My haunted dinner party

****************Yesterday's Winner is NIKKI!!!! Nikki send your info to marley_gibson@yahoo.com****************************************************
Major congrats to Marley on the release of her first book in the Ghost Huntress series. Make sure to leave a comment today for your chance to win your own copy!
Okay, so how cool would it be to invite any ghost you wanted to a dinner party? I've given this a lot of thought and here's who would be haunting my party.
First off, this isn't going to be your typical hanging around the house in your holey sweats kind of shindig. This is going to be fancy. Just because your guests of honor are dead doesn't mean you don't still have to try and impress them. And because my sense of style seems to equal jeans and T-shirts I buy at Target, I'm gonna need some help. Who better to help me dress for my party than Jackie O? She'd whip me into shape in no time.

I sashay (Jackie gets mad when I talk like that)into a fabulous ballroom where all of my guests are waiting on me. Everyone looks divine and completely undead. Sharing a stage and singing a duet are Patsy Cline and Buddy Holly. Crazzyy! Everyone waves at me and I hardly know where to begin.



It isn't hard to decide to head immediately for the dead hottie table. River Phoenix, Brandon Lee, James Dean, and JFK Jr. practically get into a fight trying to pull my chair out for me. They tell me how pretty I am and how they wish they were alive so that they could take me out. I try to ignore Jackie but she's burning holes through me from across the room. I guess I might have forgotten to mention that her son was one of the hotties I was getting dolled up for. Like most pretty boys, they run out of conversation pretty quickly. They all kiss my cheek and I head toward roaring laughter.

I saunter over and take a seat in between John Candy and Chris Farley. They make me laugh so hard that I nearly pee in my pants. Jackie starts again with the looks. I guess I'm acting very unladylike. Next time I'm definitely requesting a stylist with less attitude. My face actually starts to hurt because these guys are so funny. I think I might never leave when someone whispers in my ear, "I don't have all night. Do you want some writing tips or not?"


I turn to see Michael Crichton, Agatha Christie, and E.B. White behind me, tapping their feet impatiently. I reluctantly excuse myself from John and Chris and follow my new critique partners to a quiet corner of the ballroom. I pull a manuscript I've been working on out of my glittery evening bag. I nervously hand a copy of the picture book I've been working on to each of them. After thirty of the longest seconds of my life Michael speaks up first.

Michael: "It's not bad, but maybe the dog could contract some mysterious illness that changes him into a T-Rex."

Me: "That's kind of been done already, Michael."

Michael: "By who?"

Me: "Um, you."

Agatha: "Ms. Hale, your manuscript lacks red herrings. It took me mere seconds to realize who the villian was."

Me: "Um, it's a picture book not a mystery."

E.B.: "Your idea is brilliant, but your rhymes really suck."

Me: "I'm out of here."

It's been a pretty fun night and I figure the ghosts are about ready to turn in for the night. I turn to go when I hear a familar voice call my name. I turn back around and run toward the voice. I don't even care that Jackie is yelling that ladies don't run in heels. When I get to the voice I can hardly believe my eyes. It's my grandpa who passed away when I was twelve years old. When I was young I used to spend my summers with my dad in Colorado. When I got back I was dying (bad choice of words) to tear up the town on my beloved ten-speed and make up for lost time with my friends. The biggest regret of my life happened one summer after I got back when I stopped by to say hi to my grandparents. I was twelve and I had hot wheels. My grandpa wanted me to stay and visit and watch All my Children with him (he loved that show!). I remember peeking around the corner to the living room and telling him that I just couldn't stay today but some other day I would. Unfortunately we lost him that very night to a heart attack.
My grandpa wraps me in his arms and we spend the rest of the night catching up on All my Kids.

(This is Jackie Gleason, not my grandpa, but the resemblance is uncanny.)
Leave a comment telling me what ghost you'd invite over to win a copy of Marley's new book!

xo,
Stephanie
www.stephaniehale.com

Drive-by Ghostings

Happy Thursday!

We are in day four of celebrating the release week of Buzz Girl Marley Gibson's The Awakening -- the first in her Ghost Huntress Series!

We're doing a give-a-way a day for our blog readers who leave a comment, and yesterday's winner was SUMMER. Summer, please email Marley at Marley_Gibson@yahoo.com with your address.











Also this week, we've been sharing ghost stories. It's amazing to read how many of you have experienced some otherworldly presence.










Among the many times something unexplained has happened to me, one in particular really stands out.

My grandmother passed away during December a few years ago. She had always been so close to me -- sending me care packages, checking in on me, and almost being like a second mom after my parents divorced. She lost a long battle with Alzheimer's one winter and it was very, very hard on my grandpa, and all of us. Because she had not been able to communicate or remember us very well during her declining years, it was like she never got a chance to say goodbye.

Well, we'd left the country town where we lived to drive down to the funeral one morning, leaving our house all decorated for Christmas, spent the sad hours at the chapel and then attended the graveside and finally made it home.

As we walked into the house, the christmas music box my grandmother had given me years before began to play.

It hadn't been touched for days.

My then-husband looked at me in shock and said, "I guess she's saying goodbye."

I think that's what it was, too. The music box had been a special present when I'd got married and it was a tradition in our family to have them out only at Christmas time. I felt a sense of relief, knowing that she'd dropped by to let me know she was moving on to the light, toward peace at last.

I know some of you have posted stories like this, where someone who's passed away visits to say farewell. Has anyone else had an object, like my music box, physically move from the spirit's energy? Comment to enter to win Marley's book!


hugs,



Heather
http://www.heatherdavisbooks.com/
Never Cry Werewolf - Harperteen Sept. 2009
The Clearing - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt April 2010

The Ghost of Pets Past?

In celebration of the release of Marley Gibson’s first book in her very cool Ghost Huntress series, The Awakening, we’re talking about ghosts this week.

I had the pleasure of reading an early version of this book, and can say with certainty that you’re going to love it!

But first I have the great fun of announcing the winner of yesterday's contest:

MRS. V!

(Mrs. V, please e-mail Marley at marley_gibson@yahoo.com to give her your mailing info.)

Now, back to business! On Monday, Marley talked about seeing what might have been the ghost of her recently passed dog. I am going to share about a ghostly pet-type experience I may or may not have had, too...even though I didn't SEE anything!

Years ago, I had a unusual and effective “space sharing” agreement with a screenwriter friend. I’d just gotten my first full-time job and was anxious to move out on my own, but didn’t have enough money yet for my own place. He’d been finding the rent on his office--an adorable one-room bungalow--a little steep. And since his landlord was easy-going, we agreed to “space share,” with me kicking in part of the rent, and occupying the bungalow after business hours.

I bought a sofa bed, and my independent life was launched. We both tried to be considerate: I made sure I didn’t leave my “unmentionables” out, and he never showed up until I was out-the-door each morning.

But the one thing we never discussed--something I didn’t tell anyone for a long time--was that things got a little weird in there at night. After I’d pulled out the bed, and turned out the lights, I would feel the strangest thing…the burrowing or nesting of something against me, like, well, a small curled-up animal.

Now, I come from a “cat family.” I’d spent much of my life with one or more sleeping against me. I knew the feeling. And I knew that for the most part, if I changed positions, a cold or cuddly cat would merely readjust, as well, as snuggle back in.

And what’s what made this so strange. If I moved or flipped over, there would be this pause of some seconds, and then I swore, I’d feel the pressure again in a slightly different spot. But when I reached my hand down to touch the space or when I flipped on the light, nothing was there.

I lay awake, night after night, wondering…intrigued…and a bit freaked out. I finally decided it was one of two things: the ghost of an animal (particularly, a cat) who was happy to find a sleeping human in this predominant office neighborhood; or that there was something weird with the contours of the pull-out sofa mattress.

So, flash forward a few months, and I had enough money to move into my own apartment (with an actual kitchen and bedroom). I bought a bed, too, and honestly, forgot about the “ghost.”

Until I had some guests and gave them my bed. I spent a few nights on the sofa bed, and realized, rather vaguely, that something seemed missing. No matter my position, number of blankets or pillows, I never felt that cuddle-up pressure again. Not then, nor for the next several years when I occasionally slept on the sofa bed.

And that’s where my story ends. Any thoughts? Any similar experiences?

Don't forget to leave a comment below to be entered to win a copy of The Awakening!

Scary Party Games (and Another Giveaway)

The Ghost Huntress release week extravaganza continues with even more ghost craziness. First, business from yesterday. Announcing the lucky winner of a signed copy of Ghost Huntress: The Awakening:

sweetmelissa818

E-mail Marley at marley_gibson@yahoo.com to give her your mailing info.

Now, onto the good stuff.

I want you to think back to when you were in elementary school or junior high, when you used to have sleepover parties with your girlfriends. When you would spend the afternoon watching movies and eating cupcakes and probably prank-calling boys. (Not that I ever--cough-cough--did that.)

That was all fun and good, but remember what happened after the parents went to bed. You were left to your own devices and somebody inevitably suggested playing Truth or Dare. After a few rounds of silly things--like confessing your crush or prank-calling your English teacher--someone (probably the coolest/most mature girl in your group) got serious. Scary. Someone dared someone else to play... Bloody Mary.

If you managed to get through your tween years without playing this game, let me explain. You (either alone or with your girlfriends) turn out the lights, stand in front of a mirror, and then repeat the name "Bloody Mary" several times. This is supposed to make the ghost of Bloody Mary herself appear in the mirror--and scare the bajeezus out of all the girls in the room. (You can read more about the legend and the game on scaryforkids.com, which is where I got this creepy pic.)


My question to you (and your entry into another giveaway of Ghost Huntress: The Awakening) is this:

Did you ever play any scary party games? (Like Bloody Mary or Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board or using a Ouija Board.) And did anything ... supernatural happen when you did?

Leave your answers in comments and I'll choose a winner at the end of the day.

Hugs,
TLC

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

Happy Launch Day for Ghost Huntress!

You'll have to forgive my wicked excitement today because the first book in my GHOST HUNRESS series, THE AWAKENING, is available!!!!!! I've been waiting for this day for a long time and I can't begin to put into words how I feel. The reviews on Amazon are really favorable and the feedback has been amazing!



Thanks to my fellow Buzz Girls, we're going to be celebrating ghosts, inevitably, this week, with lots of giveaways, so be sure to spread the word and come back all week to visit us.

So many people have asked me, leading up to this release, if I believe in ghosts. I have to say that I never really thought about it. I definitely believe in angels, as I've had three experiences in my life with angels (another post for another day), but as far as running into a ghost, I just never thought about it...

...until I did think about it.

Through my research for the GHOST HUNTRESS, I have witnessed shadow people, full bodied apparitions, been touched, heard voices on digital recorders when no one was speaking, and I captured some amazing footage of a ball moving around on it's own. These things have made a believer out of me!

However, I think the most poignant touch with the other side occurred on my 12th birthday. My beloved border collie, Candy, was hit by a car and died on my 12th birthday. I remember Dad taking me out on the back steps and telling me...

"Mar, you're 12 years old now and that's really mature...so you can handle anything."

He then proceeded to tell me that Candy had passed away. It was the most heartbroken I had ever felt in my life. I went to bed that night, crying myself to sleep over the loss of my beautiful three year old puppy-girl.



(Sorry for the bad quality...the picture is 30 years old! But isn't she precious???)

Sometime during the night--I thought I was dreaming, but I know I was awake--I sat up in bed and looked to the door of my room. There, I saw Candy walk in. She crossed the room and sat at the edge of my bed. She didn't bark or anything, but somehow I knew that she was...okay. She jumped up on the bed, curled up at my feet and watched as I fell back asleep.

Okay, so maybe this sounds like no big deal. However...Candy NEVER had been in our house. She lived at our farm, which was about five miles away from our house. She had been in the back yard, but never actually inside the house.

I believe to this day that she came to me to say goodbye and to make sure I was okay. Call me crazy, but it's such a strong memory and so real to me that I just can't think of it any other way.

My heroine, Kendall Moorehead, experiences all sorts of paranormal activities in the GHOST HUNTRESS series that are based on other people's experiences. It's my hope that in reading the series, it will help people question what's next for us and give us comfort that we'll always be with the ones we love...even our pets...for'evah.

So...I ask you...do YOU believe in ghosts?

Leave a comment for me and you'll be entered in the first giveaway for GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING. You may enter as many times as you'd like!!

Hugs,
Marley = )

The Bet!

A few months ago I made a bet with my team at work. If they are able to finish their work by a certain day, I would wear sweatpants with JUICY written on the butt for a day. For those who know me, know that I don't actually own sweats, much less ever wear them!

The managers on the team cooked breakfast and I wore my sweats last week. This was a great day to break up some of the monotony of work and I was super-comfortable the whole day! Maybe I'll actually wear sweats now...NAH!

Me taking a picture of someone taking a picture of me

I made my friend Fred also wear a pair of Juicy sweats

Deciding what our next "bet" will be

Have you ever made a funny bet? What were the consequences?

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

Dona Sarkar

http://donasarkarmishra.com

The purse search is ovah!

So...thanks to everyone who responded to my connundrum over needing a new purse. I have, in a dignified ceremony, retired the injured Betsey Johnson bag into the close and have made a new purchase!

After scouring eBay, Overstock.com, Macy's online, and a few other places...I found my new best friend in the most unlikely of places: CostCo!

I was stocking up on items and looking in the electronics section for a Wii (which I bought, as well!) and I ran across a display of Kenneth Cole Reaction hobo bags. Are you kidding me? My beloved Kenneth Cole at CostCo?

I snagged the bag. It's real. It's leather. It retails for $248. It's...only $68??? SCORE!

Of course, I bought it! Here's the closet pic I can find to what it looks like. I bought it in black:



What I love about it is it doesn't weigh a ton, my shoes will fit in it, but it's not too bulky and is quite classic in a style that won't go away. I feel so relieved...so liberated...ahhh.

What are you favorite discount stores? Any secret websites to share with fashion miracles that you've found? Come on...share with us!!

Hugs,
Marley = )

GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING (Coming May 2009, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
GHOST HUNTRESS: THE GUIDANCE (Coming October 2009, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
GHOST HUNTRESS: The REASON (Coming May 2010, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
CHRISTMAS MIRACLES (Coming October 2009, St. Martin's Press)
SORORITY 101: Zeta or Omega? (Available from Puffin Books)
SORORITY 101: The New Sisters (Available from Puffin Books)

This Blog Post Cancelled Due To Looming Apocalypse

I'm a bad, bad Buzz Girl. It's 10pm on Monday night and I don't want to post. I'd rather be preparing for the looming swine flu apocalypse. Sadly, I had not ever heard of this particular apocalypse until an ER doctor friend and I went out to work at the office today. I have not had nearly enough time to prepare--hurricanes are much more Virgo-planning-friendly that way. If I get swine flu, I have only my non-news-watching self to blame.

Anyway, since I'm distracted by thoughts of hoarding supplies to avoid venturing out into the world of sniffling pigs, I'm looking for a quick post topic. (Okay, okay. Maybe the real source of my blog distraction is the episode of Castle waiting in my DVR, but both Nathan Fillion and a looming apocalypse are equally crucial, don't you think?) So I return once again to my favorite post filler: lolcats. Enjoy.






Hugs,
TLC


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

Thank You, Ka-Yam!

I don't normally post twice in one day, but our Buzz Girl reader Ka-Yam sent me this darling picture earlier, and then gave me her permission to run it.

You might remember that she was one of the three winners of our recent Scrabble contest, and, well, you can see which of my three books she most wanted to read!

Please join me in a shout-out to Ka-Yam!

All Aboard!

A friend sent me a link the other day to a video that takes place in a Belgian train station.


It sat in my inbox for quite awhile...I mean, there's only so much time in the day, right?

Then I clicked on it, and within about 30 seconds, I knew it was something special. I have now watched it probably 10 times, as well as sending it to everyone I know.

THIS is my idea of community, of spontaneity, of living life to the fullest. Maybe you've seen it already...in which case, you might want to watch it again. And if it's your first time, I hope you enjoy!

Click Here To View

Tina

Tina Ferraro
The ABC's of Kissing Boys
How to Hook a Hottie, 2009 Rita Finalist
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
www.tinaferraro.com

Do you do scary?

When I was just a young thing (many moons ago), I had no problem going to the movie theatre and watching flicks like Nightmare on Elm Street(a remake is scheduled to be released on April 16,2010 for you younguns who were still in Pampers when the first one came out) then flopping into bed and sleeping like a baby. Maybe it was because I felt safe with my parents at the other end of the house or maybe it was the post-movie makeout sessions that fried my brain and made me forget the scary movies! Whatever made it so easy to watch and forget those movies has since betrayed me. If I even attempted to watch The Strangers or one of those freaky-looking Saw movies, I'd be up for days jumping at my own shadow.
"I'll make out with you."

Having confessed all that, I do still love to get my spook on. It's just a milder spook these days. CBS started a show a few weeks ago that is perfect. HARPER'S ISLAND. It runs every Thursday night until July. The synopsis is that all these people gather on this island (Harper's, duh) for a wedding. It's an enchanting island off the coast of Seattle or something fictious like that. Oh yeah, and about six years ago, some dude killed a bunch of people there. Of course the heroine is a tortured soul whose mother was a victim and this is the first time she's been back to the island since her mom died there. But she made the trip for her best friend's wedding (Henry from Ugly Better only looking WAY cuter having ditched the glasses). It's got romance, drama, and your basic B movie cheesy acting, but best of all, it's kept me guessing. And it has been surprisingly risque for CBS. You can even go to the website and pick your victim for the next show and possibly win $$ if you are right. Picking your victims is such a treat, especially if you've had an exceptionally bad day!
PLEASE WATCH THIS SHOW BECAUSE IF IT GETS CANCELLED BEFORE JULY THE AUTHOR OF TODAY'S BLOG MAY LOSE HER MIND.

So, how about you? Are you a hardcore gory movie watcher, middle-of-the-road suspense addict (like me), or do you prefer the only death you see is the obits each day?
xo,
Stephanie
www.stephaniehale.com

To Tweet or Not to Tweet?

Happy Thursday!

In just two days, this Bee will be leaving the hive for some R & R. Is a vacay something one should tweet about? I'm totally sold on Facebook -- love it, in fact. I adore seeing what people are doing and thinking and I like how I can drop into the app on my phone anytime I am bored. But I haven't made the jump to Twitter. How about you guys?

I haven't used Twitter yet, and I'm a little skeptical. Isn't there something kinda weird about sending missives to digest an experience in the midst of that experience? I mean, here in the NW, we have a church that encourages its tweeters to tweet during and about the sermon. How are they supposed to absorb the sermon if they are tweeting in the midst of it, though? And what about other daily life experiences -- is it valuable to be tweeting about shopping while you're shopping? Unless maybe your friend is shopping across town and gets a tip from your tweet?

Isn't there something cool about having a unique experience and then thinking about it and writing something about it? Maybe we are becoming a society addicted to instant reaction -- needing to get the word out about something before the something is even over... I'm not sure, so I'm asking you guys: How many of you use Twitter to either tweet or follow other tweeters? Does it lessen or heighten the experience of the tweet topic for you? What kinds of things do you think are tweetable?

Hugs and tweets,

Heather

www.heatherdavisbooks.com

NEVER CRY WEREWOLF ~ HarperTeen Sept 2009

THE CLEARING ~ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt April 2010

Can't get enough on ghost hunting?

I'm pleased to finally be able to announce a new book deal! Whooohoooo!!

General/Non-Fiction: GHOST HUNTRESS YA series author Marley Gibson with star of truTV's HAUNTING EVIDENCE Patrick Burns's and KTLK FM's Darkness Radio host Dave Schrader's GHOST HUNTING: THE INS AND OUTS OF PARANORMAL INVESTIGATIONS, a look at the how-to's of proper and effective paranormal investigations, again to Julia Richardson at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, by Deidre Knight at The Knight Agency (NA).

And check out the awesome cover!



This "how to" guide will be out in September and will be a companion to my GHOST HUNTRESS series. If you've ever wanted to know the ins and outs of proper ghost hunting...this is the book for you. It's available pre-order from Amazon.com!

I had a blast writing it and I hope the amateur ghost hunters and huntresses will pick it up and enjoy what they learn. It was fun writing a non-fic book and it was especially nice to get it done with two reknowned people in the paranormal field, Patrick Burns and Dave Schrader, who have been nothing but supportive of me since I got into ghost investigations.

Thanks for letting me share!
Marley = )

Say My Name

No, I'm not talking about the Destiny's Child song of that title (which I love, love, love, btw). I'm talking my actual personal name. More specifically, the pronunciation of my actual personal name. I don't think my name is that confusing to pronounce, but I've had some wacky attempts over the years. (Most often, it's people trying to pronounce Tera as Teera. Seriously?)

Well, that's all about to change!

Because Oh. My. Gods. was featured in School Library Journal's Curriculum Connections newsletter (twice!) I was invited to call in to the teachingbooks.net Author Name Pronunciation Guide. If you visit that page, you can scroll down to my name (past amazing authors like Sherman Alexie, Melissa Marr, John Green and Neil Gaiman) and click to hear an audio recording of yours truly in which I not only pronounce my full name, but also share a funny story about it. (Or, if you're too lazy to scroll all that way, you can click directly to my page.)

What about you? Have you ever heard your name butchered? Do you have any clever ways for telling people how to pronounce your name? (I might say, "It's Tera, like Sarah with a T.") Or how about a funny story to share about your name? Dish, people. Dish.

Hugs,
TLC

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

Two More Winners (Well, Three)!

A clever reader, who goes by the name of THAT ONE GIRL, pointed out that I had promised three winners in my Scrabble contest, not one. She's absolutely right! My brain got muddy with a million other things last week, and I apologize for my error.

On that note, will the following winners please contact me at admin@tinaferraro.com with their mailing address and their choice of my books (Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress, How to Hook a Hottie, and The ABC's of Kissing Boys)?

MD Fitzsimmons
Ka-Yam

and

ThatOne Girl (who also gets a book for being such a smart cookie!)

Contest Winner!

Last week I offered up a word scramble, in celebration of my crazy Facebook Scrabble addiction. Here it is:

ZUZB
SLIRG
LOGB

I encouraged readers to figure out and send me the answer ("Buzz Girls Blog") to my e-mail address, to be entered to win a copy of any one of my three books.

I received a nice smattering of replies, and using the Random Number Generator that my husband made for me (no joke there), we do have a winner:

MEGAN

(Megan, let’s talk more about this via e-mail.)

So in celebration of all things Scrabble, tell me if you play on-line or on the old-fashioned board, and any highs or lows or just general memories.

I’ll start the chatter: Scrabble was the one game my mom and I both enjoyed, and as I was moving out, she gave me my own board. She’s been “gone” for many years now, but believe me, I’ve not only still got the board, but played on it many times with my own kids. And of course, now I’ve got my on-line addiction.

Who’s next?

Author Questions Answered!

I'm going to grab some of the questions from the comments to Heather's post today! :)


--what's your favorite book that you have written?
DESI DIVAS, the second book I wrote. This was the story of three friends who battle inner demons, outer demons and each other in the pursuit of what they think is happiness. I still think it has the most complicated characters and best storyline...I love reading that manuscript and still have hopes that it'll get published someday!

--what county would you most like to have your book sold in?
France! I would love to do a book-signing in Paris...and spend a month there on "research" for my next book! I love Paris. The amazing food, the gorgeous architecture, the fashion-forward people walking around all day...love it!

--what was the weirdest/most unusual method of inspiration you've gotten for a story, or for a plot idea/character/setting?
I got the idea for my latest YA work-in-progress, PROVOKING KISMET on an airplane! I was thinking of 9/11 and what possessed those people to do the things they did. I know a lot of the Taliban members are young, barely out of their teens. I wanted to write a story about how such young people get influenced to commit such horrible acts...then the ideas started spinning about how I could twist this into a love story of sorts...

So for you readers our there, what are some other questions you have for authors?
-------------------------
Dona Sarkar-Mishra
http://donasarkarmishra.com

Inquiring Minds Want to Know!

It's Thursday on the Buzz Blog, and Dona Sarkar and I are off to do a workshop panel for Pacific Northwest Writers Association. http://pnwa.org/

We're speaking on a multi-author panel about writing in general, and how to change and evolve to survive in the industry. Dona and I are the only YA authors on the panel, so that brings me to the question for you:

What questions do you really want answered about YA books?


I have a few for a couple of our Buzz girls:

1) Tina: How much of your YA writing comes from your own life, and how much comes from having an awesome teen daughter? Where is your prom dress from high school, btw?

2) Tera: Were you a runner in high school? I can't imagine how else you would know so much about cross-country for Oh. My. Gods...?

3) Steph: Do you covet the fashionable stuff like Aspen in your novels? How many purses do you really own?

5) Marley: I know you have been on ghosthunts, but have you had real-life spontaneous encounters with the other side?


I would love to know the answers to these questions - -and I hope all you Buzz Blog readers post more of your own in the comments section. What are you dying to know about the Buzz Girls and their books?






















Oh, just for fun, here's a picture from last summer's Buzz Girl panel at the RWA National Conference. The other bees snuck off, but here are Marley, Tera, and Dona! Look how cute you guys are!

Hugs,


Heather


http://www.heatherdavisbooks.com/

Never Cry Werewolf, HarperTeen Sept '09
The Clearing, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt April '10

Fashionistas to the rescue!

Tomorrow is the launch of GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING at GhoStock 7 in Salem, Massachusetts and I am having a fashion emergency!

I need your help! Please!!!

My beloved Betsey Johnson leather purse has broken on me. Wahhhhh... I went to the BJ store and they said they couldn't really fix it and to take it to a repair shop...who wants $75 to replace the broken hitch and can't guarantee that it'll match. Another wahhhh...

So, I need a new purse.



And I need suggestions! I'm not exactly sure what the style is right now. Betsey was so stylish and timeless. You know...I could carry it for years and no one would know. I want something along those lines.

I don't want one of these giganormous totes that women carry, looking like they're moving out of the house every time they go out. Honestly, I don't think my sciatica could take that! LOL!! I mean, look at one of the Olsen twins...that thing is almost bigger than she is (which isn't saying much!)



What would you suggest? What brand? Websites to visit? Styles to look at? I don't want to spend a fortune, but I'd love a sturdy, reliable, fashionable bag that will do what I need on a daily basis.



Thanks for rescuing me!!!

Hugs,
Marley = )

Get Thee To A Library

We've shown lots of library love here on the Buzz Blog over the years, but here's something new. My darling friend Kay Cassidy (author of next year's fabulous debut, The Cinderella Society) has launched a wonderful new program to help libraries get kids and teens motivated to read books--with the opportunity to win awesome prizes.

It's called the Great Scavenger Hunt Contest, and here's the info:

If you’ve been looking for a way to get kids reading a variety of books, look no further. You’ll find nearly every kind of book you can imagine: fantasies, historicals, mysteries, romantic comedies, sweeping literary novels… you name it. The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest authors include many New York Times bestselling authors and winners or finalists of the Newbery Medal, Printz Award, National Book Award and Edgar Award. There truly is something for every reader.

To participate, readers (called hunters) simply read a scavenger hunt book, complete the scavenger hunt, and turn it in to you. If they get 8 out of 10 answers correct, you get to enter them in the monthly contest. Easy, right?

Every month, I’ll choose one lucky hunter as the winner. The winning hunter will receive a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card (good in stores or online) to use for whatever their heart desires. Even better, when they win, YOU win too… a library prize tote filled with more terrific scavenger hunt books for your library collection.

Fun, fast, simple plus free prizes. It doesn’t get any better than that, does it?

There are beyond tons of amazing authors participating in the hunt! Everyone from New York Times Bestsellers to Newbery and Printz Award winners to a Buzz Girl or two (or more).

You can find complete details on how the program works here on Kay's site, but basically if you want to participate you need to get your library to sign up so you can submit your completed scavenger hunts to them. (It's free and easy, so it shouldn't be hard to convince them!)

I wish there had been fun stuff like this in libraries when I was a kid! I bet I would have been there a lot more often.

Doesn't it sound like fun?

Hugs,
TLC

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

Contest!

Some weeks ago, I owned up to my latest addiction:

Facebook Scrabble.

Well, it’s getting worse rather than better. I am now scrabbling up license plates and billboards and junk mail flyers for new and better words, saying things out loud like, “My kingdom for a V.”

Because misery loves company(!), I thought we’d have a little contest, with one signed copy of any of my three novels going to three winners. (Winner’s choice.) I am going to list three words here, all scrambled up. Convert them into independent words and then a well-known phrase and send that phrase to me in an e-mail at admin@tinaferraro.com.
Here we go:

ZUZB
SLIRG
LOGB

Remember, send me an e-mail, don't post the phrase in the comments.

The winners will be announced next Monday.

Good luck!

The "Perfect" Day

The weather in Seattle could go either way pretty much the whole of April. Instead of waiting around for "the perfect day", I am going to create it today! I'm a girl with very simple needs: access to a gym, good food and good company. Since my DH is back from his trip, the company part is handled.

I started the day off with a wonderful workout: A circuit training class. This was 20 minutes of intervals on an elliptical machine followed by a hard and fast strength training workout with weights, bands, and cables for 45 minutes. After this, I spent half an hour on an elliptical, and I was cooked!

I am a gym-addict, I won't even lie about it. It must be those endorphins. When I work out, I feel AH-MAZE-ING...when I don't I feel like something is missing. The gym is one of my favorite places to hang out. I know, weird :)

Next is food! I am thinking of going to brunch to one of our favorite spots in the wonderful Queen Anne area os Seattle. We'll walk around and decide which we want. I'm thinking either Mecca (one of Heather Davis's faves!) or 5 Spot (one of Rachael Ray's faves!)



What is a visit to Queen Anne without a nice relaxing walk to enjoy the incredible views of Seattle as well as a stop at one of MY favorite places: Queen Anne Books!





After this, a stop at one of the tea-houses I frequent to get writing done: Teacup! I love to curl up with a pot of tea to read, write, or just people-watch!







So....that's my day! What's your favorite way to spend a lazy Saturday?
------------------------------
Dona Sarkar-Mishra
http://donasarkarmishra.com/

It is a very good Friday

I hope this blog post finds you kicking up your heels and enjoying your Friday however you want. I plan to spend the day coloring Easter eggs with my boys. I've never been much of an artist. Seriously, my kids stick people are better than mine. But I do look forward to getting creative with the eggs. I love double dipping and making them two different colors. And how fun is it to use that neato little wax crayon to write a secret message then dip your egg to reveal it. Okay, so I'm easily amused.
We don't use our real eggs for the hunt though. I use them to make egg salad, which is awesome if I do say so myself. This year I bought a glow-in-the-dark egg hunt kit which includes two tiny flashlights. It should be fun trying to help the kids hunt them down after it gets dark. And the really fun thing about the plastic eggs is all the candy inside.And Easter wouldn't be complete without a hollow chocolate bunny with those delicious candy eyes. I really not much of a chocolate person normally but those bring back such good memories that I always have to buy one.
How about you, did you hunt "real" eggs or plastic eggs when you were little? Do you have a favorite candy?
xo,
Stephanie
www.stephaniehale.com

Reviews, Lists, & Awards

Happy Thursday!

It's Heather, making the switch to Thursdays for awhile. Hope your week is going great.

So, with our Buzz Girls Tina Ferraro and Tera Lynn Childs finalling for the Young Adult Rita Award this year, I've been thinking about how much awards can really spotlight a book. I know before I sold, being a Golden Heart finalist/winner helped get my name out there. Getting your *title* out there as a published author is even better. So, yay for Rita finalists How to Hook a Hottie and Oh. My. Gods. I hope the award spotlight brings Tina and Tera more and more readers.

Of course, hitting the NYT or USA Today Bestseller list helps too. It can call attention to the book for people who wouldn't normally notice it on the shelf -- and it's pretty darn cool. Just ask Buzz Blog friend Alyson Noel, who topped the NYT list with Evermore recently. It's in my TBR pile and I can't wait to read it.

Review sites can also help call attention to new books. It's been a thrill to see my book pop up as a future read on Story Siren and some other cool review blogs.

So a question for you guys -- does a review, award, or list make you want to buy the book? I know I bought Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book when it won the Newberry, just to see what all the fuss was about.

How about you? Have you ever been lead to a great book by the buzz?

Hugs,

Heather

http://www.heatherdavisbooks.com/

Never Cry Werewolf ~ HarperTeen Sept. 2009

The Clearing - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2010

Houston, we have a ... cover!

With the upcoming release of my new YA series, GHOST HUNTRESS, on May 4th, with the first book, THE AWAKENING, launching next Thursday at the GhoStock conference in Salem, MA, I'm also thrilled to share the cover of the second book, THE AWAKENING, which is now up on Amazon.com for pre-sale.

Check it out! I'm swooooooooooooning!!!



The cover designers (Ilovedust.com and Houghton Mifflin's graphic artist, Carole Chu) have really outdone themselves on this one. Look how fierce Kendall looks! Ready to take on any ghost that crosses her path.

Here's a blurb for the book:

Kendall and her ghost hunting team is the talk of Radisson, Georgia, but one person isn’t so pleased. Courtney Langdon doesn’t appreciate Kendall’s new popularity or her relationship with Jason, Courtney’s ex. So Courtney begins dabbling in the paranormal world. At first it’s all a game to draw attention away from Kendall. But Courtney doesn’t know what she’s getting into—or what wants in her. This is one game that’s about to turn deadly serious. And for more about Kendall and the ghost huntresses, check out www.ghosthuntress.com!

I have to say...I have been blessed by the Cover Gods with this series. They're working on the cover for the third book, THE REASON, as we speak and I can't wait to see what they come up with!!

And now...for a quick contest: Go to Amazon.com, pre-purchase THE GUIDANCE (release date September 7, 2009), and send me a copy of the order between now and next Wednesday (at marley.h.gibson (at) gmail.com), I will enter you to win an advanced copy of the first book, THE AWAKENING. Pretty cool, eh? I'll announce the winner next week.

And finally...MASSIVE CONGRATS to Tina and Tera Lynn for their Rita nominations. While I won't be in DC to cheer you on, I will be there in spirit! Get it...spirit...I write about ghosts...ahhh...nevermind... ;)

Hugs,
Marley = )

GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING (Coming May 2009, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) GHOST HUNTRESS: THE GUIDANCE (Coming October 2009, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
GHOST HUNTRESS: The REASON (Coming May 2010, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
CHRISTMAS MIRACLES (Coming October 2009, St. Martin's Press)
SORORITY 101: Zeta or Omega? (Available from Puffin Books)
SORORITY 101: The New Sisters (Available from Puffin Books)

Playlist Du Jour

I'm not really a huge music person. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love love love music, but I'm not one of those people who ever made mix tapes or intricate playlists or analyzed the anarchic undertones and discordant rhythms of blah blah blah. I'm not picky or educated or particularly knowledgeable about it. I just like music that speaks to me or reminds me of a certain time or place or event. In short, I'm an equal opportunity listener.


So, it should come as no surprise that the playlist spinning on my iTunes as I compose this post is a mish-mash of songs I like. They have no connection or greater meaning. I just like them. They make me happy. Don't judge.

1. The Climb by Miley Cyrus
2. Put Your Records On by Corrine Bailey Rae
3. Just Dance by Lady Gaga
4. Wanted Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi
5. Take a Chance on Me by ABBA
6. So What by P!nk
7. Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis
8. Glamorous by Fergie
9. Mercy by Duffy
10. Runaway Train by Soul Asylum
11. Single Ladies by Beyonce
12. One Step at a Time by Jordin Sparks
13. Womanizer by Britney Spears
14. I'm Yours by Jason Mraz
15. Love Song by Sara Bareilles
    

Am I the only one with a wacky compilations of songs in my iTunes? Come on, dish some of the wierd tunes we'd find in your playlist!

Hugs,
TLC

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

Random Acts of Kindness!

Since I last posted, I had a wild week, including a virus that brought me days of high fevers and shakes, and an emergency appendectomy for my son. Which left me feeling, well, unsettled, but grateful for all that I have.

So when I saw this CNN video about two women who make a habit of doing random acts of kindess, I knew I had to post it.

Video

Isn't that just wonderful?

The random act that I have long liked to "commit" is to stuff cash in the pockets of clothes I donate to charity. I like to think that whoever becomes the next owners will delight in finding it, and maybe think they're luck is changing.

How about you? Ever do something totally random, hoping to brighten people's days?

Oh, and by the way, my son's surgery went well. He is home and on the mend!

Tina

Tina Ferraro
The ABC's of Kissing Boys
How to Hook a Hottie, 2009 Rita Finalist
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
www.tinaferraro.com

Spring Cleaning

The sun has finally appeared in the gray-as-of-late Seattle skies. Cherry trees are filling the sidewalks with pink snow and the parks are packed with all sorts of people enjoying the respite from the odd, lingering winter we've had. Spring is here!

And for me, that means time to dig through the turtlenecks and try to locate the cute warm weather tops and capris. Yay! I love bringing out those favorite pieces from summer and it helps me not be tempted into buying a ton of new stuff when I walk past sales.

I don't really enjoy cleaning, but I do like organizing and sorting through stuff. So, this means I will be (and don't laugh) color/style coding my closet so that it's easier to find what goes together, and getting a pile of clothes ready for donation. It's pretty bad this year -- see the above picture for how out of whack my closet organizing is right now!

So tell me, do you have a spring ritual? Are you ready to dig through the closet, scrub all the cabinet doors, clean behind the refrigerator, or just start getting a regular pedicure? What do you do to signify that spring has sprung?

Hugs,

Heather

www.heatherdavisbooks.com

Never Cry Werewolf ~ September '09 HarperTeen
The Clearing ~ April 2010 Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

What I do when searching for inspiration....

I haven't been extremely motivated to write lately. It isn't that I don't want to, it's just that I'm not feeling pulled by a particular project. When this happens (which is frequent, scarily enough)I become extremely dangerous. That means that the time I would usually spend writing is spent either driving my husband crazy telling him how bored I am or spending money.
Then I remembered that a certain bunny is scheduled to make an appearance next weekend and I hadn't done much in the way of baskets yet. I started at Target. I had good intentions of value-priced DVD's, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and a chocolate bunny or two. Yeah. $160 later.
I blame the Peeps. It's sugar coated in sugar, people. It makes you do crazy things. I swear every year I get a Peeps hangover and then have to do the walk of shame out of the retail establishment I've humiliated myself in. Not that they didn't love to see me coming but I'm pretty sure the cashier wanted to remind me that it was Easter, not Christmas.
So I walked out with Easter grass, Nerds, Sweettart Gummy rabbits, tons of chocolate bunnies, sidewalk chalk, stuff for a glow-in-the-dark Easter egg hunt, coloring books, markers, bug sunglasses, a make your own book kit, sandbox tools, stickers, and I can't even remember what else. I got home to a package on the front porch of new Crocs that I had ordered for them for Easter and had completely forgotten about!
My son is going to freak when he sees these!
I don't think even half of this stuff is going to fit in their baskets.

This is the size basket I need!

This makes me crack up every year!
Then I found the cutest idea about making rabbits tracks on the floor through the house with floor. I can hardly wait to see the looks on their faces that morning. And I'm fairly certain that once I'm done cleaning up the flour I'll be ready to get back to writing!
Do you go overboard for holidays like I do?

xo,
Stephanie~
www.stephaniehale.com