class of 2k7 member! Congratulations to Ann Dee Ellis for the recent release of her young adult novel, THIS IS WHAT I DID!



Imagine if you had witnessed something horrific. Imagine if it had happened to your friend. And imagine if you hadn’t done anything to help. That’s what it’s like to be Logan, an utterly frank, slightly awkward, and extremely lovable outcast enmeshed in a mysterious psychological drama. This story allows readers to piece together the sequence of events that has changed his life and his perspective on what it means to be a good friend and a good person.
This is What I Did: is a powerful read with clever touches, such as palindrome notes strewn throughout the story and incorporated into the unique design of the book. Part novel in verse, part screenplay, and wholly accessible to readers, This is What I Did: will make readers think about what they’ve done.

Congratulations, Ann Dee, and I wish you the very best!

Congratulations and a mighty Woo-HOO to Class of 2k7 member Marlane Kennedy for the recent release of Me and the Pumpkin Queen!

(Don't you just love the cover art?  If I'm remembering correctly, it was done by the same artist who did the cover for Deborah Wiles, LOVE, RUBY LAVENDER.)



Mildred's Guide to Growing a Giant Pumpkin:

1. Get the right seeds.  These days, no one grows a Pumpkin Show winner without Howard Dill's Atlantic Giant seeds.

2. Convince your dad that having a pumpkin patch in your barkyard is a good idea.

3. Make sure that your dogs stay far, far away from your seedlings.

4. Don't let your busybody aunt interfere with your "pumpkin obsession," no matter how much she wishes you were interested in boys or clothes or anything other than pumpkins.

5. Find a best friend who can help out in a pinch.

6. Never, ever give up.


"A warmhearted and genuine offering that demands little and gives much." -- Kirkus Reviews

Me and the Pumpkin Queen is a Junior Library Guild Premier Selection!


Congratulations, Marlane!  Your book both sounds and looks fantastic and I wish you the very best!

Today we have Class of 2k7er Stephanie Hale joining us in the beauty shop! Stephanie is the author of today's released REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN, a humorous story of what happens when a homecoming queen thinks her tiara has been disrespected.



Welcome, Stephanie ! Grab some coffee, get comfy in the beautician’s chair, and let’s get down to the gossip.

Not to be difficult, Laura, but I so don’t do coffee. I’d really like some hot chocolate with whipped cream and chocolate shavings if it isn’t too much trouble!

Um, I'm a tad low on groceries, so would Ovaltine with a few raisinettes thrown in be okay?  I might have some Cool Whip . . . no, I ate that a week ago.  Sorry, Steph!  (My characters would be so ashamed of me.)

Okay, first things first.  When’s the last time you’ve treated yourself to a manicure?

I had one about a year ago. I went with a friend and did the whole spa day thing. I’d love to do it every day!

Ever had a major hair or salon disaster?

Unfortunately. When I was in sixth grade, my mom took me to a beauty salon inside a department store for a perm. I have very thin, fine hair and they left the perm solution in for like three hours. I still haven’t figured out why my mom didn’t see anything wrong with that! My hair ended up being bigger than I was. This guy in my study hall started teasing me, calling me Dee Snyder from Twisted Sister. I tried not to get too upset, after all, this guy had flunked eighth grade so many times he had a driver’s license. In an ironic twist of fate, my sequel is titled, Twisted Sisters. Ha!

Girl, I can feel your perm pain!  But at least you ended your story with a great 'twist.'  Now, what beauty product can you not live without?

I love OPI nail polish. The polish itself is outstanding, but I really just love picking up the little bottles and reading the creative names!

How long have you been with your current stylist and what are your appointment conversations like—chatty and personal, or quiet and professional?

I’m kind of a serial hairstylist dropper. I haven’t anyone to really do what I want so I always kind of move on after giving them a few chances. I live in a pretty small town and I’m starting to run out of places to go.

Time for your “Hypothetical Questions of the Week:

HQ #1: If you could hit the rewind button, which movie screenplay do you wish you could have written?

The Notebook. I just love that book. Although it does make it a bit more romantic that it was written by a gorgeous man.

HQ #2: You magically find a $100.00 bill in your box of cereal. In what frivolous way would you spend it?

Books, books, and more books.

HQ #3: You’re a big-time celebrity who just had a baby.  If you were competing for the most bizarre celebrity baby name, what would it be?

I don’t know how bizarre it is. But I was really gunning for the name Scout when I was pregnant, and my husband just wasn’t having it.

HQ #4: If I asked the members of your critique group who you’re most like when critiquing manuscripts, would they choose Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul or Simon Cowell?

Probably Paula. They always accuse me of being nice. I’m really not that nice. Honest.

HQ #5: If you followed the career path you chose for yourself in high school, what would you be doing for a living now?

I’d be a lawyer! YIKES!

The Lightening Round—no more than two words per answer!

Do you . . .
    Outline or wing it?     Both
    Talk about works-in-progress, or keep your trap shut?     Zip lip
    Sell by proposal or completed draft?     Completed draft
    Love to edit or cringe at the thought?     Love it
    Prefer writing a new book or marketing the old?     Both
    Write better at home or in a coffee shop?     Home alone
    Read your released book or no thanks, I’ve read it enough?    Will read

And finally, what’s your favorite . . .
    Time to write?     Whenever I can
    Movie?     Valley Girl
    Book?     Twilight
    Author?     Judy Blume
    Song?     Currently, just about anything by Hinder
    Pair of shoes?         Currently, my Steve Madden pumps
    Guiltiest pleasure?     Books
 
Thanks so much for stopping by, Stephanie, and congratulations for today's release of REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN! Be sure to treat yourself to plenty of hot chocolate, with chocolate shavings and all. Unless you would actually prefer the Ovaltine with raisinettes. ;)

Congratulations and a mighty woo-HOO to my fellow Class of 2k7 member Rebecca Stead for today's release of FIRST LIGHT!  (Who I also finally got to meet at this past weekend's ALA, but more on that later!)

“An absolutely gripping story of a hidden world, the secrets between it and ours, and the courageous, determined Peter and Thea, who mean to get answers, no matter what the cost. I couldn’t put it down until I’d finished it!” - Tamora Pierce



Peter is thrilled to join his parents on an expedition to Greenland, where his father studies global warming. Peter will get to skip school, drive a dogsled, and – finally – share in his dad’s adventures. But on the ice cap, Peter struggles to understand a series of visions that both frighten and entice him.

Thea has never seen the sun. Her extraordinary people, suspected of witchcraft and nearly driven to extinction, have retreated to a secret world they’ve built deep inside the arctic ice. As Thea dreams of a path to the Earth’s surface, Peter’s search for answers brings him ever closer to her hidden home.

Rebecca Stead’s fascinating debut novel is a dazzling tale of mystery, science and adventure at the top of the world.

Congratulations for today's release, Rebecca, I'm so excited for you!

Congratulations to my fellow Class of 2k7 member, Sarah Beth Durst, for today's release of INTO THE WILD!

"Sarah Beth Durst's INTO THE WILD is fabulous in the oldest, truest, and best sense of the word, harking back to fables, wonder, and magic unleashed. It's bold, sassy, and utterly engaging. I can't wait to see what she does next!"--Bruce Coville, author of The Unicorn Chronicles and Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher



"Let me put it this way: when your mom cooks, she doesn't have to close the doors to make sure the Gingerbread Men don't run outside."

Junior high is tough enough, even when your family is ordinary. And Julie Marchen's family is anything but ordinary: her brother is a talking cat, her grandmother is a bona fide witch, and her mother is Rapunzel.

Yep, that Rapunzel - long hair, tower, prince... 500 years ago, Rapunzel escaped the fairy tale with her fellow storybook characters to live incognito in our world.

But now Julie's world, our world, is about to change - the fairy tale wants its characters back.


Sounds fantastic, Sarah!! Congratulations on your release and I wish you the very best!

Congratulations to Melissa Marr for the recent release of WICKED LOVELY!

"Riveting and dark:  I love this tale of a smart, tough girl who walks the razor's edge between an ancient fairy curse and her future!"--Tamora Pierce, author of The Protector of the Small quartet and The Circle Opens quartet.

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Faerie intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning 21^st century faery tale.

Congratulations, Melissa, I wish you the very best! 

In all my craziness this month, I missed blogging about the recent releases for two fellow Class of 2k7 members Karen Day and Aimee Ferris!

So here's a late congratulations to Karen Day for the May 8th release of her mid-grade novel, TALL TALES, by Wendy Lamb Books/Random House.



12-year-old Meg Summers wants to make a friend. Yet she and her family have moved once again, this time to a small town called Laketon, and the idea of walking up and introducing herself to a group of girls seems so difficult. What if they laugh? What if they aren't interested? What if they think she's boring?

And so Meg begins weaving stories about herself, tall tales that make her life sound dramatic and interesting. But they also serve another purpose: to deflect any attention to her real family. Her dad is an alcoholic and prone to unpredictable binges and behavior that traumatize the family. She knows she must keep her real family a secret.

Then Meg meets Grace Bennett. She's friendly and popular and interested in books, just like Meg. But how can her friendship with Grace continue to grow when Meg has kept such a big secret? What will she do now that the tall tales she told are coming back to Grace? And then Meg has another problem. What will happen at home now that her dad is drinking more and her older brother is beginning to fight back?

"Honest about what it is like to live with an alcoholic parent--the cover-ups, the fear of violence, the denial--Day's first novel delivers much more than a standard problem novel; Meg's lies and secrets are funny and anguished, and readers will respond to the intense family drama and the quick, wild fantasies that Meg spins to cover up her shame."--Hazel Rochman.


And congratulations to Aimee Ferris for the May 10th release of her young adult novel, GIRL OVERBOARD by Penguin!



Swimsuit: check.

Flip-flops: check.

Scuba gear: check.

Leaving behind a longtime boyfriend: not so easy.

Marina has been waiting her whole life to get out on the open sea. And now that she’s studying abroad on a luxury yacht in the Caribbean, her dreams are finally coming true. She loves the feel of the sun on her face, the sand between her toes, and the island music swaying over her. And even better, she’s getting hands-on marine biology experience swimming alongside dolphins in the Bahamas, sharks in the Bay Islands, and sea turtles in the Dominican Republic! But while her experiences tell her she’s in exactly the right place, her boyfriend wants her home in Vermont. And her distractingly cute Aussie boatmate couldn’t disagree more. As the island heat rises, Marina must decide once and for all where her heart is—on land or at sea.

“Never having read one before, I had no idea that any girl-type YA novels were this well written. I liked it! Learned stuff! Good book!”—Daniel Pinkwater

Awesome, ladies!!!  Congratulations on your book releases and I wish you the very best!

And, if anyone reading this is going to the BEA, let me know!  I decided to go at the last minute and will be there on Friday and Saturday, YAY!  I can smell those juicy, wonderful ARC's from here . . .

In all my craziness yesterday, I missed announcing this!

Congratulations to Ruth McNally Barshaw for the May 1st release of ELLIE McDOODLE! Ruth is a fellow Class of 2k7 member who both wrote and illustrated her book. Check out her website to see her very cool online art gallery, sketchbook ramblings and sketches of famous authors and illustrators of children's books!



One girl. One sketchbook. One week of camping with the world’s most annoying relatives!

Ellie McDougal (better known to her friends as McDoodle) is being held prisoner…by her aunt, uncle, three annoying cousins, and baby brother, Ben-Ben. Sentenced to a camping trip with them while her parents are out of town, Ellie is absolutely, positively determined to hate every single minute of it. Thank goodness she at least has her sketch journal in which to record all of the excruciating (and, ahem, funny) details. But how will Ellie keep her journal from falling into Er-ick the Enemy’s hands? And what will happen if — inconceivable! — she actually starts having fun? Part graphic novel, part confessional journal, part wilderness survival guide, Ellie’s story is a treat for young campers, vacationers, or any kid looking to curl up with a great summer read.

Click here to see her great Kirkus review!

Congratulations again, Ruth!  I wish you the very best with ELLIE McDOODLE!

Congratulations and a huge Woo HOO to fellow Class of 2k7 member Elizabeth Scott, for today's release of her young adult novel BLOOM!



(Isn't this the prettiest cover? I love the daisy in her hair.)

Lauren has a good life: decent grades, great friends, and a boyfriend every girl lusts after. So why is she so unhappy?

It takes the arrival of Evan Kirkland for Lauren to figure out the answer: she's been holding back. She's been denying herself a bunch of things (like sex) because staying with her loyal and gorgeous boyfriend, Dave, is the "right" thing to do. After all, who would give up the perfect guy?

But as Dave starts talking more and more about their life together, planning a future Lauren simply can't see herself in-- and as Lauren's craving for Evan, and moreover, who she is with Evan becomes all the more fierce--Lauren realizes she needs to make a choice...before one is made for her.

Reviews:

"...BLOOM is a beautiful, powerful love story, a wonderful coming-of-age story, and most of all just an amazing novel told in Lauren's fresh, funny, and distinctive voice." -- Jocelyn Pearce, TeensReadToo.com

"...This is a good book that deals with love, not just romantic love but also love within a family unit, between friends, and love of yourself. Lauren learns throughout the book that you don't have to be perfect to be loved. Sometimes people love you more when they get to see your whole self, flaws included." -- Kat Werner, YA Librarian, Benton Harbor Public Library

"A fresh, honest, and heartfelt look at first love." -- Deb Caletti, National Book Award finalist for Honey,Baby,Sweetheart

"Finally drawn, honest, sweet and charming, Bloom is like getting a beautifully wrapped gift--it's lovely to start with, and just gets better as you tear into it." -- Michele Jaffe, author of Bad Kitty

A Borders Original Voices selection for May 2007

A Books-A-Million Teen Book Club selection for August 2007


Congratulations, Elizabeth, your book sounds absolutely fabulous and I can't wait to read it!  I wish you the very best!

What?  Shop Talk on a Thursday?  Yep, I'm now going to be posting interviews twice a week.  Why?  Because I love doing them, I have a lot of interviews waiting to be posted, and there's more authors I'd love to get the gossip on.

Like . . . my fellow Class of 2k7 member Joni Sensel, who's joining us today in the beauty shop!  Woo-HOO!  Joni is the author of the hilarious REALITY LEAK, which was released on April 3rd.

Welcome, Joni!  Grab some coffee, get comfy in the beautician’s chair, and let’s get down to the gossip. 

First off, tell us the truth—when’s the last time you’ve treated yourself to a manicure?

Ha ha! Will you throw me out if I say, oh, December 2005 in response to a Christmas gift?

Nope, not when my last manicure was in 1997!  Now, what’s the most embarrassing hairstyle you’ve ever had?

I’ve had a couple of perms that “seemed like a good idea at the time” — but my hair is so fine that even when it’s fairly long, instead of waves and curls and body, I get kinky afros. The old photos tell the tale.

What hair styling product can you not live without?

Um… shampoo? Am I in the wrong interview room? But actually, I use Aveda “Self-Control” quite a bit. If only it would extend to some other aspects of my life!

Hehe, I could have asked about bikini waxes!  (Hmm, maybe for my next interview?)  What beauty product can you not live without?

You can’t buy it at a salon, but walks in the woods alongside the river are my de rigeur – fresh, moist air, a little relaxation, and time to meditate, noodle story problems, and stress out over manuscript submissions and revisions.

In my novel, the ladies have fun answering the “Hypothetical Questions of the Week” from their favorite tabloid.  So here’s some hypothetical questions for you: 

HQ #1:  Which book published by another author do you wish you could have written?

Oh, this is a tough question. Either Feed by M.T. Anderson or The Mark of the Horse Lord by Rosemary Sutcliffe (an older book but still in print). They’re very different, but both are the best books for teens or adults I’ve read in a long while.

HQ #2:  Which movie screenplay do you wish you could have written?

Shakespeare in Love by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard. In fact, I had started a screenplay with very similar themes and approaches, and I adored the movie but cried almost the whole way through, the first time I saw it, because mine was too late and would never be that good.

HQ #3:  Your agent just called.  TV execs are offering you a spot on a new reality show for writers.  Do you say yes?  If so, how would you be portrayed?  (i.e. the boss, whiner, bore, paranoid-wreck, etc.?)

Sure, what the heck, although I’m sure they’ll fire me or vote me off the island or whatever, because I will be the boring recluse who sleeps late, works in my pajamas with my hair in a wreck, refuses to be drawn into conflicts because I’m obsessed with getting down the story stuff flowing into my head, and then stays up late with my laptop, snarling at the camera to get out of my face.

Although if there’s a really hot guy writer or two on the show, maybe I could be the slut instead? I don’t want to be on a “reality” show, I want to be on a “fantasy” show!

HQ #4:  You’re a big time celebrity who just had a baby, maybe with the hot guy writer?  If you were competing with other celebrities for the most bizarre baby name, what would it be?

Slaine Moonwater — the former an Irish name I keep trying to use and have to keep changing because nobody knows how to say it correctly (slaw-na, although slain appeals too), and the latter just because.

HQ #5:  You’ve been locked in a bank vault with that guy from The Twilight Zone, so you finally have time to read!  What’s the first book you crack open?  (And don’t worry—no one stepped on your glasses.)

Ooh — I’ve been trying to get to fellow 2k7er Sara Zarr’s Story of a Girl — our first 2k7 book (clearly I am behind), and that would be a good start.

And now . . . the Lightening Round.  No more than two words per answer! 

Do you . . .
Outline or wing it? Wing it!

Talk about works-in-progress, or keep your trap shut? Shut!

Sell by proposal or completed draft? Draft!

Love to edit or cringe at the thought? Ugh, cringe.

Prefer writing a new book or marketing the old? New, new!

And finally, because I’m nosy—what’s your favorite . . .

Time to write? Late at night

Movie? Shakespeare in Love (American Beauty close runner up)

Book? Feed, M.T. Anderson, current reigning favorite

Author? Well, Stephen King, I admit

Song? Depends on what I’m writing at the time

Pair of shoes? My purple clod-hoppers

Guiltiest pleasure? Fresh chocolate chip cookies

Thanks so much for stopping by the shop, Joni, and best of luck with REALITY LEAK!  I love how you use the term 'clod-hoppers' like we do in my family.  Any chance you call knit hats 'doodle socks?'