Oscar Time!

One of my favorite parts of the year--Oscar movie season--is upon us! This year there weren't as many great movies as I would expect. So far, my favorite contender for "Best Picture" has been The Dark Knight, but according to buzz on the web, there are a few more coming.

"The Dark Knight"
Pros: It's the best movie I've seen on the big screen. I think a lot of people can agree with that.
Cons: "Superhero" movies hardly ever win this catagory but "The Dark Knight" was SO much more than that...it was coming-of-age, drama, tragedy, just everything all in one.

"WALL-E"
Pros: It's really cute.
Cons: Personally, I believe this should get "Best Animated" instead.

"Revolutionary Road"
Pros: I LOVED the trailer. It's all about who really chooses what life we "should" live and covet, questions I think about all the time.
Cons: It looked semi-indie and those could really go either way.


"The Wrestler"
Pros: A "comeback" movie. Everyone loves those. In this case it's a comeback for both Mickey Rourke and the wrestler he portrays in the movie.
Cons: Mickey Rourke? Who?

"Milk"

Pros: Sean Penn and James Franco's acting? Wow! (According to the trailers anyway).

Cons: It's going to be very depressing as Harvey Milk was assasinated by an unemployed worker.

What about you guys? What movies are do you think stand a chance at the Oscar this year?

Stay tuned till Feb 22nd to see which of these "hopefuls" makes the cut!

------------------------------
Dona Sarkar-Mishra
http://donasarkarmishra.com/

Giving Thanks!

Well...tomorrow is Turkey Day! Gobble, gobble! It's a great time to come together with friends and family and be grateful for all we have in our lives. Of course, stuffing ourselves to the gills like glutinous animals doesn't hurt either! LOL!!



My hubby and I are being very low-keyed this year because we both have to work on Friday (and I'm working on the final revision tweaks of GHOST HUNTRESS Book 2), but I am going to be putting on a spread, courtesy of The Barefoot Contessa's recipes. We're having...

Herb-roasted turkey breast
Sausage and apple dressing
Apple and celery root puree
Homemade gravy
Roasted Brussels sprouts and bacon
Cranberry sauce

Mmmm...are you drooling? I certainly am!

I'm also taking this time to list some things I'm thankful for. So often, we get so involved in the stress and strife, hustle and bustle of our daily lives that we don't really stop to realize how many wonderful things we might take for granted. Well, I'm gonna list some! = )



I'm grateful for...

1. My hubby, my family, my friends, and my new kitties.
2. A good job at a nice company with nice people.
3. A fabulous literary agent who has changed my life and believes in me.
4. An equally fabulous editor who loves my books.
5. A new editor who is giving me a non-fiction writing career.
6. My writing partners who I'm working on said non-fiction career with.
7. My writer support group for all they've done for me - especially the Buzz Girls!!!
8. My new friends in the paranormal community for welcoming with open arms.
9. My health and wealth and well-being (not that I have wealth, but I mean like being able to pay the mortgage and the light bill and stuff like that!)
10. My new president and all the (hopefully) wonderful things ahead for our great country.

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? What are your plans and how will you celebrate? Share your traditions with us!

Holiday hugs,
Marley = )

GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING (Coming May 2009, Houghton Mifflin)
GHOST HUNTRESS: THE GUIDANCE (Coming October 2009, Houghton Mifflin)
SORORITY 101: Zeta or Omega? (Available from Puffin Books)
SORORITY 101: The New Sisters (Available from Puffin Books)

And The Cover News Just Keeps On Coming

Okay, we all saw the cover of GODDESS BOOT CAMP (June '09) on my pile o' ARCs last week, and that was pretty exciting. But this week I have another new cover to share. (And, since it's been posted on Amazon and Banes & Noble, I'm going to assume cleared for public viewing.)

When OH. MY. GODS. released in hardcover this May (I almost wrote "last year" because it feels like that long) it had an absolutely gorgeous cover that I, to this day, adore.



But the good people at Penguin, never content to settle for simple adoration, decided that OH. MY. GODS. needed a new cover for the forthcoming paperback edition (May '09). I was nervous. I mean, I adore Agias and his sand and his pink sneakers (even though Phoebe would never wear pink sneakers) and his rock hard six-pack. How could a new cover compete?

Here's how:


What do you think? I still love my stone cold stud, but the new cover is so beautiful and adorable and magical that I'm kind of okay with saying goodbye to hunky Agias. (Besides, look how much bigger my name is!)

Now you weigh in. Do you like the new cover better than the original? Do you like them both the same? Do you wish I didn't ask you to make such tough decisions??? (Okay, so it's not life or death.) Bottom line: Which cover would most entice you to pick the book off a shelf?

Hugs,
TLC

OH. MY. GODS. (available now!)
GODDESS BOOT CAMP (coming June 2009)
teralynnchilds.com

PS — HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Fun Holiday Reads

One of my favorite parts about the holiday season is the eventual down-time to curl up with great books, whether they came in wrapping paper, from the library or a friend’s shelf.

Along those lines, I’d like to remind all our readers that Simone Elkeles’ hot new romance, Perfect Chemistry will hit shelves on December 23rd.

And that my next book, The ABC’s of Kissing Boys will be released on January 13th. (So save a few dollars on those bookstore gift cards?)


The Random House teen site also has some terrific book suggestions, so if you’re putting together a wish list, be sure to check it out, too: Random Teens.

And tell us what reads you’re looking forward to over the holidays!

What I Am Reading: An Abundance of Katherines, John Green

Tina

Tina Ferraro
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys
How to Hook a Hottie
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress

Never Cry Werewolf News

Finally!!

Here is a preview of the cover for Never Cry Werewolf, which comes out in June 2009. It was featured in an article on what's next for teens in the paranormal post-Twilight world. If you didn't get a chance to read about all the books coming out soon with paranormal themes.

Here's a link to the piece:

http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6615438.html?industryid=47139

I guess there may be a few changes to the cover -- but this is pretty much what it will be. When you read the book, you will note there is a special significance to Shelby wearing a red hoodie... in the dark... in the forest... with a wolf on her heels.

Anyhow, I'm thrilled it's in PW this week, so I felt like I had to share. I'll let you guys know when the official cover art is finalized.

Happy Sunday -- and happy start to Thanksgiving week! I'm thankful for all the buzz girls and the buzz girl readers. I love YA!

hugs,

Heather

http://www.heatherdavisbooks.com/

Never Cry Werewolf ~ June 2009 HarperTeen

The Clearing ~ Spring 2010 Houghton-Mifflin

What I'm reading: The Princess Academy by Shannon Hale.

Aruba, Jamaica....okay, just Aruba

I, Dona Sarkar, am frantically trying to finish up my work at Microsoft as well as my new book proposal before the holidays. This year may be the most hectic holiday season so far.

1. My best friends are coming up from San Francisco for Thanksgiving. Yes, we are actually doing a Thanksgiving dinner at our place this year! Turkey, cranberries, pie, the works!
2. I am going to Mexico for recruiting the week afte T-giving. 5 days in Mexico City. Aye Caramba!
3. A day after I get back, DH and I are headed to sunny, amazing Aruba for 8 days of vitamin D packed fun!

And in the middle of all this, I have to squeeze in Christmas shopping during what's looking for be a major shopping year with the big sales going on!

And this is why I need to not waste a single minute of time and really make use of the late night and early morning time to squeeze in my writing and workouts!


In other random news, I had "high tea" with Heather Davis and Pat White at the Fairmont Hotel last weekend. We spent three hours chatting about work, life, writing, cute boys, etc over pots of hot tea and scrumptious scones and cucumber sandwiches. So fun!





What about you folks? Big holiday plans ahead?
-----------------------------------------------
Dona Sarkar-Mishra
http://donasarkarmishra.com

Shopping on Black Friday...a great way to start the season or a deadly contact sport?

Believe it or not, I'm a Black Friday virgin. I've always been a little scared to venture out shopping on this day in the past. I'm not the push and shove type and never felt the urge to be run over by an overzealous shopper with a loaded-down shopping cart. But I've been putting off purchasing some things (a new vacuum, and a new set of pans, I hate buying crap like that) and Target is having some amazing deals that I just can't pass up. A twenty-nine dollar vacuum? Seriously? I'm there. I'm hoping that the crowds aren't so intense this year because of money being tighter. And I'm hoping that I can wrangle up some aggressiveness, just in case someone decides to fight me for the last vacuum.

I'm planning to go dressed in a track suit and tennis shoes since I can move faster in those. And I'm planning on wearing my hair up so I don't accidentially lose some of it in a cat fight. I'm kidding, of course, but it never hurts to be prepared. Any other tips from experienced Black Friday shoppers?

So how about you, will you be sleeping in next Friday or hitting the stores? What kind of things are you hoping to score for cheap?

Happy early Thanksgiving to everyone! I hope you have many things to be thankful for this year.

xo,

Stephanie

www.stephaniehale.com

Random Thoughts on a Wednesday

I just finished my bagel, turkey bacon, and XXX Vitamin Water and I'm ready to face the day. Man, I find it sooooooooooo hard to wake up these days, especially when it's cold outside and the blankets (and kitties) are sooooo warm.

Don't really have a post per se today, just thought I'd post some random things:

1. If you or anyone you know has a Christmas Miracles story to share for my upcoming book, please visit the website and post your story. We pay for the submissions we're using in the book. Please spread the word!
2. If you missed my television debut (still sounds goofy saying that!), MY GHOST STORY is now up on YouTube in five parts. Our segment is at the end of part one and the beginning of part two. Let me know what you think!
3. Tonight is the finale of America's Next Top Model. Who do you think will win? My money is on McKey.
4. For a really good laugh, check out these idiots on a surveillance camera in Saratoga, Florida.
5. What are you cooking for Thanksgiving? I'm going to try a few recipes from the Barefoot Contessa. Just love her!
6. Here's an interesting news video about wearing high heels.
7. I already have my tickets bought for the 7:15 p.m. showing of TWILIGHT on Friday night! Can't wait!!!

Do you have any random thoughts to share? Come on, tell us! We love potpourri!

Hope you have a great rest of the week!

Hugs,
Marley = )

GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING (Coming May 2009, Houghton Mifflin)
GHOST HUNTRESS: THE GUIDANCE (Coming October 2009, Houghton Mifflin)
SORORITY 101: Zeta or Omega? (Available from Puffin Books)
SORORITY 101: The New Sisters (Available from Puffin Books)

There Be ARCs In The House

I'm nose-to-the-grindstone on the mermaid book at the moment, but I can always take time to share some good news. When I went to my mailbox today, what did I find but a lovely package from Penguin. My GODDESS BOOT CAMP advance copies!!!


Here's a picture of them piled nicely on my dining table (with my Fall centerpiece behind them and my mermaid inspiration books off to the side). Aren't they beautiful?!? Also, this is the first public display of my gorgeous new cover. Thoughts?

Hugs,
TLC

OH. MY. GODS. (available now!)
GODDESS BOOT CAMP (coming June 2009)
teralynnchilds.com

A Walk to Remember

November in the U.S. often brings to mind Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving, and sometimes, the bittersweet end to high school football seasons.

But if you happen to live on the continent of Africa...in eastern Zambia...near the Mfuwe Lodge, you will also know that November means something else, too. It’s the month when the mangos turn ripe, and when the wild elephants return to feast.

The fact the lodge was recently built on the elephants’ long-established route to a grove of mango trees is no deterrent. The elephants simply stay their course, cutting through the lodge’s lobby.



Staff warn guests that these elephants are indeed wild and that anything can happen, but to date, there has not been a single accident or injury.


The elephants stay around the property for days on end, grazing until the trees are bare, then go on their way.


But are sure to return the next year and the next. Because you know what they say: an elephant never forgets.

So please now weigh in: given the chance, would you visit this lodge in November in hopes of seeing these elephants in their natural habitat? I’ll go first: heck, yeah!

Happy Birthday to: HEATHER DAVIS!!!

Tina

Tina Ferraro
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys - releasing January 13, 2009
How to Hook a Hottie
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
www.tinaferraro.com

Do you still believe?

I got to play the Tooth Fairy for the very first time last night. My five-year-old lost his first tooth (he accidentially swallowed it but I convinced him it went down the drain). Instead of being excited, he spent the entire day not smiling or talking and wouldn't eat in front of anyone but me. I'm pretty sure the note TF left about how cool he looks now and the five bucks convinced him that he doesn't look any different than the rest of his Mike Tyson looking classmates.

As I was slipping the note and five bucks underneath his pillow I got to thinking about how magical it used to be before I knew that the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, and Santa were actually just my parents. I remember one year my stepmom saved some snow in the freezer and made rabbit footprints on the carpet before I woke up to find my Easter basket.

I can't remember exactly how old I was before I learned the truth. I know that I knew the year the Cabbage Patch Kids were the hot item. I was twelve that year. And even though I knew Santa wasn't real (after finding a gift I left him and the wrapping paper my gifts were in in my Mom's closet) I still thought maybe I was wrong and he would pull through that year. I remember being really little and barely waking up to see the back of Santa's red suit tiptoeing out of my bedroom. That is one of the coolest memories I have. I found out later that it was my mom in her red robe.
I don't think kids believe as long these days which makes me sad. They seem to be growing up faster and faster. But for now, the magic is still alive at the Hale household and I'm hoping to keep it that way for a long time. When did you stop believing? Do you remember how you found out your favorite make believe character wasn't real?

What I'm reading now...Good Luck by Whitney Gaskill

xo,

Stephanie

http://www.stephaniehale.com/

Some non-YA news!

Sorry for the late post...was on an airplane all day Wednesday. However, I wanted to share some very good news that I've been busting to tell!! From yesterday's Publishers Marketplace, a new book deal for yours truly.

Non-fiction:

Religion/Spirituality

NYT bestselling author Cecil Murphey and young adult author Marley Gibson's CHRISTMAS MIRACLES, featuring short stories from everyday people who've had their lives miraculously touched at Christmastime, to Rose Hilliard at St. Martin's, in a nice deal, for publication in fall 2009, by Deidre Knight at The Knight Agency (NA).

If you or anyone else you know has a Christmas Miracle story to share, please contact me and we may include your story in the book.

Thanks!

Marley = )

The Eleventh Hour

No, I'm not talking about the new show on CBS (I'm kind of hot and cold on that one, anyway--I mean, I love Rufus Sewell, but is that enough to make me a fan?). I'm talking about the origin of Veterans Day, which dates back to the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month some eighty years ago. The moment in which the Allies and Germany entered into an armistice, a cease-fire that would bring to an end years of fighting.

You can learn a lot about the actual history of Veterans Day (and it's had a pretty rocky history--especially in the early 70s) on this US Army website, but the bottom line is that eighty years ago today marked the end of World War I, aka The Great War.


Before I became a writer, I never thought much about the origin of words and phrases. Now I find myself fascinated by the history of some of favorite idioms, wondering where a certain word originated and how it became a part of our language. Like the term "the eleventh hour."


Today, the eleventh hour means at the last possible moment (kind of on par with "just under the wire"). But in the years following WWI, I can only imagine the phrase had a far more serious connotation. Society at the time believed they had just been saved (at literally the eleventh hour) from the war to end all wars. No war could be greater or more costly in terms of both money and lives. (Little did they know, right?) They could hardly have used the phrase in the same lighthearted manner in which we do today.

I'm fascinated by how this term came into popular use and has changed over the decades. I'm kind of fascinated by all words--where did they come from? who made them up? how did they become a part of our everyday vocabulary? I want that job. The job of thinking up words. How cool would that be? (Okay, as I writer I technically occasionally get to make up words, so maybe I already have that job. Yay me!)

So, how about it? Am I the only word nerd out there? Do you have some favorite phrases that you've always wondered where they came from? Like maybe--wait for it ... something from popular TV?

All words and phrases had to come from somewhere. Where is your favorite from?

Hugs,
TLC

OH. MY. GODS. (available now!)
GODDESS BOOT CAMP (coming June 2009)
teralynnchilds.com

Countdown to January 13th...

To help celebrate the release of my next book, The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, one of my MySpace reader-friends, Babycat, made me a countdown clock. Yay!!! (Thanks, Babycat, you rock!)

I happily put it on my MySpace page. But for technical reasons--attributed either to the Widget site or my own ineptness--I was unable to get it to load on the blogger. But you can see it (and download it!) right here.

In other news (like I said in my comment to Steph’s post on Friday, it was a good week!), I picked up my latest bookmarks from the printer. Getting the tone and the color just right was very important to me, and I am very pleased with how they came out.

Here are my latest two bookmarks, the combo Prom Dress/Hottie and the new one:


If any of you would like one (or, if you’re a bookseller or librarian, more than one), feel free to e-mail me at admin@tinaferraro.com or through my MySpace (see link above) with your mailing address and I’d be happy to oblige!

Meanwhile, I hope good things are happening in your lives, too!

Tina

Dona's Love Story News

I, Dona Sarkar, am writing a love story! If you've ever read any of my books, you know that I am notorious for not allowing my heroines to have romances! So, you see why my latest endeavour, a forbidden love story between a Iraqi refuge and an American girl who's lost her father in the war is a very interesting project for me!

I am having a lot of fun with the heroine, who is brilliant, spunky and extremely binary. For her, everything is black or white, yes or not, 0 or 1. There is no middle ground, no shades of gray. When she starts falling for a man who is nothing BUT shades of gray, her entire belief system is challenged.

One big cornerstone of the book is that the hero is a poet. His favorite poet is Pablo Neruda, a Chillean poet from the 50s and 60s. I am taking lots of liberties with use of poetry in the book, featuring works by Edgar Allan Poe, Robert Frost and of course Neruda.

Some of my favorite poems are below from Pablo Neruda...I'd love to hear some of your favorite poems. What are some that really speak to you?

XVII (I do not love you...) by Pablo Neruda

I do not love you as if you were salt-rose, or topaz,
or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.

I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,
in secret, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that never blooms
but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;
thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,
risen from the earth,
lives darkly in my body.

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
so I love you because I know no other waythan this:
where I does not exist, nor you,
so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,
so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.

(That last paragraph makes me cry everytime I hear it)

Love by Pablo Neruda

Because of you, in gardens of blossoming
Flowers I ache from the perfumes of spring.
I have forgotten your face, I no longer
Remember your hands; how did your lips
Feel on mine?

Because of you, I love the white statues
Drowsing in the parks, the white statues that
Have neither voice nor sight.I
have forgotten your voice, your happy voice;
I have forgotten your eyes.

Like a flower to its perfume,
I am bound to
My vague memory of you.

I live with pain
That is like a wound;
if you touch me, you will
Make to me an irreperable harm.

Your caresses enfold me, like climbing
Vines on melancholy walls.
I have forgotten your love, yet I seem to
Glimpse you in every window.

Because of you, the heady perfumes of
Summer pain me; because of you, I again
Seek out the signs that precipitate desires:
Shooting stars, falling objects.

-------------------------------------
Dona Sarkar-Mishra
http://donasarkarmishra.com
HOW TO SALSA IN A SARI
SHRINK TO FIT
both out now!

Cool stuff that happened to me this week

My entire family came down with the stomach flu this week so I've been quarantined inside taking care of them. That's not the cool part. The cool part is that I've yet to be infected. Yet. Despite the gallons of bodily fluids I've cleaned up this week (sorry to those of you eating breakfast) some other really cool things have happened this week.

1) Gas prices have gone WAY down in these parts- I never thought I would see gas fall to below $2 a gallon again, but this week they did. Not that I can go anywhere but it's good to know that I could afford to if I could.

2) According to an article in my local newspaper, I'm not the only person on the planet who absolutely despises the new Toyota commercials. I was worrying that maybe I had a chemical imbalance when my reaction to hearing that "Saved by Zero" song would make me almost turn into the Incredible Hulk and want to put my fist through the TV. Apparently I am not alone.



3) Danielle Steel finally has a blog, http://www.daniellesteel.net/. Ms. Steel was my first author crush. I used to spend summers at my dad's in Colorado devouring my stepmother's collection of Danielle Steel novels. I loved gazing at her book cover photo and picturing how glamourous her life must be. Over the years, my admiration for her has grown as I've come to realize that she is not only an amazing author but such a strong woman. She has had some really tough things to overcome but she has always done it with such grace. I'm looking forward to getting to know more about her and her life.



4)I got my first PAYING author gig- I've been asked to come speak at a young adult literature festival up by Chicago next spring. And they are actually going to pay me! Hooray! I'm so excited.



5)My boys won the costume contest last week. Not to brag (but hey, that's my job) they were by far the cutest, most original costumes.



6)The cover for Spring Breakup is here! Only four more months until Aspen and her friends descend on the Las Vegas Strip. Pick up your copy on March 3, 2009!

So what good thing happened to you this week?

What I'm reading...Nursery Crimes by Ayelet Waldman

xo,

Stephanie

www.stephaniehale.com

Cover and New Website!

I'm sooooooo thrilled to finally be able to reveal the cover for the first book in my new series - GHOST HUNTRESS - The Awakening, which will be released from Houghton Mifflin's Graphia line in exactly six months! Whoooooooohooooooooooo!!

I'm in luuuuuuuuuuuuuurve!!!

Available for pre-order on Amazon.com!

The cover was a combined effort of the amazing graphic artists at Houghton, as well as the artwork and photography of an agency in the UK called I Love Dust. They do all sorts of funky artwork for Beyonce, Nike, Pepsi, etc. I just love how they captured the look and feel of the story.

I'll keep this short as I'm working on some slight revisions for my second book, GHOST HUNTRESS - The Guidance, and need to hop on it! Hope you love the cover as much as I do!

Hugs,
Marley = )

GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING (Coming May 2009, Houghton Mifflin)
GHOST HUNTRESS: THE GUIDANCE (Coming October 2009, Houghton Mifflin)
SORORITY 101: Zeta or Omega? (Available from Puffin Books)
SORORITY 101: The New Sisters (Available from Puffin Books)

Be Heard

It's election day (finally!) and it's time to get out the vote. This is the only time when we the people get a direct say in the running of our country. (Lord knows no one listens to us the rest of the year.) Whether you're voting left, right, or sideways, if you're of age and registered get thee to a polling place, do your time in line, and cast your ballot.


And in case my whole “civic responsibility” thing doesn't do it for you, maybe one of these quotes will inspire you.

“Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.”
~ George Jean Nathan

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
~ John Quincy Adams

“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.”
~ Abraham Lincoln

“The freeman casting, with unpurchased hand, The vote that shakes the turrets of the land.”
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

“The margin is narrow, but the responsibility is clear.”
~ John F. Kennedy

“Half of the American people never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half.”
~ Gore Vidal

“Suffrage is the pivotal right.”
~ Susan B. Anthony

“One who does not vote has no right to complain.”
~ Louis L'Amour

So after you've done your civic duty, come back and let me know that you've voted. Not who you've voted for--I'm not that nosy. Just let me know that you earned your "I VOTED" sticker.

Also,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!
(She's really hard to shop for because she only wants one thing, and I'll have to watch election coverage all night to see if she's gonna get it.)

Hugs,
TLC

Let's Do Lunch!

Lately I have come up with some odd internet sites and phenomena for my blogs, e.g., promo generating signs and yearbook photoshopping. I decided today to go in a completely different direction...instead, offering you a glimpse into my psyche, deep-down into the inner me...

I am, of course, referring to that age-old question: “What Kind of Sandwich Am I?”

Five questions and answers--that’s all it’s takes. Sort of amazing, wouldn’t you say, that so much could be revealed in so little?

So, without further adieu, here is that astonishing and probing revelation:

You Are a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich

You life your life in a free form, artistic style. You are incredibly creative and at times, quite messy. Deep down, you are a kid at heart. And you aren't afraid to express it. Your best friend: The Grilled Cheese Sandwich Your mortal enemy: The Club Sandwich

What Kind of Sandwich Are You?

And my response? Uh, yeah. I am creative, and I can be messy. I have been table to tap into my inner kid. And a fear of being laughed at has never been an issue for me (or I wouldn't do blogs like these).

So...okay...who’s next? Who is going to be that Grilled Cheese Sandwich who is my friend for life?

Tina

Tina Ferraro
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys - releasing January 13, 2009
How to Hook a Hottie
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
www.tinaferraro.com

Legends of the Fall

Hey! Happy November!! Did you remember to set your clocks back last night? I didn't and fully woke up early on a Sunday. ;) But yay for November finally arriving!

Here's a picture of the beautiful leaves by the Space Needle here in Seattle. This was taken on a gorgeous fall day about a week ago when... I sold my new book The Clearing!

It's about a girl recovering from an abusive relationship and a boy who is stuck in the endless summer of 1944.

I've always loved the musical/movie Brigadoon -- and the movie Somewhere in Time -- so picture that with Bridge to Terebithia by Katherine Patterson (not the movie just the original, amazing book!) and you have a taste of what The Clearing is all about.

Thanks to everyone for the congrats! I couldn't be happier to share this sale news with you guys.



So, here's me on the night of the book's sale to Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt's Graphia line. I'm at my favorite sushi restaurant with my friend Jen and my sister. It was a great celebration. We ate way too much, but it was so great. They make the most awesome spicy tuna roll there and their sashimi is amazing!

Anyway, you can tell my the smile on my face, I am so psyched about the sale and happy to be publisher sisters with Buzz Girl Marley Gibson!!

Jump to Halloween (Friday!) and here I am at my office in my Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's costume. I was calling myself "Heather" Golightly.

I didn't win the office contest, but I got a lot of compliments out with my sister later that night.

All of our friends dressed up -- except my bff Jen who is in NYC running the freaking NY marathon!! Go Jen! My friend Shawn won the contest that night -- he was so tricked out I didn't even recognize him.

Anyway, I love Halloween! Hope you had a great one!

hugs,

Heather

http://www.heatherdavisbooks.com/

Never Cry Werewolf - April 2009 HarperTeen

The Clearing - Spring 2010 HMH Graphia

The Case of the Lame Halloween Costumes

My Halloween costumes have never been cool. EVER. When I was a kid, I was either a witch (all black outfit + pointy hat) or a vampire (all black outfit + fangs) every year. Once I was an equestrian. (all black outfit + boots + cowboy hat) The year before last I was a cat (black outfit+ cat ears).

This year I said no more! Alas, I didn't think this plan out till the night before Halloween. I wound up working pretty late and got to the party store at 8:30 at night, so I wound up with a pair of wings and some giant purple false eyelashes.

Hmm, a purple bat!

My husband got really creative with his hippie costume and NO ONE recognized him.

We had a group of guys dressed as Guy Fox....very creepy!

And a bunch of other folks as the Super Mario characters...very creative!

Next year, I've decided. I'm actually going to plan ahead and get a real costume from a costume shop. And it's going to be REALLY cool!

What are some of the best costumes you guys have seen? I need ideas!

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Dona Sarkar-Mishra

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