Friday, November 30, 2007

I'm thankful for things that save me time.....


As a stay-at-home mom/author I am always thankful for anything that saves me time. Pre-packaged meals, the microwave, and Pull-Ups are big around the Hale household. But my most favorite thing in the whole world that saves me tons of time is a tiny little guy with a television for a head. TIVO!
If you are a television lover, you just have to get a DVR! There is nothing like plopping down on your couch after a long day to find that Tivo has remembered to tape all of your favorite shows.
Fast forwarding through the tons of commercials is a lifesaver. I would never have the time to be addicted to so many shows if I couldn't FF. Tivo saves me from having to sit through endless hours of Ninja Warrior and Trucks when my husband is home. Not to mention all the fun little things TIVO will tape just to surprise me. He really is the perfect man!
Here are a few of my Season Passes: Gossip Girl, Dirty Sexy Money, Dancing with the Stars (yeah, Helio), Ghost Whisperer, Pageant Place, Ugly Betty, Pushing Daisies, & Women's Murder Club. Just to name a few. So, what's on your TIVO list?
What I'm reading...The Luxe...I know, right?
xo,
Steph
Revenge of the Homecoming Queen, OUT NOW!

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Thankful Buzz Continues...

So... we're thankful for things that have Buzz this week... and I'm thankful for my Nano! His name is Poddy McPod (named him myself, don't ya know) and he's loaded with nearly 1000 songs that motivate me as I walk to the day job, run on the treadmill (sometimes), write at the coffee shop, or even clean my place.

I'm not trying to be an ipod commercial or anything, but the buzz on the Nano is totally deserved. Ever since that one summer that I lost my entire CD notebook on the plane to Alaska (to spend the whole summer at a remote camp!) I don't think I'll ever go back to Disc land. It's good to buy discs, but putting them into your ipod can save a lot of pain. The one time that Poddy got sick (he was corrupted!) I fixed him by reading a simple internet tip.


Fave music to listen to at day job? David Bowie.

Fave music to listen to on the walk to/from day job? Keane.

Fave music to listen to when writing? The Killers. (Sawdust, the new album, is so good!)

Fave music to listen to when getting ready to go out? LCD Sound System.

Fave music to chill to? Ryan Adams. (Listen to Easy, Tiger)

Harper the kitty's favorite singer? Feist

The song I listened two twice today on Poddy McPod? Only You - by Yaz.

Is anyone else addicted? What do you listen to when you write?


xxo,


Heather

Heather Davis is the author of
NEVER CRY WEREWOLF
Coming in April 2009 from HarperCollins

Monday, November 26, 2007

The Things We Take For Granted...

Our final week of What We’re Thankful For falls into our Buzz category, which means talking about pretty much anything in our universe that gets some buzz!

But turning that concept on its side, I’d like to give snaps and recognition to the things in our lives that we rarely stop and think about. The things, that sometimes, you only appreciate when you realize they are gone--permanently or momentarily. The things we often take for granted.

Here are some of mine:

My good health.
A bump-in and nice chat with a casual friend.
A good night’s sleep.


How close my family has remained.
My comfortable standard of living (not rich, but the fact I can afford what I need).
My good, solid internet connection!

How about you? Do you have something you fail to give its due?

Tina

Tina Ferraro
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
How to Hook a Hottie, January, 2008
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, Spring, 2009
www.tinaferraro.com

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Thankful For... Boys Who Give Back

Since Steph's post remined me of my all-time-favorite Christmas singer (Harry Connick Jr.) I thought I would throw a little highlight on boys who give back to the community.


Bono


Debt AIDS Trade Africa (DATA)
DATA is an advocacy organization dedicated to eradicating extreme poverty and AIDS in Africa.


Africa makes a fool of our idea of justice; it makes a farce of our idea of equality. It mocks our pieties, it doubts our concern, it questions our commitment.


6,500 Africans are still dying every day of a preventable, treatable disease, for lack of drugs we can buy at any drug store. This is not about charity - this is about justice and equality.



Paul McCartney


Adopt-A-Minefield
Adopt-A-Minefield® is a campaign of the United Nations Association of the USA, which engages individuals, community groups, and businesses in the United Nations effort to resolve the global landmine crisis. The Campaign helps save lives by raising funds for mine clearance and survivor assistance and by raising awareness about the landmine problem.


John Prendergast


Enough
ENOUGH was born out of frustration and hope.



We ran out of patience with the world's shameful lack of progress in combating terrible horrors. We found confidence in the growing number of Americans who are demanding more aggressive, more successful solutions. And we have faith that we really can abolish genocide and mass atrocities once and for all.


We know that people care, but many assume that the crises in Africa and elsewhere are intractable. This perception of futility sustains the killing of thousands and destroys the hopes of a safe and secure future for millions more. With every passing minute, the slaughter continues.


Activist mega-hottie JP co-wrote Not On Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond with Ocean's 11 cockneye cutie Don Cheadle.


Harry Connick Jr.


New Orleans Habitat Musicians' Village

Musicians’ Village, a cornerstone of the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity (NOAHH) post-Katrina rebuilding effort, is designed to both construct a community and preserve a culture. Conceived by New Orleans natives Harry Connick, Jr. and Branford Marsalis, Musicians’ Village will provide a home for both the artists who have defined the city’s culture and the sounds that have shaped the musical vernacular of the world.


The music and musicians of New Orleans have always been the city’s heart and soul. Your support of New Orleans Habitat Musicians’ Village is the best way to ensure that my home town lifts itself from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina with heart and soul intact.

In this giving season, it seems especially important to acknowledge those who are trying to make the planet a better place. What other boys are out there doing good in the world?

Hugs,
TLC
OH. MY. GODS. (Dutton) May 2008
teralynnchilds.com

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Thankful for boys in uniform...

No...not those boys in uniform...the boys who strap on the pads and jerseys every weekend and entertain us with their gladiatorness on the gridiron.



Yes, I'm talking football players! Respect them, cheer for them, love them!

I went to a "football" school, so it's in my blood. It runs Crimson, in fact. I majored in the football team my freshman year and boy, was it fun.



There's just something about a beautiful fall afternoon with the smell of football in the air. The clash between rivals, the ferocity trying to get that desperately needed first down, fighting for bragging rights. In college football, in particular, the players aren't being paid. They're playing with their guts. Not for glory.

In my SORORITY 101 books, football plays a big part on the Latimer University campus and is the setting for a lot of activities. And, there's a hunky football player that one of my heroines falls for. Of course!



Today is the The Big Game for my university: The Iron Bowl. It's the traditional yearly game between The University of Alabama (Roll Tide!) and Auburn University. While my Bama boys haven't had the best of seasons, I always expect them to rise to the occasion to battle the Tigers. (It's on ESPN tonight at 8:00 p.m. if you want to tune in.)














So, here's a hearty "Roooooooooooollllllllllllll Tide Roll" for the boys in Crimson who come into my living room every weekend and entertain me...and often break my heart. But I keep coming back for more.



Who's your favorite team? Do you have any traditions when getting ready for the games?

Hugs,
Marley = )

SORORITY 101: Zeta or Omega? (May 2008, Puffin Books)
SORORITY 101: The New Sisters (May 2008, Puffin Books)
GHOST HUNTRESS Series (Begins May 2009, Houghton Mifflin)

Friday, November 23, 2007

I'm thankful for boys who can croon....

I love this time of year because I can break out my Christmas CD's. One of my favorites is filled with holiday classics sung by Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Bing Crosby. The familiar voices make me smile and just make driving to the grocery store a special treat. I listen to it well into January!


And how about hottie crooner Josh Groban? Who wouldn't melt into a puddle if they got serenaded by him? Yes, please!

So, who's voice makes your heart soar?

What I'm reading....The Luxe (still...it's so delish I hate to finish it!)

xo,

Steph

www.stephaniehale.com

Revenge of the Homecoming Queen, OUT NOW!

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

The Ones Who Were My Best Friends

Continuing the "What are we thankful for -- boys edition" portion of the month...

I have always been thankful to the boys who were my best friends. These relationships aren't romantic (except for one) but the bond I share with these men in my life have made me exactly what I am today.

My Dad - he aways told me I could do anything I wanted to. In my teens, he enrolled me in tai kwon do and insisted I take the most advanced math and science classes so I would never need anyone to take care of me. Not once did I hear from him that a challenge was too great, or I would need a guy to take care of me, or I wouldn't become a successful anything. He was always the first to tell me I would ace the test, or get my green belt, or get that dream job. He is a strict believer that a woman's place is out of the house earning and income and kicking some serious @ss.

My HS guy friends A and V - These guys were always there for me when I had to vent about classes, college apps, teachers, my parents, how fat I was, or the not-so-nice students. They were always the ones who studied with me, made me feel special and took me to Prom and Homecoming when I had no date :)

My college buds N and N - My twin brothers-I-never-had. These two made me believe that I could get a Computer Science degree and helped me every step of the day. We studied all night, programmed all day, and still managed to have a total blast! They are the reason I believed in myself enough to try for and get my current job.

My co-workers - When I'm bored, when I'm sad, when I'm upset, when I'm overworked, I always have shoulders to lean on at work. These guys never made me feel uncomfortable for being one of few girls in the workplace and can, always, always make me laugh. Because of them, I never eat lunch or drink coffee alone.

My husband - My bestest friend of all. Out of everyone in the world, he is the one I can talk to all day and night and the only person I have never gotten "too much" of. He is the one that can sense my every mood and turn it sunny. You know you have met the one for you when you can spend all morning talking to him, go to work and feel like calling him immdiately, then at the end of the day have hours of stories to share that you've been saving just for him...all this after 6+ years!

And that's it...let's hear it for the boys that are best friends!
------------------------------
Dona Sarkar-Mishra
http://donasarkarmishra.com
HOW TO SALSA IN A SARI - January 2008

Monday, November 19, 2007

The Ones Who've Made Me Giggle...

Starting week two of what we are thankful for, we’re looking at boys. And I realized from about the time I was ten years old, I’ve been thankful for the ones who’ve make me blush and giggle.


Either with a comment just slightly racier or more personal than I was expecting, or a lascivious wag of the brow, or a gaze-into-my-soul stare. They were the boys who made the long, boring hours of school worthwhile, who I’d think of while blow-drying my hair or trying on outfits in a department store dressing room. They surprised me, they delighted me, they kept me on my toes. And they are the ones I remember best from my teen days, some even with snippets of dialogue attached.

Anyone else go gaga over those bold ones? Or what type of boy are you thankful for?

Tina

Tina Ferraro
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
How to Hook a Hottie, January, 2008
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, Spring, 2009
www.tinaferraro.com

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Thankful For Not Being Alone...

Okay, I seriously contemplated being thankful for Starbucks this week (seriously, without them--and other coffee shops--I would have never finished a single book) but that seems kinda selfish for a Thanksgiving-themed post. So, instead, I'm going to talk about being thankful for other writers.

As many have said before, writing is a solitary profession. It can be lonely and depressing and--because the industry is such a non-stop-ever-changing-roller-coaster-ride--frustrating. That's why a writer needs to have friends. Not just your regular, everyday kind of friend, but writer friends. Friends who writer. No one else--not even your husband or mom or best friend since high school--will ever truly understand what you're going through.

You have to write a book to understand what it's like to have a character do something you didn't want them to do, or to know how bad it is when you get to page two-fifty and your bad guy suddenly dies. You have to have submitted your soul--aka your book--to contests and agents and editors to understand the kind of gut-wrenching emotion you feel when you find that reply in your mailbox or inbox. You have to have sold a book to understand that writing the book is only the beginning, that soon after there follows: revisions, second revisions, line-editing, copyediting, page-proofing, bio-writing, websites, MySpace, advertising, booksignings, speaking engagements, networking, proposals, option books, contracts, rejections, and million other things that suddenly take time away from writing--and I haven't even gotten to the stuff that happens after the book comes out!

So, this Thanksgiving season, I am beyond thankful for the other authors who have made my life a saner place:
  1. The members of RWA (Romance Writers of America) -- This is one of the best writing groups out there. Nine-thousand aspiring and published authors (not all write romance) who don't hesitate to share information.
  2. The members of West Houston RWA (my local chapter) -- When I went to my very first RWA meeting four years ago, the ladies of West Houston warmly welcomed me into their fold. They are the reason I moved back to Houston, after all, because I couldn't imagine a better group anywhere.
  3. The members of the BuzzBlog -- My sisters in YA. We're sharing this journey together and I can't imagine a better group to walk arm-in-arm into this crazy career.
Thank you all for being part of my life.
Hugs,
TLC
OH. MY. GODS. (Dutton) May 2008
teralynnchilds.com

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Thankful for Good Writing (and Real Life) Friends

I'm thankful for my wonderful critique partner (and fellow Bee) Dona Sarkar and my writing life mentor Pat White. These two women have made such a difference in my life.

Dona, who writes YA for Kimani Tru, became my critique partner in early 2006. Though I'd known her for a little while before then, we were both looking for a CP, and decided to give it a try. She was the first one to read Never Cry Werewolf, and I read her novel, How to Salsa in a Sari. We worked so well together!


Both of us finished our respective critiques by saying, "This is going to be it! I can feel it!" And, remarkably, we were right! Within a year, we both had made our first sales.

She's become since then a great friend and my fashion consultant. She was my date to the Golden Hearts in 2006 when I won the YA category. She and her charming hubby even made the trek to Belltown last night to celebrate my birthday. I heart Dona!

I'm also thankful for Pat White, who writes for Harlequin Intrigue. She was the first published author to offer to help me with a synopsis -- and I remember being blown away that a real author would help me out. Since then, she's been a mentor and great friend. When everything changed in an instant in my personal life and I found myself on my own -- Pat was the one who coached me through the really tough parts. She's always the first to say, "Put on your big girl panties and deal!" And whenever we're stuck with a plot -- a quick phone call to each other sorts it all out. I heart Pat!

Of course, I'm also grateful for the Buzz Blog Girls. These talented women have made the last year and a half a blast. I'm learning so much from you guys! I'm so thankful we all found each other and pooled our time and effort into this blog. It's been incredibly helpful and fun. And most importantly, on a rainy day in a writing career, the Buzz Girls always share their umbrellas!

So there you have it. You don't make it writing on your own. Having a support system of great critique partners, mentors, and writing friends is key.

XXO,

Heather

Heather Davis is the author of
Never Cry Werewolf
Coming in April 2009 from HarperCollins






Friday, November 16, 2007

I wouldn't be where I am without it....

the Internet. Seriously, where would most writers be without it? I can guarantee that I would not be a published author if it wasn't for the Internet. The first thing I did when I decided to start writing was get on Yahoo and type in writers groups. If I hadn't connected with the people in these groups I never would have learned about agents, queries, contests, etc. The Internet gave me (a stay-at-home-mom from the sticks) the same opportunities of someone who could jet-set off to conferences all the time or who (gasp) actually lived in New York City. It levels the playing field.

If it wasn't for the Internet I also would never have met some of the most wonderful women I've ever known(enter BBG's names here) and could never have found something that I love to do with my whole heart. And as a SAHM the Internet gives me instant contact with people who speak full sentences and don't keep asking me why. I can't tell you how important this contact is some days!

So that's what I'm most thankful for related to my writing. Now I'm off to decorate my Christmas tree with the two pint-sized people I'm most thankful for!

What I'm reading....The Luxe by Anna Godbersen (thanks, TLC!)
xo,
Steph
www.stephaniehale.com
Revenge of the Homecoming Queen, OUT NOW!

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Giving Thanks...

Many thanks to Heather for letting me slide into the Tuesday position instead of my regular Saturday posting. There's a method to the madness and it goes hand-in-hand with our blog theme this week...

I am giving massive thanks today for one very special reason...from Publisher's Marketplace:

******
CHILDREN'S: YOUNG ADULT
Marley Gibson's GHOST HUNTRESS series, featuring a transplanted Chicago teen who begins to experience a psychic awakening, then forms a ragtag ghost hunting team to research and battle the belligerent ghosts in her historic Southern town, to Julia Richardson at Houghton Mifflin, in a very nice deal, in a three-book deal, by Deidre Knight of The Knight Agency (NA).
Deidre.Knight@knightagency.net
I am sooooooooooooo pleased to announce the sale of my new series and I can't wait to finish writing the books (I sold on proposal.) These books are very near and dear to me because, while doing extensive research for this series, I met some wonderful people and had some very interesting experiences while ghost hunting. Here are some of the pictures I snapped while out and about on my research:



(See all of the orbs?)



(See the whispy thing above her hand?)



(See the light anomaly on the right side of the mirror?)

So, what do you think of these pictures? Ghosts? Dust? Spirits? Lens flares?

Hugs,
Marley = )

SORORITY 101: ZETA OR OMEGA?
SORORITY 101: THE NEW SISTERS
writing as Kate Harmon

Monday, November 12, 2007

What I'm Thankful For!


The Buzz Girls are embarking on theme called “What I’m Thankful For,” and this week will focus on books and writing...

And I have to say, What I’m Thankful For is my second grade teacher. Who recognized in me an unusual talent for storytelling, who called my mother in to share the news, and then announced to the class that for the rest of the semester, I’d be sitting out the reading circle to focus on writing.

And while I remember being baffled that story writing was something a teacher would take notice of--I mean, it was fun, like recess, right?--I also remember a sense of pride, and feeling special in the classroom, something I’d not feel again for a very long time.

So I’m Thankful for an Intuitive Teacher who help light my way! Does anyone have a supportive teacher story to share from their background?

What I’m Reading: My Sister’s Keeper, Jodi Picoult

Tina

Tina Ferraro
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
How to Hook a Hottie, January, 2008
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, Spring, 2009
www.tinaferraro.com

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Indulgence on a Lazy Sunday

Technically, I'm under deadline. The sequel to OH. MY. GODS. is due to my editor on Thursday. But... I'm almost done with my once-over revision, so I'm granting myself a lazy Sunday morning. (Not just because I've earned it, but because I feel a virus coming on and I'd rather spend one day relaxing than lose a week to the flu!) The question is, what all can I do from the comfort of my bed? Answer: Tons.

1. READ. I just finished up Kresley Cole's second paranormal, No Rest For The Wicked, and it was just yummy. A crazy, inventive "Lore" version of the Amazing Race (meaning Valkyrie's and Vampires and Werewolves are all competing for seriously supernatural prize). And I have book three, Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night, on my nightstand. Even more hours of enthrallment. (And then there's the rest of the TBR pile... I could be here for weeks.)

2. WATCH TV. When I don't have the energy to hunt for something else on TV, I tune in to my standby favorites: murder mystery shows. I'm a huge sucker for everything from Murder, She Wrote to Columbo. Diagnosis: Murder. Matlcok. Perry Mason. The occasional Mystery Woman (I love Kelli Martin, but the acting? Ugh.) If I can find it, I'll watch any version of Law & Order and CSI. I also love the mysteries from across the pond: Poirot (and anything Agatha Christie, really), Midsommer Murders, Wire in the Blood, and Waking the Dead. (Trust me, the Brits d dark and edgy way better than we do!)

3. WORK. Okay, so I'm not all rest and relaxation on my lazy Sunday. Since I've got a laptop (and my internet connection is, at the moment, working) I can work from bed. I'm composing this post in bed. I'm going to make a little more progress on my revision later. I may even work on a couple of other book ideas if I can't stop thinking about them. I can check email, update my website, order bookmarks, or anything. Laptops and wireless internet are just amazing! (Plus, I feel totally Meg Cabot.)

Now that you know what I'm doing on a lazy Sunday, it's your turn to spill. How do you like to spend a day where you don't have to do anything?

Hugs,
TLC

OH. MY. GODS. (Dutton) May 2008
teralynnchilds.com

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Guilty Pleasure ... sun, sand and surf

Sorry to have been the silent bee of late...

It's been busy in the Gibson hive of late. But it's been all good stuff. I post to you from my hotel room in South Beach Miami where I've been since Sunday. Before that, we were up in Clearwater Beach for the wedding my wonderful friend and critique partner, Diana Peterfreund. I can't download my pics yet, but let me assure you, she was the essence of a bridal magazine bride...tres gorgy!!!

But yeah...I missed out on the guilty pleasure post because I was experiencing my guilty pleasure...the beach. For me, it's so much more than just a vacation away from the cold New England weather that's set in. It's a total mind and body getaway. The sun it soothing to me. Yes, I wear sun block, but I've got Indian blood in me and I seem to come alive in the sun. I feel better when I sit out in the sun. The surf...wow...I could sit and listen to the waves all day pounding the shore and slipping back out in to the ocean. And who doesn't like squiggling their toes in the sand?

Here's a view from where we stayed in Clearwater. The sand there is sugar...honestly. White and sifted like flour. I highly recommend a visit there.



And here's a picture of our spot in Miami Beach. Every time we visit here, this is where we plop down to spend several hours. The art deco designs of the whole beach decor is just gorgeous.



So...what is your favorite beach and why?

Hugs,
Marley = )

SORORITY 101: Zeta or Omega?
SORORITY 101: The New Sisters
May 2008, Puffin Books
writing as Kate Harmon

Friday, November 09, 2007

The McRib of Holiday Drinks?

When it comes to food and drinks I'm of the mindset, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." To say that I can get into a nutritional rut is a bit of an understatement. I'm always afraid if I order something different I might not like it then I won't have any money for my old standby. I'm taking baby steps. Starting with seasonal beverages. You've seen the enticing signs start to pop up at your local Starbucks, grocery stores, and even gas stations. I've always considered the following drinks dangerous because they sound so delicious. Would I find myself pining for them the rest of the year or would a few weeks of beverage pleasure be enough to sustain me through the year? If you have been bold enough to try any of these, please weigh in and help a Buzz Girl out.

Eggnog- I'm a huge milk aficionado. I could drink milk with any meal. I'm also very picky about the temperature of my milk, it has to be freezing cold. I usually stick my glass in the freezer for about ten minutes before meal time to get it just right. So the mixture of milk/cream/eggs sounds detectable to me. Honestly, I was afraid I'd get hooked and be driving the Prairie Farms people crazy all year begging for them to bring out a summer version. Are you a fan of eggnog? And are Clark Griswold and I the only ones who think drinks taste better when they are drunk out of special glasses?
Pumpkin Spice & Gingerbread Lattes- The smells nearly bring me to my knees. But I don't like coffee or anything in the tea family. Would I still enjoy these? Would I get hooked and suddenly start spouting words like frappuccino and macchiato? Do I dare?




All this beverage talk is making me thirsty. I think I'll go with my old standby, hot chocolate, until some experts weigh in! :)
What I'm reading...Saving Zoe by Alyson Noel
xo,
Steph
Revenge of the Homecoming Queen, OUT NOW!


Wednesday, November 07, 2007

The TBR Pile

I am using my free day to talk about my favorite thing...books! I have a HUGE TBR pile (I usually read more than one book at a time), and I'd like to see what else everyone else is reading too..

YA
  • Valiant by Holly Black (am in the middle of this, usually I don't like
    paranormal, but this is well-written)
  • Tithe by Holly Black
  • The Book Thief (I'm hearing a lot about this book, how adults are reading it in their book clubs, etc)

ADULT

  • Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich (I love this series!)
  • The Sleeping Doll by Jeffrey Deaver (one of my serial killer novels!)
  • Don't Look Down by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer (I have heard so much about Jen Crusie, yet I have never read her...I know, insane, right?)
  • Body Surfing by Anita Shreve (I want this book to be as fantastic as THE PILOT'S WIFE was...we'll see)
  • The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (My mom is obsessed with this book)
  • Sisters by Danielle Steele (I usually don't read her, but I love all books about sisters and their relationships)
  • Rhett Butler's People (I read an excerpt of this, the scene where Rhett overhears Scarlett profess her love to Ashley in the study from Rhett's POV and immediatley I was taken back to 7th grade and when I read GWTW for the first time....sigh)
  • Salaam, Paris by Kavita Daswani (My fellow Indian author....plus the book is set in Paris!)
  • Girl Most Likely To by Poonam Sharma (Another fellow chick-lit writer....can't wait to get this from Amazon)

What is everyone else reading? I am looking for good YA reads...ones that really resonate with you.

Happy Wednesday!

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

Dona Sarkar-Mishra

http://donasarkarmishra.com

HOW TO SALSA IN A SARI - January 2008

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Why I Do What I Do...

Last spring, I went on a blind date at a coffee shop. The guy, knowing I was a writer of some sort, told me he'd be at a table reading some Jacque Cousteau or something... to which I replied, I'd be the redhead reading Meg Cabot's Princess Diaries 2, Princess in Training.



After a chuckle he said, "Teen Romance, wow. That must be like bulging muscles and swooning."


I paused. "Actually," I said, "my books are about believing in yourself and discovering exactly the sort of person you want to become. Which is exactly what 12 year old girls need to hear."


Needless to say, the date (can you believe I still went!) didn't go well.

But yes, I really did say that about my work, becuase that is why I do what I do. I write for the young teen I was, to tell her exactly what I wished I could have somehow known. I write for my former students who need a fun adventure that might remind them of how special they are. I write to make myself laugh. I write because I have something to say that I hope will be of value.

My dad was here last week on a visit and read the marked-up copy of my manuscript my editor had just sent me. He kept stopping to tell me what she'd written in the margins! (I hadn't got to read it yet, so that was really not fair.) But in the end, he proclaimed it, "Pretty good."

So I figure if my English teacher dad can enjoy my not-quite-revised book written for teens, then maybe I'm on the right track.

Maya Angelou said, "The bird doesn't sing because it knows the answer. The bird sings because it has a song." Isn't that beautiful?

So, why do you write what you write?

xxo,

Heather

Heather Davis is the author of
NEVER CRY WEREWOLF
coming in April 2009 from HarperCollins

Monday, November 05, 2007

Revisions!

We’re having a “free week” here at The Buzz Girls Blog, which means we’re each gonna talk about whatever’s on our mind.

And on my mind is the editor revision letter that arrived on Saturday for my latest book, The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, and how short and complimentary it was!


Those around me--including the Buzz Girls--know I struggled with writing this book. Finding writing time was a factor, but the biggest problem was dealing with “the editor who lives on my shoulder,” that internal voice who knows when things are going astray, but not necessarily how to fix it. Who criticizes and makes me go back and do things over and over...until I am crazy with insecurity.

It’s funny because this was my third contracted book (and tenth book overall), yet I often felt like knowledge and experience were a hindrence. Like the more I know, the more I stop to obsess...

But hey, my critique partners--and my now editor--really liked it, so perhaps I just need to throw up my hands and admit (like Sue Grafton did in Romantic Times this month) that there’s no magic number of pages or books to when the writing comes easy. It’s probably always going to be hard. And that it’s okay--just part of the process.

And when the going gets rough, let us not forget the support of our wonderful critique partners and writer-friends!

Anyone else working on books or reports or papers who has had similar experiences?

Tina

Tina Ferraro
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
How to Hook a Hottie, January, 2008
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, Spring, 2009
www.tinaferraro.com

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Checkin' the System

BuzzBlog readers may remember a few months back when Growing Up Godly became OH. MY. GODS. (a way better title anyway). Well, the reason it changed at that time, my editor said, was that the info was due to the catalog that goes out to book buyers and other folks responsible for ordering books.

Oh my gosh, I thought. If the catalog is going out, surely I'm going to show up on bn.com any day now!

So I started checking. Not every day. I'm not as obsessed--er, devoted as some people. Still, once or twice a week I would log on, type in my name, and cross my fingers. Nothing. Nada. A bunch of random books that have absolutely nothing to do with me. Sometimes I would pop over to Amazon and try there. Or fetchbook.info, which searches bunches of sites simultaneously. Like I said, I'm not obsessed.

Then one day (okay, day before yesterday) I was with my mom at the local Borders by my parents' house in OKC. We had run in so I could grab a research book, and on the way out I said, "Hey, I'm gonna check their system real quick."

And that's when it happened. I was there. My book was there. OH. MY. GODS. was available for pre-order!!!

As soon as I got home I logged on to Amazon. Yep, I was in there. Books-a-Million? Uh-huh. Barnes and Noble? Well... I'm still waiting on that one. But for the last forty-eight hours, all I can think about is the fact that people all over the world can order my book right now. (And, at least on Amazon, at a totally amazing 32% discount!)

My guilty pleasure? Feeling like the distant dream is finally becoming a reality.

Hugs,
TLC

OH. MY. GODS. (Dutton) May 2008
Available for pre-order!
teralynnchilds.com

Friday, November 02, 2007

Guilty pleasure or addiction?

I'm talking about my love of Coca-Cola. Actually, I'm positive it's an addiction. What is it about that sugary, fizzy concoction that I can't live without? If I didn't know better, I'd swear they still spiked it with real coke.
I've started my day with a can of Coke for at least twenty years. I'm a die hard. A true soda connoisseur. Bring on the taste test! I know it's bad for me and I've really tried to stop. But I always come back. I'm not a fan of coffee or tea, so I think that makes it harder.
I was very excited that RWA National last year was held in Atlanta. I snuck in a visit to The World of Coke in between workshops and it was awesome. Now they have a new building next to the new zoo and I can't wait to visit again. My favorite part was the shooting geysers of soda that you could catch and drink! YUM!
I suppose I could have worse habits. Besides, would Santa and those adorable polar bears advertise something that isn't healthy? So, what about you? What's your poison?
What I'm reading...The Poison Apples by Lily Archer
xo,
Steph
Revenge of the Homecoming Queen, OUT NOW!