Buzzin' in the Bay

All of the Buzz Girls, with the exception of Tina and I, are buzzing in San Fran this week. Tina is attending SCBWI in Century City. And I, well, I have been consoling myself with Dairy Queen Buster Bars because I am living vicariously through my cell phone and laptop. But even though the Bees have been super-busy they have still managed to keep me in the loop through emails, text messages, and phone calls. Trust me, you just can't beat a surprise phone call from your super-agent while you are feeling sorry for yourself watching THE TWO COREYS. :)

A little birdie told me that the workshop that the Buzz Girls put on today was nearly standing room only. With a title like Building Buzz in YA, who wouldn't want to be there? Topics included how to design a teen-friendly website, to blog or not to blog, finding out who your teen audience is, navigating teen-popular networking websites, school visits, book launches, and using your existing network to your advantage. If you weren't there, don't despair. The BBG's are planning to set aside a whole week discussing our topics! Here is a photo of Marley, Tera, and Dona at the workshop this afternoon.

One of the biggest events at RWA National is the Literacy Booksigning. Here are some fun shots from the signing.

Simone Elkeles who is up for a RITA (see her pretty blue flag) for her novel, LEAVING PARADISE. Good luck Simone! I'll be cheering you on from Illinois.

Tera Lynn Childs signing her debut novel, OH MY GODS, soon to be a television series or made for TV movie starring Ashley Tisdale. Next to Tera is Terri Clark, author of one of the four fabulous stories in Breaking Up Is Hard to Do. I can't help but notice that she is sporting a shorter sassy do' this year. So cute!

Here is Dona signing How to Salsa in a Sari. Dona's new book SHRINK TO FIT is out in stores TODAY!!!! Go buy it!!!! And that adorable redhead peeking over her shoulder is Heather Davis, author of NEVER CRY WEREWOLF which debuts in April 2009.

Marley and her friend from college, Scott were having fun at the signing where she signed copies of ZETA OR OMEGA? & THE NEW SISTERS from the Sorority 101 Series.

Last, but not least, is a YA author who does our genre proud. Double RITA finalist, Kelly Parra (check out her blog YA Fresh with BBG Tina Ferraro, http://yafresh.blogspot.com/), author of Graffiti Girl. See her two blue flags? Yeah, she's kind of greedy but we still like her a lot!

I'm so glad that everyone is having fun at Nationals and I can't wait til D.C.!

xo,

Stephanie

http://www.stephaniehale.com/

A Tower of Power

With most of the Buzz Girls buzzing toward San Francisco, I thought I’d step up to the plate again...

I was thinking this morning about the first time I stepped into a large bookstore--along the lines of a Barnes & Noble--and how it had seemed like my birthday, Christmas morning and an “A” on a math test all in one.

See, back in my hometown, in dark ages of my youth, books were purchased at “stationery stores.” There were a few racks that featured paperback best sellers from recognized publishers and authors. And we had one independent bookstore which catered mostly to high-end adult tastes like coffee table books and hardcover copies of the classics. My solitary joy, therefore, was the library.

Until the summer I was 18. I was wandering through the mall in a nearby town when I spied a long storefront and the banner “Paperback Booksmith.” (The chain has since gone out of business, but here’s a photo of one in the Boston area.)


I remember peering in the window and seeing hundreds, maybe thousands of books, and my heart taking off. I dashed in there, and went absolutely crazy. Every book I’d ever wanted, and some I’d never dreamed of. To have and to hold, and to keep!!! I scooped up book after book until I could no longer carry more.

At the register, I proudly wrote a check--I was working and had just opened an account--but for some reason, they didn’t put them in a bag for me. Maybe because I refused to stop holding them?

Outside, I ran into an on/again-off/again boyfriend who looked at me like I was nuts and asked me what I planned to do with all those books. “Uh, read them,” I said, and promptly went home to do just that. Joy to the World.

These days I browse bookstores--both brick-and-mortar and on-line--frequently, and for the most part, taking them for granted. So it’s wonderful to look back on that day and my Tower of Power...and to recall the deep-in-my-soul delight that good books can bring.

On that note, I've got a book deadline, so back to work!

Tina
Tina Ferraro
How to Hook a Hottie - Book Sense Top Teen Pick
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress - Finalist, National Reader’s Choice Award
www.tinaferraro.com

Conference Week!

Five of the Buzz Girls are soon off to San Francisco for the
Romance Writers of America conference, which starts on Wednesday. (And best of luck to our Simone Elkeles, whose book, LEAVING PARADISE, is up for the Rita for Best Young Adult Book!) And I am going to the Society of Children Book Writers and Ilustrators conference in Century City on Friday.

Keep checking in here for news and conference photos...but apologies ahead of time if it takes us a little while for to post.

Meanwhile, here’s a picture of us (yeah, that’s Marley in the center photo) from last year’s RWA Conference in Dallas.


And if you have not already seen Tera Lynn Childs' big announcement, scroll down to the next post and get the 411 on her exciting news!

Tina

Tina Ferraro
How to Hook a Hottie - Book Sense Top Teen Pick
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress - Finalist, National Reader’s Choice Award
www.tinaferraro.com

You Heard It Here First!

Well, Buzz Blog readers, you really are on the cutting edge. You are the very first group to hear my announcement (and it's a good one, too).

Drumroll and fireworks please...

OH. MY. GODS. (aka my first novel) has just been optioned for TV by a company called FREEMANTLE on behalf of ASHLEY TISDALE!!!!!!!!!


Yes, Ashely Tisdale (of High School Musical and Suite Life fame) will spend the next year deciding whether she wants to turn OMG into a TV show (or made for TV movie, I'm not sure). Ashley Tisdale, who just happens to have been voted Most Perfect Stella in my Casting Call contest last week, might actually wind up starring in it.

The high I'm feeling right now is second only to the high of selling my book in the first place. In other words, I am beyond on top of the world.

Hugs,
TLC

OH. MY. GODS. (Dutton Children's Books, available now!)
"an effervescent, fast-paced read" -- Publishers Weekly
http://www.teralynnchids.com

How do you prepare for travel?

Well...as you're reading this, I'm wheel's up over the east coast, winging it down to Louisville, Kentucky until Wednesday morning and then it's off to San Francisco, California. So, from 90 degrees to 65 in the course of a week. How does one prepare for travel like this?

First off, why Louisville, you may ask? In the continuation of research for my GHOST HUNTRESS series coming out in May 2009, I like to go on as many ghost investigations as I can. This time, we're headed to Waverly Hills Sanitarium, thanks to Darkness Radio.



Waverly Hills was the home to thousands of tuberculosis patients from 1926 until it closed in 1961. According to records, some 63,000 people died here over the years and investigators are known to get some CRAZY evidence while lurking the halls and floors. It's all in the name of research!

From there, we head to the Romance Writers of America National Conference in San Francisco. I'm very excited because not only do I get to hand with my fellow Buzz girls, I'm participating in the literacy signing for the first time. Whooohooo!! Funny, in 2004, I met Rachel Gibson at the signing and said to her, "One day, I'll be sitting next to you." And I am! If you're coming to the conference, please stop by and visit and get some books.



But in preparating for these trips, there's so much to do. There's stopping the mail and getting everything settled at work. There's laundry and dry cleaning. Figuring out what goes to Louisville and what goes to San Fran. What shoes do I take? Do I have time for a pedicure?

And speaking of pedicures...have you seen this? Wicked crazy, eh? I don't know what I think of it. It's from my old neck of the woods, Northern Virgina/DC area:



Also, during all of this, I'm working hard every day writing the second book in the GHOST HUNTRESS series, THE GUIDANCE. My editor is very anxious to read it, so I'm doing some major writing any spare minute I can grab. (BTW, I've seen the first comp of the cover and WHOA!!! Lovin' it! As soon as I have the final, I'll post it here.)

But I can't wait. What's more fun than ghost hunting, followed by a conference with (almost) all of your best writing friends? (Many will be missed this year...) And, if you're at the conference and you see me, please introduce yourself. I'd love to see you at the signing or at one of my two workshops that I'm doing:

Thursday, July 31
3:15-4:15 p.m. - Building Buzz in YA (CAREER) — Tera Childs, Heather Davis, Simone, Elkeles, Marley Gibson, and Dona Sarkar-Mishra

The Buzz girls—authors of teen romances and the Books, Boys, Buzz... blog—dish on everything from deciphering who exactly is the teen audience today, how to use the Internet, and other ways to market young-adult books.

Thursday, July 31
4:30-5:30 p.m. - Gossip Girls (CAREER) – Marley Gibson and Elaine Spencer

What really goes on when working with an agent? Author Marley Gibson and agent Elaine Spencer dish the dirt and give behind-the-scenes info on having a successful agent-author relationship.

How do you prepare for a trip? Safe travels to everyone!

Hugs,
Marley = )

SORORITY 101: Zeta or Omega? (Available Now! Puffin Books)
SORORITY 101: The New Sisters (Available Now! Puffin Books)
GHOST HUNTRESS SERIES (Coming May 2009, Houghton Mifflin)

So, the RWA National conference is almost upon us again...and the question on every girl's mind is: What am i going to wear!

I love this time of year becuase I FINALLY get to spend a week with other women (working at Microsoft does NOT give me this honor!) and see what's going on the world of literature as well as catch up with my wonderful friends.

There is one thing I hate. Packing. Ugh.

The day before I leave for my trip, I'm always standing in my closet asking, "Should I take this? Is it going to be cold in the hotel? Do I really need ANOTHER pair of shoes?"

The answer has never been no. This leads to WAY too much luggage. Those of you who know me know how much I like to pack LIGHT. I hardly ever go anywhere with more than a rollerbag full of clothes. I HATE LUGGAGE. My husband is a heavier packer than me. Go fig.

RWA is no exception...my big suitcase does accompany me, but it's reserved just for all the BOOKS I'll be bringing home! My entire weeklong wardrobe WILL fit in my rollerbag. How?

This is actually a science, rather than an art, so here goes.

1. I always start with a basic suit: jacket, pants and skirt. All three are absolutely necessary. I always do a gray or a black because that's what looks good on my olive skin. Some people look amazing in creams and navy. Not so much me. And I always make sure this stuff is wrinkle-proof. More than hating luggage, I hate ironing!




2. I then add in 3-4 lighweight tops, blouses, camisoles, sweaters, whatever. Things that can work alone or with a jacket are a must. I always take tops in cobalt blue, dark red, black and sea green. These are colors that work with my skin for both day and night and go really well with black or gray.




3. I then add one or two fun skirts in cool colors like pink or orange or turquoise. Colors I wouldn't necessarily wear near my face, but that are beautiful anyway.





4. I add one dress that can be for day or night. I usually take black or red because they're my favorites.



5. One pair of glam shoes with a heel and one pair of comfy shoes (wedges, etc)

And that's it! I suddenly have SO many outfits.

Jacket + Pants + Top

Jacket + Skirt + Top

Skirt + Top

Pants + Top

Dress

Dress + Jacket

.....the list goes ON and ON. If you get pieces you LOVE on their own, you will never run out of options. And everything must fit immpeccably. If you're tugging and pulling and hiring, this doesn't work. By changing shoes and jewlery, you can take an outfit from day to night in seconds.

For RWA, I need a few other things.

1. Evening gown for GH. I have a few to choose from, but I'll decide at the last minute.





2. Fun jewelry. I'm a BIG necklace person because I usually wear my hair down and my ears are obscured.





3. Eye drops and a foot massager...for long nights spent dancing!
   
   

So, that's my RWA packing list! How's your packing going?

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

Dona Sarkar-Mishra

HOW TO SALSA IN A SARI - out now!

SHRINK TO FIT - August 2008

Conference Buzz!

OMG... it's actually here...the massive Romance Writers of America summer conference is *next* week and the majority of the Buzz Girls will be on hand for a super fun panel/workshop called Building Buzz in YA!

I hope if you're going to be in San Francisco you'll either:

A) Come to the workshop if you're at the conference.

B) If you're a teen Reader -- come to the Literacy for Life signing at the SF Marriott. I think there are four of the Bees signing this year....

And please note, if Harper Cat's favorite author was signing, she'd be there, too. (Not me -- Ian McEwan -- and she liked the book much better than the movie, btw...)

Anyway -- here is a link with more of the deets:



http://rwanationalconference.org/Schedule/Schedule_LiteracyAutographing.html

This is great opportunity to get a signed copy of a Buzz book and support a wonderful organization that encourages lifelong literacy, so I hope you'll stop by! Also, we'll have some fun giveaways and lots of info and tips at the panel, so plan to attend if you're at the conference.

And now a question since I am agonizing over what to pack for the trip to San Fran and my suitcase is bulging at the zippers. What is the best travel tip you've learned? Help!


Hugs,


Heather

Heather Davis is the author of
Never Cry Werewolf
Coming in April 2009 from HarperTeen
www.heatherdavisbooks.com

PS -- What I'm reading: Night Road by A.M. Jenkins -- it's awesome! Teen vampires in Manhattan who go on the road to train a new recruit... does it get any cooler?

No Post Today ... Psych!

(How totally vintage was that slang?)

Friday night marked the season premiere of my absolute, hands-down, all-time favorite TV show: PSYCH

If you haven't seen this series (it's on USA on Friday nights in the late slot) then please, for the love of all that is hilarious, watch it!

Why do I love this show so very much? Let's examine ...

Maybe it's because the main characters, Shawn and Gus, are almost my same age. They've been best friends since forever and the show always features a scene from their youth (aka my youth) that parallels the plot of that episode. Plus, their vintage 80s references are pure nostalgia.

Maybe it's because I've always secretly wanted to be a private detective, but I could never have possibly pulled off pretending to be a psychic to get cases. Thanks to intense training by his uber-cop dad, Shawn is hyper-observant and solves cases by noticing (and interpreting) details that others miss.

Maybe it's because the ensemble cast is a perfect storm of talented characters. James Roday plays the bold, often immature, and yet somehow brilliant Shawn. His bff Gus is played by Dule Hill (who played a very serious role on West Wing, but is a genius straight man). Corbin Bernsen plays Shawns uber-cop dad who is beyond embarassed that his son is not only a private detective, but also a (fake) psychic. (The rest of the cast is equally brilliant, but I'm pretty sure you don't want to read a book-length essay on the matter.)

Maybe it's because the writing, directing, editing, acting, and pretty much everything involving this show seems to work seamlessly together to achieve a single goal: making me laugh.

I've already picked up the first two seasons on DVD (partly because I've also gotten my parents addicted to the show, partly because I needed to free up the space on my DVR) and plan on watching every new episode until, well, forever. You know where I'll be on Friday nights!

(Also, check out their website. It's awesome.)

Hugs,
TLC

OH. MY. GODS. (Dutton Children's Books, available now!)
"an effervescent, fast-paced read" -- Publishers Weekly
http://www.teralynnchids.com

The Twilight Series...can't get enough!

Borrowing a theme from the tres fabulous Kristen Painter, I can't tell you how excited I am about the upcoming TWILIGHT movie, based on the book by Stephanie Meyer.

When the book first came out, I avoided it as "just another vampire book" (so sorry to everyone writing vamp books, but hey, I'm an Anne Rice fan and just didn't know how anyone else could do it better than her Vampire Chronicles.) I had mixed reviews from friends who either loved, loved, loved it or hated, hated, hated it. I have to say, it was one of the "hated it" conversations that peaked my curiousity to the point of having to read this book because this person and I usually agree on books. So, I picked up TWILIGHT...and couldn't put it down.

Ummm...one word: Wow.

Aside from wanting to desperately edit down the book by about a hundred pages (sorry, it's the writer in me...LOL!), I was hooked. Or bitten. Or smitten. Any of it. All of it. The writing. The emotion. The characters. The world. Again...wow. I jumped in feet first.

I read NEW MOON just about as fast and am about a hundred pages from finishing ECLIPSE just in time for the August 1st release of the fourth and final book, BREAKING DAWN.

And on December 12th, the movie version of TWILIGHT will be released in the theatres. I am soooooooooo there! Check out the trailers.


I have to admit that while reading the books, I always imagined Evan Rachel Wood in the role of Bella Swan. However, the casting of Kristen Stewart as Bella works just fine for me. I think she's going to do a fabulous job. British-born actor, Robert Pattinson of Harry Potter fame, has been cast to play Edward. I have to say (going back to Kristen's post) that I'm a little surprised by the casting as he's not *as* gorgeous as Edward is portrayed in the book. Also, they've got him powdered up and white as a sheet in all the promo pictures, which I hope isn't as stark in the movie. Yes, yes, yes...I know he's a stone, cold, pale vampire, but the powdering up seems a bit over the top.

Taylor Lautner will play Jacob Black. Not bad casting...although Latner is only 5'9" and isn't Jacob 6'7" in the books? Oh, and I think it's cool that James is played by Cam Gigandet who played Volchok on THE O.C., the guy responsible for Marissa's death. Always thought he was a good villain, so he'll do well as James.

In any case, I can't wait to see how the movie turns out. I will be one of the first in line on December 12th!

What are your thoughts on the TWILIGHT series? What do you think of the casting? Have you pre-ordered BREAKING DAWN?

Hugs,
Marley = )



SORORITY 101: Zeta or Omega? (Available Now! Puffin Books)
SORORITY 101: The New Sisters (Available Now! Puffin Books)
GHOST HUNTRESS SERIES (Coming May 2009, Houghton Mifflin)

Lamest play list EVA!

I'm big enough to admit when I need help. I need help. For the last two months, I've been walking four miles a day (I've lost 23 pounds so far!) And while I'm pretty knowledgeable about the latest movies, books, and not to shabby in the fashion dept, when it comes to music, I'm kind of clueless. I usually know the latest pop songs out but I'm not really hip to some of the more obscure bands like I used to be.

I'm super-sick of listening to my current play list of some of my favorite (okay, not so such anymore)oldies and some newbies.

In a plea for help, I'm going to share my list with you all so that you will take pity on me and recommend your current fav!

Help me fill my lame iPod (I have one of those huge white ones the size of a stick of gum instead of the cute tiny colored ones. I know, right?)

Keep in mind, the faster the song, the faster I walk. Although I do have a few slow songs on my list currently. Thanks for your help!

Stephanie's incredibly lame playlist~

Dancing Queen- ABBA

Once Bitten, Twice Shy-Great White

4 Minutes- JT & Madonna

Work It- Missy Elliott

Cherry Pie- Warrant

Paralyzer-Finger Eleven

Love You Till The End- The Pogues

No Sleep Tonight- The Faders

Sexyback- JT

When I Grow Up-The Pussycat Dolls

Better Than Me- Hinder

I Kissed A Girl- Katy Perry

Dancing Queen- ABBA

Gonna Make You Sweat- C&C Music Factory

Save All Your Love- Great White

SOS-Rihanna

Pump It- Black-Eyed Peas

Girlfriend-Avril Lavigne

Hot N Cold-Katy Perry

I told you I needed help.

xo,

Stephanie

http://www.stephaniehale.com/

A very random post

Last week's winner of the SHRINK TO FIT giveaway is....Carol!

I will contact you offline to get your mailing info...congrats and hope you enjoy the book!

More kitty pictures today....my husband and I spent a ton of time taking photographs of our three year old Egyptian Mao, Ash (short for Ashton Sarkar-Mishra). I love, love, LOVE him and can't stop gushing about how cute he is.

Also, in other random news, I am going to catch the midnight show of THE DARK KNIGHT tomorrow night...yay!

No other big news to report except I am SO JAZZED for Nationals...can't wait for our Building Buzz in YA workshop and of course to see a bunch of the BUZZ GIRLS again!

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

Dona Sarkar-Mishra

http://donasarkarmishra.com

The Last Bee Goes Live!

Happy Tuesday! It's my regular posting day and the day that my first official author website goes live. Yay!


http://www.heatherdavisbooks.com/index.html


I'm waiting on cover art for Never Cry Werewolf, but I wanted to make sure all the pieces were in place before the Bees ventured to the big RWA conference in San Fran at the end of the month.


So, ten months until release day and counting! I can't wait for Werewolf to join the Buzz Girls' books on the shelves at your local bookstore!


Hugs!

Heather

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

The Man of the House

Periodically I’ve shown pictures of Rascal, my now two-year old kitty, who like all good kitties, runs our family and our house.


You’ll notice here from his expression that he’s peeved, and has erected an upper body blockage on the final pass line edits of THE ABC’S OF KISSING BOYS. But if you ask him, it's with good reason...

--While I was writing the first draft, he often napped on my lap. He’d wake to play or snuggle, and I suppose it’s possible at some point I told him the title of the book would be THE ABC’S OF KISSING KITTIES. Could have happened.

--Unlike TOP TEN USES FOR AN UNWORN PROM DRESS, which features a guy named Rascal, this book falls short. Oh, there’s Tristan and Kyle and Luke and Clayton...but Rascal? Uh, no.

So, being the rightful head of the household, he has enforced a STOP WORK order until these two things are remedied. Or appropriate amounts of shrimp and buttered toast (I kid you not) are delivered.

I’m thinking the food stuffs might be easier to pull off than a late-date title and character change, but what also might work is a compliment or two about his good looks or character from the Internet world. Anyone care to help coax His Majesty off my pages? (I’ve got a deadline, people!)

A Delightful New New Comment from my Myspace: “Tina, I love your books so much! I've already hooked one hottie with your help.;-D”

Tina

Tina Ferraro
How to Hook a Hottie - Book Sense Top Teen Pick
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress - Finalist, National Reader’s Choice Award
www.tinaferraro.com

Buzz Girl Sightings

On my recent trip to Vegas, I had to hunt down Buzz Girl books in every bookstore. I found them at every turn!

In one of the bookstores at the Denver International Airport...

Buzz Girl Tina and Marley's books, face out on the same shelf...

... and Dona on another.

Steph's debut at the jazzy new Borders on the south side of Vegas ...

... along with Simone's debut. (And yes, that's Tina's book hiding off to the right.)

A girl just can't go anywhere without finding the Buzz Girls by her side. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Hugs,
TLC

To laugh often and much...

Quick aside: I did an internet radio show recently to help promote my new series GHOST HUNTRESS and talk about ghost hunting. Please click here to go to Toginet.com and download the podcast.

I've never been one to blog about my toils, troubles, or personal problems, and I'm not about to start now...other than to say I received some news on Wednesday of a challenging nature that has me focusing on the positive and not dwelling on stupid, petty, ridiculous things that mean nothing in the grand scope of things.

On Thursday, my boss sent this out to our sales team here at work as incentive to them during these tough economic times. However, I think it's a great, overall message to share with everyone, and I hope our readers get something positive out of it:



DEFINITION OF SUCCESS

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To endure the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you lived.
This is to have succeeded.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Pretty cool, huh? I know that each of these lines means something to me and I hope it does to you, too. What have you done today to succeed?

Have a wonderful Saturday full of light, hope, and love.

Hugs,

Marley = )

SORORITY 101: Zeta or Omega? (Available Now! Puffin Books)
SORORITY 101: The New Sisters (Available Now! Puffin Books)
GHOST HUNTRESS SERIES (Coming May 2009, Houghton Mifflin)

Do you have a frenemy?

Something unexpected happened to me last weekend. My family had been invited to a 4th of July party. (The invite wasn't the unusual part, although I admit I don't get out much!) It was an annual party and while I really wanted to see some people I used to work with, I didn't feel like dragging the kids, by myself, since my hubby always seems to get stuck working. But I did it anyway.


Things were going fine. There was a new crop of people there, and surprisingly, I knew most of them from high school. They had one of those huge castle bounce houses for the kids so I even got to visit without my boys driving me crazy every five seconds. It was actually...wait for it...fun. So here I was chatting with a total stranger about this AH-MAZING buffalo chicken dip(Google it, people!) that one of my friends made when a girl that I was good friends with in high school walks in. I hadn't seen here since we graduated. We squealed and fell all over each other while the charming stranger laughed at us. My friend says, "Did you see that "FRENEMY" (this is what I will call her since I don't want to give away her real name) is here?


I literally dropped my fork right out of my mouth and started searching for escape routes. THEN, the charming stranger says, " That's my wife. Did you go to school with her?" He asks me. I think I nodded while trying not to throw up. Okay, time for some backstory.


Once upon a time, two little divas met in kindergarten, one of those divas was me. They were instant besties. They bridged from Brownies to Girl Scouts together, spent hours making friendship pins for each other, and agreed that Blueberry Muffin was way better than Strawberry Shortcake and should never have settled for being just a sidekick. Then fourth grade rolled around, my friend decided that I wasn't cool enough for her anymore. She started hanging around with some "cooler" kids. One day she started coming back around and I was thrilled. Later in the day, I was pulled aside after class and my teacher accused me of cheating on a test. I cried my eyes out and swore to her that I didn't. She said that it was obvious I had cheated off of "FRENEMY". I was devestated once I realized the reason she had come back around. My mom demanded that we both be regiven the test (Yeah, Mom!) and it was pretty apparent who had cheated.


We both went about our business, one of us getting straight A's almost every quarter, and the other, well, not so much. Anyhoo. Fast forward to high school. We got friendly again. Not too friendly but just casual. I go away to Hawaii with my parents on vacation. I have fun, even though I'm terribly missing my boyfriend (who I shall name...the one who should be in an insane asylum..yes, that's fits him good). I come back from Hawaii and continue on to my senior year. In Economics I even sit by "FRENEMY" the whole year. We get semi-chummy again and my mom even invites her to my surprise 18th birthday party (Mom, what were you thinking? She cheated off me for God's sake!). Graduation comes and goes. About a month later, "the one who should be in an insane asylum" and I get in our final fight. He blurts out that he slept with"FRENEMY". I went numb. While I wasn't thrilled about the S-E-X that had taken place while I was watching Don Ho with my parents, I just felt stupid. The whole time we had sat together in Economics, and at my birthday party, the whole time she was just laughing knowing that this time, she hadn't gotten caught cheating.


Flash forward, seventeen years later, after successfully avoiding her almost all night, her husband drags her over to me and says, "You guys have been missing each other all night." Yeah, not a rocket scientist this one. And obviously she didn't want to tell him why she might be afraid that I would try to stab her with a stork.


So there we were, grown women with children the same age as we were when we first met. Neither, thankfully, ending up with "the one who should be in an insane asylum". We actually chatted for a while and I remembered why she used to be my b/f/f. I swore that I could see an apology in her eyes as we told each other goodbye. As I shuffled my dirty kids into the car, I actually felt lighter. I realized how stupid I had been for hanging on to something that, in the end, didn't mean anything. What'd ya know? Maybe I'm growing up after all...


Do you have a frenemy? C'mon dish! What's the worst thing your bestie (or anyone else) did to you?


xo,

Stephanie

http://www.stephaniehale.com/

Fears....and yet another giveaway

Hello chicks and chucks....Happy Wednesday!

Today we're talking about something a bit more serious...our biggest fears. Everyone says, "There is nothing to fear but fear itself..." but honestly does it ever feel that way? Not for me definitely!

I think my biggest fear is...public speaking! I am a natural introvert and getting up in front of a room full of people and talking about something, anything, is just the most nerve-racking thing you can think of.

I had a give a presentation at work today and I was *so* anxious about it that I completely missed enjoying the experience of presenting a topic I know EVERYTHING about to a group of interested people.

My second big fear is being all alone when I'm old. I know this is one of those fears that lots of people have, but it's something I tend to over-think. My husband and I don't have kids and I only have one sister. What if something happens to the two of them? Will I live out the rest of my life with no one who cares about me?

I know this is completely irrational seeing how I have amazing friends since middle school and a very large family spread all over the world...but who said fears were logical? I keep having visions of me coming home to an empty house every night, watching TV and going to bed...until one day I die in my sleep and no one discovers me for days....gruesome!

My third biggie is losing my cat. You guys may laugh, but the thought of anything happening to my li'l boy gives me so much anxiety. Thinking about him jumping off our balcony or being attacked by raccoons, or simply growing old is enough to bring tears to my eyes.

I know...irrational. I love that cat just way too much.

So that I've confessed, darling readers, it's your turn....what is YOUR biggest fear?

This is the last of the July giveaways for the advanced copy of SHRINK TO FIT. To win, just tell me, what is your biggest fear? I *finally* go the go-ahead from Harlequin to give these out so I will be headed to the PO to make a series of mailings on Saturday!

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Dona Sarkar-Mishra

HOW TO SALSA IN A SARI - our now
SHRINK TO FIT - August 2008

I heart USA and bbq corn

Summer has finally begun. In most parts of the country it happens around Memorial Day. Here in the Northwest, it's July and finally --finally!! -- we have some sunshine.

I hope everyone had an amazine Fourth of July. I had a great time watching both of the city's cool fireworks displays from a downtown rooftop. This makes year three on the roof with my wonderful group of friends.

And, this year, I brought a Cute Boy with me, which is always a plus. And... for those of you who listened to me stress about the Castle Wedding, said CB and I attended and it was really fun. And... a major plus... at the wedding I got to break in my Golden Heart Awards Ceremony shoes, so when I clunk up on the stage to present I won't fall (in theory.)

Anyway, back to the Fourth. So, I know it must seem like I'm always blogging about food, but here I go again. The rooftop barbecue was replete with BBQ chicken, burgers, potato salad, bacon-wrapped shrimp -- and my all time fave, grilled corn. That smoky sweet taste of the corn just says summer to me. In fact, after I'm done blogging, I think I'll go make an ear. (In the micro, unfortunately as apartment land is devoid of Weber grills.)

Mmm. Corn.

Next weekend is the ginormous food festival called the Bite of Seattle. Do you have a "Bite" in your city? It's always a madhouse, but the array of food is worth braving the crowds for. I will be looking for the... wait for it... bbq corn stand to have another bite of summer. How about you? What flavors say summer to you?

And a second question -- how patriotic were the peeps around you on the Fourth?

The aforementioned Cute Boy wore an I heart USA shirt and he was like, the only one! He pointed out that no one around us was even wearing red, white, and blue and that we need to rebuild American pride. Rightly said, Cute Boy.

Hugs,


Heather

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

Getting Down and Dirty!

My husband and kids spent the better part of a recent week in Utah, riding ATV’s on a trail.


You can catch a couple of them near the top of this picture. From what they told me, they were caked in dirt and sweat for a day or two at a time--not to mention periodically having to scrape bugs off their goggles and teeth. But they had a wonderful time, and would go again in a heartbeat.

I, too, enjoyed my week (at home on call for Jury Duty), working on my book, rewatching episodes of “Seinfeld,” and taking an average of two hour-long walks per day. For walking in our hills--in any weather, including 100 degree heat--is MY idea of getting down and dirty. Especially with a bathroom shower so close at hand.

What does it for you? Sports like tennis or soccer? More subdued yet messy activities like gardening or cooking or ceramics? What gets you “happy dirty?” Leave us an answer in the comments...but please, keep it clean. ;)

Tina

Tina Ferraro
How to Hook a Hottie - Book Sense Top Teen Pick
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress - Finalist, National Reader’s Choice Award
www.tinaferraro.com

Day of Beauty

I'm blogging from my hairdressers. Yes, they have an internet cafe...how cool, eh? I just got my hair cut and styled and am now waiting as my hubby gets his hair cut. This place is fabulous...in addition to the internet, they have complimentary coffee, tea, fruit, cookies and other snacks. You also get a free hand massage while you're getting your hair cut. It's true pampering.

I have to admit that I'm a sucker for this kind of attention. I love to be rubbed. LOL! I think I was a cat in a previous life. (tee hee)



Also, this time of year is true pedicure season. I love trying out new colors on my feet -- mostly those that match my sandal collection. It's a great way to relax and pamper yourself.



And then, there's the hour massage. Loves getting my back and feet rubbed. They reach muscles I didn't even know I had. Ahhhh...



So, how do you pamper and treat yourself? What's your favor spa treatment?

Hugs,
Marley = )

SORORITY 101: ZETA OR OMEGA? - Available Now! Puffin Books
SORORITY 101: THE NEW SISTERS - Available Now! Puffin Books
GHOST HUNTRESS - Coming May 2009, Houghton Mifflin