Diana Rodriguez Wallach

Being a Mom and Not Going Insane = Hard Work

2012-01-27T11:16:00.003-05:00

So last week, I finished the latest rounds of edits on my never-ending White Whale. Sometimes, I swear that manuscript will be tossed into my casket as the ongoing, never-finished, constantly-tweaked, work-in-progress. But regardless, this latest bout of round-the-clock revisions is behind me, so I thought I’d celebrate by giving myself the week off from writing. I’d just read a few books, hang out with the baby, watch a movie, clean out my inbox.

It’s been seven days, and I’m going crazy.

Truly, I’m amazed by how different my mental state is when I don’t write. I’m not sure if I felt this before, but since becoming a mother, I find I need this release—like chocolate or Starbucks. Not just because I enjoy writing, but because I enjoy thinking. I enjoy having something substantial that’s just mine.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that my beautiful bundle of joy isn’t rewarding in and of herself. She’s adorable and a lot of fun to hang out with these days. But I find that, personally, when I spend my days entirely focused on her—just playing, doing laundry, cooking baby food, cleaning the house—dinnertime comes and I’m antsy, snippy, and a little bit grumpy. (DH is probably happy I’m admitting this publicly.)

That’s why I think people say that being a stay-at-home mother is the hardest job in the world. Not just because raising a child who grows up to be a kind and intelligent member of society isn’t difficult, but also because for a mom do all that and still remain personally fulfilled is hard work. Being a kickass mom and not feeling like you’re going insane at the end of the day is hard work.

In my opinion, in order to achieve this, I think women need to claim something for themselves—whether it’s writing, or work, or jogging, or cooking like Martha Stewart. A woman needs something that will make her happy first so she can make her children happy second.

I have writing. And I think I’m going to make sure I incorporate into every one of my days now. I’m sure Juliet will appreciate the happier mom she gets as a result. And I’m sure I’ll appreciate the day I can say my White Whale is officially complete (and published).

Sink Your Teeth Into FANGTASTIC by GCC Member Lucienne Diver

2012-01-20T17:55:00.002-05:00

If you miss Buffy (and who doesn’t?), then I have the perfect replacement to fill the void in your heart—the Vamped Series by GCC Member Lucienne Diver. Her latest installment, FANGASTIC, just came out this month through Flux, and it sounds amazing!

As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked:

What do you wear to face down a cadre of killer kids?

Gina Covello would rather be working on her manicure than missions for the Feds’ paranormal unit to which she’s been recruited. That changes when a group of killer kids takes out a family in the sunshine state and disappearances begin to plague the lifestylers who only play at the kind of existence our fanged fashionista leads. She and her crew are sent undercover into the vampire clubs…which turn out to be run by real vampires. While Gina’s BFF Marcy hangs with the steampunk-styled Burgess Brigade that spawned the killer kids, Gina herself is supposed to get in good with the fanged fiends behind the scenes, even to the point of playing double-agent, offering to hand over her powerful boyfriend Bobby. Her playacting threatens to become a bit too real when she discovers things about her spy handlers that make her wonder whether she’s truly on the right side of the battle between Feds and fangs.

Here’s what Lucienne had to say:

Q: In ADIOS TO ALL THE DRAMA, Mariana is a bridesmaid in her cousin's wedding. How many times have you been a bridesmaid and what's the worst dress you ever wore?

Lucienne: I’ve been a bridesmaid three times, and I have to say that none of the brides made me wear anything truly hideous! My sister had a hippy style outdoor wedding, and I’ve even worn that dress again, although it’s hand wash and I have an aversion to clothes that are more high maintenance than me. I’m pretty sure that couldn’t be said for my heroine in the Vamped series. I refer to her as the fashionista of the fanged. You don’t know high maintenance until you take away a glam girl’s reflection and compromise her ability to do her hair and make-up.

Q: I've used some of my personal background in each of my novels. Did you take any snippets from your real life when writing your latest book? Base any characters on real people?

Lucienne: My hero and heroine draw a little from people I know, but they’re not a direct correlation. For example, Bobby might get his killer blue eyes and shaggy dark hair from my husband, who’s also, come to think of it, a geek boy just like him. Hmm. Aside from that, part of Fangtastic is set in a club where the vampire lifestylers like to hang out, which turns out to be run by actual vamps. There’s a place something like this in Tampa (where Fangtastic is set), and one or two of the characters might be drawn, at least physically, from some of the colorful characters I saw there when I went to research.

Q: Let's talk publishing. What was harder for you, finding an agent or an editor? Why?

Lucienne: It wasn’t harder for me to find an agent. (She’s the one who in turn found me an editor.) However, I’ve had a few snarky comments from people who think I’ve gotten published because I have some sort of in. Oh, if only it worked that way! Publishing is a business, and no matter who you know, editors have to get second and third reads, run it past marketing, run profit and loss statements (P&Ls), and take it through an acquisitions meeting. The editorial director has to green light any offer made and the amount. I can’t just take a novel to my good friend down the street and expect him/her to buy the book because we’ve had a few laughs over drinks. If the acquisition doesn’t make financial sense, if the publisher doesn’t think it will sell in sufficient quantities to earn back their investment with interest, it doesn’t get bought.

Q: Where did the idea for you latest novel come from?

Lucienne: I’m a forensic show junkie. (Actually, when I first graduated college, I applied to graduate schools for forensic anthropology and to agencies and publishers for entry level positions. Publishing got back to me first.) I saw a segment years ago about the vampire killings in Florida. A teenager who thought (or at least said he thought) that he was a 500 year-old vampire recruited others and led them to murder the parents of an ex-girlfriend. Luckily, they were caught. This made an impression on me, and when it came time to set a vampire novel in the sunshine state (I like the irony), that story rose to the forefront of my mind. Of course, there’s a lot more going on in Fangtastic, as my heroine, Gina Covello, discovers some things about her spy club handlers that make her wonder if she’s on the right side in the war of Fed vs. fang.

Q: Where were you when you found out that your latest novel was going to be published? Tell us the story.

Lucienne: I almost always seem to be in an airport when offers are made for my work. If I’m remembering right, though, this time I was shopping in New York at a store called Mango Mango. One thing my heroine and I have in common, we love to shop!

Thank you, Lucienne! Now, everyone go out and buy books, lots and lots of books!

Go Goth with UNRAVELING ISOBEL By GCC Member Eileen Cook

2012-01-16T11:03:00.004-05:00

Why do all gothic mansions have to be haunted? Because they’re just creepy, that's why—especially if you’re forced to live there with some creepy step-father. That is why you must read GCC Member Eileen Cook’s new book, UNRAVELING ISOBEL, out this month through Simon Pulse.

As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked:

Isobel’s life is falling apart. Her mom just married some guy she met on the Internet only three months before, and is moving them to his sprawling, gothic mansion off the coast of nowhere. Goodbye, best friend. Goodbye, social life. Hello, icky new stepfather, crunchy granola town, and unbelievably good-looking, officially off-limits stepbrother.

But on her first night in her new home, Isobel starts to fear that it isn’t only her life that’s unraveling—her sanity might be giving way too. Because either Isobel is losing her mind, just like her artist father did before her, or she’s seeing ghosts. Either way, Isobel’s fast on her way to being the talk of the town for all the wrong
reasons.

Here’s what Eileen had to say:

Q: In ADIOS TO ALL THE DRAMA, Mariana is a bridesmaid in her cousin's wedding. How many times have you been a bridesmaid and what's the worst dress you ever wore?

Eileen: I happen to be one of those people that other people like to have in their wedding. I think they’re counting on me to provide the comic relief. I’ve been a bridesmaid around a dozen times. Most of the dresses were pretty decent (how’s that for lucky?) but one of them was a shamrock green color that made me look like I was getting over a raging case of malaria.

Q: I've used some of my personal background in each of my novels. Did you take any snippets from your real life when writing your latest book? Base any characters on real people?

Eileen: I don’t tend to base my characters on any real people, but I do steal little details here and there, the way someone dresses or a quirky habit. One of the best things about being a writer is the chance to people watch all the time and daydream and get to call it work. I have to go to the coffee shop and listen in on other conversations- it’s research!

Q: Let's talk publishing. What was harder for you, finding an agent or an editor? Why?

Eileen: The hardest thing for me was finding my agent. The biggest reason was that when I first started looking, I wasn’t actually ready. I thought I was ready. I was sure the book I had written was genius! It was only after every living soul who worked in publishing shot me down that I realized that maybe the book wasn’t as good as I thought. I went back to work and wrote another book, Unpredictable, and that became my first published book.

Q: Where did the idea for you latest novel come from?

Eileen: I work as a counselor and am interested in mental health issues. I think one of the most difficult things about having mental illnesses is that you can’t trust your own perception of reality. How do you cope when you aren’t sure what you see and hear is real? I decided I wanted to write about Isobel who struggles with trying to figure out if she’s seeing a ghost, if she’s going crazy, or if her step dad is trying to make everyone think she’s crazy so he can get rid of her.

Plus, I’ve always loved gothic novels. I love creepy old houses, buried family secrets and the potential for a ghost or two. Not to mention a cute boy in the picture.

Q: Where were you when you found out that your latest novel was going to be published? Tell us the story.

I’m very lucky in that I work with a great team at Simon Pulse. I had recently finished my book, The Education of Hailey Kendrick. I was having lunch with friends and my agent called to tell me that my editor was offering me a two-book deal for whatever I wanted to write next. I didn’t even have a story idea yet. I was thrilled. I convinced my friends to join me for a celebration!

Thank you, Eileen! Now, everyone go out and buy books, lots and lots of books!

Be Careful Who You TOUCH With GCC Member Laurie Faria Stolarz

2012-01-03T11:00:00.003-05:00

Seeing the future isn’t all it’s cracked up to be according to the latest installment in GCC Member Laurie Faria Stolarz’s YA series, DEADLY LITTLE VOICES, out this month through Disney/Hyperion Books for Children. I must say that the covers for this series are gorgeous! Love them, love them!

As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked:

Camelia Hammond thought her powers of psychometry gave her only the ability to sense the future through touch. But now she’s started to hear voices. Cruel voices. Berating her, telling her how ugly she is, that she has no talent, and that she'd be better off dead. Camelia is terrified for her mental stability, especially since her deranged aunt with a suicidal history, has just moved into the house. As if all of that weren't torturing enough, Camelia's ex-boyfriend, Ben, for whom she still harbors feelings and who has similar psychometric abilities, has started seeing someone else. Even her closest friends, Kimmie and Wes, are unsure how to handle her erratic behavior.

With the line between reality and dream consistently blurred, Camelia turns to pottery to get a grip on her emotions. She begins sculpting a figure skater, only to receive frightening premonitions that someone's in danger. But who is the intended victim? And how can Camelia help that person when she’s on the brink of losing her own sanity?

Here’s what Laurie had to say:

Q: In ADIOS TO ALL THE DRAMA, Mariana is a bridesmaid in her cousin's wedding. How many times have you been a bridesmaid and what's the worst dress you ever wore?

Laurie: I’ve been a bridesmaid twice. The first time I wore a dress that was too big, the fabric of which (grayish-purple and super thick) reminded me of couch material. The second time, the dress was this horrible bright red, skin-tight, low-cut glossy-taffeta sheath that I could barely sit in.

Q: I've used some of my personal background in each of my novels. Did you take any snippets from your real life when writing your latest book? Base any characters on real people?

Laurie: I don’t base anything directly on my own personal background. Though, I do steal character quirks from others (or sometimes myself). For example, in the Blue is for Nightmares series, Amber carries around a pair of chopsticks for whenever she’s eating out. I once knew someone who did that. In the Touch series, Camelia's mom is a vegan- raw-foods health nut and a touch of that comes from me. I'm nowhere near as crazed as Camelia's mom, but I am vegan 98% of the time.

Q: Let's talk publishing. What was harder for you, finding an agent or an editor? Why?

Laurie: Finding an editor, for sure. I think it’s hard to find an agent when you haven’t been published before. So, I found an editor on my own. Once I had a couple deals behind me, it was much easier to find an agent.

Q: Where did the idea for you latest novel come from?

Laurie: I wanted to write a story where the main character has to struggle with the idea of falling in love with someone who could potentially be dangerous. I tinkered with this concept in the first three books of my Blue is for Nightmares Series [(Blue is for Nightmares (Llewellyn 2003), White is for Magic(Llewellyn 2004), and Silver is for Secrets (Llewellyn 2005), as well as in Bleed (Hyperion 2006)]. InBleed, in particular, there’s a young male character who was convicted for the murder of his girlfriend. His next relationship consists of pen pal letters he exchanges with a young girl while he’s in prison. Without giving too much away, the relationship is briefly pursued once he is released, but I wanted to bring this concept to another level.

Additionally, I wanted to continue experimenting with the supernatural (which I also use in my Blue is for Nightmares Series as well as in Project 17), showing how we all have our own inner senses and intuition, and how with work we can tap into those senses and make them stronger. I started researching different types of supernatural powers and discovered the power of psychometry (the ability to sense things through touch). The concept fascinated me, and so I wanted to bring it out in a character, showing how sometimes even the most extraordinary powers can also be a curse.

Lastly, I wanted to apply these concepts to be part of a series. I love the idea of growing main character over the course of several books.

Thank you, Laurie! Now, everyone go out and buy books, lots and lots of books!

Screw the Scented Candle: My Holiday Book List

2011-12-07T13:46:00.004-05:00

So it’s that time of year again when the coupons to Yankee Candle start pouring in and it suddenly seems like a good idea to buy your boss/friend/neighbor a giant glass jug that smells like cinnamon. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. (I’m talking to you, mom.) But in case you’re looking for alternatives, here’s a list of books I’ve read in the past year that I think are gift worthy.

FOR THE NEWBIES
By this, of course, I mean newborns. I’ve got a seven-month-old, so expect Santa to be loading up her bookshelves. Personally, I prefer large format books with bright awesome pictures and/or rhyming patterns. So here goes:
1. Puff, the Magic Dragon- illustrations by Eric Puybaret. I recently discovered Eric Puybaret and I LOVE LOVE LOVE his artwork. Hence my next pick…
2. The Night Before Christmas - also illustrated by Eric Puybaret. Sooooo pretty.
3. Llama Llama Red Pajama- Anna Dewdney. At this point, I can recite this book from memory. And whenever my baby cries, if I say, “Little llama don’t you know, mamma llama loves you so…” she stops fussing. Can't beat that.
4. Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale- Mo Willems. This is the answer to Llama Llama, which is all about the mamma. Knuffle gives it up to daddy. Mo Willems is also a DEAR BULLY contributor, very cool.

FOR TEENS
1. Hunger Games- Suzanne Collins. If you know anyone who hasn’t read this yet, buy it. Once the movie comes out in March, it’ll be the next Harry Potter and you can say you introduced them to it.
2. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children- Ransom Riggs. Just to warn you, there’s time travel in this. I didn’t realize that when I started the book, and it sort of felt like aliens landed in Chapter 6. But putting that aside, teens (particularly boys) will love this. And how awesome is the name “Ransom Riggs?”
3. I am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President- Josh Lieb. Very funny book from a writer who brings you the Daily Show. Great for boys, but girls will definitely laugh too.

FOR WOMEN
1. Firefly Lane- Kristin Hannah. For the sappy ladies among us. I read this while I was pregnant and probably shed a few more tears than was necessary, but in a good way.
2. Water for Elephants- Sara Gruen. I know I’m late to the party, but this was hands-down my favorite book of the year. I also read it to my baby while she was teeny tiny and couldn’t understand anything, so it holds a special place in my heart.
3. The Help- Kathryn Stockett. I’m recommending both the book and the movie here, because they’re both amazing. Rarely does a movie do a book like this justice, but this one really did.

FOR MEN
I’ve got nothing here. My husband doesn’t read for pleasure (I know, and he married an author) and my father reads novels in Spanish, so if anyone wants to recommend something, I’m open to suggestions.

Merry Christmahanakwanzika, everyone! And a happy New Year with bright new beginnings.

Behind the Magic Curtain of the Editorial Room

2011-11-16T10:56:00.002-05:00

How does a book get sold? I wish I knew, and I think most authors would agree. The acquisitions department at a publishing house is like a magical room draped with velvet curtains.

You write a book. You get an agent. The agent sends the books to editors.

Then. You. Wait.

Everything is communicated via email. No one is picking up the phone to discuss concerns or questions about a project. No one dares to speak to the author directly. If editors are the magic wizards behind the curtain, authors are the umpa lumpas.

Let me tell you, it’s tortuous being cut out. Imagine applying for a job and all you’re permitted to do is send your resume. You get no interview. The entire hiring process is decided by that piece of paper. You don’t get to defend yourself or your project. You don’t get to show how willing you are to work on revisions. You don’t get prove how marketable you can be.

You just wait.

Communication is one-way, very slow, and very final.

And yes, I’m on submission if you haven’t guessed. Tick tock, tick tock. You would think having a baby would have improved my level of patience, but I’m starting to think that is a virtue that can not be acquired later in life. Good luck, Juliet! I hope my impatience is not hereditary (though she does get mad if her milk doesn't come fast enough).

Cage Match: Working Moms –Vs- Stay At Homes

2011-10-26T10:07:00.003-04:00

I noticed something interesting recently. I live in a let’s-be-friends urban community that throws barbeques on Labor Day and has hayrides for Halloween. Everyone comes out, brings the kids, eats burgers, and meets the neighbors. Yet I find that when you’re toting a baby and go up to another mom toting a baby, inevitably one of the first questions asked is, “Do you work?” And paradoxically, both sides cringe in response.

It’s like the stay-at-home moms are afraid of being judged for not working outside the home and delaying their careers, while simultaneously the working moms brace themselves to defend their choice to earn some money and provide for the little ones. No one wins, yet you still see fear and judgment in everyone’s eyes.

Maybe I notice this more because I work from home. I straddle the line. So when I give my answer, I see the stay-at-home moms sigh with relief that I’m home all day and I see the working moms relax knowing I spend time chained to a computer too.

You know what the men do while we’re having this conversation? Drink beer. They discuss who has the longest commute and “do you know this guy who works at a company sort of connected to your company?”

Why do women do this to themselves? Why do we feel guilty if we go back to work, earn money, and leave our kids in the care professionals who teach them the ABCs and Spanish numerals? Why do we feel guilty if we stay home, record every milestone, make organic baby food, and read books to them on a blanket in the park?

Motherhood 101: Kids = Guilt. No matter what you do.

GCC Member Kristina Springer Brings Spice to the Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-17T13:43:00.003-04:00

As someone who just spent the weekend enjoying autumn in NY, I gotta say, who doesn’t love a good novel about changing leaf colors and rustic pumpkin patches? If either of these things makes you want to curl up with a steaming pumpkin spice latte, then check out GCC Member Kristina Springer’s new novel, JUST YOUR AVERAGE PRINCESS out this week through FSG. Isn’t the cover adorable?

As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked:

Jamie Edwards has loved everything about growing up on a pumpkin patch, but ever since her cousin Milan Woods arrived, things have really stunk. Jamie can’t imagine it was easy for Milan to leave her life back in Los Angeles and move to Average, Illinois, population one thousand. But it’s kind of hard to feel sorry for her since (a) Milan’s drop-dead gorgeous; (b) she’s the daughter of two of Hollywood’s hottest film stars; (c) she’s captured the attention of everyone in town, including Danny, Jamie’s crush since forever; and (d) she’s about to steal the title of Pumpkin Princess right out from underneath Jamie!

Here’s what Kristina had to say:

Q: In AMIGAS AND SCHOOL SCANDALS, Mariana takes a road trip to Cornell. What’s your funniest road trip story?

Kristina: Well, it wasn’t funny, ha ha, but it was my funnest trip anyway—when I was 18 two girlfriends and I drove to Michigan for the weekend and made many pit stops along the way to pose with any and everything (plastic cows, Paul Bunyan etc.) and dance in the middle of streets.

Q: I often talk about how I didn’t always “know” I wanted to be a writer. Did you? Or did you have other plans when you were little?

Kristina: Not at all. I didn’t figure it out until my late twenties. When I was little I wanted to be a rock star. In college I wanted to be a nurse and then switched to English Education with the intent to teach high school English.

Q: Throughout the AMOR series, Mariana and her friends celebrate their Sweet 16s (and 15s). What did you do for your Sweet 16 or Quinceañera?

Kristina: I had a big slumber party. My mom let me invite like a dozen girls over. It was a lot of fun.

Q: I wrote the AMOR series organically, no outlines. My new manuscripts, I’ve outlined extensively. How about you? Are you an outliner?

Kristina: Same here. My first book was organic and then after that I outlined and wrote synopsis to show my editor before diving into the writing.

Q: Where were you when you found out that your book was going to be published? Tell us the story.

Kristina: It’s my third book so not too big of a story. ☺ I was checking e-mail and I got a note from my agent that my editor was buying the new book.

Thank you, Kristina! Now, everyone go out and buy books, lots and lots of books!

You Can’t Worry That Your Parents Might Read This

2011-10-04T12:47:00.009-04:00

Did you ever wonder what the parents of erotic romance authors think? Do they read their child’s graphic bondage scenes or do they politely chose not to purchase their sultry books? How about the parents of horror writers? Do they wonder how they raised a child who could so graphically kill a character in their novel?

Well, I had a situation similar to this—okay, not that similar. I write YA, not sex scenes. But still, I recently published an essay in the anthology DEAR BULLY about my experience in middle school.

My mom read the essay. It was the first time she heard of me ever being bullied.

One of my friends recently described me as a “private person,” and I guess that’s one way of putting it. I don’t know exactly how I became that way, but apparently even at the age of 12, I could be tortured by my classmates and keep it to myself. I never told my parents. I never told my sister. I never told the school administrators.

And I have to say I was little nervous when this essay came out, because I knew my family was going to read it. And I knew there were going to be questions. And I did pause a few times and think, “do I really want to put this in?”

But you can’t write an essay, or a book, or a scene, solely for your parents. Otherwise, all our novels would read like after-school specials.

The best writing is the most honest writing. So if you have to break the news to your family that your so-called friends chased you down the hallways screaming obscenities in sixth grade, why not do it in a published book thousands will read?

In other news, I must give a little shout out to BU here, because when DEAR BULLY published, I submitted a “class note” to my alumni magazine. (Yes, I read my alumni magazine.) And yesterday, I got a letter from the dean of COM (College of Communication) congratulating me on the essay with a handwritten note at the end saying, “This publication can make a positive change in many young lives. –Tom.”

You know, because the dean and I are on a first-name basis. Seriously, though, how nice is that? I went to school with 16,000 undergrads and the dean took the time to acknowledge my little essay. Gotta love it.

GCC Member Jeri Smith-Ready Discusses Her “Smart Chick” Short Story

2011-09-28T18:03:00.004-04:00

YA writers are smart chicks. We all knew that, but now a group have gotten together to create an anthology to build upon the “Smart Chicks Kick It” tour. GCC Member Jeri Smith-Ready has one of the more notable short stories in this paranormal anthology, titled ENTHRALLED: PARANORMAL DIVERSION, out this week through HarperCollins.

As always, here’s a little bit about the book to get you hooked:

ENTHRALLED: PARANORMAL DIVERSION is a collection of original paranormal YA short stories edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong. It grew out of the 2010 Smart Chicks Kick It Tour, a multi-author, multicity, author-organized tour of the US and Canada. Now, these 16 authors hope to bring a little taste of the Smart Chicks experience to readers everywhere.

Jeri Smith-Ready, a member of the tour, contributed the short story, “BRIDGE.” “Bridge” is a story, told in free verse, of how two brothers, with the help of a stranger, forge the chasm between them to find a lasting peace.

In the story, exists the world of the SHADE novels, where everyone seventeen and under can see and hear ghosts, but no one else can. So when Logan Keeley dies and his eighteen-year-old brother Mickey blames himself, they can’t ease each other’s pain or reconcile their rage. Over the course of SHADE and SHIFT, Mickey sinks into a near-suicidal depression over Logan’s death.

Here’s what Jeri had to say:

Q: I often talk about how I didn’t always “know” I wanted to be a writer. Did you? Or did you have other plans when you were little?

Jeri: No, thank goodness! It was hard enough to wait five years from the time I started writing seriously until I was published. I can’t imagine waiting and wanting something so bad my entire life. When I was little, I wanted to be a veterinarian.

Q: What did you do for your Sweet 16 or Quinceañera?

Jeri: Oh, I…really shouldn’t say how I spent my sixteenth birthday. That’s one for the vaults.

Q: I wrote the AMOR series organically, no outlines. My new manuscripts, I’ve outlined extensively. How about you? Are you an outliner?

Jeri: Each book is different, but I usually have a rough outline/synopsis before I start. Then I never look at the outline while I write the first draft. It’s when I rewrite that I get super analytical, using spreadsheets and index cards and programs like Scrivener. But first drafts are usually organic, especially if it’s the first book in the series.

Q: Where were you when you found out that ENTHRALLED was going to be published? Tell us the story.

Jeri: I don’t remember where I was when I found out there was going to be an anthology of authors on the Smart Chicks Tour, but I remember I was in my office when I got the email from Melissa Marr asking me to take part in the tour. I think they could hear me scream clear across the Mason-Dixon line. After I (calmly and professionally) accepted, I emailed my agent, who wrote back a very happy sentence in all caps, a sentence that cannot be printed on a family-friendly blog.

Thank you, Jeri! Now, everyone go out and buy books, lots and lots of books!

GCC Member Megan Kelley Hall Talks About DEAR BULLY

2011-09-19T09:36:00.003-04:00

So, if you’ve found your way to this blog, by now you know that I have an essay in the amazing anthology put together by GCC Members Carrie Jones and Megan Kelley Hall. Corralling 70 authors to put together a book of this nature is no easy task, and Megan Kelley Hall tells us exactly what inspired her to edit DEAR BULLY out this month through Harper Teen.

As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked:
You are not alone.

Discover how Lauren Kate transformed the feeling of that one mean girl getting under her skin into her first novel, how Lauren Oliver learned to celebrate ambiguity in her classmates and in herself, and how R.L. Stine turned being the “funny guy” into the best defense against the bullies in his class.

Today’s top authors for teens come together to share their stories about bullying—as silent observers on the sidelines of high school, as victims, and as perpetrators—in a collection at turns moving and self-effacing, but always deeply personal.

Here’s what Megan had to say:

Q: What inspired you and Carrie to put together DEAR BULLY?

Megan: We formed the group YAAAB (Young Adult Authors Against Bullying) in April 2010 when we both coincidentally blogged about the Phoebe Prince case on the same day. I reached out to Carrie expressing my frustration with this case and the fact that bullying seemed to be growing at a ridiculously fast rate. As a Massachusetts resident and having already spoken about bullying in schools, I was horrified after hearing about the bullying that took place in the Phoebe Prince case. While writing SISTERS OF MISERY and THE LOST SISTER, I had to dig deep to make “mean girls as evil as I possibly could.”

So when I heard about all the bullying and bullycide stories in the news, I felt like the bullies had jumped off the pages of my book and into real life. I was also disheartened by the numerous times I’d done book signings and would say to readers, “I hope you never meet girls as mean as the ones in my book.” Shockingly, they almost always said, “We already have.” Carrie Jones was also moved to do something, as she was the target of bullying as a young child due to a speech impediment. Together, we felt that we owed it to teen readers to discourage bullying -- to make it "uncool."

I started by creating a Facebook page that kicked off an entire "movement" to end bullying. This was the day that Carrie and I, along with other authors decided to use our platform as Young Adult authors to actually facilitate change and to be a voice for those kids who cannot speak out or are too afraid to be heard.

Q: How did you go about putting together an anthology with 70 authors? That’s a lot of essays…

Megan: Right away, a large number of authors jumped on board with this cause -- wanting to be involved in any way possible. The Facebook group grew from 5 to 1500 members in one weekend and is now closing in on nearly 5,000 members. Carrie and I were thrilled when HarperTeen offered to put all of the stories into an anthology. The thought of having 70 authors – well-known, highly successful writers – sharing their personal bullying stories with their fans was something beyond what they had ever hoped for.

Q: What are most of the essays about?

Megan: The stories come from all angles: from the point of view of the victim, the mother, the friend, the sibling, the classmate – even a few from the actual bully. Some of the stories are light-hearted, while others are raw and emotional. All of them drive home the point that bullying is something that almost everyone has experienced. And while that is a sad fact, they want to prove that it's not a rite of passage. It doesn't make you stronger, wiser, or better. But it is something that can be overcome, something that can be changed, something that is relatable, and something that one should never be ashamed of.

Through these stories, the authors want to show that they understand what teens are going through today. It is important to encourage bystanders to speak up and make bullying unacceptable. Parents and adults must get involved. Bullying is something that people no longer have to endure—at least, not by themselves.

Though quite a lofty mission, the goal of DEAR BULLY is to help just one person get through a difficult time, and hopefully make bullying a thing of the past.

Q: How can readers get involved in the DEAR BULLY movement?

Megan: Join the Facebook page, visit the website, or follow DEAR BULLY on Twitter.

Thank you, Megan! DEAR BULLY has been getting a lot of press, you can read more about it in Better Homes & Gardens, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Glamour Magazine, Seventeen.com and more. Now, everyone go out and buy books, lots and lots of books!

Dear Bully: Why Do You Pick On Authors?

2011-09-09T14:07:00.002-04:00

So I’m about halfway through DEAR BULLY (the awesome anthology I contributed an essay to and that went on sale last week), and I commented to the DH about how many other authors have stories similar to my own. He says, “So you’re saying kids like to pick on future authors?” Huh.

I’m not saying that it’s only future authors who get picked on, but it is an interesting theory. Whether we were cheerleaders, tuba players, funny guys, or music aficionados in our younger years, we all were bullied. And we all had it within us to one day write a novel. I wonder if despite our varying upbringings, we all gave off a similar vibe.

For example, a good chuck of the essays (so far) note that the author was picked on for being “different.” Now, this means different things in different decades, but still it seems to be a common thread. I know I felt “different” attending high school in the ‘90s when everyone was into grudge and wearing flannel. Don’t get me wrong, I wore the Chuck Taylors and baggy jeans, but I knew it wasn’t me. I knew I felt differently about the fad and went with it anyway just to fit in.

But maybe it showed. Maybe classmates could sense I was “different.”

Another trend is authors noting that they performed well in school. Not that they were picked for their grades per say, but they did think it made them a target. I’m sure a lot of bullied kids can agree with that. I wonder if we surveyed the bullies, whether many of them would say they did well academically? (Somehow, I doubt it.)

It’s a shame we didn’t all know each other when we were younger, we could have all banded together. But I guess we did as adults. As one author, Sara Bennett Wealer, said, “the girl you make fun of? She’s the cool one at cocktail parties.”

Amen, to that.

DEAR BULLY: Hopes for My Daughter

2011-08-25T10:13:00.004-04:00

So as many of you know, I have an essay in the soon-to-be released anthology, Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories (available for pre-order now!). In it I discuss my bullying experience from the sixth grade.

As we gear up for the launch of this awesome book, edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones, I got to thinking about what it will be like to one day share these stories with my daughter—who’s currently 4 months old, and thankfully far from dealing with this. But still, I couldn’t help but say a silent prayer that she never, ever, experiences the taunts and friendship betrayals that I endured.

So in an effort to get on top of things (I’m nothing if not efficient), I’ve decided to create a list of things I wish I knew when I was in middle school.

Without further ado…

To Juliet, May You Learn From My Adolescent Mistakes:

1. The cool girl with the awesome hair who’s allowed to wear makeup before everyone else and who all your classmates worship is 9 times out of 10 not a nice person. Don’t waste your time trying to please her. Find a real friend instead—it will save you a lot of stomach cramps.

2. Likewise, the cool guy who’s great at sports and who snaps girls’ bras and calls them names that make everyone laugh, is 10 times out of 10 a loser. When you go to your 10-year high school reunion, he will be fat and bald.

3. Someone willing to chase you around, call you names, and berate you in public (or these days, online), has a fundamentally flawed character. They’re weak and pathetic. You can’t change them, but you can stop what’s happening. Tell someone.

4. Don’t let anyone talk you into doing something you know is wrong. Enough said.

5. Your best friend is not always a friend. She should not make you feel bad about yourself and she should not be willing to “drop you” just because a cooler model comes along. Find a friendship that’s real and don’t base it on popularity, it will save you a lot of tears in the long run.

Truly, I could go on like this forever, but the bottom line is almost every woman in America has been bullied at some point in her life. So know that we’ve all been through it, hopefully we’ve all gotten past it, but we’ve never forgotten it. Middle school is some of the hardest years of a girl’s life, so don’t let any adult belittle what you’re going through. It’s trench warfare out there. But it does get better. I promise.

On a side note, DEAR BULLY made it into the NY Times Book Review this weekend. Check it out!

The Search for Work-From-Home Mommyhood Status Continues

2011-08-16T10:04:00.003-04:00

In three months, I’ve become an expert on nap analysis. For example, I’ve found that the little one’s morning nap is her longest and soundest of the day, so I’m now trying to cram in everything from showering to blogging to writing into a single nap. It’s amazing how productive you can be in an hour and half if you have to be. Consequently, her 3pm nap leaves much to be desired.

Anyway, since deciding I’m going to work in between baby’s bouts of playmat and bouncy seat, I’ve actually become quite busy. One of my very good friends read my blog and quickly sent some consulting work my way. (If you any of you don’t know, in my former life I was rather awesome at Quark. I can design a brochure in no time flat.)

So last week, I hustled to make some very official looking collateral materials for a very big financial institution leading me to wonder—what does my friend do for a living, anyway? It sort of felt like that episode of FRIENDS where they’re playing a trivia game to determine who knows each other best, and they all get stumped on the question, “What is Chandler’s job?” That was me. (Love ya, Tara!)

On the mommy front, I went to a family wedding over the weekend and took the little one to the rehearsal dinner, meaning we got to use one of the millions of infant formal wear gowns I received at my shower. How cute is she?

Everyone ooohed and ahhhed. Then we got to attend the wedding babyless as my parents were in town. Oh yeah, I drank more than one glass of wine--wild woman.

Dusting the Cobwebs Off My Mommy Brain

2011-08-08T10:15:00.001-04:00

So the baby is napping right now, which means I probably have another half-hour to work on the computer uninterrupted. (Dear Sleeping Gods, thank you for sending me a baby that is borderline narcoleptic.) I’ve decided to use this napping block to write a blog. Next nap, I’m gonna work on the book. The evening nap, I’m going to work on consulting projects.

This is how I’ve decided to structure my day.

When I started this whole mommy thing, you know a whopping three months ago, I assumed that an hour was not enough time to accomplish anything work-related. So I used these naps to shower, eat lunch, drink coffee, do laundry, yadda yadda. And I basically waited for the baby to wake up so we could play again.

Now, I’ve decided I’ve been doing this all wrong. I can eat while she’s in a swing and not consider it neglect. I can fold laundry while she sits under a mobile. I can blow-dry my hair while she stares at a ceiling fan. Not cooing and playing and reading with her ever second her eyes are open does not make me a bad mother.

And by accepting this, I’ve now freed up my naptimes for actual brain activity. Sure, you might not be able to write a whole book in an hour, but you can edit one chapter. And that’s something.

Plus it keeps my brain from rotting. And what could would a mommy with a rotten brain be? Yucky, yucky.

Motherhood and Writing: The Wisdom of Uma Thurman

2011-08-04T09:24:00.004-04:00

So I saw this movie the other night and it was like watching my life on film, only my life five years from now—an almost an Ebenezer Scrooge moment where I was being shown what would become of me if I continued on the path I was on. The movie is called MOTHERHOOD and stars Uma Thurman. (It’s on cable right now if you want to DVR it.)

Basically, Uma plays a writer whose life has been taken over by motherhood and as such hasn’t had time to write in years. To say I could relate is an understatement. I’ve hardly had time to work lately, and not because of lack of desire. You just can’t concentrate much when you only have a one-hour naptime to work with. And even if you have someone else in the house to help—like my husband in the evenings—you still can’t accomplish much when you have to nurse a baby every couple of hours. So I found I was forgoing writing in order to do things like shower and eat breakfast.

But the more I don’t write, the more I miss it and the more I stop feeling like myself. Or like my old self. And then I watched Uma say this:

“It's just that every day from the second I wake up till the second I pass out cold, my day, like the day of almost every other mother I know, is made up of a series of concrete, specific actions. And they're actions that kind of wear away at passion, if you know what I mean. The actions are petty and small like... Like refilling coffee cups or folding underwear. But they accumulate in this really debilitating way that diminishes my ability to focus on almost anything else.”

My husband turned to me at this point in the movie and said, “This is depressing.”

Uh, yeah.

So I’ve decided I’m going to make a concerted effort to write again. I need it, it makes me happy, and I think in the end it’ll make me a better mother. Because a happy mom is a good mom, right?

Write Your Own LOVE STORY With GCC Member Jennifer Echols

2011-08-02T09:27:00.004-04:00

If you’re looking for a good LOVE STORY to curl up with before Labor Day, then you have to try GCC Member Jennifer Echols’ new novel, LOVE STORY, out this month through MTV Books.

As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked:

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions – it’s her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family’s racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin’s college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a local coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter… so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she’s sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He’s joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin’s heart with longing. Now she’s not just imagining what might have been. She’s writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter… except this story could come true.

Here’s what Jennifer had to say:

Q: In ADIOS TO ALL THE DRAMA, Mariana is a bridesmaid in her cousin's wedding. How many times have you been a bridesmaid and what's the worst dress you ever wore?

Jennifer: I have been a bridesmaid three times. Two of the dresses are tied for worst place: one was shiny teal with poofy shoulders and an asymmetrical hem, and the other was a bright purple suit. Predictably, my best dress was my own! The last time I was a bridesmaid, at a beautiful rooftop wedding in Manhattan in September, my friend asked everyone to wear a pretty dress in a fall color.

Q: I've used some of my personal background in each of my novels. Did you take any snippets from your real life when writing your latest book? Base any characters on real people?

Jennifer: The characters aren’t based on real people, but I definitely based Erin’s struggle to become an author and work in the publishing industry on my own struggle. Her frustrations are my own.

Q: Let's talk publishing. What was harder for you, finding an agent or an editor? Why?

Jennifer: Finding an agent was not easy, but I did it first at age 22. Since I wasn’t published until age 35, I’d say finding an editor was harder for me! However, back in the day, I was doing things the hard way, without the internet! Publishing a novel is still a long shot, and it takes a lot of hard work and commitment. But with the information available online, at least it’s easier nowadays to look up more accurate information about agents and editors, and get your manuscript to someone who will enjoy it.

Q: Where did the idea for you latest novel come from?

Jennifer: I have taken every creative writing class available to me in school, and I taught writing at three major state universities. It has always struck me how sensitive writers (especially unpublished writers) are about their stories, and how volatile these classes can become. I thought this would make a terrific, dramatic background for a romance novel.

Q: Where were you when you found out that your latest novel was going to be published? Tell us the story.

Jennifer: Because this was the second book on a contract with MTV Books, it wasn’t as dramatic as some of my other sales! I came up with the idea a long time ago, and it had been percolating. When the time came to propose a new novel to my editor, I discussed the idea with my critique partner and got really excited about it, because she loved it. (I wish everyone had critique partners as helpful and supportive as mine!) My editor liked the idea, too, but she thought it was too sweet, and she asked me to make it “a little less Saved by the Bell.” So I did.

Thank you, Jennifer! Now, everyone go out and buy books, lots and lots of books!

Losing Your Religion With GCC Member Melissa Walker’s New Book

2011-07-22T15:32:00.004-04:00

So you know those fanatical religious sects always profiled on 20/20? Ever wonder what it would be like to grow up in one? Well, GCC Member Melissa Walker did and you can read all about it in her new novel, SMALL TOWN SINNERS, out this month through Bloomsbury.

As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked:

Lacey Anne, daughter of the pastor and perennial good girl, is eligible for a lead role in the season’s Hell House production—a role she’s been coveting for years. But when Ty moves to town as casting begins, a new perspective is added to Lacey Anne’s world and she starts to see her tight-knit, Evangelical community in a different light. With the help of her two best friends Starla Joy and Dean, and her potential first love Ty, Lacey Anne begins exploring her own thoughts and feelings about her religion, her community, and her place within both. While this novel deals with provocative issues like religion, teen pregnancy and underage drinking, it is not an “issue” book; the topics are masterfully interwoven into this story of friendship and family.

Here’s what Melissa had to say:

Q: In AMIGAS AND SCHOOL SCANDALS, Mariana takes a road trip to Cornell. What’s your funniest road trip story?

Melissa: I drove cross-country with my friend Ruthie, and we stopped in Memphis to go to Graceland. I figured we'd tour it for two hours and then move on, but we got OBSESSED and stayed the whole day, throwing off the rest of our NC to Cali schedule. But: Worth it! That place is FASCINATING!

Q: I often talk about how I didn’t always “know” I wanted to be a writer. Did you? Or did you have other plans when you were little?

Melissa: I think I always knew I wanted to write, I just wasn't sure that "writer" was a real career path. Good thing I had super encouraging parents -- they never told me that writing wasn't a "real job." Phew!

Q: Throughout the AMOR series, Mariana and her friends celebrate their Sweet 16s (and 15s). What did you do for your Sweet 16 or Quinceañera?

Melissa: I had a party at my house when I turned 16, but I remember being like, "What should we do?" Too young to drink, too old for party games. I think it was pretty boring.

Q: I wrote the AMOR series organically, no outlines. My new manuscripts, I’ve outlined extensively. How about you? Are you an outliner?

Melissa: I do outline, chapter by chapter. Just a sentence for each one but it really helps me to see where I'm going!

Q: Where were you when you found out that your novel was going to be published? Tell us the story.

Melissa: I was at home eating reheated Chinese food when my agent called to talk offers! I love that phone call -- it's so full of excitement and possibility! I don't let Chinese food sit for much, but I put the bowl down and listened hard on that call.

Thank you, Melissa! And if you’d like to know even more about Melissa’s new book, check out this awesome article from the New York Times (Wow!). Now, everyone go out and buy books, lots and lots of books!

Meet a Forgotten Angel With GCC Member Suzanne Young

2011-06-30T20:55:00.002-04:00

Who doesn’t love a rogue angel tempting fate? Because that’s exactly what you get in GCC Member Suzanne Young’s new novel, A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL out this month through Balzer&Bray/HarperCollins.

As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked:

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte’s destiny is to be Forgotten…

Charlotte's best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she's cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what's really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become—her mark on this earth, her very existence—is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny—no matter how dark the consequences?

Here’s what Suzanne had to say:

Q: In AMIGAS AND SCHOOL SCANDALS, Mariana takes a road trip to Cornell. What’s your funniest road trip story?

Suzanne: Oh, gosh. Most of my college years were spent on road trips. How can I pick one?? Hm, maybe the time we took a trip up to Geneseo College and attended a party, only to have my car nearly explode on the way back to the dorms. It was actually kind of hilarious.

Q: I wrote the AMOR series organically, no outlines. My new manuscripts, I’ve outlined extensively. How about you? Are you an outliner?

Suzanne: It really depends on the story. Lately my stories have become more complicated, so I’ve had to jot down a sequence of events—not a real outline. Especially since I write them on the backs of restaurant napkins.

Q: Where were you when you found out that Endless Summer was going to be published? Tell us the story.

Suzanne: I was parking in my garage when my agent called me. When he first told me, my response was, “Seriously?” As if my agent has time to prank call me at 8am. I sat and cried in my car for a little while after, but it was all celebration that rest of the week.

Thank you, Suzanne! Now, everyone go out and buy books, lots and lots of books!

Let yourself Be Brainwashed By GCC Member Elana Johnson

2011-06-26T09:36:00.002-04:00

To think for yourself or not think for yourself, that is the question in GCC Member Elana Johnson’s new novel, POSSESSION out this month through Simon Pulse. Because really, who needs to pick their own husband anyway?

As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked:

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don’t walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn…and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi’s future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they’re set on convincing Vi to become one of them….starting by brainwashed Zenn. Vi can’t leave Zenn in the Thinkers’ hands, but she’s wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous: everything Zenn’s not. Vi can’t quite trust Jag and can’t quite resist him, but she also can’t give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

Here’s what Elana had to say:

Q: In AMIGAS AND SCHOOL SCANDALS, Mariana takes a road trip to Cornell. What’s your funniest road trip story?

Elana: Well, I don’t know about funny ha-ha, but we took a road trip one Christmas from Utah—which gets a lot of snow in December—to Arizona, that doesn’t. Our car started making a funny sound, and it turned out that we had to replace all our tires in Kingston, Arizona.

Not fun. But we did it. About six weeks later, while I drove to school in 8 inches of snow, I slid right off the road. Turns out that Kingston doesn’t sell snow tires, so I had to replace them again!

So not funny ha-ha, but funny nonetheless.

Q: I often talk about how I didn’t always “know” I wanted to be a writer. Did you? Or did you have other plans when you were little?

Elana: Absolutely not! I actually took the AP English test as a junior in high school so I could skip English as a senior. I majored in Chemistry Education. I switched to Elementary Education with a Math minor, and that’s actually what I earned. So no creative stuff in sight.

I wanted to be a teacher when I was a child—and I am!

Q: Throughout the AMOR series, Mariana and her friends celebrate their Sweet 16s (and 15s). What did you do for your Sweet 16 or Quinceañera?

Elana: Nothing. We didn’t really celebrate things like this. Lame, I know.

Q: I wrote the AMOR series organically, no outlines. My new manuscripts, I’ve outlined extensively. How about you? Are you an outliner?

Elana: I’m a complete discovery writer. I don’t like to outline; it steals all the fun from writing. There’s nothing better than drafting with nothing but a wing and a prayer.

Q: Where were you when you found out that Endless Summer was going to be published? Tell us the story.

Elana: I was at home, and I got the email and just about died. Ten minutes later, my agent called. It was a bit premature; we just had interest, but it was serious interest and we had a date the editor was taking the MS to acquisitions. It was our first response, and it was an almost-yes!

I was thrilled when it became a real yes—and I hadn’t been rejected by any other editors yet! (Of course, I’d been rejected by hundreds of literary agents, so I’ve been told no plenty of times.)

With the real yes phone call, I was on the phone when my husband got home from work. So I scrawled on a post-it note “Simon Pulse bought my book!” and held it up for him to see. He whisper-screamed. It was awesome.

Thank you, Elana! Now, everyone go out and buy books, lots and lots of books!

Evil Fairies and More With GCC Member Amanda Ashby’s New Book

2011-06-16T11:40:00.003-04:00

Forget Tinkerbelle, the fairies in GCC Member Amanda Ashby’s new novel are evil and need to be slain. To make it worse, they’re sarcastic hipsters. Now tell me that isn’t a reason to read FAIRY BAD DAY out this month through Puffin/Speak.

As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked:

It’s going to be a fairy bad day.

First, my rightful designation of dragon slayer is STOLEN right out from under me by Curtis Green. Sure, he’s really cute, but that doesn’t give him an excuse.

On top of that, I am assigned to slay fairies. I know what you’re thinking—how hard could it be, right? Wrong! These menacing beasts with their tiny hipster clothes and mocking sarcasm love taunting me. And they won’t STOP!

But the thing that tops my list of stuff to ruin my day? That would be the GIANT KILLER FAIRY that I have to hunt down and slay because I am the only one who can see it. There is someone who can help me. Unfortunately…it’s Curtis.

Here’s what Amanda had to say:

Q: In AMIGAS AND SCHOOL SCANDALS, Mariana takes a road trip to Cornell. What’s your funniest road trip story?

Amanda: I met my husband in England and we were over in France working at a camping ground in Brittany, but we decided to hitchhike to Paris (kids, don’t try this at home). Anyway, we were totally standing in the wrong part of the freeway and were just thinking that we were idiots because even if someone had wanted to pick us up, there was no way they could pull over because they would have to cross a merging lane. The minute we had that thought this huge semi-trailer comes tearing toward us like something out of Mad Max and just cuts all the traffic off to stop and pick us up. The guy even looked like some crazy French cowboy, but he ended up being really nice and he just wanted passengers so that he could stay awake (we really wanted him to stay awake as well so we talked to him a lot even though he didn’t speak English and while my husband had school-yard French the only thing I could do was buy beer!!). The rest of the week in Paris was amazing as well, but one of my favorite parts was getting that lift!

Q: I often talk about how I didn’t always “know” I wanted to be a writer. Did you? Or did you have other plans when you were little?

Amanda: Snap! I didn’t know either! I knew that I loved reading books and that I was really good at creative writing, but being the slow learner that I am, I never managed to link the dots until I was in my mid-twenties. Weird thing is that I was recently talking to a friend from college and telling her this and she was really surprised, since she always seemed to know this was what I was going to do! As for what I was going to do, I really didn’t have a clue. I studied journalism but I knew pretty quickly that I wouldn’t be doing that because it was like the antithesis of everything I loved about writing. Still, it ended up being a great training ground!

Q: Throughout the AMOR series, Mariana and her friends celebrate their Sweet 16s (and 15s). What did you do for your Sweet 16 or Quinceañera?

Amanda: Nothing special. In Australia the big thing we all celebrated was turning 21, which is pretty weird when you think about it, since our legal drinking age is 18 so there is nothing ‘special’ that happens at 21 but for some reason everyone had the most parties! For mine we hired out a quirky vegetarian restaurant and all my friends and family were there—though I nearly didn’t make it after having spent the afternoon blowing up balloon. Why are they so hard to do?

Q: I wrote the AMOR series organically, no outlines. My new manuscripts, I’ve outlined extensively. How about you? Are you an outliner?

Amanda: I’m not a natural outliner but I’ve been trying to get better at it because when I fly by the seat of my pants, I do a LOT of rewriting and I get quite frustrated at how hard it is to find the ‘real’ story. So basically I’m looking for a shortcut!!!!!

Q: Where were you when you found out that Endless Summer was going to be published? Tell us the story.

Amanda: Fairy Bad Day is the second book in a contract so instead of being exciting it was sort of nerve racking because while I knew that my publisher like the first book I really didn’t have any idea if they would want this one until I got my acceptance payment on the revisions! In fact all of my call stories are very unexciting because I don’t live in the US so due to the time difference, my agent and I do nearly everything by email!

Thank you, Amanda! Now, everyone go out and buy books, lots and lots of books!

You’ll Question Every Decision You’ve Made With GCC Member Jessica Brody’s New Book

2011-06-09T12:10:00.002-04:00

So can you remember that really horrible decision you made in high school? Yeah, so can Brooklyn Pierce, the main character in GCC Member Jessica Brody’s new novel, MY LIFE UNDECIDED out this month through FSG. But would you ever let the blogosphere decide your life for you? She did. And I can't wait to see what happens.

As always, here’s a little bit about the book to get you hooked:

PLEASE READ THIS! MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT!

Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic, but I’m sorry, I’m feeling a bit melodramatic at the moment.

Here’s the deal. My name is Brooklyn Pierce, I’m fifteen years old, and I am decisionally challenged. Seriously, I can’t remember the last good decision I made. I can remember plenty of crappy ones though. Including that party I threw when my parents were out of town that accidentally burned down a model home. Yeah, not my finest moment, for sure.

But see, that’s why I started a blog. To enlist readers to make my decisions for me. That’s right. I gave up. Threw in the towel. I let someone else be the one to decide which book I read for English. Or whether or not I accepted an invitation to join the debate team from that cute-in-a-dorky-sort-of-way guy who gave me the Heimlich Maneuver in the cafeteria. (Note to self: Chew the melon before swallowing it.) I even let them decide who I dated!

Well, it turns out there are some things in life you simply can’t choose or have chosen for you—like who you fall in love with. And now everything’s more screwed up than ever.

But don’t take my word for it, read the book and decide for yourself. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll scream in frustration. Or maybe that’s just me. After all, it’s my life.

Here’s what Jessica had to say:

Q: In AMIGAS AND SCHOOL SCANDALS, Mariana takes a road trip to Cornell. What’s your funniest road trip story?

Jessica: Well, I’m not sure how funny it is. At the time it was actually kind of scary. My mom and I were driving from Colorado to California and we ran out of gas in the middle of Utah...in the middle of the night. It was totally dark and there was no cell phone reception so we couldn’t call AAA. We had to wait for a trucker to pull over. He offered to drive to the next town, buy us some gas, and drive back with it. Thank goodness he did, otherwise, who knows how long we’d be stuck out there!

Q: I often talk about how I didn’t always “know” I wanted to be a writer. Did you? Or did you have other plans when you were little?

Jessica: The short answer is yes, I’ve always wanted to be a writer. Although it took me a long time to figure that out. In second grade I turned in a four page book report (the assignment was to write one paragraph) and the teacher made such a huge deal about it. I really couldn’t understand why. Writing just came naturally to me. At that moment I remember wanting to be a writer. But somewhere along the way I convinced myself that I needed to get a “serious” job…you know, one that comes with dental insurance. So I majored in Economics in college (very serious!) and went on to be a financial analyst for MGM Studios. It wasn’t until later that I realized “serious” wasn’t for me. So I quit to pick up where I left off at age seven.

Q: Throughout the AMOR series, Mariana and her friends celebrate their Sweet 16s (and 15s). What did you do for your Sweet 16 or Quinceañera?

Jessica: I drove. Seriously. I was so excited to finally get my license I think the first thing I did was hop in the car and speed off into the wind.

Q: I wrote the AMOR series organically, no outlines. My new manuscripts, I’ve outlined extensively. How about you? Are you an outliner?

Jessica: Outline! Outline! Outline! LOL. It’s true though. I never start writing until I have a concrete outline done. And I use a very special “tool” for my outlines. It’s called the Save the Cat Beat Sheet and it was invented by the amazing Blake Snyder, author of the Save the Cat screenwriting books. He’s a genius! The beat sheet was actually created for screenwriters but I found it works just as well for novels (or any story, actually!) and so now I never write another book without it!

Q: Where were you when you found out that Endless Summer was going to be published? Tell us the story.

Jessica: I was in my home office (which at the time was in the dining room of my tiny apartment) when I got the call from my agent. I remember it feeling very surreal. I couldn’t bring myself to believe it. To this day, four books later, it still doesn’t feel real. I wonder if it ever will!

Thank you, Jessica! And if you’d like a visual peek inside the world of Brooklyn, check out Jessica’s fantastic new book trailer. Now, everyone go out and buy books, lots and lots of books!

Welcome Baby Juliet!

2011-05-12T14:49:00.000-04:00

So a few weeks ago I warned that the blog might go silent when the little bundle I was carrying decided to make her appearance, and now I’m happy to report that Juliet Wallach is officially here!

She arrived healthy, happy, and just in time for Easter weighing in at 7lbs 11oz. She’s already tall at 21 inches long and she has a full head of hair.

Isn’t she cute? We call that her diva shot because it looks like her arms are dancing.

And to further prove she’s mine, here’s a picture of the two of us together. (Doesn’t it look like she’s thinking, “Oh, be still my heart…” in this photo?)

While I’d like to claim credit for the awesome pictures, they were actually taken by the hospital photographer. She was about a day and half here and I hadn’t showered since my delivery (which you should consider more impressive since I went natural to 9 cm through no desire of my own--anesthesiologist was busy with a c-section somewhere).

We’re both taking a well-deserved rest now as we get to know each other, but I should be back to regular blogging soon. Stay tuned!

Writing The Dreaded Synopsis

2011-04-22T10:34:00.002-04:00

So I was recently asked to write a synopsis for my WIP. My reaction? Oh, God, not that. Anything but that.

It’s hard enough for writers to condense the plots of their 300-plus page novels into two paragraphs when they’re querying, but at least then, you know your goal—get in, get out, whet their appetites. Leave them wanting more.

This is not the case with the synopsis.

You must now condense the entire plot of your book, including the ending, plus all the important characters and any interesting subplots (love triangles, backstories, feuds) into three-to-five pages. Then, you have to write this wonderful synopsis in the same “voice” as your novel and hope that it was done in such a compelling way that the editor/agent/whomever wants to pick up your 300-page novel and keep reading.

Fun, right?

Well, I got through it. So I thought I’d share a few tips I learned about writing a synopsis this time around:

1. Avoid the words, “And then.” For example, “Angie went to the mall. And then she met the guy of her dreams. And then they went to the movies. At the movies, they ran into her ex-boyfriend. And then a fight ensued.” You get the picture.

2. Stick with only the main characters. Don’t waste time mentioning the name of any character who will only be referenced once in your synopsis. It just gets confusing. So if your heroine kisses a random football player at a party, don’t mention that the football player’s name is BOB unless he ends up being central to the rest of the story.

3. Make sure to focus on character development. Fight the instinct to make the synopsis entirely about plot. You need to show how your character will change from the beginning to the end of the novel. Delve into her emotional conflicts. For example, “When Angie’s friends turn their backs on her, she’s sent reeling into depression. Refusing to leave her house for days, her thoughts grow increasingly dark.”

4. A few well-placed questions can help when summing up how the plot moves forward. I know that questions are often avoided in a query, but when writing the synopsis of my current WIP—which is a mystery—I found this device useful. For example, “Angie’s left wondering why her father refuses to discuss his childhood and why there isn’t a single family photo from his youth. Did he really grow up in Ohio? If so, why is he receiving a high school reunion announcement from Hawaii?”

Okay, I hope this helps! And I hope you don’t find yourself having to write a dreaded synopsis anytime soon. But if you do, try to fight the urge to scream at the email requesting it, “Just read the book! Then you’ll know what happens!” Trust me, that won’t get you anywhere.

POP CULTURE RANT: Soap Operas

That gentle sound of taps you hear playing in the background is the end of not only an era, but a genre. Last week, ABC announced it was cancelling ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE. This means come 2012, only 4 soaps will be left on the air. In 1970, there were nineteen. As a soap fan—a tradition passed down to me by my grandmother (as is the case with many soap fans)—I find this depressing. Not only were a lot of people put out of work—from actors to crew members—but it also shows the network’s lack of respect for fans. For years, I feel that the writers of soaps have switched focus from “love in the afternoon” to gun violence and baby killing. And while a good dramatic plot is fantastic once in awhile (BJ’s heart on GH), I personally don’t think it’s what the average soap fan is looking for at 2pm. But rather than listen to their wants, network execs cancelled the shows to replace them with cheaper reality programming and talk shows. Because we all need another VIEW, right? Let’s hope us remaining soap fans can band together to keep Y&R, GH, Days and B&B going strong long enough for the networks to reconsider killing the genre. Otherwise, what are my future grandkids gonna watch when I come over to babysit?

Coming Out of the Closet, I Mean Diaper Genie

2011-04-04T11:22:00.005-04:00

So there’s something I’ve been keeping under wraps for, oh say about nine months now. I just wasn’t ready to announce it to the blogosphere, but I’ve hit the point where there’s a part of my brain constantly thinking about it, so I have to say something or I’m going to explode (which I’m scheduled to do in about 3 weeks anyway). Yup, I’m preggers.

I’m officially due at the end of the month. This is my first. And it’s a girl.

So while I searched for a new agent, revised two books, and prepared for a new submission, I also had a little one kicking me and a nursery to decorate and clothes to wash in special detergent and bottles to sterilize and baby books to read.

I think I’ve taken nesting to a new level. Ever since we took that labor and delivery class at the hospital (yes, the one where they show that video), I’ve been on super pregnant mode. To quote my husband, “This sh!t just got real.”

We’ve done everything from put up bead board to paint the bathroom. Even the diapers are unpacked and the hospital bag is ready.

All the while, I’m trying to complete the edits to my WIP in time to send out a submission before anyone even thinks of contracting. It’s like a game of beat the clock, only the clock kicks you every time you think you’re onto a great revision idea. And it’s getting more uncomfortable to sit in my desk chair.

So if I suddenly disappear in a few weeks and you don’t hear from me, you know where I’ll be—knee deep in a Diaper Genie. But don’t worry I’ll post a picture of the little one, and I’m sure she’ll be decked out in pink.

POP CULTURE RANT: Grey’s Anatomy
You know what you shouldn’t watch when you’re nine months pregnant? A show where a pregnant lady goes through a windshield and they all sing about it. Then they deliver her 24-week-old baby while she’s in a coma. Yeah, that episode was a mistake. I’m still emotionally recovering. What was I thinking? I knew the minute Cali took off her seatbelt that something was going to go wrong, but I just couldn’t turn away. Glutton for punishment.