Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

Down and Dumped: A Heartbroken Dozen

2012-02-01T19:16:00.020-05:00

It's already February, and Valentine's Day is just around the corner. I was reminded of that today, when I read the February 2012 edition of "A Bulletin Dozen Booklist" from The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (bccb.lis.illinois.edu).

This bulletin recommends twelve novels (including Other Words for Love--YAY!) and is titled "Down and Dumped: A Heartbroken Dozen." Here's an excerpt:

"So it's almost Valentine's Day and you've just been dumped.
What's a hopeless romantic like you to do?

Find yourself a pint of ice cream, a comfy couch,

and curl up with these fellow heartbroken protagonists.

After all, misery loves company. . .a good book."

**You can read the entire bulletin here: http://tinyurl.com/6mkpeto

Paperback Sightings

2012-01-31T08:46:00.004-05:00

As my last post mentioned, the paperback edition of Other Words for Love was published on January 12, 2012. . . and one of the most fun things about the paperback release is seeing the book in stores throughout the USA!

Here it is at a Barnes & Noble in Enfield, Connecticut (photo by my friend Cory Casden):

Other Words For Love

2012-01-10T08:09:00.014-05:00

The paperback edition of Other Words For Love is being released TODAY!!

It’s available through Amazon.com (http://tinyurl.com/7tl4fk4);

Barnes & Noble (http://tinyurl.com/7ld9z7p);

and other book retailers.

My Latest Review for PopMatters: Boardwalk Empire - The Complete First Season's DVD Release

2012-01-09T08:00:00.003-05:00

Steve Buscemi leads a brilliant cast in a lavish saga set at the dawn of Prohibition. I absolutely LOVED this series! It will be released on DVD tomorrow.

My full review is here: http://tinyurl.com/85gohzc

A Special Holiday Message

2011-12-24T18:26:00.004-05:00

As we enjoy the holidays and 2011 draws to a close, I want to send a special “thank you” to all of the amazing readers and bloggers who supported Other Words for Love since its release in January, and who made my debut year a great one!

I’m so appreciative to EVERYONE, but I especially want to express my gratitude to the following bloggers, who are just lovely and professional and all-around incredible.

Kristi of The Story Siren (www.thestorysiren.com)

Sarah of YA Love Blog (www.yaloveblog.com)

Jen of I Read Banned Books (www.jenbigheart.com)

Nikki of Wicked Awesome Books (www.wickedawesomebooks.com)

Jessica of Jessica Lawlor – Cover to Cover (www.jessicalawlor.com)

Jessica of Jess Hearts Books (www.jessheartsbooks.blogspot.com)

Jessica of Confessions of a Bookaholic (www.totalbookaholic.com)

Megan of Write Meg (www.writemeg.com)

Jami of YA Addict (www.yaaddict.blogspot.com)

Sara of The Hiding Spot (www.thehidingspot.blogspot.com)

I hope that you and all of my wonderful readers have the happiest of holidays,

and I wish everyone the very best for 2012!

Ryan Gosling, Feminist

2011-12-18T18:32:00.008-05:00

I’m sure you’ve heard of Ryan Gosling, heartthrob actor extraordinaire, star of two of my favorite recent movies (Crazy Stupid Love and Ides of March.) But have you heard of feminist Ryan Gosling?

No? Well, let me explain. This a clever, creative, and witty idea (an offshoot of the “Hey, Girl” Ryan Gosling meme) from Danielle Henderson—a graduate student in a Gender and Women’s Studies program. She created the “Feminist Ryan Gosling” website as a form of flashcards to help her and her classmates study the theorists and keep their theories straight, which can be a challenging task.

Henderson states (full article here: tinyurl.com/6uzsb92) that “Feminists are apparently not supposed to have a sense of humor. I think people are really liking the fact that this site is intelligent while simultaneously silly, and obviously self-referential. A lot of my followers are women’s studies majors, or people who have taken women’s studies classes, and love seeing inside jokes presented in this way…There’s a lot of “snark” (hate that word), and a lot of intellectual examination of pop culture going on with most popular feminist sites, but not a lot of fun. I think I’m having fun with feminism, but not making fun of feminism. People recognize and respond to that crucial difference.”

I am one of the many who has responded to that difference, and I love that Feminist Ryan has exploded into various other internet memes which have him employed in publishing and appreciating crafts. Yeah, I buy all of it...Ryan exudes Renaissance Man, doesn't he? And he has the tough-but-smart-and-sensitive aura that makes Feminist Ryan so believable. (At least...we all want to believe it, don't we?)

“Feminist Ryan Gosling” is the meme I love most. Why? Because when I was working on my Master’s in English, I took a Literary Criticism & Theory class that focused on Gender Studies, and I’m therefore quite familiar with Simone de Beauvoir, Michel Foucalt, Jacques Derrida, and the other theorists whom Ryan so deeply and intensely ponders. The meme truly is a hilarious inside joke which has been shared with a vast audience that might not otherwise be familiar with feminist theory. So what are you waiting for? Check out Feminist Ryan right here: feministryangosling.tumblr.com

IndieBound List

2011-11-19T09:24:00.012-05:00

I really appreciate being included in an IndieBound (www.indiebound.org) list of "Most Promising Authors."

Other novels on the list include The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

and
Between by Jessica Warman.

The full list is here: http://tinyurl.com/7b5248r

My Latest Review for PopMatters: Wishful Drinking

2011-09-13T08:14:00.004-04:00

“If my life wasn’t funny, it would just be true…

and that is completely unacceptable.” ~Carrie Fisher

My latest review for PopMatters is Carrie Fisher’s one-woman show, Wishful Drinking, which is based on her 2008 memoir.

My full review is here: http://tinyurl.com/3moew66

Fisher honestly shares her experience living in a famous family during Hollywood’s heyday and gives her perspective of one of its biggest scandals:

Elizabeth Taylor, Eddie Fisher,
& Debbie Reynolds

“Fisher begins with an insider’s view of a major Hollywood scandal: her parents’ 1959 divorce, when her singer father (Eddie Fisher) abruptly dropped her actress mother (Debbie Reynolds) for the legendary Elizabeth Taylor. To enlighten those who might be unfamiliar with the magnitude of this event, Fisher rightly compares Eddie Fisher to Brad Pitt, Reynolds to Jennifer Aniston, and Taylor to Angelina Jolie. It was that big. To make things worse, Reynolds and Fisher had been pals with Taylor and her husband, movie producer Mike Todd. “

"Hollywood Inbreeding 101"

Wishful Drinking is clever, funny, and inspirational. I especially enjoyed Fisher’s hilarious lesson about “Hollywood Inbreeding 101.”

There is so much more to Wishful Drinking, including Fisher’s experiences with substance abuse, bipolar disorder, failed relationships, and the wisdom and strength she has found along the way. It’s definitely worth checking out!

(If you're interested in reading Fisher's memoir, you can buy it here: http://tinyurl.com/3frlg8h)

Empire State of Mind

2011-09-12T15:30:00.004-04:00

Empire State of Mind is one of my favorite songs, and it’s even better when kids are singing it to New York’s Bravest, the FDNY.

You can watch the video below. It's beautiful.

Books by the Banks - Cincinnati Book Festival: October 22, 2011

2011-09-12T08:15:00.000-04:00

Cincinnati

I have been invited to appear at Books by the Banks Cincinnati Book Festival at the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cinci on Saturday, October 22, 2011 (10am to 4pm).

Further information is available on the festival’s official site: booksbythebanks.org

Numerous authors will be in attendance, including Dennis Lehane (Mystic River); author/singer Judy Collins; and YA authors Julia Karr (XVI); Sara Bennett Wealer (Rival); and Kristina McBride (The Tension of Opposites).

A complete list of participating authors can be found here: booksbythebanks.org/authors2011.php

If you’re in the area, please make sure to stop by!

My Latest Review for PopMatters - The Good Wife: The Second Season

2011-09-07T08:32:00.005-04:00

My latest review for PopMatters is the second season of The Good Wife: http://tinyurl.com/3mrk29o

The third season will begin on September 25^th (CBS, 9pm).

If you need a recap of the last two seasons and a preview of the new one, below are the trailers for seasons 1, 2, and 3…

Other Words for Love: Latest Interview

2011-08-27T20:20:00.002-04:00

My latest Other Words for Love interview is with the book blog "Library Mosaic" and you can find it here:

http://bit.ly/rhQzq7

Many thanks to Carla for requesting the interview!

My Latest Review for PopMatters: THE CONSPIRATOR

2011-08-23T08:19:00.003-04:00

My latest review for PopMatters is the DVD release of The Conspirator. The full review is here: http://t.co/3equ1TY, and the trailer is below.

This is an excellent film that I highly recommend. As mentioned in my review, the DVD also contains an informative documentary that should be interest to everyone, especially educators.

Robin Wright as Mary Surratt and James McAvoy as her attorney, Frederick Aiken

Book Review: Cures for Heartbreak by Margo Rabb

2011-08-14T18:15:00.031-04:00

Earlier this year, I read a review (http://tinyurl.com/4zz42zw) of my debut novel, Other Words for Love, in which its style was likened to Cures for Heartbreak by Margo Rabb.

Now that I have read this novel, I am truly flattered by the comparison.

At the time, I wasn’t familiar with Cures for Heartbreak but I was immediately interested in reading it—not only because I was curious about the possible similarities to my book, but because I was intrigued by the title.

Pairing the word “cures” with “heartbreak” creates a stark dichotomy that evokes feelings of a sad longing, an agonizing search. It brings to mind an image of a hopeful, glossy magazine ad peddling a remedy for something that, perhaps, cannot be fixed. When I finally began reading Cures for Heartbreak just a few days ago, I realized that finding such a remedy is the dilemma faced by the novel's protagonist, Mia Pearlman.

It’s 1991, and Mia is a fifteen-year-old native resident of Queens, New York. Her mother, who went to the hospital for a stomachache twelve days earlier, has just died from previously-undiagnosed melanoma. If she dies, I’ll die, Mia writes in her journal before her mother is gone.

The story begins with Mia, her father, and her older sister, Alex, in a funeral parlor as they select a coffin. The impact of Mia’s mother’s unexpected death is palpable when Mia and Alex bicker, Mia seems surprised that she is still here when her mother isn’t, and the entire family interacts awkwardly, not sure how to function now that one of them has left.

In a state of shock, Mia wanders through the aisles of Bloomingdale’s, searching for a dress to wear to the funeral and feeling her mother’s presence beside her while she remembers the many shopping trips they enjoyed together in that store. All the while, Mia thinks: This could not be happening.

But it has happened, and Mia is forced to go on, wishing she had a guide to help her. I’m not sure what I’d been looking for, exactly, she thinks while inside a bookstore. Maybe something like What to Do When Your Mother Dies…and How to Cope When You’re Left Alone with Your Father and Sister, Who Drive you Nuts.

Mia’s father and sister are equally grief-stricken, and they deal with it in their own ways. Alex isolates herself, often reacting with anger and biting sarcasm; Dad tries to retain normalcy, but soon checks out of life for a while. He closes his business, spends endless hours reading the New York Times on his couch, and frequently recounts to Mia the most interesting parts of his day—what he ate for breakfast and lunch. “This morning I had myself a bagel with the no-fat cream cheese, lunch a Wendy’s grilled chicken,” he says, revealing his loneliness through mundane statements that ring so true.

Mia tries to pick up the pieces by herself. Initially, she goes on a stress-induced junk food binge; then, after her father suffers a health scare, she becomes obsessed with her diet and the fear that she will share her mother’s fate. She grasps at shreds of possible happiness by engaging in typical teenage activities: going to a party; skipping school with a friend; dabbling in romance. But as much as Mia tries to heal, she still feels lost. She constantly questions whether her mother would approve of her outfits and her love interests, and she dreads being alone with the many choices, decisions, and possibilities that stretch out before her.

And now I was wearing her maroon sweater, her print scarf. I couldn’t keep away from her closets, the mysterious treasure trove of my mother. Each time I creaked open the huge wooden doors my stomach still clenched, as it had when we’d picked out a dress to bury her in.

Eventually, Alex is awarded a scholarship to Cornell, Mia develops a relationship with a young man who has survived cancer, and—to Mia’s and Alex’s dismay—Dad remarries. As time goes on, the now sixteen-year-old Mia finds that the excruciating pain she’d felt after her mother’s death has turned into a chronic condition—a lingering ache that she has managed to survive but will never go away.

She discovers that although no cure exists, there is still life after heartbreak. As her father’s new wife says: “At first, you’re sad all the time. But then you’re sad occasionally.”

Cures for Heartbreak is a poignant novel about a serious issue which is told in a subtle yet devastatingly emotional way. Mia’s interactions with her father, her sister, her friends, and her romantic interests are a warts-and-all, forthright representation of a teenager’s life. Each character in the story is intricate and imperfect.

Even Mia’s beloved mother isn’t unblemished. Her character is depicted not as a one-dimensional parent, but as a woman who might have been depressed, who might have wanted to marry someone other than Mia’s father, who sometimes lost her patience with her daughter, and who in all likelihood was not satisfied with her life. Mia sees this aspect of her mother from a hazy distance, interpreting clues as to who she really was. An interesting and clever touch is the mention of the books Mia’s mother had read, including Fear of Flying by Erica Jong—a 1970s feminist novel about a wife stuck in an unfulfilling marriage. This suggests Mia’s mother’s possible unhappiness in her own relationship, as well as frustration with the restrictions of the era in which she came of age—which increases the character’s depth and relatability.

Allusions to Mia’s mother’s and grandparents’ experience in Germany during the Holocaust, and the effect this had on them—and consequently, on Mia—adds an even greater understanding of the family dynamic and their collective psyche. This is a critical element of the story, because the past must be considered when trying to comprehend the present. The ramifications of the Holocaust for Mia's family demonstrates how decades-old trauma can trickle from one generation to the next, and how a young person like Mia can unwittingly be touched by events that happened long before she was born.

I stopped seeing the picture in the book and instead saw my family: my grandparents’ eyes when they gazed at my sister and me playing, as if they’d never seen children do that before. My mother, digging her fingernails into my shoulder when she heard German spoken on the bus. Jamming her tote bag full of food and supplies to be prepared “for anything.” Calling the police after hearing fireworks one August night, waking my sister and me, thinking that New York was being bombed.

Margo Rabb’s writing is at once straightforward and melodious, and she is adept at mixing humor with tragedy. The dialogue is authentic—often sad and frequently funny, it skillfully brings vitality to the characters. Mia's teenage voice is vivid and genuine, especially when she clashes with Alex.

Rabb creates a sympathetic protagonist in Mia—an intelligent girl doing the best she can to handle a catastrophic interruption of her adolescence, to endure its aftermath, and to make sense of everything. In doing so, she comes to the comforting conclusion that “Maybe…love is in layers…you can peel back one and the old loves will still be there. More people you love will accumulate on top, but the old ones stay there, and…you can check on them and return to them whenever you want.”

Mia’s reactions to the events that befall her are brutally honest, such as when she feels embarrassed by the bad luck that has stricken her family. And Rabb adroitly captures the Queens, NY setting as she describes Mia eating Entenmann’s pound cake (a local favorite); riding the 7 train; her neighborhood’s boxy brick houses “…with white cement trim or plastic awnings…”; and the borough’s view of Manhattan’s enticing bright lights.

With references to the seductive poster of Rob Lowe on Mia’s bedroom wall, her steamy fantasies about Matt Dillon, her encounter with Molly Ringwald at Bloomingdale’s, and when Mia says “…an entire Golden Girls convention seemed to be taking place,” Rabb brings the time period to life.

She also generously shares her personal story of grief and loss (upon which the novel is based) in an afterword that is intensely moving. Even the book’s cover is created with the utmost care. The items that make up the heart: the hiking boots; the thread; the tarot cards—all have meaning in the story.

Cures for Heartbreak is the guide that Mia craves. It is a powerful, beautifully-written, and intelligent novel that will surely connect with, and be a consolation to, readers of any age who have dealt with losing a parent—or with losing anyone.

Book Info:

Title: Cures for Heartbreak

Author: Margo Rabb

Rating: 5/5

Publisher: Random House (Delacorte Press); 2007

Genre: Young Adult Fiction;
highly recommended for both teens and adults.

Author’s website: www.margorabb.com

Other Words for Love: Video Review

2011-08-12T12:36:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday, everyone!

Today I came across a wonderful video review of Other Words for Love (below) by a lovely reader who lives in the UK.

Thank you so much, Emily! I'm thrilled that you enjoyed my novel.

Def Leppard & Heart at Riverbend in Cincinnati

2011-07-28T14:07:00.002-04:00

I had a fantastic time last night at the Def Leppard/Heart concert at Riverbend in Cincinnati. I was SO impressed with Def Leppard’s incredible stage presence, and Ann Wilson’s always-amazing voice!!

I was fortunate to have seats in the pit, so I was able to shoot some great pictures, which I’m sharing below...

The fabulous Ann Wilson

Nancy Wilson

Def Leppard

My Latest OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE Interview

2011-07-18T19:06:00.006-04:00

Whew! I've done quite a few interviews since Other Words for Love was published in January. If you're so inclined, you can check out all of them on my "News & Events" page: http://tinyurl.com/364zwr4

My latest was posted today: http://t.co/dJXBRQW

I really appreciate the many wonderful bloggers who have requested these interviews and have been so supportive of my novel. I enjoy the opportunity to interact with you, to discuss the novel, and to answer your questions...which are always quite insightful. I'm also very grateful to the many readers who have had such kind things to say about Other Words for Love.

Thank you, everyone!!!

My Latest Review for PopMatters: THE LINCOLN LAWYER

2011-07-13T05:22:00.003-04:00

My latest review for PopMatters is the DVD release of The Lincoln Lawyer, starring Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Ryan Phillippe, and Josh Lucas.

The full review is available here: http://tinyurl.com/6aglmeg.

I was very happy to see McConaughey return to his dramatic roots! I hope he'll continue this trend.

You can check out the trailer below...

My Final "80s Favorite": The Go-Go's!!

2011-06-20T14:43:00.015-04:00

During the past few months, I’ve written a few posts titled “80s Favorites” because, as you might know, my debut novel is set during the 1980s. Admittedly, there are many cringe-worthy aspects of popular culture from that decade (big hair, fluorescent socks...you get the picture...), but there’s also so much that has stood the test of time and that we can still enjoy today—especially the music.

So for my last (yup, this is the last one!) “80s Favorite,” I’m sharing a few pictures from a concert that I attended in Dayton, Ohio this past weekend.

You’ve heard of The Go-Go’s, right? Of course you have! They debuted in 1981 with their album Beauty and The Beat. The Go-Go’s music was part of the New Wave genre that defined the early 80s and included other innovative artists such as Debbie Harry (also known as “Blondie.”) Two of The Go-Go’s most popular songs, We Got the Beat and Our Lips Are Sealed are upbeat, breezy, summery, have a southern California feel, and are simply timeless.

The ladies, led by the always-beautiful Belinda Carlisle (who has also had a successful solo career that began during the late 1980s), are currently on tour and gave a fantastic performance at their concert in Dayton. Below are some photos from the show, and the video of Our Lips are Sealed.

Belinda Carlisle

The Go-Go's

My Latest Review for PopMatters: The Spectacular TRUE GRIT

2011-06-06T07:55:00.002-04:00

My latest review for PopMatters is the 6/7 DVD release of True Grit, which stars Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and the amazing young actress Hailee Steinfeld.

I *loved* this movie and had a lot to say about it! You can read my review here: http://tinyurl.com/62aaa9v

Latest Other Words for Love Interview & Another "80s Favorite"

2011-05-26T14:26:00.004-04:00

I haven’t had a chance to blog recently but I'm finally back, and I wanted to write a quick post to mention my latest interview, which is with the YA Booklover Blog: http://tinyurl.com/44avypb.

The blog is run by Chloe, who asked me some really fun and interesting questions. Chloe is hosting a giveway of Other Words for Love, so be sure to check it out!

I also wanted to do another installment of “80s Favorites.” Hence the picture on the left...that's an example of some beautiful artwork by Patrick Nagel, whose style descended from art deco--which I also adore--and whose work was very popular during the 1980s. He even designed the cover for Duran Duran's album, Rio.

So if you’ve read Other Words for Love, you know it’s set from 1985 to 1989. You might also know that it has a playlist (see my “Books” page) filled with songs that inspired me while writing the novel. Most of the songs are from the 1980s, and here is one of my favorites...

Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order.

I frequently listened to this while writing Other Words for Love. That amazing electronic sound is SO 1980s! I tended to listen to the song before working on the scenes that take place in the club in Manhattan.

If you’ve never heard the song before, here it is…

My latest review for PopMatters: No Strings Attached

2011-05-09T07:49:00.004-04:00

My latest review for PopMatters is of No Strings Attached, a romantic comedy starring Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman.

The film will be released on DVD tomorrow, May 10th.

You can read my review here: http://tinyurl.com/65z6bko

Library Visit

2011-04-21T13:18:00.001-04:00

Last night I visited my local library, where I talked about Other Words for Love and the writing and publishing process.

Thanks to Collin Taylor for inviting me, and thanks also to Krista King, the Teen Librarian!

Other Words for Love in Brazil!!

2011-04-15T18:28:00.002-04:00

Since my novel was published, I've heard from several fabulous bloggers in Brazil who have read Other Words for Love and have been so enthusiastic and supportive of the book.

Many of them have asked if it would be published in Brazil…and I’m so excited to announce that Brazilian rights to Other Words for Love have been sold to Galera/Grupo Editorial Record!! http://tinyurl.com/3o2ekvk

The novel will be translated into Portuguese. I'm thrilled!

And thanks to all of the bloggers in Brazil who have had

such wonderful things to say about Other Words for Love!

Interview with Figment

2011-04-06T12:49:00.006-04:00

I can’t believe it’s already been almost three months since Other Words for Love was published! During the month leading up to my publication date and during the time since, I’ve visited lots of fabulous blogs to talk about the book. My latest interview about my novel (and writing in general) is with Figment, and you can read it here: http://tinyurl.com/3srjsur.

Figment (www.figment.com) is a great website that launched late last year, and it focuses on YA fiction. It’s a place for aspiring writers to share their work, and for published YA authors to discuss their novels.

The site was even featured in a New York Times article titled “Web Site for Teenagers with Literary Leanings”: http://tinyurl.com/2g3cql3. If you haven’t checked out Figment yet, then make sure to pay it a visit!

An 80s Favorite: Love My Way

2011-04-04T13:43:00.008-04:00

A while back, I promised to write a few posts about my favorite things from the 1980s...because, if you've read Other Words for Love, you know it's set between 1985 and 1989. (Oh, and that painting over there? That's called "Diamond Dust Shoes," and it was created by Andy Warhol in 1980. I like that, too...so I thought I'd just throw it in).

I’ve written two of my "80s Favorites" posts (see here: http://tinyurl.com/4vx46g7 and here: http://tinyurl.com/4b5uba9), and here’s my latest favorite:

Love My Way by the Psychedelic Furs.

This song is on the Other Words for Love playlist, and its sound and lyrics really capture the emotions in the story. If you haven’t heard it before, I suggest you check it out in the video below...it's a great song! I'm a big fan of that haunting, electronic sound that has been so well-executed by several British bands.

Other Words for Love in Russia!!

2011-03-26T10:22:00.007-04:00

I’m thrilled to announce that my novel, Other Words for Love, is going to be published in Russia! Russian rights were sold this week to AST Publishers in Moscow, which is one of the largest publishing companies in Russia.

This exciting news reminds me of my fondness for several Russian things that I want to recommend...

1. Russian chocolate. When I was attending high school in New York, my mother had a lovely friend who was from Russia, and that friend was nice enough to give us some chocolate that she’d brought back from a visit to Russia. It was fantastic! If you’ve never tried it, do your best to get your hands on some!!

1. Eastern Promises. It’s no secret that I’m a serious film fan, and this movie is among my favorites. I saw it a few years ago, and I was so impressed with the story and Viggo Mortensen’s performance…especially his Russian accent, which he pulled of amazingly well. If you’ve never seen this movie, it’s worth a DVD rental!

2. Three Cheers for Catherine the Great. While I was working on my Master’s degree in Education at the University of South Florida, I took a class in children’s literature. During that class, I read the children’s book Three Cheers for Catherine the Great (by Cari Best, with illustrations by Giselle Potter) and absolutely loved it! Here’s a summary of the story from Amazon:

It's Sara's Russian grandma's birthday, and she has made a proclamation: "I have music in my Russian bones, and laughing in my heart. I have the day and the night, and I have all of you. That's why for me the best presents will be no presents." No presents? Sara is baffled. Her amazing grandma gives so much to everyone. How can they have a birthday party for her without gifts? Sara realizes that any "no present" for Grandma has to be pretty special. And the "no present" she finally gives is the best kind of all.

This is a great story with adorable, quirky illustrations (my favorite kind!), so if you’re in need of a gift for a child or just enjoy children’s literature, this is the book for you!

My Latest Review for PopMatters: The Fighter

2011-03-14T08:17:00.002-04:00

My latest review for the webzine PopMatters is The Fighter, which will be released on DVD tomorrow (Tuesday, March 15th).

The Fighter is a fantastic film with an incredible performance by Christian Bale. I highly recommend it!

You can read my full review here: http://tinyurl.com/4ea7w9x

Other Words for Love & You

2011-03-06T18:20:00.004-05:00

Hi, fabulous readers! Thanks SO much for all the pictures you’ve sent of Other Words for Love! It’s really fun to see my book as it travels all over the world. I’ve received a lot of photos recently, and I adore them all! Here are three of my favorites…

This was sent from Vitória

in Brazil. I love the copy of Vogue underneath the book...very cool!

This one is from Jennifer, and it's just too cute...the cat is precious!

And here is the lovely Christina of the fantastic book blog YA Reads! (www.yareads.com)

Thanks again, everyone…and please keep your e-mails and photos coming.

I really love hearing from all of you!

An 80s Favorite & A Kind Act

2011-02-24T18:55:00.005-05:00

This morning I read a fantastic article by the very talented author Dana Reinhardt, in which she discusses a chance encounter with, and a considerate act from, the equally talented actor Robert Downey Jr. You can read the article here: http://ow.ly/41VRw.

Although I’ve always been a fan of Robert’s work, this article made me appreciate him even more. I just love people who spread kindness around.

It also made me remember that a couple of weeks ago I had promised to write a few blog posts about my favorite things from the 1980s...because, if you’ve read my novel or have heard about it, you know that it’s set from 1985 to 1989.

A noteworthy film from the 1980s is Less Than Zero, which was released in 1987 and is based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis.

The movie stars Robert Downey Jr., Jami Gertz, Andrew McCarthy, and James Spader. And if you’re only familiar with James Spader from Boston Legal, I can tell you that he was in quite a few films during the 1980s. He frequently played arrogant, slimy, elitist characters—and he was SO good at it. In Less Than Zero, he’s an evil drug dealer who is owed a lot of money from the character played by Robert Downey Jr.

The novel and the movie are quite YA-ish...the main characters are eighteen years old, and the story is a gritty one that deals with romantic relationships, friendship, family issues, and drug addiction.

For the film, The Bangles remade the 1968 Simon & Garfunkel song Hazy Shade of Winter, and they did a great job. In fact, this song is on my Other Words for Love playlist (http://tinyurl.com/4lwyewg) and it inspired me while I was writing the novel.

The video for Hazy Shade of Winter is below and it has images from the film, which are very 1980s and provide a glimpse back to that time. If you haven't seen Less Than Zero, you might want to check it out!

Book Review: Vixen by Jillian Larkin

2011-02-23T18:53:00.009-05:00

I have wanted to read Vixen by Jillian Larkin FOREVER!

As soon as I heard about it (a few months before it was released by my fabulous publisher, Random House/Delacorte Press), I was just dying to read it. I love the 1920s, and I’m thrilled that this decade is being represented in YA fiction. My first experience with 1920s YA was with Anna Godbersen’s Bright Young Things (check a previous blog post for my review!) and I enjoyed that one so much that I couldn’t wait to dive into Vixen.

The novel was published back in December, but I’ve been so busy with my own novel’s publication and working on my second book that I just didn’t have the time to get my hands on Vixen! Luckily, I was able to carve out some time to buy and read the novel earlier this week.

Well, first of all, I adore the cover. Absolutely gorgeous! I also love the art deco style of the design on the back, and the alluring tagline:

Young…wealthy…defiant….beautiful…dangerous.

It’s 1923, and…

anything goes.

“Anything goes” is the motto of the three main characters in this entertaining story: Clara Knowles, Gloria Carmody, and Lorraine Dyer. What?! My name in a novel? That so rarely happens, and it's evidence that Jillian Larkin did her research because “Lorraine” was popular during the 1920s and 1930s...when all things French were en vogue.

Larkin’s research is also obvious throughout the story in regard to the cultural and social standards and the slang of the time period. It's so interesting to read about flappers being viewed as "bad girl" rebels. It's also fascinating to note the male-female relations during that era. It's clear that many of the male characters are quite sexist, and the women are trying to break out of the roles previously imposed upon them. For example, it's such a big deal when one of the characters "bobs" her hair!

Vixen is the first book in a series, and we’re set up for lots of intrigue to come. This novel has mystery, action, romance, and many shady characters. I particularly enjoyed the “pretty boy” Marcus and his budding relationship with Clara, and I also enjoyed the banter and sexual tension between Lorraine and the sinister, deceitful Sebastian Grey, who is engaged to Gloria as a matter of financial convenience. Sebastian is one of the sexist characters, which is obvious throughout the story and especially when he says "Even women have needs..."

EVEN women? Yes, he's quite a cad, but an interesting one who will keep you reading!

The story is very well-written, and it was fun to be transported back to the days of flappers and gangsters. I recommend this novel, and I’m looking forward to Ingenue, the next book in the series!

I also love the trailer for Vixen, which is below…

My Latest Review for PopMatters - Nurse Jackie: Season 2

2011-02-22T08:57:00.003-05:00

As I recently mentioned, I have become a contributing writer for PopMatters---a webzine devoted to the analysis and criticism of popular culture. My latest review is of Nurse Jackie: Season Two, which stars the incredibly talented Edie Falco.

She is an amazing actress, and she's fantastic in this series...which is both a drama and a dark comedy. The DVD will be released today, and I highly recommend it!

My full review can be found here: http://t.co/VCyr3gC.

Book Signing at Northern Kentucky University

2011-02-20T18:53:00.020-05:00

Today I participated in Northern Kentucky University’s “Celebration of Student and Alumni Publications,” which featured readings by alumni and current students of the Master’s in English program. (I graduated from the program in May of 2010). The official press release for the event can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/4sfcg9g.

It was a wonderful afternoon, and it was great to listen to readings of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry by many talented writers. I talked about Other Words for Love, did a question and answer session, and a book signing. It was really fun and I enjoyed seeing my former classmates and professors! Pictures are below...

Getting ready to sign some books!

Me with my friend and former classmate at NKU, Stephanie Knipper.

Signing!!!

Other Words for Love: The Playlist

2011-02-17T21:18:00.007-05:00

During the past couple of months I’ve done many interviews with a lot of fabulous bloggers, and two questions I’ve often been asked are whether music helps me with my writing and if I have a playlist for Other Words for Love.

The answers to those questions are YES and YES!

Music definitely inspires my writing. It really helps me to get into the mind of a character and the essence of a scene, and it functions like a soundtrack of a movie.

Because my novel is set during the 1980s, listening to music from that time period helped me to mentally travel back to that era. Most of the songs that inspired me are from the 80s, but not all of them! Breathe Your Name, Kiss Me, and Here’s Where the Story Ends are from the 90s, and they completely capture Ari’s feelings and her state of mind.

During my blog tour, I mentioned a few songs that were inspirational to me, and now I’m revealing my entire playlist (see below). If you’ve read Other Words for Love, you can probably match the songs to many of the scenes in the book!

Interviews, Reviews, & Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-11T08:38:00.006-05:00

Well, it’s Friday once again, and almost Valentine's Day!

I’m sending yet another thank-you and a virtual hug to all the wonderful readers and bloggers who have been giving such amazing reviews for Other Words For Love! I just wanted to acknowledge the latest:

By Khadija of Black Fingernailed Reviews: http://tinyurl.com/4qt7fcr

By Jacinda and Jasmine (The Reading Housewives of Indiana--how awesome is that name?)--this also includes an interview: http://tinyurl.com/6jxjamc

Thank you, ladies!

And on another note, I’ve mentioned before that in addition to my love of literature, I’m also a huge movie and TV fan. In keeping with that interest, I have become a contributing writer for the website PopMatters, which is devoted to popular culture criticism and analysis. Fun!! I’ll be reviewing new DVD releases in film, TV series, and documentaries.

You can check out my first review (of Conviction starring Hilary Swank) here: http://tinyurl.com/4onx4zf

and the trailer is below.

Have a great weekend, everyone, and Happy (early) Valentine's Day!!!

Book of the Month & A Big Thank-You!

2011-02-04T08:12:00.008-05:00

Well, it’s Friday once again and this has been yet another amazing week. I’ve heard from so many of you who have read Other Words for Love and have had such fabulous things to say about it! I’m sending you all a big thank-you and lots of ♥ for your Twitter comments, your e-mails, and your wonderful reviews!

I also want to give a special shout-out to the lovely Jessica of Jess Hearts Books for spreading the word about my novel!

Jessica has been an incredible advocate of Other Words for Love, and she’s even made it her Book of the Month! YAY!! She also has a “best of” list that includes Other Words for Love, Across the Universe, and Entangled.

You can check out the complete post here: http://tinyurl.com/47wfkj7

Thanks so much to Jessica for acknowledging my novel, and to everyone who has been so supportive of Other Words for Love! Keep in touch, because I really love hearing from you!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

An 80s Favorite: Moonlighting

2011-01-31T11:18:00.005-05:00

By now, it's pretty well-known that Other Words for Love is set during the 1980s. Why the 1980s? I answered this question in detail during an interview with Jami of the YA Addict blog. If you’d like to take a look, you can find the interview here: http://tinyurl.com/4z4cbfg.

So in keeping with the 1980s theme, I thought I’d write a few blog posts about some of my favorite things from that decade...the things with which the characters in my novel live...you know, pop culture stuff like movies, TV, music, clothes...although I probably won’t get into the hairstyles. The hair was sort of big back then, right?

But flat irons didn’t exist. People did what they could with a blow dryer and a tube of gel. Don’t judge.

Today’s installment of “favorites from the 80s” is a TV show called Moonlighting, which stars Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd. Moonlighting was what I’d call a weekly romantic comedy.

Here’s an official description:

"The series revolved around cases investigated by the Blue Moon Detective Agency and its two partners, Madeline "Maddie" Hayes (Shepherd) and David Addison (Willis).

The show, with a mix of mystery, sharp dialogue and sexual tension between its two leads introduced Bruce Willis to the world.”

Indeed it did, and Bruce was a real cutie as David Addison. It was a great show with a very alluring theme song. You can catch the opening credits in the video below...and if you've never seen Moonlighting, it's worth checking out on DVD!

Cincinnati Enquirer Article

2011-01-24T12:39:00.005-05:00

I was interviewed by journalist/author Ryan Clark about Other Words for Love for an article that appeared in The Cincinnati Enquirer and The Kentucky Enquirer on January 24, 2011.

The article is below.

Cincinnati Enquirer Article Jan. 24, 2011

Fun Friday: Golden Globe Fashions!!!

2011-01-21T14:34:00.018-05:00

Happy Friday, dearest readers! I thought I'd take a break from discussing all things literary to indulge in another one of my faves: Hollywood! The Golden Globes were last Sunday night, and even though I've been way too busy to watch the show (although I did catch Matt Damon's introduction of Robert DeNiro, which was utterly priceless), I've read about it, seen some clips, and of course...informed myself of the fashions.

You know those shows where they talk about the "best" and "worst" of award night fashions? Well, I'm only going to talk about the best...or what I think is the best...because if I don't have something nice to say...well, you know how that one goes. So here are my picks of the "best" fashions from the 2011 Golden Globes!!

#1 Claire Danes:

I'm a big Claire Danes fan. I spotted her talent way back when she played Angela on My So Called Life. Remember that show? Didn't you sympathize when she was aching for Jordan Catalano? She played that role with such subltely and depth that I knew she had a bright future ahead. And she also knows how to choose a fabulous dress. First of all, it's pink, which is my favorite color, and it matches perfectly with her hair and skin tone. The dress has clean lines, it's sophisticated, and it's also simple yet elegant. Nice job, Claire!

#2: Olivia Wilde:

Cinderella. Fairy Princess. Glitter, glitter, glitter. Need I say more?

#3: Vanessa Williams:

The sleek cut of the dress + its understated color + the sparkles + the smoky eye makeup = classic Hollywood glam. Just gorgeous.

#4 Hailee Steinfeld:

I've already bragged about my ability to recognize young talent. Check my earlier blog post about True Grit and you'll find all my gushing about this crazily talented young actress. She's going places, trust me. Have you heard the rumors that she might be cast as the lead role in The Hunger Games? But getting back to fashion talk...this dress is very cute and age-appropriate for a 14-year-old, as is the adorable hairstyle. After her debut movie experience in the filthy, dusty, dangerous, and violent Wild West, Hailee deserved some red carpet glamour!

And that's all for today...have an awesome weekend, everyone!!

Goodreads Most Popular Books Published in January 2011

2011-01-20T19:20:00.008-05:00

It's January, and you know what that means...snow days, staying at home to avoid the cold, and reading lots of good books!

There have been so many fabulous releases this month, and if you’re at a loss for which book to pick up next, check out this extensive list that was compiled by Goodreads – “Most Popular Books Published in January 2011” http://tinyurl.com/4nmb3zf.

There are 200 novels on the list (you can find mine on there, too!), so take a look and choose your next great read!

A Great Week!

2011-01-17T15:48:00.003-05:00

Just a quick blog post to thank the lovely Kristi of The Story Siren (www.thestorysiren.com) for choosing Other Words for Love as her January 2011 Book of the Month. I’m honored!

I’m also honored and thrilled to have received such positive reviews from bloggers. They’re on my “reviews” page here: http://tinyurl.com/26m6kj4

...so feel free to check them out!

And I’ve done a lot of interviews and guest posts, too! They're all here: http://tinyurl.com/364zwr4

I’ve been quite busy as you can probably tell, but this past week since the publication of Other Words for Love has been fantastic! Thanks to everyone who has made it such a joy!!

Sightings!

2011-01-13T10:23:00.012-05:00

This past Tuesday was my long-awaited release day, and it couldn’t have been more fun and exciting!

Thanks to everyone who contacted me with their good wishes. I’m sending you all a virtual hug for making my release day just like Christmas morning.

Another fun and exciting thing about being a debut author is walking into a store and seeing your novel on a shelf. Just last night I had that experience when my dear husband and I went to Barnes & Noble here in Cincinnati.

Hubby was good enough to brave the cold and snow to accompany me to the bookstore...because he's an awesome and patient guy! What we saw is right over there...

My book has been spotted elsewhere, too. See that picture to the left? That’s my lovely friend Stephanie Mensing, Esq., who is a brilliant attorney with the law firm of Wisniewski & Mensing: http://www.wm-legal.com

Stephanie had an Other Words for Love sighting at Barnes & Noble on Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia.

And then there’s my fabulous friend Cory Casden, who has read my novel and has given it his golden seal of approval. This means a lot, because Cory is a popular culture connoisseur. That’s him over to the right. He found Other Words for Love at B&N in Enfield, Connecticut.

If you’ve made an Other Words for Love sighting, take a picture and send it to me...I love hearing from all of you amazing readers!

Other Words For Love

2011-01-11T08:24:00.003-05:00

Happy Birthday to Other Words For Love!

When my debut novel was sold to Random House/Delacorte Press in April 2009, my Spring 2011 release date seemed very far away. Well, it was far away...really really far away...and it has taken a long time to reach January 11, 2011. But it’s finally here! *This is where you should imagine me tossing confetti around.*

Thanks so much to my editor, Stephanie Lane Elliott, and to my agent, Elizabeth Evans, for making this day possible. And thanks to all of you who have read ARCs of my book and have contacted me to let me know that you enjoyed the novel. I’m completely overwhelmed and so flattered by the positive response, and I’m thrilled that Other Words for Love will be released today.

Another thing I’m very happy about is that my novel has been included in Amazon.com's "Best Books of the Month for Young Readers: January 2011." You can find the full list here: http://tinyurl.com/2c6abrb

Official Press Release: Other Words for Love

2011-01-10T21:02:00.007-05:00

Below is the official press release from Random House/Delacorte.

(Click on "fullscreen" for a larger/printable version.)

Press Release

Writing with Grit

2011-01-01T16:34:00.024-05:00

I’ve been gushing about the movie True Grit since I saw it last week. And I’m not the only one who’s gushing. Check out this witty post by author extraordinaire Meg Cabot about the film and her admiration of its main character: http://tinyurl.com/24t8na3

I went into this movie not knowing what to expect. I knew zilch about the story—I hadn’t seen the original John Wayne film, and I hadn’t read the book. Sure, the trailer (check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/355mxwe) looked compelling...tough guys on horses, Johnny Cash singing...what's not to love?

But trailers and I have a troubled relationship.

They’ve fooled me before. You know how it is...you see a great ad for a movie, and when you get to the theater and settle in with your overpriced bottled water and your Junior Mints, you find that the only good scenes and snappy dialogue are in that three-minute advertisement. Then you have to sit there for the other 117 minutes, because you paid $8.00 and bought snacks and it just seems wasteful to leave.

But this was not the case with True Grit, which is fantastic.

And what about it is so fantastic, you ask? That’s a good question, and one that’s worthy of a “writing advice” post.

When I see a movie, I can’t just sit there and watch. I can’t stop myself from analyzing the writing—the character development, the dialogue, the symbolism, the cultural commentary. It's a writer thing, and my husband finds it quite obnoxious.

“Can’t you just watch the movie?” hubby asks. “Not really,” I say.

As soon as True Grit began, I knew it was going to be good. I was transported to a long-ago, far-away place. I met interesting, complex people. I joined them on a harrowing journey. I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. No damn way was I going to the ladies’ room.

So let’s analyze why this movie kept me stuck in my chair for two hours:

1. The beginning.

I equate the first few minutes of a film with the first chapter of a novel. That's a crucial time when I, as the reader or viewer, need to be drawn into the story. In True Grit, the narrative starts with a compelling voice—that of the main character, Mattie Ross (played by the amazing Hailee Steinfeld). Mattie begins to recount what happened to her when she was fourteen, after her father was senselessly murdered by a drifter.

A life disrupted by tragedy is a gripping start to any story. But although Mattie has lost her father in the worst way, she’s not going to sit around and grieve like a girl of her age and era is supposed to. Instead, she vows to avenge her father’s death by finding his murderer, Tom Chaney, and bringing him to justice.

You go, girl! I like her already, don’t you? And this leads me to another reason why True Grit is such a well-constructed story...

2. The protagonist.

Mattie rules. She’s a badass. She’s got girl-power at a time when girls are supposed to be—and for the most part, are—powerless.

She haggles with grown men who try to cheat her financially, she isn’t afraid to sleep in a room filled with dead bodies (blech!), and she cleverly (and humorously) gets her way by threatening legal action. It seems that people feared litigation even in the 1870s.

Getting back to Meg Cabot’s post about her admiration for Mattie, which I share—this girl's got grit. She tells the hardened, drunken Marshall Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) that she wants to hire him to find Tom Chaney because she has heard that Cogburn is a man with “true grit.” But in reality, Mattie has grit too—hence the double-meaning in the title.

As Cabot says, Mattie has to "endure hangings, gunfights, stabbings…If my dad were murdered and I had to go through all of the things above in order to see justice served, there is a high likelihood I might just say, 'Sorry, Dad. Avenging your death is way too much work.'"

Seriously! That's way way way too much work and pain and gore. Honey, I would've been out of there when all that Wild West dust started to dry out my skin.

But Mattie endures. That’s not to say she’s a one-dimensional dynamo. She’s strong, but her vulnerability is evident in subtle ways—such as when she’s looking at her dead father’s gun and other belongings, and her eyes fill with tears. This quietly reveals the deep feelings Mattie has but is too tough to show. These moments are what make her character so complex and real.

And while we’re talking about complexity, let’s move on to another thing that makes me rave about this film:

3. The supporting characters.

What the hell is up with the Texas Ranger, LaBoeuf? (played brilliantly by Matt Damon). It’s hard to know what to make of this guy. He’s all arrogance and bravado and “I’m a Texas Ranger” in his southern drawl while he shows Mattie his badge and expects her to become his starry-eyed groupie.

But when she doesn’t—when she’s highly unimpressed and verbally spars with him—he’s clearly hurt. He’s angry. He doesn't appreciate that she's what he calls "saucy." Check out this scene between them: http://tinyurl.com/235o2cv, and pay close attention to the shocked stare and silence from LaBoeuf when Mattie asks "Why have you been ineffectually pursuing Chaney?"

Oh, that dialogue is fantastic. The pause is priceless. LaBoeuf got owned.

But why does he care what Mattie thinks? She’s a kid, and he’s a grown man, so why does he want her approval so badly? And is LaBoeuf actually as confident as he seems?

Hardly.

The dude has insecurities and self-doubt. He does the wrong thing one moment and the right thing the next. This is why he’s such a compelling character. It’s also interesting to note the male-female dynamic between LaBoeuf and Mattie. He seems to like her just fine until she back-talks him and gets the better of him in their war of words. She cracks wise. This annoys him, because...well, it just isn’t done in the Wild West. Girls are supposed to shut up and fetch some water down by the stream or whatever. Fortunately, LaBoeuf grows over time and learns to give Mattie the respect she deserves...but not before showing her a ton of sexist scorn.

Rooster Cogburn is interesting, too. He’s old, he’s grizzled, he’s got one eye and a drinking problem. You’d expect him to be a strong-and-silent type, but...not so much. The man gabs. He gabs like he’s your neighbor lady with the curlers and the cigarette whose gossipy conversation you desperately avoid.

But while Rooster is talking, we learn important things about him. We learn that he had a son, and he doesn’t see that son anymore, and maybe it’s because Rooster “talked rough to him,” even though “he didn’t mean anything by it.” It's through these little details that a sympathetic and complex character is formed.

4. Imagery

There are many compelling images in True Grit, such as the mysterious man on horseback dressed in a bearskin, the scene where Rooster carries a delirious and snake-bitten Mattie to safety through a snowstorm, and the first moment that Mattie sees LaBoeuf—when he’s sitting on a porch with his boots perched on the railing, his face lit up by the glow of a match. Imagery like this is important—whether it’s done with cinematography or words.

I'm done gushing now. There’s so much more to praise in True Grit, and so much that writers can learn from it—more than I can go into here. If you want an example of a well-constructed story to help you with your own writing, check out the film!

A Big New Year's Eve Thank You!

2010-12-31T17:12:00.006-05:00

2011 is almost here, and I want to thank all of you AMAZING book bloggers out there who have given me a great start to the new year.

I have been so overwhelmed by the support I’ve received from all of you—especially those who are participating in my blog tour, and those who have read an ARC of OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE and have given me such incredible and flattering feedback.

I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to hear that you connected with the characters and the story, and that you enjoyed reading the novel. YOU are what makes the hard work worthwhile, and I am so thankful for all of you!

I want to give a special shout-out to the following bloggers, who are the epitome of awesomeness:

Kristi at The Story Siren: http://www.thestorysiren.com

Sarah at YA Love: http://addicted2reading.wordpress.com

Brent at The Naughty Book Kitties: http://www.naughtybookkitties.blogspot.com

…and Aimee at Coffee Table Press (http://coffeetablepress.blogspot.com ). Thank you, Aimee, for your wonderful review of OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE, which I am going to shamelessly post here because I appreciate it so much!

"What an amazing story! ...This is more than a romance, more than a coming of age story, this is a well defined life of a teen...Ari is an amazing character and one cannot help but relate to her experiences. One of the strongest characters I have read in a long time."

[Full review here: http://nblo.gs/cs1Bd]

And now I'm off to celebrate New Year's Eve. Have a fun and safe night, everyone! I wish you all the very best in 2011!!

Almost There...

2010-12-19T19:17:00.022-05:00

Okay, I’ll explain all the photos in a sec. In the meantime, I just want to say…

Wow.

My debut novel will be released three weeks from Tuesday.

On one hand, I can hardly believe that my publication date is so near.

On the other hand—it’s been a long time since the very exciting day I got my book deal. And much longer since I started writing OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE.

Most writers will probably tell you that when you get a book deal and share the good news with your family and friends, they think they can run out and buy your book, like…next week.

Yeah. Well. No. They’ll be waiting for about two years.

But I have to say that the time has been very busy and has gone by quickly, and as I mentioned before…the day is almost here!

Now I’ve reached the fun part…which includes getting flattering, sweet, wonderful comments from those who’ve read an ARC of my book. (Thank you!) And my blog tour starts this week…also very fun.

So let’s get back to the photos in this post. They’re here for nostalgia.

When I was writing OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE, I had lots of inspirations, like music and various images.

The image of NYC was definitely inspiring, because that’s where the story is set—yeah, that's it over there on the right...and it also ended up on my book cover, which couldn't be more perfect.

And hearts were floating around in my head…different types of hearts…which might have something (*insert coy wink here*) to do with the story...

Writing Advice #5: Recipe for a Novel

2010-12-18T14:00:00.016-05:00

People often ask what it takes to write a novel. There’s a lot that goes into it—too much to discuss in a quick Saturday afternoon blog post—but here are a few key ingredients :

Recipe for a Novel

1. Good eyes

I don’t mean that literally. I’m actually quite nearsighted.

What I mean is, it’s important to observe people and situations. Watch how people act. Listen to what they say. Study speech patterns. Notice quirks and habits. Pay attention to physical appearance. Analyze what has happened in a person’s background to figure out why he/she acts and reacts in a certain way. You’ll need all of these things to create characters who come to life on the page.

2. Time

You don’t have to quit your job to write a novel. Even if your time is limited, you can find the time to write. If you have full-time job, you can write before work and during your lunch hour and when you come home. You may have to give up things—like seeing a movie over the weekend or just relaxing on the couch. "I don't have the time" is an excuse I don't buy. It means you're not truly interested and motivated. Writing is like anything else—if you want it badly enough, you’ll make the time.

3. Patience

Don’t be so hard on yourself. You can’t write a novel overnight, and that’s okay. The longer you spend with your story and your characters, the better your finished product will be. So don’t rush when you’re writing. Let everything simmer and develop. Patience is something you’ll need even when you get your book deal, because the publishing process moves very slowly.

4. Space

Have you ever read Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own? In it, Woolf discusses the importance of a writer having his/her personal space. Woolf’s meaning is much deeper than what I’m suggesting here, but I’m quoting her because in the literal sense, it is very important for a writer to have a “sanctuary.” You should have somewhere to go—a home office, a couch in a quiet corner, a seat under a leafy tree—that is your space alone, that’s off-limits to others while you’re working, where you can write undisturbed and without distractions. And make sure those around you respect your space.

Honestly, when you’re deep into your manuscript and someone interrupts you, it’s hard not to act like Jack Nicholson in this clip from The Shining (don't watch if you're the type who gets offended by the F-bomb): http://tinyurl.com/d93jvu

Yeah, he’s pretty rude to poor Wendy, but...can you blame him? It’ll take him TIME to get BACK to WHERE he WAS! I’m feelin’ him on that. I've been there. So please, people...don’t distract the writers. It's like yanking a bone away from a dog who's very busy chewing.

5. Support

“It’s impossible!” “You’ll never be able to write a novel, let alone get it published.” “Are you crazy? What makes you think you can do this?”

If your friends say these things (or worse) to you about your aspirations, then you need new friends. Because the ones you have now are J.E.R.K.S.

As a writer, it means a lot to have supportive people around you—family, or friends, or a spouse/significant other. It’s important to be surrounded by those who believe in you and who cheer you on. But if you don't have those people in your life right now, then make sure to root for yourself.

Other Words for Love: Blog Tour!!

2010-12-14T14:23:00.002-05:00

I couldn’t be more excited about the approaching release (1/11/11) of OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE! I’m also happy to announce that I’m going to be involved in a blog tour.

I’m so lucky to have a group of amazing, fantastic, and wonderful (did I mention that they’re amazing?) book bloggers as participants, and I’m thrilled to be working with all of them. (You know who you are!)

There will be interviews as well as guest posts, and my very smart and creative bloggers have come up with some really interesting, insightful interview questions and topics for my posts.

The blog tour will begin on December 20th and run for several weeks. I’ll post a link to each feature on Twitter as they happen. I hope you'll come along with us!

Documentary Recommendation/Review: PRESSURE COOKER

2010-12-05T13:47:00.009-05:00

As I've mentioned before, I'm a serious film fan. And when I find must-see material, I feel the need to share. I recently saw the documentary Pressure Cooker, and it was so good--funny and sad and very inspirational--that I'm compelled to spread the word about it!

The documentary deals with a group of amazing Philadelphia teens and their incredibly admirable teacher. Here's the trailer if you'd like to check it out: http://tinyurl.com/28qpwsq.

And now for my review...

PRESSURE COOKER (2008; released on DVD in April 2010)

Wilma Stephenson is a complex woman. Known as Mrs. Stephenson at Frankford High School in northeast Philadelphia—where students must pass through a metal detector before strolling into homeroom—she’s a sixty-something culinary arts teacher and resident tough cookie who will berate her students one minute and hug them the next.

At first glance, Stephenson may come off as harsh, shrill, and demanding. She may appear that way at second glance, too. She runs after a student who dares to slam the door on his way out of her classroom, and boldly sets him straight in the hallway while an awed but not surprised silence falls over the rest of the class. Stephenson gruffly demands that a student abandon his iPod, and she has no qualms about turning to the camera after a run-in with a student and saying, “I can’t stand him.”

But Stephenson’s chastising is done with a higher purpose in mind. She demands respect. Her brash methods of correction are accepted by the majority of her students, and the ones who reject it will most likely fall away—as Stephenson warns her class on the first day of their senior year. It’s clear from the beginning of Pressure Cooker that Stephenson has a reputation at Frankford High. She knows it, and is rightfully proud. “How many of you have heard of me?” she asks. “Whatever you’ve heard…I’m five hundred times worse.”

Or better.

Stephenson desperately wants her students to succeed, and she has a history of making this happen. During her forty years as a teacher, she has helped students earn over three million dollars in scholarships.

Her goal is to get her students out of northeast Philly through a culinary arts college scholarship, and she doesn’t care if she has to yell, push, shove, and hurt feelings to make it happen. She sets high expectations, and challenges the teens to reach them. She encourages her students to imagine where they can go instead of dwell on where they are—because she doesn’t want them to get stuck there. “Get your brains upscale,” she says, “in a nice restaurant.”

In addition to a college education, a “nice restaurant” is what these students strive for—to work in one, and to eventually buy and run their own. There is even hopeful talk of some of the kids opening a restaurant together.

Pressure Cooker focuses on three of these teens: Tyree, a football player and member of the cheerleading squad with a hilariously precocious little sister; Fatoumata, an African immigrant and straight-A student struggling with the conflict between her religious family and American culture; and Erica, a cheerleader who cares for her disabled younger sister while doing everything she can to earn a college scholarship.

Erica’s sister is physically and visually handicapped, and Erica is admirably devoted to her; however, the strain of being a caretaker has affected Erica adversely in the form of anxiety and depression. Although all of Erica’s hard work is for the future benefit of herself and her family, she knows that her obligations might weigh her down. She fears being held back, and wants to “fly,” as her father says, out of Philly.

Erica carries a heavy weight with maturity and dignity. When explaining the condition that took her sister’s sight, she mentions that doctors had expected her sister to be completely blind by age five. Fortunately, that did not happen, and her sister has retained limited vision. “That’s a blessing,” Erica says. This simple statement—and many others in Pressure Cooker—are touching and heart-wrenching, and might make you count your own blessings.

It’s impossible not to root for the students, especially during a one-day scholarship competition at the end of the school year. The competition is judged by Philadelphia’s top chefs, and it’s painfully nerve-wracking for everyone. It is during this competition that the softer side of Mrs. Stephenson emerges—when she kisses her class members before they enter a private room to be judged, while she’s anxiously waiting for them to finish, and especially when a judge speaks sternly to the students. Stephenson becomes a mother bear, calmly but firmly criticizing the judge for her tone, and saying that the judge is being “mean” to the kids.

Mean? Is this the same woman who runs her culinary arts course like an impatient drill sergeant, who calls an offending student a “low-life punk,” and who—when holding a sandwich made in her class—screams at the top of her lungs because a pickle isn’t promptly delivered? “Some. Body. Get. The Pickle!” she says.

But when Stephenson shouts and criticizes, it isn’t mean—it’s just the way people interact in a family, and a family is exactly what she and her students are. This becomes clear as Pressure Cooker progresses, but crystallizes during the competition and the interaction between Stephenson and the judge. Stephenson sees an outsider overstepping bounds, and she defends her family like any loving mother would.

Directed by Mark Becker and Jennifer Grausman, the award-winning Pressure Cooker is serious, funny, sad, joyous, powerful, emotional, inspirational, and highly engaging. It is a glimpse into that moment in young people’s lives during which they can go down a good or bad road—one that will alter their futures forever. Fortunately for the students at Frankford High, they have the wonderful Mrs. Stephenson to point them in the right direction.

Writing Advice #4: A Few Words About Dialogue

2010-12-02T19:13:00.003-05:00

Dialogue is one of the most enjoyable parts of fiction writing, but it can also be tricky. Dialogue breathes life into characters, and—if it’s done correctly—will provide background information and advance the story. Here are three quick tips for making dialogue do its job:

1. No speeches, please. Have you ever watched a movie and seen a character giving a long-winded speech? Unless the character was on stage or is the President of the United States, that speech probably made him/her seem boring and phony. Seriously. . . how many people talk for ten minutes straight? And if they do, doesn’t someone tell the pompous windbag to shut the hell up? So steer clear of speeches when writing fiction. Listen to how people really speak to one another. Their sentences are usually short and clipped. Answers are often given in phrases or single words. This is real-life speech, and it should be reflected that way in your writing.

2. Don’t use characters’ names constantly. “Well, Mary, I think you should stay with your husband. He’s a great guy, Mary. I think, Mary, that you should give him another chance.” You see my point, right?

3. Don't drag it out. Use “What?” and “Huh?” and “What did you say?” sparingly. While these words and phrases might mirror realistic speech, they’ll only unnecessarily lengthen your manuscript and slow down the story. Only use these types of words/phrases for dramatic effect.

My main point: make dialogue work for your novel/short story/whatevah. It should push things forward. Don’t let it hold your story back.

Voices Carry

2010-12-01T10:00:00.003-05:00

As I mentioned in an earlier post, music is one of the things that inspires my writing. There’s nothing better than finding a song that captures the essence of the mood, the setting, and—most importantly—the feelings of a character. As an author, music helps me to slip into a character’s mind and to see and feel through his/her eyes. And it’s crucial to see and feel what your character does.

I had a collection of songs that I listened to while writing OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE. I’ve already blogged about two of them—“Breathe Your Name” (http://tinyurl.com/dnmlpe) and “Kiss Me” (http://tinyurl.com/ykbgvc6) --which depict the intensity and fragility of the main character (Ari)’s emotions--especially as they relate to her boyfriend, Blake.

Another song that reflects Ari’s feelings, and mirrors the darker aspects of those feelings as well as her habit of keeping her emotions pent up, is “Voices Carry” by ‘Til Tuesday: http://tinyurl.com/38num2u. The music matches the mental heaviness that burdens her, and the lyrics sound so much like what she’s thinking.

I discovered this video just recently, and was surprised and somewhat amazed to find that it contains many elements that match OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE—the delicate heart made of rose petals, the city lights (okay, just pretend the photos are of NYC instead of London!), the tear on the eyelash, the blue eye, the religious symbols. If you’ve read the ARC of my book, you’ll know what I mean (wink, wink.)

2011 Debut Author Challenge

2010-11-22T08:24:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I learned about the 2011 Debut Author Challenge, which has been created by The Story Siren. Here’s a link to The Story Siren’s fantastic book blog and her post about the challenge: http://tinyurl.com/28fuxv7.

This is such a great idea! I’ve mentioned before how impressed I am with book bloggers, and my appreciation of them continues. I’ve met so many fabulous bloggers through Twitter...I never cease to be amazed by the time, effort, and dedication they put into their blogs, how supportive they are of authors, and how enthusiastic they are about reading.

Have a great week, everyone...and Happy Thanksgiving!

Book Review: BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS

2010-11-13T11:13:00.001-05:00

BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS by Anna Godbersen follows a few weeks in the lives of 1920s teenagers Cordelia, Letty, and Astrid. Cordelia and Letty have fled their suffocating, provincial existence in Ohio to seek happiness and freedom in New York.

Letty hopes to use her talents to become a famous singer, and Cordelia wants to find her long-lost father—the famous bootlegger Darius Grey. When the girls arrive in the city, their paths connect with Astrid—an upper-crust flapper who is dating Mr. Grey’s son, Charlie. The three girls are swept into a whirlwind of romance, excitement, mystery, danger, realized dreams, and heartbreaking disappointments.

This novel is a delicious peek into a long-gone time—one in which a cigarette was a glamorous accessory, secret tunnels were built to transport illegal liquor, and an ordinary gal having a drink in a speakeasy might run into a notorious gangster like Dutch Schultz.

BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS has romance, intrigue, and amazingly accurate historical facts. Socialites breezily say things like “Don’t be a headache, darling,” and talk about the latest diet fad: “…grapefruit and melba toast for breakfast, grapefruit and olives for lunch, grapefruit and grapefruit for dinner.”

This was a fun read, and I admire Anna Godbersen for her meticulous research. I also enjoyed the details about the fashion of the era, and I especially liked the interactions between Astrid and her moody boyfriend, Charlie. I'm sure that readers will look forward to the next book in this new series!

AuthorsNow!, Goodreads, and Shelfari

2010-10-23T21:42:00.003-04:00

Just a quick post to share the great author/reader websites I’ve joined:

AUTHORSNOW!: http://tinyurl.com/283c8rt

GOODREADS: http://tinyurl.com/3a82gtw

SHELFARI:
http://tinyurl.com/2ch2r9h

The Appeal of Flawed Characters

2010-10-20T09:51:00.011-04:00

Today's post has been inspired by “Novels don’t need to be ‘nice’: Readers’ appetite for ‘likeable’ characters limits the imaginative reach of fiction.” You can read the full article here: http://bit.ly/aZwXx4.

As book-readers and TV and film-watchers, we typically crave a connection with characters. We want to relate to these people, to understand them, to admire them, to give them our sympathy and to cheer them on. We want their problems to be resolved in a happy or semi-happy ending. And this makes sense. Why would anyone invest hours of valuable time in a character they don’t completely like?

Well...the truth is, we often do that very thing. There are many non-villain characters in TV, film, and literature who aren’t persistently kind and virtuous and morally upstanding, and yet we want to get to know them and to hear their stories.

Realistic fiction is (for the most part) a reflection of true life—and in life, nobody is perfect. People have flaws. Even the nicest, sweetest, most charitable person has his or her moments of selfishness and envy.

In fiction, the writer and the reader both want to get inside a character’s mind. And when they do, they might find a lot of warm sunshine. But if they dig deep enough, they’ll also find a few cold and shadowy corners. It is the mix of the darkness and the light that forms a truly complex character and creates good fiction. As the previously-referenced article states: “Fiction...is unique in allowing us to understand other people by entering their consciousnesses. Unfortunately, other people are not universally nice. They might be a bit like us: flawed, sometimes afraid and sometimes morally uncertain.”

Very often, it is these traits that draw us to flawed characters. Of course we want our characters to have many positive qualities. But a 100% angelic, confident, constantly-smiling character would get on our nerves, right?

Consider, for example, Don Draper of Mad Men. (Did you know he’s following me on Twitter? Amazing how he can do that from 1965!) Many of us have been glued to our televisions on Sunday nights, just waiting to see what Don will do next. But is he a likeable character? Is he the guy on the white horse who does everything right?

Hardly. Don has his positive points—he’s handsome, he’s smart, he’s stylish and successful and exciting. He does the right thing once in a while—but not every day. Don does lots and lots of wrong things—like stealing a dead man's identity, cheating on his wife, and—in the season 4 finale—unceremoniously dumping his supportive girlfriend to abruptly marry his secretary. But do his questionable choices make us tune out? Are we going to stop watching Mad Men because this guy’s kind of shady?

I don’t think so. We’re all waiting for next season. (No new episodes until Fall 2011? Are you kidding me?)

The thing about Don is that there are reasons for what he does. The man has issues. The brilliance of Mad Men and other works of fiction that entice us to invest our time in flawed characters is that we’re given an opportunity to see why they do what they do. Another example of this is the classic Wuthering Heights. Catherine and Heathcliff aren’t angels, are they? She’s moody and mean, and she ditches the man she really loves to marry the guy with the cash. And Heathcliff couldn’t be a bigger jerk—seriously, does anyone like the fact that he exacts his revenge on those poor innocent kids? But we keep reading to the end because we understand why Catherine and Heathcliff make their questionable choices. We’re with them from the beginning, and because we know what happened in the past to make them the way they are, we merely shake our heads instead of closing the book.

Music and Writing and OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE

2010-10-19T11:38:00.003-04:00

How many times have you read a book and found a soundtrack playing in your head? That music is given to us when we watch a movie—but as readers, we often create our own playlists.

Many authors have playlists, too. Music is a great way to get yourself in a mood to match the scene you’re writing, or to crawl inside your characters’ minds and to feel what he or she is feeling. Sure, you already know what your characters are feeling—but music intensifies those emotions within your author brain. The right song can help you to mentally experience what your characters are going through, and can make the emotions you transfer to the page even stronger.

I had an extensive and eclectic playlist while writing OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE. I listened to various types of music from different decades, and all of it inspired my writing.

As I’ve mentioned, music helps to capture emotion. If you’ve read the description of my novel, you know that the protagonist, Ari, falls hard into an intense relationship with her boyfriend, Blake. She goes through a soaring high and a crushing low—and music helped me to depict the depth of her emotions.

Two of the songs that inspired me during the high points of Ari and Blake’s relationship were by Sixpence None the Richer: “Breathe Your Name” (http://tinyurl.com/dnmlpe) and “Kiss Me” (http://tinyurl.com/ykbgvc6). These songs portray the strength of Ari’s romantic feelings and the fragility of her emotions. Another song, “Here’s Where the Story Ends” by the Sundays (http://tinyurl.com/27wurvo) sounds so much like Ari—it reflects what she goes through in the story, her sensitivity, and her feelings of being an outsider.

In addition to helping me delve into my protagonist’s (and other characters’) psyche, music also worked to clarify setting. It helped me to depict what my characters were doing and hearing and seeing. For example, when you’re sitting alone in your quiet office, staring at a wall as you ponder a scene in which a group of teens are inside a Manhattan nightclub on New Year’s Eve, music can put you at the club with them. As an author, the right song can often transport you exactly where you need to be.

Writing Advice #3: Creating Adult Characters in YA Fiction

2010-10-13T10:04:00.002-04:00

Every YA novel features a young adult as its protagonist. The storyline and related issues, emotions, and conflicts are those of a teen. But unless you’ve created a world in which the protagonist and other YA characters are orphaned or abandoned or living in a world in which adults have somehow been obliterated, there are going to be a few grown-ups somewhere in your story.

So what about those adults? If you’re a YA writer focused on depicting teen angst, you might think that you should invest all of your energy in developing your protagonist and teen characters, and just gloss over the adults you’ve stuck in the murky shadows. After all, adults don’t matter in a YA novel, right?

Wrong.

If adults are present in a YA novel, they matter a lot. They might not play as large of a role as the protagonist’s friends or boyfriend or sister; however, adult characters—especially parents—do play a role. Parents, the home they have (or haven’t) created, their opinions, psychological issues, biases, and background all affect how the protagonist sees the world.

It’s important to develop parents into real people. Teens don’t necessarily view all adults as clueless, so they don’t have to be portrayed that way. Treat your adult characters with as much respect as your teen characters. Figure out what makes them tick. You would do this when creating a teen character, so do it for adult characters too.

As Peta Jennath Anderson states in her article Absentee Parents in YA: Yes-Yes or No-No? (http://tinyurl.com/37355gv): “...giving depth to a parent is like giving depth to a villain—it adds depth to a book, and is often the difference between a good story and a great one.”

Writing Advice #2: Where Do I Start?

2010-10-12T06:41:00.004-04:00

My blog has been quiet lately because I’ve been...well...writing. But I’ve finally found a moment for my second installment of Writing Advice, which was inspired by an article I recently read (and tweeted). The article is “The Making of a Novel: The Temptation of Jumping Ahead.” You can check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/285y8wp.

As an author, I’m often asked about various aspects of my writing process (seriously, people do ask!) What inquiring minds want to know is whether I write individual scenes that will appear at various points in the novel and then link them all together, or whether I start at the beginning.

Here’s the deal. Before I start writing, I typically “see” the big scenes. I have a general idea of the beginning, middle, and end of the story. Sometimes I’ll write a rough sketch of major scenes to use later.

But as a rule, I start at the beginning and write the novel in chronological order. Yes...I start with nothing—the dreaded blank computer screen—and turn it into something. This may seem painful—and sometimes it is. But trust me...it’s worth it.

The reason for writing chronologically is that even though I’m pretty clear on my “big” scenes early on, they don’t always end up exactly as I’d imagined. They actually turn out better.

By the time I get to the middle and the end, things usually change. Why do they change? Because when I start at the beginning, I get to know my characters well. Very often I’ll visualize a scene and a character’s behavior and dialogue in that scene, and by the time I get there (which could be months after I initially came up with the idea), I’ll think “Hmmm...now that I know him better, I don’t think he’d say or do that.”

So this leads into another piece of advice: get to know your characters. Live with them. Listen to them and let them unfold. This is why I’m such an advocate of starting from the beginning—it gives you the time to get inside your characters’ minds and to fully explore and develop these people. I’m always amazed at what my characters will reveal as we go along together. And often, when you take that straight road, it branches off into fascinating places you never expected.

Writing Advice: Getting Through The Tough Parts

2010-09-16T15:10:00.011-04:00

I was recently interviewed by a book blogger who asked an important question about the writing process. She wanted to know whether, when I come across a difficult area while writing, I put it aside and wait for inspiration to hit, or push through it and tweak the scene later. This is an issue that writers often face. Here's my answer:

There are some scenes that I completely see and hear in my mind before I start writing—that’s inspiration. There are other scenes that are harder to put together, and those are the “rough areas” that you mentioned. I typically try to tough it out, and in doing so, I often get an “a-ha!” moment, which is also inspiration. I think that if you wait for inspiration, you’ll never get a novel finished. It’s best to tough it out and improve the more difficult scenes during revisions.

Every writer has his or her own unique process, and this is mine. If I hit a bumpy area, I put on my imaginary hiking boots and tromp through it, even if this means a lengthy stare at a blank computer screen. These are the moments in which my office goes silent after hours of furious typing. Sometimes I fill the silence with music (my stories always have a playlist!) which is a great way of getting into the setting and the characters’ moods. During these times I often learn more about my characters, and this can lead to unexpected bursts of inspiration. And I love the unexpected bursts…but I have to work for them.

Inspiration is a tricky thing. It’s so much easier when it appears out of nowhere, when you least expect it, when you’re driving your car or unloading the dishwasher, and suddenly a scene is playing before your eyes as if you’re watching a movie. It’s exciting when you have to search for paper and a pen to capture a line of dialogue that popped into your ears like a gift from the Literary Fairy. (Another tip: always keep a notebook around! Crazy as it sounds, you never know when your characters will decide to talk to you.)

The interesting thing is that when a manuscript is finished, I can’t even tell which areas came from the kind of inspiration that was spontaneous, or the type that was hard-earned. Of course I remember which scenes were particularly pesky, but after revising and revising and revising some more, those rough areas are so smoothed out that I can’t distinguish them from the ones that gave me no trouble at all.

Book Blogger Appreciation Week: September 13th to 17th, 2010

2010-09-13T14:38:00.001-04:00

I was so happy to learn that this is Book Blogger Appreciation Week! Book bloggers deserve praise, and gold stars, and chocolate, and lots and lots of appreciation…for much longer than a week.

I joined Twitter a few months ago, which is how I discovered the book blogging community. I was, and continue to be, amazed by what a bright and professional group of people book bloggers are. After reviewing numerous witty and creative and fantastic sites, I’m so incredibly impressed by the time and effort that bloggers expend on their work. I’m not only in awe of how much they read, but also of their insightful reviews. Bloggers read, and write, and keep up with what’s new in publishing land…and that’s not easy. It takes a lot of work and dedication. In addition to maintaining their blogs, they have tons of other things to do—like juggling school and jobs and family. But they still manage to keep their blogs updated and timely so we can all enjoy them.

Another great aspect of the book blogging community is that while it encompasses people of all ages (another plus), it also includes so many young people. It’s wonderful that high school and college students can find a whole world of readers who share their interest in books and the publishing industry. None of this existed when I was in high school, but I wish it had! I always wrote and read alone, wondering…am I the only one who loves this stuff? (*picture me by myself in the high school library and insert violin music here.* No…seriously…I’m okay.)

Finally, the best aspect of the book blogging community is how welcoming it is to new authors such as yours truly. When I first joined Twitter, I had no idea what to expect…it was sort of like going to a new school or job and wondering if anyone will talk to you. But my debut novel and I have been warmly welcomed...and for that, Dear Book Bloggers, I thank you!!!

Book Recommendation/Review: WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED

2010-08-11T07:53:00.005-04:00

WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED by Judy Blundell is a fantastic and unique YA novel—a beautifully written coming-of-age, glamorous, and engaging 1940s noir story. If you’re not familiar with noir, think of those old black-and-white mystery/thriller/crime movies where the men wear fedoras and the women wear white gloves, and everything happens amid shadows and cigarette smoke. Here’s an example (from page 246):

“The match snapped, then sizzled, and I woke up fast. I heard my mother inhale as she took a long pull on her cigarette. Her lips stuck on the filter, so I knew she was still wearing lipstick…I breathed in smoke and My Sin perfume.”

The novel begins in post-World War II Queens, New York, and is told from the perspective of almost-sixteen-year-old Evie Spooner—a self-described plain girl who admires the beauty of her alluring blond mother, Beverly, and adores her stepfather, Joe, a WWII veteran and appliance store owner. But everything changes for Evie when she accompanies Beverly and Joe on a spontaneous trip to Florida. There, she falls for twenty-three-year-old Peter, and something happens between Peter, Beverly, and Joe that will have a permanent impact on Evie’s life.

Of course, I can’t tell you what that “something” is! But it’s mysterious and intriguing, and it makes Evie grow and change and mature almost overnight.

There were so many things I loved about this novel that I could go on and on, but I’ll narrow it down. First, I loved that it's set in the 1940s. I think it’s wonderful that authors of realistic YA fiction have branched out into various eras—especially time periods that are not often written about in this genre. Blundell captures the period perfectly, especially with references to the lingering after-effects of the war, as well as the fashion, music, 1940s slang, and (unfortunately but historically accurate) the racial and religious bigotry of this era. I also loved that although Evie at first seems more innocent than contemporary teens, we see a different side of her when she becomes involved with Peter and when she is forced to make difficult choices toward the end of the story. I thought it was great that this novel—which I at first expected to be only about Evie—developed into a crime story among the adults that Evie observes, is affected by, and ultimately must become involved in. Finally, I always love to find YA novels with adult characters (especially parents) that are as developed, complex, and flawed as the protagonist—and this is definitely the case in WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED.

I highly recommend this novel, which won the 2008 National Book Award.

You can check out Judy Blundell’s website here: http://www.judyblundell.com. The site is as perfect for WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED as the book’s cover!

Seven Questions with Delacorte Author Kirsten Hubbard

2010-07-16T09:28:00.001-04:00

Today we’re speaking with author Kirsten Hubbard about

her upcoming YA novel, LIKE MANDARIN.

Kirsten’s novel and my novel are Random House/Delacorte “sisters” that will be born in 2011!

LZR: Welcome, Kirsten! Can you tell us about LIKE MANDARIN in seven words?

KH: Wildwinds, badlands, beauty, badness, friendships gone wild.

LZR: I understand that you’re both a novelist and a travel writer. Did your travels influence your novel and if so, how?

KH: So much. Somewhat less in Like Mandarin, although all the stunning places I've visited have lent to a passion for setting very apparent in the book. I'm addicted to backdrops that come alive, serving as characters in their own right. My second YA novel is a boisterous backpacker adventure/romance packed with fun, travel philosophies, and menacing tropical insects.

LZR: Other than your main character, who is your favorite character in the story and why?

KH: The irresistible answer is Mandarin, but it could be argued she's the main character just as much as Grace is. So I'll go with Taffeta, Grace's little sister. At age six, she's being groomed by their overbearing mother to rock the child beauty pageant world with her miraculous voice – which she's just learning to use to speak up. She's a minor character, but a major catalyst. Also, she's adorably feisty.

LZR: Were there any scenes that were particularly enjoyable to write, and were there any scenes that were difficult to write?

KH: There's a scene I added during revisions, where Grace takes a walk in the badlands. I wrote that scene in the actual Wyoming badlands, recording the sounds and the silences, the feeling of that empty space. When I reread it, the feeling of walking out there thunders back, all the way to my bones. Also, writing the scene where Mandarin and Grace dance in the cottonwood down was pure exhilaration.

There wasn't one scene that was significantly difficult to write – apart from writerly logistics -- although I did tear up more then once when working on the final confrontations between various characters.

LZR: We’re both authors of realistic YA fiction. What drew you to this genre?

KH: It really was just a matter of Grace and Mandarin's story being the one I ached to tell.

LZR: How long have you been writing, and were you influenced by other authors?

KH: I'm one of those who wrote (and illustrated!) stories as soon as she could make the letters. I'd say every author I've read since then has influenced me in one way or another – whether inspiring me, educating me… or teaching me what not to do. That's why it's important to read widely!

LZR: What is your advice for aspiring authors?

KH: Write that next book. Don't pin all your hopes on the first book you write, because in most cases, it won't be the one that sells (however much that hurts). Plus, nothing tempers query rejection blues better than a new project you're excited about! And further down the road, once you've gained more experience, you can choose to overhaul beloved earlier projects. I did – it's called Like Mandarin :)

Thanks so much, Kirsten!!

LIKE MANDARIN will be released in March 2011.

You can learn more about Kirsten and her novel
by visiting her website: http://www.kirstenhubbard.com/

Seven Questions with Author Medeia Sharif

2010-07-09T08:07:00.003-04:00

Today we’re talking with Medeia Sharif, fellow Elevensie

and author of the

upcoming

BESTEST. RAMADAN. EVER. (Flux, Summer 2011).

LZR: Welcome, Medeia! Can you tell us about BESTEST. RAMADAN. EVER. in seven words?

MS: Ramadan is a crazy month for Almira.

LZR: What is your favorite scene in the novel, and why?

MS: Without giving too much away, there’s a scene in which Almira is dealing with a girl named Shakira who’s been consistently catty towards her. Almira handles her enemy with honesty and maturity.

LZR: Other than your main character, who is your favorite character in the story, and why?

MS: Almira’s grandfather is my favorite, because he’s hilarious. He’s old-fashioned and judgmental, but in a lovable way. His mindset and beliefs are light years from Almira’s, so it’s interesting to see two very different people, old and modern, get along.

LZR: What gave you the idea for this story?

MS: I wanted to write a children’s book or middle grade about Ramadan. Initially I thought of a young boy celebrating the holiday. During the early planning stage I switched it to a teenage girl’s viewpoint, turning my idea into a YA novel. Almira came about. She became more real over time, and I had to write about her.

LZR: We’ve discussed that we miss our characters when we’re done with a novel. Which character from BESTEST. RAMADAN. EVER. do you miss the most?

MS: When I was done I really missed the main character Almira. But I no longer miss her since I’m attempting a sequel. I’m having great fun with it.

LZR:: How long have you been writing?

MS: I started when I was young. I began writing poems and short stories when I was twelve. When I was seventeen I started my first novel and finished it at eighteen. So, I’ve been at this for what seems like forever.

LZR: What is your advice for aspiring authors?

MS: Never be discouraged by your early failures. BESTEST. RAMADAN. EVER. is not my first novel. My current agent is not my first agent. Acknowledge that your first (or even second, third, and fourth) unpublished manuscript was a great experiment that shaped you as a writer. If a relationship with an agent or editor doesn’t work out, tell yourself that you’ll build more sensible relationships in the future with stronger work.

Thanks, Medeia!

Be on the lookout for Medeia’s novel next summer, dear readers! In the meantime, you can keep up with her by visiting her website: http://www.sharifwrites.com/

Medeia also has a book trailer for BESTEST. RAMADAN. EVER., which I think is fantastic. You can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-WVZ_GHTsc

Eagerly Awaiting: LIKE MANDARIN

2010-06-25T07:56:00.023-04:00

I mentioned in my last post that I was planning to write about great future YA finds every few weeks. But . . . I lied. Not intentionally, though. I would never deliberately mislead you, Dear Readers. This misstatement was only because I had no way of knowing all the fantastic upcoming titles I was going to discover while meeting other YA authors through Twitter and the fabulous “Elevensies” 2011 Debut Authors group (http://tinyurl.com/2egnzgr.) So I couldn’t let another Friday go by without mentioning the latest title I’m eagerly anticipating, which is: Kirsten Hubbard’s debut novel, LIKE MANDARIN.

Kirsten is a fellow Random House/Delacorte author, and her book will be published in March 2011.

I’ve blogged (and tweeted) about the importance of covers, and this one really does its job. I love that the image shows only half of the face and that she’s giving us an intense but wounded stare. I can tell that this story is going to be nuanced and emotional, and that’s the experience I’m always hoping for when I open a book. I’m also captivated by the synopsis (taken from Kirsten’s website at http://tinyurl.com/3xrz4z6):

I want to be beautiful like you, I thought, as if Mandarin were listening.

I want apricot skin and Pocahontas hair and eyes the color of tea. I want to be confident and detached and effortlessly sensual, and if promiscuity is part of the package, I will gladly follow your lead. All I know is I'm so tired of being inside my body.

I would give anything to be like Mandarin.

(Excuse me for interrupting, but how gorgeous is that writing? Okay, let’s go on…)

It's hard to find beauty in the badlands of Washokey, Wyoming. Fourteen-year-old Grace Carpenter knows it's not her mother's pageant obsessions, or the cowboy dances and pickup trucks adored by her small-town classmates. True beauty is wild girl Mandarin Ramey: seventeen, shameless and utterly carefree.

Grace would give anything to be like Mandarin.

When the misfits are united for a project, they embark on an unlikely, explosive friendship, packed with nights spent skinny-dipping in the canal, liberating the town's animal-head trophies, and constantly searching for someplace magic. Grace even plays along when Mandarin suggests they make a pact to run away together. Blame it on the crazy-making wildwinds that plague their badlands town.

But all too soon, Grace discovers Mandarin's unique beauty hides a girl who's troubled, broken and even dangerous. And no matter how hard Grace fights to keep the magic, even the best friendships can't withstand betrayal.

Add this one to your list, Dear Readers. LIKE MANDARIN sounds as if it's going to be a great work of realistic YA fiction....my favorite genre!

Books: "Eagerly Awaiting"

2010-06-18T08:19:00.002-04:00

Happy Friday! As I mentioned in my last post, I recently joined Twitter and I’m so glad that I did, because over the past few weeks I’ve met some great YA authors and book bloggers. In doing so, I’ve also discovered many fantastic YA novels that will be published in 2011, and I’m compiling a list of them which I’ll title “Eagerly Awaiting.” (I’ll blog about these finds every few weeks. You didn’t think that I was only going to talk about my book, did you?)

The first novel on my list is Medeia Sharif’s BESTEST. RAMADAN. EVER. (Flux; Summer 2011.) Is the title fantastic or what? It quickly drew me in, and so did the description from the author’s website (http://www.sharifwrites.com/):

Almira Abdul, a Middle Eastern mutt of Syrian and Iranian origins, is fifteen going on sixteen and she’s fasting for Ramadan for the first time ever. Coinciding with the holy month is her first major crush with a boy named Peter, whom her best friend Lisa also is in love with. She also has a new enemy at school, catty Shakira Malik, a fellow Muslim who trades barbs with everyone. Her dentist father also proclaims that she needs braces. Along with the hectic month her grandfather, who knocks down mailboxes and garbage cans when parking, is teaching her how to drive in his tank-like car.

The conflicts of having a continuously growling stomach, getting her driver’s license, repelling Shakira, and trying to win Peter prove how challenging the month of Ramadan is for Almira. BESTEST. RAMADAN. EVER is an honest and humorous look at Almira’s life, her quest to fit in, and how her parents and old-fashioned grandfather clash in their generational differences.

This novel’s title and synopsis immediately struck me as intriguing, clever, and relevant, and I’m sure that it will be a very engaging read.

Thanks for checking in, Dear Readers. Enjoy the weekend!

Twitter Love

2010-06-11T07:28:00.002-04:00

Blogging is coming a little easier to me now that I’ve recently become a member of Twitter. Those 140-character thought bursts are like boot camp for the fine art of writing concisely.

And speaking of Twitter, I must confess that prior to late May, I had never “tweeted” before. To be honest, I had a nagging fear of the tweet. But I took the plunge, Dear Readers, and I’m happy to report that the water is very warm. Since then, I’ve met several fabulous people who are looking forward to January 11, 2011 (the release date for OTHER WORDS FOR LOVE....What? Did you forget already? Isn't that date circled on your calendar in bright red ink?) right along with me. And, like me, they’ve been captivated by my novel’s cover image (which, by the way, was designed by the exceptionally talented Angela Carlino at Random House).

So on this Friday I’m feeling very grateful, especially to those fantastic bloggers who have been kind enough to give me a shout-out on their sites: Sara at The Hiding Spot http://thehidingspot.blogspot.com/2010/06/waiting-on-wednesday-30.html and Jacqueline at The Eclectic Book Lover: http://www.eclecticbooklover.com/2010/06/currently-coveting-6.html.

Have a wonderful weekend, Dear Readers.

2010-06-04T16:28:00.000-04:00

Hello Dear Readers, and welcome to my first blog post. (Hmmm…I sort of sound like Danny DeVito’s Hollywood gossip reporter character in L.A. Confidential…well, that is one of my favorite movies, and I do love Hollywood gossip, so let’s just go with it.)

I must admit that I’m not yet comfortable with blog posts—I’m one of those odd types (I think they're called authors) who are much better at writing from the perspective of imaginary people—but I really do want to connect with all of you who will hopefully read my upcoming novel, Other Words for Love, due to be released from Random House on January 11, 2011. (Hope you don’t mind my shameless self-promotion). It’s a “sophisticated YA” novel, which means that it’ll be a good fit for not only teens but adults, too.

As you or may or may not know, publishing a novel is a long and arduous process, but I’ve finally reached the fun part. My book cover was recently finalized (see that lovely thing to the left?) and I couldn’t be happier with it. The delicately fragile mouth, the glamorous but gritty NYC skyline…it completely captures the essence of the story.

I know I’m bragging about how much I love my cover (Is that rude and tasteless? Is it like bragging about your kids? A book definitely can be equated to a baby, so maybe I should shut up now) but for an author, seeing his/her cover makes all the countless hours typing away on a keyboard (not to mention everything else involved in getting a novel published) very, very worth it.

Well, as I said, I’m new to this, Dear Readers, so please forgive my brevity. I’ll be back again soon…and thanks for checking in.