I Was a Teenage Drive-Thru Goddess!

My first job (aside from babysitting, which I pretty much sucked at back then) was less than fabulous for sure.

I worked the drive-thru for Mickey D's. Haha to Marley! (see yesterday's post!)

My bff Tonya and I both got jobs there when we found out they were building a location in our neighborhood. I have to admit the gray slacks & burgundy shirts were not our best looks, but we made it through... although Tonya lasted way less days than I did. Eventually I was even training other kids. I know... overachiever, even at a fast food joint.

I could tell you some crazy stories about that place. About dealing with pervy middle-aged managers. About how awkward it was when rich kids from my high school pulled up in their convertibles outside my drive-thru window. About the time a boy who worked the grill (and went to an all boys Catholic high school) was in love with me. The night I told him it would never work (he was nice but not for me) he was slamming the dishes in the sink at the back of the restaurant to the tune of Percy's Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman". Eek.

But probably the best thing to come out of that whole year and a half at the Golden Arches was that when a casting person for the McDonalds commercials spotted me at an employees open call and I was picked to be in a national ad campagin.

I was the girl washing a window on the "Hip to Be Crew" commercial that aired during and just after my senior year of high school. That spot paid residuals that helped me with living expenses my first year of college. And... made me a temporary member of the Screen Actors Guild !

So, yes, I was a drive-thru goddess. And somehow it paid off. :)

Did anyone else work fast food?

Hugs,

Heather

Heather Davis is the author of

Never Cry Werewolf

Coming in 2008 from HarperCollins

First job...sooooooeeeee pig!

We're talking about first jobs here at Books, Boys, Buzz. What a fun topic, eh? I can't wait to see what everyone else has to say.

My first *paying* job was on my parents' farm. We had cows, chickens, horses, cats, dogs...and pigs. Lots of pigs. My father was a mechanical engineer who after his fourth heart attack decided to become gentleman farmer. Now, have you ever seen a mechanical engineer design a farm? The man did research and read books and magazines and designed this amazing barn for our pigs. There was a section for the sows about to have babies, another section for babies when they were a little older (called feeder pigs) and other sections for the older pigs. All on pavement. See, pigs are very clean animals...unless they're put in mud. So, my engineer father put them in this high-tech situation on concrete. It was really amazing...but, the pens needed cleaning.



That's where I came in. With rubber gloves, high boots, a squeegee, and a water hose, I would spray down the...well, the pig poopie (sorry!) and squeegee it down to a trough that took it to an underground cesspool. How gross is that? Well, it was a job and it paid a whopping $2.50 per hour. Let me tell you what.



Not very glamorous, but I saved a lot of money that helped lead to my first car.

Maybe I shoul have just gone to work the drive-through at McDonald's, eh? LOL!!

So...what was your first job? How much did you get paid? Did you learn anything from it?

Marley = )
SORORITY 101: Rush
SORORITY 101: Pledge Class
May 2008

What I'm reading: Revenge of the Homecoming Queen, by our fab Stephanie Hale

We Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Posting...

Apologies in advance for deviating from the week's theme, because this is about neither sports nor guys. As some of you may know (since I've posted this plea on MySpace) I am facing a major career decision. Okay, technically it is a question of vanity that happens to involve my writing career. I have to choose my author photo. At this point it's just for the publisher catalog, but will also wind up on the jacket flap, my website, and who knows where else. The problem is, I have three pictures to choose from and the votes from everyone I've asked so far have been pretty evenly distributed. So I need your help, Buzz Readers. Which of the following is the best author photo?






Thanks in advance for your help,
TLC

OH. MY. GODS.
Dutton Children's Books
May 2008

Star Speedskater

Apolo Anton Ohno sped into my consciousness in the 2002 Olympics, a hotshot speedskater with confidence, good humor--and most admirably, resilience. Although he was considered the shoo-in to win the 1000 meter race, a competitor trigged a massive wipeout, sending Ohno, along with others, into the barriers. A last-place racer easily crossed the finish line, but it was Ohno’s “oh, well, stuff happens” attitude that got him back to his feet in time to take the silver. In interviews afterwards, he shrugged the incident off, and kept his focus to go take gold in the 1500.

On top of this, he’s so darned cute! In fact, when writing HOW TO HOOK A HOTTIE (January, 2008, Delacorte Press), whose settings include a skating rink, there was no question of whether or not I’d mention him as a skater the girls admired…it was more a question of how many times. (Final Answer? Once. Because when you’re as dynamic as he is, once is enough.)

Earlier this year, Ohno announced his plans to compete in the 2010 Olympics. But otherwise, he’s been busy engaging in a whole new sport: ballroom dancing. Along with a partner, Julianne Hough, he tackled the Quickstep, the Cha Cha, the Paso Doble and others well enough to make it to the finals on his 25th birthday, and be named the 4th season winners.


I’m looking forward to seeing lots more of Ohno, whether it’s on ice, cement or the dance floor!

How about you?


What I'm Reading: There's a (Slight) Chance I Might Be Going to Hell, Laurie Notaro

Tina

Tina Ferraro
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress, out now
How to Hook a Hottie, Spring, 2008
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, Spring, 2009

I'm a real girl when it comes to sports...

So you can imagine the fear I am beginning to feel at having two toddlers that are so incredibly active they will surely play every sport known to man. Luckily, my husband doesn't sit around watching sports all the time, but he does love baseball. Especially the Saint Louis Cardinals. So my hottie sports guy is Albert Pujols (pronounced- pooh holes) at least that's how my hubby taught our boys to say it. Check him out.

Pujols is all the rage in St. Louis, which was very obvious when we visited there last weekend. The Cardinals, who won the 2006 World Champions, just got a brand new stadium last year. Even for a non-sport lover like me, I had to admit, the stadium is gorgeous!

I know that Pujols plays first base and is really good, but if you are looking for stats, you're here on the wrong day. Seriously though, how cool would it be to play your favorite game and get paid for it? I bet it's almost as good as getting paid to make up stories.

Pujols doing a little OJ humor before practice. Sorry, I couldn't resist. He's hot though, right? That is what I am slowly starting to appreciate about sports. Even though I may not have a clue what is going on, the scenery ain't all bad! And if your significant other is always hogging the remote watching sports and you can't ever agree on a movie, I have a suggestion, try Fever Pitch. It really is an adorable movie that appeals to baseball lovers & lovers of chick flicks!

What I'm reading...Dream Factory by Brad Barkley and Heather Hepler

xo,
Steph
REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN, OUT NOW~~~~~~~

QT QB (aka Cutie Quarterbacks!)

People who are born and raised in Chicago are into sports. It doesn't matter if you're a girl or boy, it's in your blood. I was brought up as a little girl going to the Bears games with my grandfather, who was a 40 year season ticket holder. I even went to Walter Payton's last home game (if you don't know who Walter Payton is, I'll pray for you) Walter was a running back for the Bears, and a real hero. Unfortunately he passed away in 1999.

Let's talk quarterbacks. They're the center of the game, without them a ball couldn't be passed, tossed, or handed off. The quarterback is the target of the linebackers, and there's a lot of pressure on them. Especially if you play for the Bears. Our fans are brutal. If you don't step up, they'll tear you apart. Which brings me to Rex Grossman, the Bears quarterback.

Rex is a total hottie! He's taken a lot of heat for not playing well, although his stats are great and he even helped bring the Bears to the Super Bowl. I like him because even though the fans are brutal, he still wins games. He doesn't let the gossip or the heat ruin his game. So here's to you, Rex! (and I love your name!)


Let's get to the rival...Peyton Manning. The quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. They beat the Bears in the Super Bowl. I was not happy about that. But I have to give Peyton props. Not only is he hot, he brought his team to the Super Bowl and kicked butt big time.


I can't wait to see how these two play this season. (and, to be honest, I don't know if poor Rex is going to be traded) Hopefully my Bears will get to the Super Bowl again. It would be great to cheer them on. The last time they won the Super Bowl was when I was a sophomore in high school...which was a while ago!

Simone Elkeles
www.simoneelkeles.com

Our newest import

Posh & Becks, Beckingham Palace, Bend it like Beckham...yes, he really is one of England's greatest superstars. We are, of course, talking about David Beckham. Now, I don't know much about soccer or goals or whatever, but I do know my cute guys and he is unmatched in his hot-ness.

From dominating on the soccer fields, to being a wonderful father, or a really sexy husband, David Beckham & his beautiful family is truly a welcome addition to the incestous Hollywood circle. David and Victoria's new dual fragrance "Intimately Beckham's" new ad campaign is hot, hot, HOT.

And even though they were hit with a major nanny-gate scandal a few years ago, they seem to have recovered nicely. David and Victoria always seem to be completely in love and totally crazy about their adorable kids.

Welcome to LA!

------------------------------------

Dona Sarkar-Mishra

http://donasarkarmishra.com/

HOW TO SALSA IN A SARI - January 2008 from Harlequin's Kimani Tru

Sports Hotties?

So, uh...confession time...


I'm a girl who only went to a handful of sporting events in high school. (I know!)

Then... I attended a college that only had a soccer, rugby, ultimate frisbee, and boomerang team. (And apparently a basketball team, though I still think that's a rumor.)

Although I did go to a few soccer games to scope out a cute forward named Aaron during my frosh year, and I did watch a rugby game or two (ok, make that the rugby players) during my years of higher education, it's never been an obsession for me.

Nowadays, I don't follow sports very much, but I can tell you nothing is cooler on a guy that someone who rocks whatever they do.


So... ladies, I give you Ichiro!


Even if you don't watch baseball, you may have heard of the Japanese outfielder sensation on the Seattle Mariners. He's so fun to watch.


Partly, I like going to the ball game to eat fish n' chips (a Seattle thing) and hear the sound of the train echoing through Safeco Field, but I also like watching Ichiro at work. Plus, he's cute!


How about you? Is there anyone on your local sports team you like to watch?


Or did you ever watch a sporting event just to see a crush?


Hugs,

Heather

Heather Davis is the author of
Never Cry Werewolf
Coming in 2008 from HarperCollins

Sports Hotties

It's been a while since we Buzz Girls have done a week on luscious eye candy, so we're having "Sports Hotties" week where we'll be looking at some of our favorite sports stars.

I have to start out with my favorite sport (hockey), my favorite team (Toronto Maple Leafs), and my favorite player...Darcy Tucker. Isn't he adorable? Sure, he's a beast and likes to pound the other team's faces when they dis his mates, but he's got a heart of gold and is fiercly loyal to his teammates.





Now, let's move to another favorite sport (football), another favorite team (Miami Dolphins), and another hot, hot guy...Jason Taylor. So what the Dolphins haven't been good for a few years? Still, I get to look at Jason Taylor chase quarterbacks all over the field, make sacks, and occassially run in a fumble for a touchdown.





And, a recent addition to the eye candy dish...was it just me who couldn't take my eyes off the Wimbledon finals or what? Federer vs. Nadal. Well, let me have a look at that cute little Roger...





Cleans up nice, eh? Whattaya think?

Marley = )
SORORITY 101: Rush
SORORITY 101: Pledge Class
May 2008
(Note name change for my books!)

TLC's Dallas Top Ten

I'm usually the one taking a billion pictures and annoying the bajeezus (sp?) out of everyone by saying, "Smile!" But this conference I only took a couple, so this will be an unillustrated post. Instead, I'm just going to post my Top Ten moments of the Dallas conference (some personal, some universal). Bear with me.

1. Meeting all the Buzz Girls (except Marley--but we had already met)! It's one thing to form a bond, a sisterhood online, but when it comes to actually meeting face-to-face it's a little terrifying. There were a few moments where I was like, "Um... what do I say now?" But that disappeared quickly. It's good when instincts get proven right. =)
2. Catching up with my critique partner and very great friend Sharie and other West Houston RWAers (whom I hadn't seen in nearly a year). It made me realize how much I miss my home chapter--and how much they have meant to me and my career thus far. Which made #3 all the sweeter...
3. Telling my critique partner and very great friend Sharie and other West Houston RWAers that I will be moving back to Houston at the end of the summer. After fending off the suggestion that I run for president of the chapter (no, no, no, and no) I received the warmest welcome back a girl could ask for.
4. Seeing Buzz Girls Simone, Tina, and Steph sign their books at the literacy signing!
5. Knowing that Buzz Girls Dona, Marley, and I will be added to their ranks next year. (And Heather the year after that, but hopefully there will be Werewolf ARCs to pass around in San Francisco!)
6. Listening to keynote speaker Lisa Kleypas share the tragic story of how a flood took all her family's belongings, and how a romance novel was one of the necessities both she and her mother needed to begin to get their lives back on track. She reminded me how vital something as seemingly inconsequential as commercial fiction can truly affect the lives of readers. You never know who will be reading your book... and whether you book just might be the escape they need to make it through the day.
   
7. Getting a voicemail from my agent the instant I landed in Dallas, with some very good--but not yet official, so you have to wait a few days--good news.
   
8. Attending Buzz Girl Simone's YA workshop (along with Boy Wonder and YA superstar Shannon Greenland). The room was packed with aspiring--and published--YA authors who prove that the Young Adult genre is thriving and growing.
   
9. Seeing Barb Caridad Ferrar win the freakin' RITA!!! It felt like a coup for all the young adult authors in the audience! Her charge to make the Young Adult RITA category fly next year will hopefully urge wary authors to enter. Her win secures the genre in the heart and the history of RWA.
   
10. Saying goodbye. Because you have to say goodbye before you can say hello again... and San Francisco is only twelve months away. So much has happened for all of us in the last twelve months, I can only imagine where we'll be after the next twelve!

So those are my top ten favorite moments from this year's conference. I'm such a sap that I'm tearing up just thinking about them all. I'm proud to be a Buzz Girl. I'm proud to be an author. Attending conference every year reminds me of just how lucky I am.

Hugs,
TLC

The Conference That Keeps On Giving...

One of the best things about going to a romance writer’s conference is the books. The ones you find waiting on your luncheon seat, the ones you pick up in the goodie room, and of course, the autographed copies you purchase at the Literary Signing.

Buzz Girl Stephanie Hale and I struck up a deal from back-when that we would buy a copy of each other’s book at the Literary Signing so that a) we wouldn’t look like dorks who no one wanted to visit; and b) so we could have signed copies; and c) just cuz it sounded like fun.

And we did just that. The difference was, she’d long ago read mine, but her book, REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN, was pretty much hot-off-the-press. With the whirlwind activities, it took a few days until I got to crack the spine. (Ouch, sorry, Steph, that sounded painful.) I only got to read a few pages, but the fast pacing and playful tone were enough to draw me right in.

Here’s a picture of Steph and me (I’m the one showing all that skin, but minus the flabby arm this time), with me telling her that I’m SO going to read her book on the flight home.



And read it, I did. Including some laugh-out-loud moments to my travelmate/roommate, and all-around good buddy, author Janie Emaus (shown with me here following the Daphne Awards earlier in the week).


Back home, I was supposed to be writing and cleaning house and cooking and, well, sleeping, but Steph’s heroine, Aspen Brooks, was having NONE of that. She would not let me rest until all her problems were solved and threads neatly resolved.



Take my word for it: REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN is a joyride! Fun and funny, touching, snarky…a book that leaves you wanting more. Which Steph and her publisher will be sharing with us sometime next year...

Anyway, I’m wondering if any of you--writers and readers--have come upon favorite books from conferences, contests, giveaways or in some unusual ways, too? If so, please, do share!

Tina

Tina Ferraro
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress, out now
How to Hook a Hottie, Spring, 2008
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, Spring, 2009

Global chicks, Harlequin Parties and Cheap-ass food!

My visit to Dallas for the RWA National Conference started off a little differently than most....Heather and I flew in together on Tuesday night and after a quick session with Simone & the Chicago North Posse at the bar, we crashed.

Day 1: Dona goes on a hunt of cheap-ass food after seeing the hotel's outrageous prices the night before. $12 for chicken strips--uh-huh, I don't THINK so! I passed this gorgeous red museum and finally found a ghetto-diner, a cute little restaurant (F&G) and a little bakery/cafe. Also a cowboy store and a bbq joint. I bought some REAL Texas BBQ sauce for a friend and for DH.

Then it was time for the Literacy Signing. I met so many of my fellow authors. And to think, I'll be behind the tables next year!

Heather and Tera doin' their thing--BEEing fab =)

Buzz Girl Tina Ferraro with Caridad Ferrer in the background

Me and Steph Hale. Ain't we divas? =)

I couldn’t get past Simone’s huge, long line to get a closer pic! The mob scene around Ms. Elkesles!!!

Then came the running-upstairs-to-change and the chick-lit party followed..

Late at night, we had a mini-BBG gathering to celebrate Tina's birthday with cakes! We stayed up late chatting about boys, families and writing.

Day 2: Thursday was a half-day of workshops and I FINALLY found the gorgeous (and LATE!) Nadine Dajani at lunch! We sat at a table with Kelli Estes, Christina Arbini and Heather and ate questionable chicken and yummy cheesecake.

That night was the Buzz Girls dinner/meeting atop the Hyatt ball in the Antares restaurant. First we got a long table where we would have to yell. After some, ahem, negotiation, we got a better deal. As Heather demonstrated, you can definitely catch more bees with honey!


Aren’t we glam?

Then came the Golden Network Party where Heather Davis got the boot after selling her NEVER CRY WEREWOLF to HarperCollins. Also booted, Wendy Toliver for the sale of her book CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE SIREN to Simon Pulse. Yay girls!

Heather and her agent, Wonder Boy, er Stephen Barbara

Day 3: Friday was Simone's YA workshop, followed by an afternoon of workshops. I got a chance to meet up with my lovely agent Sha-Shana Crichton and chat about my future for a bit, all while leaning over a balcony and spying in publishing professionals.

Me and my wonderful agent, the gorgeous Sha-Shana Crichton. She ROCKS!

Then came one of the best parts of the trip: the Harlequin party. They say you'll never forget your first publishers party and they were right. A plethora of desserts, open bar and so many truffles, my head was swimming. Everyone was dancing up a storm and the ballroom was rockin’.

Me and my new best friend Nora Roberts. Wow, what a dancer she is!

Kimani Girls -- Ann Christopher, Sha-Shana Crichton and me

.

Yes, the rumours are true, Sha-Shana and I did indeed steal a bag of M&Ms and a limo at the end of the night

Day 4: Saturday was the amazing Michael Hague workshop. Seriously, people, if you haven't seen this man present, BUY THE FREAKING DVD! I have never had such a life-altering workshop before. I was almost in tears. No kidding. My writing is literally never going to be the same again. Hands down, the best workshop I've attended in my writing career. He talked a lot about the heroes journey and why two people connect at a deeper level. Seriously folks, great stuff.

I crashed the St. Martin's signing and had fan-girl moments with the gorgeous Blossom and Michelle (CHINA DOLLS) and Nadine Dajani (FASHIONABLY LATE).
Then was the GH/Ritas where history was made with an ethnic YA novel taking"Best Single Title Contemporary Novel." I am so incredibly proud of Barb "Caridad" Ferrer and her ADIOS TO MY OLD LIFE.
We partyied like rock-stars we are after the awards.

On the way home, we had real Texas BBQ with Julia Quin, Elizabeth Boyle and Jane Porter...amazing, sweet, brilliant ladies =)

All in all, the best conference EVER!

...can't wait for San Francisco!
---------------------------
Dona Sarkar-Mishra
http://donasarkarmishra.com/
HOW TO SALSA IN A SARI - January 2008 from Harlequin's Kimani Tru

I Touched a Rita!!!

Hello Honorary Bees!

Well, Conference Memories week continues...

So much happened in Dallas. First of all, if you've been reading the blog lately, you've enjoyed Marley Gibson's Fabulous Dallas Adventure. Marley was everywhere.

Next year, if someone can't make it -- God forbid it's me! -- I vote that we get a life-size cutout. Maybe Jessica Alba will have a new DVD release and we can steal her cardboard body from Blockbuster and paste a Buzz Girl face on? I'm just sayin.... This stand-in idea could blossom...

Okay, some personal highlights from the week....

Here I am with my beautiful partner in crime, Dona Sarkar, with our "First Sale" ribbons. If you haven't been to RWA national, these are the pink flags you get to stick on your name tag when you finally sell a book. All week long, people ask you the name of your book and when it's coming out... so it's pretty cool... And it's kinda good promotion, too.

Here I am on Wednesday with YA Uber Goddess Nic Burnham at the charity booksigning. Nic is so sweet and a great writer. She serves on the National RWA board and just kicks butt in general.

I went all around the event snapping photos and then waited in the gi-normous line to buy my books. It was so hot and humid in there, I about fainted. Luckily, some girls were passing out jelly beans.

Not that they will save you from fainting, they are just delicious...

On Thurday night after the Buzz Girl dinner at the top of the world, Marley accompanied us to the Golden Network party. It was fun and look, I got a certificate to frame!

Here's a picture with my good friend and mentor Pat White. She's like a big sister to me. I look a little scared in the picture because I'm trying hard not to mess up my smile. I'm always the girl blinking or talking in photos, people. This shot took some work.

You can almost see my dress -- I was channeling Audrey Hepburn that week and this was the Roman Holiday look. You'll see me working the Breakfast at Tiffany's look later in the week...

Okay, on Friday night, the people at Avon actually let us HarperCollins Teen authors come to the big family dinner! My first publisher party! (Cue choirs of angels...)

They had buses which took us from the Hyatt to the beautiful Hotel Zaza and get this... SUSAN ELIZABETH PHILLIPS sat next to me on the bus and talked about Harry Potter and the new Harper YA book Wicked Lovely with me and Mary Castillo and Ann Mallery. Yep, Melissa Marr (author of Wicked Lovely) and I have the same editor. She's a genius so I'm in good hands..

Here I am with Julie Blattberg, Harper's online guru, and Terri Clark, Harperteen author of Sleepless Summer, which comes out next uh... summer. Duh! Terri is a sweetheart. Friend her on myspace if you haven't already.

The food was awesome at the Hotel Zaza. Yummy appetizers like chicken on skewers (what do you do with the skewers after!) veggie fresh rolls, and little potstickers.

Dinner was salmon or steak, delicious mashed taters, grilled veggies and then yummy strawberry shortcake. I was gonna take a picture of the food, but I didn't want to be too geeky... I did shout out the name of my book when they introduced me. (And people laughed at the title! Yay!)

Also, Avon gave us totes of great stuff, including an audio book of the complete works of Dorothy Parker. Love her! Can't wait to listen to that. Chatted with nice folks like Lynda Sandoval and also, Jacquie D'Allesandro introduced me to her stuffed animal alligator purse. So cute! On the bus home I sat with Tera's friend Sophie Jordan, who was just lovely. Good people over there at Avon.

I was too tired to go out to Dona's HQ party, so I just had a fangirl moment with the fabulous Rachel Gibson and then went to bed.

Saturday... had a dinner meeting with my "wonder"ful agent. He'd been surrounded by Buzz Girls since the moment he landed -- heaven help him! -- but he took it all in stride. Maybe he's our honorary Buzz Boy?

Anyway, we had a great dinner away from the hotel and then made it back in time to join the Buzz Girls section at the Golden Hearts/Ritas. It was my agent's first time at nationals, so he wasn't sure to expect.

During the awards program he leaned over and said, "Hey, this is kind of a big deal." I was like, "Duh." ;) (See he didn't know because he's sheltered from the glitz and glamour of the RWA -- but no longer!)

Oh, I ransacked Dona's bag of M & M's (mooched from the Harelquin party which I'm sure she'll tell us all about) during the Awards and then we all shmoozed and chatted and ate lots of nummy desserts.

I captured this next photo late in the evening -- the adorable Mari Mancusi trying to snag YA author Caridad Ferrer's Rita for Best Contemporary Romance.

Ladies! There will be a YA category next year! Mari, your time will come.

We chatted in the bar with new friend Shannon Greenland and old friend Delilah Ahrendt and hubby -- and then Dona and I hit our respective hays.



Finally, exhausted and nearly broke from the hotel bill, Dona and I headed for the airport on Sunday... Only to find Rita winner JULIA QUINN and her bestselling buddies Elizabeth Boyle and Jane Porter.

So where do giant authors hang out? In the airport bookstore/cafe of course! They were so sweet--- and all were on the same flight as us, since they are NW girls too.

And then... Julia let us touch her Rita! It (or is it SHE?) was traveling in her Coach bag, of course.

Then, we had Texas airport barbecue with those romance giants 'cuz that's how we Buzz Girls roll...

(Acutally, they really did invite us! When I'm that famous, I'm so going to invite little YA authors to lunch in airports. It's just good karma, dontcha think?)

Hope you all had fun on my adventure!

Hugs,

Heather

Heather Davis is the author of

Never Cry Werewolf

Coming in 2008 from HarperCollins

Marley is on her way back to Boston

First of all, sorry to all of you living vicariously through the blog that I didn't get to post on Saturday. My internet service ran out...blah...blah...was having a blast....blah...couldn't force myself to post after getting home at 11pm last night! So here are a few memories that I missed. The conference was so wonderful. I met so many amazing authors and I consider myself lucky to call them not only collegues, but friends.

Here is Marley helping Heather with her moderator responsibilities at the YA workshop, It's Not Cheating If It's With A Younger Guy. The speakers were our very own Buzz Girl, Simone Elkeles (who was hilarious, as usual), Stephen Barbara from The Donald Maass Agency, and the adorable Shannon Greenland(author of the Model Spy books).

Heather & her agent, Stephen Barbara at the Golden Pen party where Heather got the boot for selling her first book, Never Cry Werewolf. We ate the most delicious warm brownie dessert and watched a fun skit. The theme was A View to a Sale.


The champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries that my awesome bookclub sent!



Marley reading her Rita/Golden Heart program. Note the lady glancing suspiciously at us. We got that a lot!


Me & Dona.


The Queen of Teen Fiction: Caridad "Barb" Ferrer

Everyone is so proud of Barb. I got goosebumps & still do when I heard her name called. She was so poised. I felt so honored to know her when she got up and took "her" moment of glory to help other young adult authors in the future. I have no doubt that there will be a YA RITA category next year! Thanks, Barb!
Me & Tina. She's doing that weird thing with her arm so you don't see her glass of wine. Busted, Tina.

All the Buzz Girls looking fancy!

Dallas was the bomb but San Fran is going to ROCK! :)

xo,

Steph

Marley's Friday Adventures

Today was a busy day filled with workshops, Steph's first Berkley booksigning (she sat six seats away from Nora Roberts and feared for her life when they opened the doors and hundreds of women practically destroyed everything in their path to get to her)! Here's Marley being silly with a fresh tulip in her mouth.


Here is me (steph) with my fabulous editor, Cindy Hwang. I stick these in because I can and none of the buzz girls can stop me! (insert evil giggle here).

This is what Tera does when she is supposed to be mingling with important Penguin people.

The Knight Agency babes partying at the Penguin/NAL cocktail party. Marley enjoyed a Buzz Girl Bomb(a special cocktail that we forced the bartender to make in her honor. Okay, not really, this is fiction people).

Marley had way too many special cocktails and proceeded to make out with an unidentified male at the party. Sorry, Mike. We tried to stop her. Rumor has it he is a powerful force on the NYC publishing scene. Rumor also has it that he promised her a six figure deal on her next series so maybe the infidelity was excusable.

Stephanie's amazing book club (Chix N' Lil) sent her a bottle of champagne (which is nearly empty as I type) and chocolate-covered strawberries. They are the freaking bomb!

DISCLAIMER: THE BUZZ GIRLS DO NOT ENCOURAGE DRINKING ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES UNTIL YOU REACH THE AGE OF 21, UNLESS YOU LIVE IN GERMANY. ALCOHOL SHOULD ONLY BE CONSUMED IN MODERATION. NONE OF THE BUZZ GIRLS EVER DRANK BEFORE TURNING 21.
WE RESUME YOU TO YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING NOW.

Marley got sloshed and tried to jump into the gorgeous hotel water fountain. Tera sacrificed herself to save her cuz that's how the buzz girls buzz. :) See ya tomorrow!

Marley's Adventures Continued....

Marley spent the day catching up on her sleep because Steph & Tera kept her up until 2am gabbing. When she finally decided to get up, she had dinner at Antares (Marley, we didn't have cell reception to call you!). Antares is a fancy, schmancy restaurant fifty stories in the air. The restaurant rotates while you are eating dinner. Unfortunately, Tina has vertigo and Steph didn't know this when she booked the reservation, but it turned out fabulously.

Marley started out with a glass of pinot grigio.

Had a little bread and butter.

Cheesed it with Tera & Simone.

Then she moved on to the Golden Network Dessert Reception where Heather and Marley's cp, Wendy Toliver, got booted out because of their first sales! It was fun. Marley even got to meet Heather's agent, Stephen Barbara, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Fred Savage. Seriously smoking, folks. We kept telling Marley to stop drooling.

The Buzz Girls wore Marley out so she's in for the night, chillin in her cowboy hat, reading her free Meg Cabot book. Could there be four more beautiful words? FREE MEG CABOT BOOKS! Unfortunately, she's not here this year, probably because she knew Marley couldn't come either. Good night, Marley, we miss you!

Your friendly BEE-OTCHES!

This picture has nothing to do with Marley, but it's just so cool that I just had to post it!

The Adventures of Marley at 2007 RWA Nationals/Dallas

The Buzz Girls figured if Marley couldn't come to Dallas, that we would bring Dallas to her, and all of you. So our little Marley will be taking some adventures this week. We hope you have as much fun reading about them as she did taking them. Marley spent most of the evening at the 2007 RWA "Readers for Life" Literacy Book Signing. Let's check out who she schmoozed with.

Here is Marley with her awesome agent, Deidre Knight. She was so happy to see you, Marley.


Here Marley is with buzz girls, Tera, me, and Tina. Don't we look fabulous??

Marley getting some love from another Knight Agency super-agent, Elaine Spencer. How cute is that?

Dona, Heather, Tina, and Heather showing Marley off.

Marley's off to the Chick Lit party now! See ya tomorrow!

xo,

Steph~

New words!

Merriam-Webster's has added over 100 words this year to the dictionary, including the word that combines "gigantic" and "enormous" -- a total YA word:



Younger, hipper, more urban terms are turning up in the new edition such as "crunk" and "speed dating" and the craze of "sudoku." Not everyone thinks this is a good idea, but here's what the president of Merriam-Webster had to say:

"There will be linguistic conservatives who will turn their nose up at a word like `ginormous,'" said John Morse, Merriam-Webster's president. "But it's become a part of our language. It's used by professional writers in mainstream publications. It clearly has staying power."

What words would you like to see in the mainstream dictionary next time? What word or phrase would you make up of your own that you'd like to see go down in history as a great catch phrase?

And for the record...Merriam-Webster traces ginormous back to 1948, when it appeared in a British dictionary of military slang.

Let's hear what you think!

Beach Reads

Don't you love this time of year when you can sit by the pool/beach, out on the porch or just splay out in a lawn chair, curl up in the sunshine and read a good book? Beach reads are definitely the best!

What are you reading this summer? Any great books to share? Let us know!



Buzz Girls

WE HAVE A WINNER!

Thanks to everyone who left a comment/entry to win a copy of Jennifer Echols' new YA book THE BOYS NEXT DOOR. I'm about half-way through it and I just love it!

Without further ado, the winner is...

~*~*~*~* Kiki!!! *~*~*~*~

Congratulations! You've won a copy of THE BOYS NEXT DOOR!

Please e-mail me offline at marley_gibson @ yahoo.com (no spaces) and provide me with your mailing address so I can get it off to you ASAP!

For those of you headed to Dallas for the Romance Writers of America Conference, have a wonderful time and look for the Buzz Girls!

Marley = )
Sorority Rush Begins - May 2008!
Rush - A Sisterhood Novel
Pledge Class - A Sisterhood Novel
Puffin Books

Homecoming!

Homecoming at my high school was always a big production -- and to be honest, I didn't really get into it until my junior year. That year, I helped on the committee and designed some of the "bleacher" decorations we made -- winning the junior class first place, I might add. :)

But the Homecoming dances were always a bit of a disaster. The worst was that same junior year when the guy I took to Homecoming (he was a friend, or so I thought) argued with me over dinner (about the politics of vegetarianism -- he was NOT on the veggie side like I was) and then, when we said goodnight on my porch and I offered him a chaste kiss on the cheek, he was all, "That's it?"

"Uh... we're friends. What did you expect?" was my pithy reply.

So, yeah... not the most romantic date or ending.

My dress did rock that year, though. It was a vintage late fifties cocktail dress of black jaquard material with a hidden pink silk flap that you saw when I walked and it had accents of pink piping that matched. It was very Audrey. I came across that dress in preparing to move to the big city last summer and bemoaned the fact I could no longer fit into that swank little number.

Oh, well. So, hooray for Steph's book release!! I can't wait to read about Aspen and her escapades. I'm so proud of you Steph!

Hugs!

Heather

Heather Davis is the author of
Never Cry Werewolf
coming in 2008 from HarperCollins!

Homecoming Rulz!!

I always loved Homecoming in high school. The time of year. The school spirit in the air. Everyone buying their Homecoming outfits, scrambling for a date, and wondering who would be named Homecoming Queen.



Every school does it differently. Some have queens and princesses. Others have a king and queen.



My school had attendants and the queen. The attendants each representated one of the high school classes and the queen came from the senior class.

Some school have their ceremony on the football field during the game, with either an escort by the winner's father or her boyfriend.



Some even have the football players escort the court.



There are banners, crowns, maybe a ceptor or two, but always a big, bubbly radiant smile from the winner.



Face it, it's the pinnacle of a high school career...getting the rhinestone crown placed on your head! How that must feel!



But, it's almost as fun to see a good friend or a friendly person win the title and share in her joy.



And imagine the smile on my face this morning when I received my shipment from Amazon.com with our fabulous Stephanie Hale's debut, REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN! I can't wait for the weekend to start so I can delve into this book!



Happy Homecoming week to all!

Marley = )
Sorority Rush Begins - May 2008!
Rush - A Sisterhood Novel
Pledge Class - A Sisterhood Novel
Puffin Books

What I'm reading...THE BOYS NEXT DOOR by Jenn Echols (which I'll announce the winner of a copy of it on Monday, July 9th!)

Homecoming with a friend!

I went to homecoming my freshman year of high school with my friend Bobby Lew...yes, we did call him Babalou because I Love Lucy was so popular and we joked about it.

Bobby didn't want to go, at first. He was one of my best friends from my old school and when I transfered I didn't have a plethora of friends to be my date. In those days, nobody went stag. (I hear it's very common to go to these dances with a bunch of friends if you're not dating a specific person...but that's not how it was at my high school)

I convinced Bobby to go with me ("convincing" phone call took about an hour) and he agreed to go. He even bought me a corsage. We went with Wendy and Tim, a friend and her boyfriend.

I must say at the end of the night that Bobby said he thought he'd have a crappy time, but he had a great time. No kiss, but I'm sure I hugged him and thanked him for being my escort. Sometimes going with friends of the opposite sex is great, even if it takes them a while to warm up to the idea.

I must say that I'm extremely excited about Steph's book, and have already ordered it from my fave independent bookstore, Under the Sycamore Tree. I can't wait until they have it in! Congrats, Steph!

Simone Elkeles
www.simoneelkeles.com

Homecoming Buzz Continues...

I am thrilled to be participating in Homecoming Week, honoring our wonderful Stephanie Hale’s first release, REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN.

My high school didn’t do much in the way of Homecoming (or if they did, they did it without me), but I’ve been a fly-on-the-wall at celebrations at my kids’ schools. Some of you may have already heard the following story, but since I’m writing this from Hawaii and my brain is a bit sun-soaked, it seems right to me to bear repeating…

Last year, I did publicity for my son’s high school, and one of my assignments was to do a write-up on the crowning of the Homecoming Queen for submission to the local newspapers.

The afternoon of the game, my younger son asked if he had baseball practice later. “Yes,” I told him. “But Dad’s going to take you. I have to go cover Homecoming for the papers.”

My son got real silent, and when I looked over at him, his face was contorted with worry. "Mom?” he said tentatively. “Don't you think they should find someone, you know, who actually understands football, to do that?"

It took me a moment to realize he thought I had meant the game coverage. And I could just imagine what had been charging through his head, that I’d write something like:

“Omigod, so the hottie in the white helmet did a body slam against some bruiser on the other team, and can you buh-LEEVE he grabbed the ball from the guy's hands? I mean, people, someone could get hurt here...”

After I assured him that the actual game would be covered by a sports professional--and that I was perfectly capable of writing news copy on the crowning--we got a good laugh out of it…

Which brings me right back to REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN, a book I know will bring you laughs, and delight you on many levels. So be like a Buzz Girl and fly to your nearest bookseller and buy a copy today!

Review: Revenge of the Homecoming Queen

Every high school has one. A girl you love to hate. A girl who has everything handed to her on a silver platter, complete with linen napkin and fresh ground pepper. She dates the most popular guy, wears the most fashionable clothes, and has no doubt where the homecoming queen tiara is going to land--on her head. Aspen Brooks is that girl.

Only, from the opening pages, her perfectly aligned life begins to go off track. The tiara goes to arch-rival cheerleader Angel Ives, the kingship goes to uber-geek Rand Bachrach, and she suspects her super-jock boyfriend is somehow behind the whole mess. Everything Aspen thought she knew is about to be tossed aside like last season’s Dooney when she realizes that maybe--just maybe--there are some things that are more important that the right shoes, the right friends, and the right boyfriend. (But not the right bag--nothing is more important than toting the perfect purse.)

You might think you want to hate Aspen, but there is something naïve and honest about her that you can’t help but love. She is everything you hope the popular girl is really like on the inside. You realize--right along with Aspen--that no one has a perfect life and there are always surprises that come out of nowhere to shake everything up.

Revenge of the Homecoming Queen by Stephanie Hale is delightfully clever, laugh-out-loud funny, and touching in ways you won’t expect. In her debut novel, Hale manages to address everyday issues of teen life and major social problems with equally sensitivity, and with a wry, witty humor the constantly surprises. This one is going to be on many a keeper shelf, so get your copy today.

Hugs and happy reading,
TLC
OH. MY. GODS, Summer 2008 Dutton Children's Books

what I'm reading ... THE STAND by Stephen King (I know, you're shocked that I haven't finished yet, right?)

Homecoming Week with the Buzz Girls

In celebration of the release of my book, Revenge of the Homecoming Queen, tomorrow (can you believe it?????), the buzz girls are going to be chatting about homecoming this week.

When I was in school, homecoming always fell on a Saturday in October. The day would start with a parade through town where the football players would try to see how many people they could fatally wound by throwing candy off the fire engines. Yours truly was always thrilled (not) to be marching with the band and pretending to play all the songs she refused to memorize out of spite (sorry, Mr. Brennan).

After the parade was the football game. Most years our school was paired with a local rival who would always slaughter us. Once again, I would strut my stuff out on the football field with my clarinet. We would wear these giant yellow mums on our uniforms that had tiny gold footballs stuck in them. None of the girls ever cared about the game so we would spend most of the time gossiping about our outfits/dates/other people's dates for the dance.

On homecoming my freshman year, a friend ran home with me to change out of my band uniform. They were these awful black wool uniforms with tacky cumberbunds and ruffles and I wanted back in my fashionable civilian clothes. I didn't want to chance seeing my crush in my band uniform. So we ran back to my house where I already had all my clothes laying out on the bed.

I proceeded to start stripping, noticing that my legs were kind of itchy. I'd scratch at them a bit then as I tossed my uniform aside. I noticed my friend's eyes kind of glaze over as she pointed at me in horror. I looked down at my legs and they were the size of an XXXL sumo wrestler. They had these red puffed up bumps on them and I looked like I had been attacked by giant mosquitos. I think I screamed.

My mom rushed me to the hospital where I think they gave me a shot of something in a butt cheek. I just knew there was no way I could fit into my new homecoming slacks. I was devastated. It was my first grown up dance and I was going to have to miss it because of some freak wool allergy. I was seriously bummed.


My mom said all the right things like this wouldn't be the only dance this year, my crush would spend the whole night wondering where I was, eventually my legs would fit back in pants, etc. But it didn't matter. Life as I knew it was over. I was going to miss my first homecoming dance.

Mom made me go home and take a nap. The horror. I was fourteen. What fourteen-year-old takes a nap? I was sure I would die of humiliation even though no one knew.

When I woke up from my nap I felt different. My jumbo thighs were gone. Everything was normal sized and looking! It was a miracle. I begged my mom to let me go to the dance, which she did, because she knew I would just drive her crazy if I didn't. I had a blast dancing the night away with my friends. And from then on, I never wore my wool band pants without pantyhose underneath!

This is us with our guy friend, Chad. I'm the one squatting with my arm on his knee. Those legs are normal sized, right?

So what horror stories do you have about a special event?

What I'm reading....The Time Traveler's Wife..still..I know it' s getting pathetic....

xo,

Steph

Revenge of the Homecoming Queen, coming TOMORROW!!!!

http://www.stephaniehale.com/

Live and Learn

Howdy conference go-ers! Wrapping up conference week is one topic that's truly dear to my heart---workshops!

I have to admit: I love conferences. Networking, food, chilling with writer friends, coming up with new book ideas...and mastering the craft. This opportunity to pick up tips and tricks from the best in the biz is like Christmas for me.

As soon as the workshop booklet arrives on my doorstep. that's my cue to work out the workshop schedule I plan to follow.

Priority Queue
-------
- Workshops relating to what I write. Example: I write multi-cutural YA fiction, so I would go through the booklet and find classes on YA writing as well as ethnic/multi-cultural writing. This year, both of my friends Simone Elkeles and Nadine Dajani are giving workshops on these sessions and these are my number one pri 1s!

- Workshops that look interesting that will NOT be recorded. In general, after the conference, I make sure to go order all the sessions on DVD so I can review them at home. I confess, there are years and years worth of DVDs that I haven't *quite* gotten around to perusing...but it's like an addiction.

- Workshops relating to where I am in my career. Three years ago, I attened every workshop I could find on plotting and dialog. Those were issues I was struggling with. Last year, I hit up every workshop on characterization such as GMC and Motivation by Shrek. After selling earlier this year, I realized I have no idea how to market a book. This year, I plan to hit all the marketing and branding sessions.

- Workshops on things that I might not be interested in, but the speaker sounds great. I attended a talk on screenwriting and while that wasn't something I was interested at the time, I picked up some real gems in terms of how to write a good character through their actions and dialog and how to write movement in a scene.

So that' s my methodology for choosing what to go to. I recommend the usual tips.
-For classes with high-profile speakers like Deb Dixon and Jenny Cruisie GET THERE EARLY.
-For classes you may or may not be interested in, sit in the back and slip out of it doesn't fulfil your needs.
- If you can't make a workshop because you met some really cool people and you're just hanging and having a great time...enjoy it! The best things I've learnt about writing were from doing and from listening to my friends.

I'll be the one dressed predocminantly in red with a huge smile on my face.
Come say Hi! This year, my goal is to make as many new friends and possible :)

Happy conferenceing!
-------------------------
Dona Sarkar-Mishra
http://donasarkarmishra.com
HOW TO SALSA IN A SARI - January 2008 from Harlequin's Kimani Tru