Bees with Secrets!

While everyone is off having fun in Orlando, I thought I would post a clip that author friend Holly Cupala produced for the blog tour for her debut YA novel Tell Me a Secret.

If you watch closely, you'll see at least two Bees! (And lots of friends of BooksBoysBuzz, too!)

Hope you enjoy!

Hugs,

Heather
www.heatherdavisbooks.com
Wherever You Go - Harcourt Fall 2011
The Clearing - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Never Cry Werewolf - Harperteen

It's Getting Better All The Time...

As we've mentioned here, most of the Buzz Girls are soon off to Orlando for the Romance Writers of America conference!

In anticipation, my weekend has been mostly about shopping, planning, packing--and laundry!


And in between loads, I've taken a moment to stop and think about the laundry process, and how wonderful it is to have a washer-dryer inside my house. In my earlier days, I have had to (first) go to a laundrymat, (second) walk down a hill and up another to a neighboring apartment complex, and (third) head outside to the garage--all three of those made harder by night, cold and rain. Now I can do my laundry at any hour, in any weather, and dressed in my PJ's, if I want. And I love it!

So as I continue washing, drying, folding and packing, I'd love to hear from our readers...is there any pesky chore or small annoyance in your life that's gotten better lately? Through technology, a product you've heard about, a new friend who's helping out?

Tina

Tina Ferraro
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, 2010 Rita® Finalist
How to Hook a Hottie, 2009 Rita® Finalist
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
www.tinaferraro.com

2010 "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing

If you are anywhere near Orlando, Florida, next Wednesday, July 28, 2010, you’re going to want to be at the Walt Disney World® Dolphin Resort between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm for the "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing event, where more than 500 romance authors will participate to raise thousands of dollars for ProLiteracy Worldwide.

It takes place in the Pacific Exhibit Hall and is open to the public. There is no admittance charge. Since the proceeds from this event are donated to charity, Romance Writers of America asks that you purchase books at the event instead of bringing your own books. (RWA accepts cash, check, or credit/debit cards for book purchases at the event.)

Young Adult authors in attendance this year include Buzz Girls Tera Lynn Childs, Tina Ferraro, Marley Gibson and Wendy Toliver, as well as other "names you know" such as Shelley Adina, Meg Cabot, Ally Carter, Melissa Doyle, Jennifer Echols, Simone Elkeles and Lauren Strasnick.

Just to give you an idea of the fun, here’s some pictures from last year’s event:


Rita finalists for Best Young Adult Romance 2009, me, Rosemary Clement-Moore (who won!) and Tera Lynn Childs.


Jennifer Echols, who was sweet enough to make me a make-shift Rita flag to let shoppers know my book was a finalist, and me. This year, Jennifer and I are among the 2010 Rita finalists!


The legendary Janet Evanovich--holding MY Book!

We Buzz Girls hope you that you will make this fun and worthwhile event--and if you do, please drop by our tables and say hello!

Tina

Tina Ferraro
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, 2010 Rita® Finalist
How to Hook a Hottie, 2009 Rita® Finalist
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
www.tinaferraro.com

Tales from the Friendly Skies

It's summer and for many people, that means travel. Especially airline travel. And for most of us Buzz Girls, next week has us heading to Orlando for the 2010 Romance Writers of America conference.

As I am preparing for my trip, I am reminded of my unmarried days and how whenever I boarded a flight, I would cross my fingers for a single, good-looking guy about my age to be sitting beside me. Which was about as likely as an unexpected upgrade to First Class--but hey, COULD happen, right?

Well, to my astonishment, one day, it actually did. I was on a flight from New York to Los Angeles, and a well-known entertainer was said to be in First, with the members of his band in Coach. This absolute Adonis--turned out to be the entertainer's guitar player--took the window seat beside me, and I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

Except for one small thing. Not only did we not say even "hello" to each other, while I was busy noticing him, he was checking out the leggy flight attendant. Who, just my luck, was looking right back.

On and off for the next five hours, I had the utter humiliation having her lounge over me so that they could flirt. As I was getting off the plane, I heard them making plans for dinner. A humbling experience I have clearly never forgotten.

Of course, in the big picture, it didn't matter at all, because there was that grad student back in my office named Ferraro who I was starting to be friendly with...

Still, file this under the category of watching what you ask for because you might get it. I just didn't expect my much-anticipated single, good-looking guy to hit on someone else, literally in my face!

How about you? Any notable, funny or annoying memories of fellow airline passengers?

Tina

Tina Ferraro
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, 2010 Rita® Finalist
How to Hook a Hottie, 2009 Rita® Finalist
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
www.tinaferraro.com

Wanna-See Movies

I haven't been to the movies much lately. In fact, I can't remember the last movie I saw in theatres. Maybe 27 Dresses. Anyway, there are so many great movies coming out right now that I have to go. Here are my wanna-see movies of the summer:

Inception



Sorecerer's Apprentice



Salt



Do you want to see these movies? What other movies are you excited about?

Hugs,
TLC

teralynnchilds.com
@teralynnchilds

There's nothing on....

I don't watch a lot of TV during the summer because most of the time we are outside. But occasionally I find myself flipping through all 200 channels on our dish, muttering to myself that there is nothing on. Sometimes I almost think that there are TOO many choices. One of my favorite channels in ABC Family.

Right now I'm totally addicted to Pretty Little Liars. I only read the first three books in the series because I just didn't have time to keep up. Now I'm kind of glad because I don't want to know who A is until the very end.

ABC Family has the most adorable guilty pleasure movies. They are premiering another one this Sunday called Revenge of the Bridesmaids. It stars Raven-Symone who always cracks me up. Take a peek to see how cute it looks. I'll definitely be Tivoing this one.
Last night I watched When in Rome, which was so cute. Josh Duhamel and Kristen Bell make a great onscreen couple.
Okay, so maybe I watch more TV than I fess up too. How about you? What show is your guilty pleasure this summer?

xo,

Stephanie

http://www.stephaniehale.com/

Catch a Wave!

I've been spending a fair amount of time on the California coastline this summer, enjoying the sun (well, when it comes out), the spray of the surf (when I get close enough), and the sights. Like this one:


Making me realize that it is quite possible, that unlike my horse jumping fantasy, which I did make come true (and discussed here earlier this year), that it is likely that I will never Hang Ten. Not saying it definitely won't happen...but likely.

So here's a shout-out to all of you who have surfed. Allow me to live vicariously and tell me what it's like! Is it pure heaven? Scary? Exhausting? All of those? What say you?

Tina

Tina Ferraro
The ABC’s of Kissing Boys, 2010 Rita® Finalist
How to Hook a Hottie, 2009 Rita® Finalist
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
www.tinaferraro.com

And the Suddenly Summer Giveaway Winner is...

Thanks to everyone who commented to win a signed copy of my book, The Clearing, this week!

I'm so happy everyone has something to celebrate and touched by the intensity and diversity of all those things that are happening in your lives! Wow - big beginnings and endings..!




Ok.... so the random winner this time around is:



lostinbelieving



I'll be in touch soon, lost, to get your mailing deets. Off to finish revisions on the new book. Hope you're all enjoying the summer!



hugs,



Heather
http://www.heatherdavisbooks.com/

Suddenly Summer Giveaway!

It's suddenly summer! Finally the temperature will be almost 90 in the Seattle area. It's time to get out the flip-flops, slather on sunscreen, and... edit my new book.

Yep, although the weather is great, I've been inside revising my draft of Wherever You Go, my new book for Harcourt for fall 2011.

It's a book packed with characters in transition - a ghost boy, a girl caring for her grandfather with Alzheimer's, a guy who's lost his very best friend on the planet. As I'm writing this book, I've been working with the idea that guys are very emotional; they're just not encouraged to show that side of themselves. The loss and love they feel is no smaller than anything women experience. The hurt and the joy can be just as big as anything we go through.

I'm in the home stretch, which is so great to report. And there was no bigger satisfaction than to write "The End" on the last page of the draft - especially with my awesome bf across from me at the coffee shop during my writing fest.

THE SUDDENLY SUMMER GIVEAWAY!

To celebrate the beginnning of summer and the approaching end of this revising round one - I'd like to giveway a signed copy of The Clearing - my first book for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

To enter, comment about something worth celebrating - an end or a beginning - and I'll choose a winner Sunday 7/11.

Until then, enjoy the sun!

Heather
http://www.heatherdavisbooks.com/
Wherever You Go - Fall 2011 Harcourt
The Clearing - April 2010 HMH
Never Cry Werewolf - 09/2009 Harperteen

Hot Vacation Spots

As Tera pointed out earlier this week, Las Vegas is hot hot hot in the summer. I happened to be in New Mexico this summer when it hit some record highs. After my cousin's wedding in Carlsbad, this is how hot my car was. Yes, that reads 138 degrees fahrenheit, folks. Even after I started it up and drove on the highway at 70 mph, it only went down to 119. YIKES!

Now, I'm just going to post a few fun photos from New Mexico, which is only one of the nine states I have been in or will be before the summer is over. I hope you enjoy!

Being a cave dweller in Carlsbad Caverns, a Santa Fe sunset, and if you look closely at the Hobbs sign, you'll see tiny me! And here's big me holding a tiny wild turtle. The turtles thought my toenails were strawberries and kept nipping at them at the most unsuspecting moments! Last but not least I enjoyed hanging with the local folk in Roswell.

Good Things Happen in Vegas (Sometimes)

Anyone who's read my blog or follows my tweets knows that Vegas is not my favorite place on Earth. It's hot.




The people are either angry or crazy or both.




And the tourists can be worse.




The positive energy of the Strip is quite often sucked away by negative energy everywhere else. But... occasionally good things do happen.

Like amazing views from a rooftop restaurant.




And the theatre here ranges from the bizarre to the amazing. So far this summer I've seen Cher and Viva Elvis! And they both rocked.

The best thing that's happened in Vegas this summer, though, is that I'm going to do my first ever Borders signing. My first ever chain store signing, actually. If you're in or around Vegas, here are the details:

Who: me and mer princess Lily Sanderson
When: Saturday, July 24th @ 2:00pm
Where: Borders on north Rainbow
Why: Awesomeness

Hope to see some Buzz readers there!

Hugs,
TLC

http://www.teralynnchilds.com
http://twitter.com/teralynnchilds

Happy Independence Day!

We here at the Buzz Girls Blog wish our readers
a happy and safe July 4th holiday!