School Visit, New Photo, and Help for Haiti

I have been a buzy bee, let me tell you what. I have spoken at several high schools and libraries and have been having an awesome time. I went back to the "homeland" of Pike County, Alabama, and spoke at six different schools.

I was in front of three hundred people at Goshen High School...where I dribbled water down the front of me...LOL...



I was mobbed at Goshen Elementary School where the kids wanted my autograph...



I also reunited with my high school cheerleader partner, Laura Ross Hixon, who is a teacher...



I went to my alma mater, Pike Liberal Arts School and saw my favorite English and writing teacher, Mrs. Hixon...



I even scored 100% on the Scholastic advanced reading test on GHOST HUNTRESS: THE AWAKENING...phew! Wouldn't have been able to live that down...





And I spoke to a full house at the Monroe County Public Library in Key West thanks to their awesome librarian, Nancy Howanitz...





Finally, I did a full day at Carroll High School in Ozark, Alabama, thanks to their assistant principal and my former baton teacher growing up, Juli Botts Parrish...





During all of this, my sweetie, who is also a professional photgrapher, took my new author picture. It's done in infrared. I love how cool my eyes look!



And, to round out my post today, I wanted to add the link to my designer shoe auction on eBay. The proceeds of the auction will go to The Salvation Army for their relief efforts for the people in Haiti. Even if you don't fit the shoe size, please pass the URL around to your friends.

Hugs,
Marley = )

Pics, pics, pics...and your opinion!

It was soooooo wonderful hanging out with my fellow Buzz Girls at the RWA National Conference in San Francisco. We certainly missed having Tina and Stephanie with us, but you were there in spirit. Thanks to everyone who came to our panel discussion. We will get to that Q&A we promised.

Here are a few more pictures from the conference:

The Buzz Girls with fellow YA writers, Sara Hantz and Wendy Toliver:



My first RWA Book Signing!



With my "neighbor," New York Times bestseller, Rachel Gibson:



At the Chick Lit Party with my lovely critique partner, Wendy Toliver



More from the Chick Lit Party with Aussies Kandy Shepherd and Carla Molina



My "Gossip Girls" panel with the fabulous Elaine Spencer of The Knight Agency:



At The Knight Agency party with my amazing agent, Deidre Knight, and my mentor and fellow TKA sistah, Jessica Andersen:



With my darling Kristen Painter at the TKA party:



And my darling Louisa Edwards White:



At the Ritas with the gorgeous Amazon, Kristen (check out my bling!)



And with my BFF Kwana Jackson:



Nadine Dejani, looking fashionable, as always:



Here I am with the amazing Victoria Dahl, historical author:



Cindy Gerard welcomed me to the RWA signing table with open arms



Also, I had my author picture photography session with Faith Dugan in Newport, Rhode Island. She's a total doll and does amazing work. I'm posting a few here and would love your opinion on which photo I should use for my GHOST HUNTRESS book covers, as well as for my website. I appreciate your weighing in!

Image #1:



Image #2:



Image #3:



Image #4:



Image #5:



Image #6:



(If you're wondering why I have a video camera, we use it in our ghost investigations.)

Image #7:



Image #8:



Please weigh in with your vote in the comments section. Most appreciate!

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)

We Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Posting...

Apologies in advance for deviating from the week's theme, because this is about neither sports nor guys. As some of you may know (since I've posted this plea on MySpace) I am facing a major career decision. Okay, technically it is a question of vanity that happens to involve my writing career. I have to choose my author photo. At this point it's just for the publisher catalog, but will also wind up on the jacket flap, my website, and who knows where else. The problem is, I have three pictures to choose from and the votes from everyone I've asked so far have been pretty evenly distributed. So I need your help, Buzz Readers. Which of the following is the best author photo?






Thanks in advance for your help,
TLC

OH. MY. GODS.
Dutton Children's Books
May 2008