Fashion Buzz...

I'm only a fashionista-in-training, but I thought this week I'd round up some spring style buzz...

Out here on the West Coast, the baby doll dress (which last surfaced back in the late 80's) is everywhere. Because of the empire waist, this is a great look if you're smaller on top or if you've got a rounder stomach to cover. There are a ton of variations on the dress, knits, wovens, cool patterns, the works. And... you can pair it with leggings from Urban Outfitters if you don't have the legs to go bare in.



The best thing about spring style is shoes. I've seen cute flats, espadrilles, and even Converse topsiders worn with dresses and jeans. I love bright colored shoes that pick up some color in the outfit on top.





For makeup, retro rules. Surprisingly, blue and green mascara and eyeliner are making a comeback. Fun for nighttime, but not so much for day. Pink-pink lipstick is also hot and recently inspired a feeding-frenzy when several cosmetics company released limited edition pinks in NYC. Within hours, there were people selling the special retro pinks (Pepto-Bismal color) on EBay.


Sideswept bangs and ponytails/pigtails are still popular. Simple, elegant, or casual, the ponytail always rocks. Girls are wearing it a little to the side, but not full on sideways a la Chrissy from the retro show Three's Company.

Pigtails can look cute on most people, though on me they tend to give me a country-girl look, so I stick with the pony. Also, I throw in a sparkly barette for night time.


For accessories, it's cool to mix classic with trash-ic. Like a plain black tanktop with a fancy pearl choker. Or a nice fitted jacket with a sparkly cheap necklace.

My sister is a master at accessorizing the trashy-classy way. She'll wear a designer bustier with jeans and a pile of necklaces, including her fave -- a pendant of a bug trapped in lucite plastic. It looks awesome on her.


So what do you guys think? Are there any fashion trends you're sick of? Which ones look good on you and which do you skip?


Hugs,

Heather

Heather Davis is the author of
Never Cry Werewolf
Coming in 2008 from HarperCollins

What makes me buzz.....

If you talked to some people (my mom & husband) they would probably mislead you into thinking that I am high maintainence. I do not require a tiara (at least not at ALL times), I do my own laundry (and everyone else's), and my license plates do not say, DIVA. It really doesn't take that much to make me happy and give me a little buzz. You aren't buying it? Let me prove it. These are just a few of the things that give me a daily buzz.

1) Stumbling upon things that remind me of my upcoming release, REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN. I found this adorable necklace for $6 and it came with the cutest little frog jewelry book. Doesn't he look exactly like my cover frog? I asked him if he did modeling, but his only reply was, "ribbit". Freaking models...

2) Dry toilet seats- One might think this is a given but remember I live in a house with two toddlers and a man/child. Our ONE bathroom is pretty much the equivalent of one at a frat house. If you haven't ever plopped your butt down in the middle of the night in a puddle of someone else's urine you are very lucky. Occasionally, the boys will actually hit make the target. Those are very good days!

3) Seeing a brown horse everyday- Not because I like horses because I'm not really a fan. It goes back to this whole camping trip as a Girl Scout on these really steep trails and me trapped on the back of some renegade horse determined to make his own trail. I still have nightmares about it. Okay, so every morning during my walk I pass this brown horse (not the one in the pic) and it makes me really happy to see him because it means that I am 3/4 of the way done walking my three miles! :) I was going to take his pic but he is really snotty and he won't even come close to the fence unless you have an apple. Talk about a diva!

4) Spray-on suntan lotion- Even though you practically need to wear an oxygen mask just to apply the stuff, I love it. Because YES, I really am too lazy to rub it in.

5) Afternoon matinees with my husband when we are the only ones in the theater- We used to do this all the time since my hubby usually has weekdays off but once the kiddies came, it seriously curtailed our movie going. We got to go see Disturbia yesterday. It was really good. But I'm kind of crushing on Shia in a big way so I might not be the best judge. (Mental telepathy to Shia: You want to play the male m/c in my book really, really bad. But you better hurry b/c pretty soon you'll be too old)

6) Surprises on my computer- The coolest thing EVER happened yesterday. I logged into myspace and I had a comment from a girl that I had approved as a friend. It turns out that she is the beauty gracing my cover! HOW COOL IS THAT? I was always hoping that she would find me and since I have pretty much pimped her face out all over the Net I guess it was just a matter of time, but I couldn't get over how cool it was that we found each other!

See, I told you I wasn't high maintainence! So what little things give you a daily buzz?

What I'm reading...just printed off Rush: A Sisterhood Novel by Marley Gibson...I can't wait to start!

xo,

Steph

All that matters is what's inside...as long as your outside is wearing the tiara!

REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN, July 3, 2007, Berkley Jam

www.stephaniehale.com

I Can Stop Anytime I Want To... I Just Don’t Want To

Here are some of the things I’m currently addicted to, in no particular order.

1. Magazines -- Big (W), small (Food), cheap (Shop, Etc.), pricey (Bride’s), serious (The Economist), or silly (TeenPeople), I read them all. If they’re sitting at the checkout, chance are I’ll buy them. I’ve read everything from Allure to Wallpaper. But my all-time favorites are travel magazines! I could probably travel around the world with all the cash I’ve shelled out on those slick wonderlands.


2. No Whip Caramel Frappuccino -- The no whip part is my attempt to make a deliciously dangerous treat slightly less dangerous, even though I know the drink itself is loaded with sugar and calories. All I have to say is that without this beverage not one of my books would have ever gotten written.




3. T-shirts -- Since summer is coming (and some days the heat is already here) I’ve been stocking up. My faves come from Target and Old Navy, mainly because they’re cheap and I can buy tons. I love the low--but not ultra-low--v-neck that’s out this season and the rainbow of colors to choose from.



4. Flip-Flops -- Again with the summer thing. Right now I have four pairs: a simple black suede-y pair (from Target), a hot pink pair with sparkly beads (also from Target), a black pair with understated black sequins (from Express--three years ago), and a white pair that laces up my ankle (from The Gap--last year). My all-time favorites, though, are the terrycloth ones from Mella.



5. Bookstores -- Barnes & Noble. Borders. Waldenbooks. Larry’s Discount Book Emporium. Okay, I made that last one up, but if it sells books and magazines (see #1) then I’m there with bells--and glasses--on.





6. Sabrina the Teenage Witch -- It’s in reruns on ABC Family and I watch it whenever I get the chance. There’s just something about a talking cat, a pair of batty 400-year old aunts, and a high school (and later college) girl struggling to come to terms with her magical self. And it doesn’t hurt that Josh (David Lascher) from the college years is a total hottie!



7. Sprite Zero -- Meg Cabot has Tab. I have Sprite Zero. This is a long-standing habit that replaced my Diet Coke addiction when I learned that cola can stain your teeth. Zero stains. Zero calories. Tons o’ flavor. What’s not to love?




8. MySpace -- This is an on-again-off-again thing. I’ll be really obsessed with it for a few weeks (like right now) and then I’ll go cold turkey for a while. But the itch to add friends always comes back.






9. Kiwis -- (The fruit, not the national mascot--although New Zealanders can be really hot!) Did you know that kiwi fruit has twice the vitamin C of an orange, more fiber than strawberries, and twice the vitamin E of avocado, as well as potassium, folic acid, and cancer-fighting phytochemicals? I can’t get enough.



10. Sleep -- This is one I really want to cut back on. Sound crazy? Well, not if you consider the article that I read (again, see #1) that says people who sleep 5-7 hours per night live longer than those that sleep 8 or more. How unfair is that? I mean, not only do they get more time each day, but they get more time overall. I’m definitely scaling back on my 8-9 hours a night!

So... any addictions of your own to confess?

Hugs,
TLC
Growing Up Godly, Summer 2008
Dutton Children's Books

what I'm reading ... Spy Goddess by Mike Spradlin (I know, I know. It's not a RITA book... but I got sucked in.))

The Buzz on the LA Freeways

If you’ve been to Los Angeles, you know that we spend a lot of time on our freeways. Often at zero MPH, bumper-to-bumper.

So I guess it was only a matter of time until people came up with constructive use of that time. Allow me to introduce what LA radio talk show hosts are calling “Freeway Flirting”, the hot new way in town to meet people.

This starts, usually, with rolled-down windows, smiles, waves and provocatively arched brows. Sometimes cell phone numbers are called out over the rush of other-side-of-the-freeway traffic. And some particularly well-prepared drivers hold up pre-made signs bearing their names and cell numbers.

There’s a story about one determined young woman who relayed her contact information to a looking guy in the car behind her by writing her cell number in lipstick on the back windshield--backwards so he couldn’t get it wrong.

I have to say I have mixed feelings about hook-ups on the road (sounds dangerous!), but I suppose it adds a dimension of excitement to one’s daily work or school commute, not to mention, the widening the scope of one’s dating pool.

Thoughts on or experience with “Freeway Flirting”, anyone?

Tina
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress--available now
www.tinaferraro.com

My kingdom for the perfect sandwich...

If you know me, you know I'm a total foodie. I love food, love cooking, going grocery shopping, going out to dinner, watching cooking shows (though not on the Food Network anymore because it's nothing but barbeque and cake decorating contests and not serious cooking shows), buying every gadget and utensil for the kitchen (I actually have a mango slicer!) and finding that perfect something that you have to have over and over again.

Like the perfect sandwich.

And I've discovered it.

There's a place here in Boston called Sam LaGrassa's. They're in the heart of the financial district and cater to very busy financial types who want a quick meal on the run. They're also terribly nice and will cater to me and my company with a speedy delivery of their amazing grilled sandwiches.



Mmmm...are you salivating?

The most perfect of all their sandwiches is the half turkey/half ham with Swiss cheese, coleslaw and Russian dressing. The bread is grilled to perfection with just a hint of butter on top and the cheese just oozes in your mouth. Top it off with one of Sam's amazing homemade pickles and it's a lunch to die for.

Recently, I bought my own Hamilton Beach panini grill and let me tell you, it has changed my life. I grill everything now. It's so easy to use, easy to clean and you can have your meal ready in about four minutes. And it's preeeeeeeeeeetty...



I wish I had had something like this in college. I never would have left the dorm room...well, only to get meats, cheeses and breads. Hmmm...maybe I should write a sandwich grill into my sorority series?

So...what to you is the most perfect sandwich? Where does it come from?

Now that I've made myself hungry, it's off to eat my Sam's sandwich...

Marley = )
Sorority Rush Begins - Spring 2008!
Rush - A Sisterhood Novel
Pledge Class - A Sisterhood Novel
Puffin Books

What am I reading? PARALLEL SEDUCTION by (my awesome agent!) Deidre Knight

Boy Next Door or Boy in Detention?

We've covered the allure of the bad boy in recent weeks, but what about the boy next door?

I don't know about you, but I've always found something hot about love revealed that was always right there all along.

Often times, our heroines are the girls overlooked (see Lainey in She's All That for ex.) who end up with the out-in-front alpha guys.

There are twists on this, of course (and no, I won't post a picture of Heath in 10 Things this time, but you know I'm talking about that movie!)

But it's often more interesting (at least to me) when the heroine gets to be the alpha, and the boy next door becomes the unexpected hero.

See the great 80's romantic-comedy Better Off Dead for a prime example.

Our boy Lane Myers is average yet heroic, wins the heart of the hot exchange student (she is waaay beyond a stereotype herself!) and defeats the studly captain of the ski team.

Love that John Cusack!

Anyway, what do you guys think? Do you love it when the not-so-studly guy overcomes the odds to win our heroine's heart?

Hugs,

Heather

Heather Davis is the author of

Never Cry Werewolf

coming in 2008 from HarperCollins

Choose your own unhuman boyfriend!

Who says you have to be human to be a hottie? Undead eye candy can be just as appealing as the real stuff plus they come with some extras. These are some of my personal favs.


1) Vamps. If you can get past those pesky, razor-sharp incisors that he keeps sinking into your neck, he's an awesome b/f. No worries about this guy letting himself go since he is eternally-youthful. He's easy on the grocery bill and will never stand you up as long as you go out after dark. One downfall, eventually you will be replaced as you will die and he will not. Here are a few of my favorite vamps.

Kiefer should totally work this look into 24!

Henry Fitzroy from Lifetime's Blood Ties based on the books from Tanya Huff.







Steph to Henry: "Bite me, please!"

2) Werewolves: If you choose the werewolf you'll be getting an animal for a boyfriend! One thing is for certain, you'll never have to worry about him using your razor. While he's cuddly and fun to pet, this guy will be on the prowl every full moon unless you put him in a cage.

Okay, so Jack's a bit old, but he's a vintage hottie! And while I prefer Michael J a little more clean shaven, he is still an adorable werewolf.

3) Back hair not your thing? What about a magic man? He's awesome to have around if you want to cast a spell on an evil co-worker but if you make this guy mad, he's might to turn you into a frog.








Harry "beefcake" Potter & the adorable Steven Strait from The Covenant.









None of the above doing it for you yet? Okay, I've got the perfect guy for you.

4) Ghosts: He isn't vain since he can't see his reflection in a mirror, he has plenty of time to hang out (at least until he sees the light), and you don't have to worry about him cheating on you since he doesn't actually have a body. The only problem is convincing other people he's real.

Patrick Swayze convincing millions of women to look into pottery making classes.


Clueless Bruce. Dude, you're dead.






Okay, so we wouldn't want to run into any of these guys in a dark alley or anything, it's still amazing how books and movies can make even the meanest, blood-sucking, rip-your-heart-out-and-eat-it dudes hot! So who would you choose? And don't even say Edward Cullen from Twilight because he's all mine!

xo,
Steph
www.stephaniehale.com

What I'm reading....still working on the stripper book, Candy Girl by Diablo Cody

A Rock Star Guide To Guys

Sure, every guy--just like every girl--is unique, but come on... you've noticed similarities, right? Common personality elements that made you think, "Hey, he's kinda like..." Well, after years of observation and experience I've come up with a handy little guide for categorizing your guy. And it's all based on rock bands. Here we go.

Type #1: LEAD SINGER

This is the guy that loves the spotlight. He's cocky and confident and probably really hott. When it comes to showing off in front of a crowd he's fearless--the more screaming adoring fans the better. But watch out, that holds true in his personal life, as well. Whether he has an admitted girlfriend or not, this is the guy who'll play the field--or at least flirt the heck out of it--until he has every girl in the room wishing she were his date. Seriously Alpha dog. We love this guy because he's a charmer and because being with him means every other girl out there will be eye-clawingly jealous of us.

Famous Lead Singers: Justin Timberlake, Jon Bon Jovi, and Brad Pitt.

Type #2: LEAD GUITARIST

This is the behind the scenes guy. He's the one that makes it all happen, that makes sure everything is good to go so the Lead Singer can do his thing. The Lead Guitarist is reliable and responsible, and when you have a problem he's the guy to go to for help. Beware of the envious Lead Guitarist, though. If he secretly wishes he were a Lead Signer then he can be moody, calculating, and more than a little devious. We love this guy because he can fix anything and, if he's content with his lot, he'll be at our side when we need him and when we don't.

Famous Lead Guitarists: Zac Efron, Johnny Depp, and George Clooney.

Type #3: BASS GUITARIST

This is the workhorse of the group. He's there to provide backup and to do the dirty work that no one else wants to do. But underneath that hard-working facade lurks a soulful spirit. This guy feels it every time someone dumps on him, but he just keeps plugging along. No sense letting the world stop spinning just because he's hurting. It might be tough to peel back that tough guy shell, but you'll reap the rewards if you do. This guy is loyal and devoted--just don't take advantage of his helpful nature. Not because he'd resent you for it... but you might start to feel guilty after a while.

Famous Bass Guitarists: Jake Gyllenhaal, George Harrison, and Lance Bass.

Type #4: DRUMMER

This is the wildcard. Not to beat a pun to death, but he marches to the beat of his own drummer--himself. He can be crazy and confident or wild and insecure (who even thinks about the Drummer, right?). Totally unpredictable in regular circumstances, when it comes to crunch time this guy pulls through. After all, what would happen to the beat if there were not drums. We love him because he doesn't give a rat's behind for what other people think and because he's totally spontaneous and we never know what to expect. Though that isn't always a good thing.

Famous Drummers: Shia LaBeouf, Joey Fatone, and Ringo Starr.

So, the question of the day is: What type is your guy?

Hugs,
TLC
Growing Up Godly, Summer 2008
Dutton Children's Books

what I'm reading ... Adiós to My Old Life by Caridad Ferrer (RITA book #2)

The Surfing Capital of Europe

Some weeks ago I blogged about ten great places to meet cute guys. Today I want to zero in on one little-known location that is a home base for a few hundred cute guys...

Did you know that Munich, Germany has been called The Surfing Capital of Europe? (Did you know there even was a Surfing Capital of Europe?) I sure didn’t. Until a few years ago when I went on a bike tour of Munich, and was delighted to discover the last stop was to watch several (hot) surfer dudes taking turns on the downtown river.

To give you some background, the Isar River runs through much of the city, and has an offshoot called the Eisbach River (which literally means “ice creek”). At some point, the Eisbach runs underground, so naturally, there has to be a place where this water again resurfaces. This happens to be inside of Munich’s central park--home of the famous Oktoberfest--where the water shoots out of an underground tunnel with such powerful velocity that in recent years, it has become a surfing mecca.


It is estimated as many as 400 surfers (mostly guys) are presently living in Munich, having moved there from all over the world.

Since the actual area is pretty small, it’s a one-a-time sport, and most days, you can spot surfers patiently waiting their turns on the landing, clad in wet suits and holding boards.


Spectators (like me!) line the bridge and squeeze into the dirt-packed viewing area, amazed and awed by the strength and agility shown by these lake surfers as they “hang ten” and “catch a wave”.

So if you’re going to be in Germany any time soon, I definitely recommend a visit. And if not, maybe put this on your to-do list. This is a cute guy locale guaranteed not to disappoint!

What I’m Reading: Um, I can’t say. For the next month or so, I’ll be judging published books for a writing contest, so I'm Taking the Fifth!

Tina
www.tinaferraro.com
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress

Contest! Create Your Own Cute Guy!

One of the greatest things about being a writer is creating your own world, characters and dialogue. You can live in the coolest town, yet never have to move there. You can wear the cutest clothes and never have to pay for them. And, you can create the cutest guys and have them fall in love with you.



Wouldn't you love to do that?

Well, now's your chance! For the next month, I'm having a contest to name a cute guy character in my upcoming sorority series book (#4 in the series) - SPRING FORMAL - A Sisterhood Novel.




All you have to do is post in the comments the name of your cute guy and a description of him. You can use a real name if you'd like or make one up. Remember, this guy should be in college, he must be terribly cute and he'll make an appearance in the fourth book of the series, along with the winner's name in the acknowledgements.



Simply post here in this thread for the next month or e-mail your thoughts to me at marley @ webstuffdesign.com (no spaces)

Winning entry will be chosen on Monday, May 7th.

Isn't it great to create a cute guy? The possibilities are endless!!

Have fun!
Marley = )

Sorority Rush Begins - Spring 2008!
Rush - A Sisterhood Novel
Pledge Class - A Sisterhood Novel
Puffin Books

P.S. What I'm reading: SPEAK, by Laurie Halse Andersen. (A fellow Puffin author!)

Not Necessarily Happy Ever After...

One of the great things about writing Young Adult novels is that there is not necessarily a reader expectation about a happily ever after. I mean, when did life ever guarantee happily ever afters anyway?

A lot of YAs do end with a HEA, especially when it comes to stand alone romantic comedy, but when you're talking about series or other sub-genres outside of romance, there is the latitude for other kinds of satisfying endings.

One of my favorite teen TV shows, as you probably already know, was My So Called Life. The episodes didn't end with a happily ever after. They ended with more questions or some realization for Angela about her life. I loved that.

In my upcoming debut, there is a mixed ending -- happy, but not necessarily ever after, with new questions raised. That doesn't mean it isn't satisfying. You *have* to satisfy the reader. I can remember a few times reading a book only to get to the end and say, "What the heck?" because the ending a) doesn't make sense or b) cuts off .

As a writer, you have an unspoken contract with the reader. You're on a journey together that must come to a fitting ending. That satisfying ending is part of your building a relationship with your audience. And that relationship, no matter what artistic stance you take, is what writing is all about.

Don'tcha think?

Happy Endings... or not,

Heather

Heather Davis is the author of

Never Cry Werewolf

coming from HarperCollins in 2008

The best book club ever!

If any of you out there ever wonder where I am at 5:30pm on the first Sunday of the month, wonder no more, I'm with the best book club ever! I had always hoped to find a book club but the only thing I ever heard about was at the library and it was pretty much dominated by all the nasty gray hairs in my town. I got to talking to my neighbor, Karen (blowing kisses to Karen for introducing such a great group of people into my life), and she said that she was in a book club and she wanted me to come and talk to them about my book.



I was a little bit horrified. This was back last fall and I didn't really have any proof that I was an author. I felt like a fraud. I think I may have put it off for a few months (sorry, Karen). But then I got my cover and it all started to feel real. So I went to Panera to my first official meeting of the Chix & Lil book club(we have one guy in the club and his last name is Little, is that name genius or what?) Everyone was SO nice and interested in my book. I ended up knowing a few of the members and others by a six degrees of seperation sort of way. I was hooked, and luckily I was immediately considered a chick, sans any weird sort of book club hazing.



They don't just all gather and sit around arguing the pros and cons of the monthly book trying to show how smart they are like a lot of clubs. They celebrate holidays and birthdays with gift bags and treats. One month our book was The Strawberry Shortcake Murder so Myk decorated his table with a Strawberry Shortcake tablecloth dotted with the occasional bloody handprint, and meat cleaver. Several members made all of the recipes from the book and we pigged out. We pretty much pig out every month. As a lover of books, food, and gifts, I'm pretty much in heaven those precious couple of hours each month.



They never get tired of hearing what's going on with my book or what I'm doing now. They are my biggest cheerleaders. They even chose my book (behind my back over much protest)as the September book pick. Which was totally sweet even if it gives me the hives to think of them reading it.



But it really is about more than gifts, food, and me pretty much feeling like a rock star when I'm with them. It is the amazing power that books have to bring people from all different walks of life together. We may not always like the books that were chosen, but we will always like each other! Just to show photographic evidence for how awesome they are. Here is what they got me for my birthday. I seriously had to hold back a flood of tears.
My horrible digital photography skills don't do it justice. It is a beautiful framed picture of my cover with all of their signatures on it, with clever little sayings about how I am the most famous person they know (sad, I know) and other lovely wishes.


I hope that you are lucky enough to have a book club as unique as mine. If not, why not start one of your own?





xo,

Steph



What I'm reading....Dead End Dating by Kimberly Raye (another RITA finalist), and Candy Girl: The Year in the life of an Unlikely Stripper by Diablo Cody(yes, this was Lil's choice! )



All that matters is what's inside...as long as your outside is wearing the tiara!

REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN, July 3,2007, Berkley Jam Books

WWW.STEPHANIEHALE.COM

That Elusive Thing Called Voice

Chances are, whether you heard about it in sophomore English class or in a workshop at a writing conference, the term "voice" is not a foreign one. But what is it? And, more importantly, how do you find it? I've been writing (seriously writing) for more than four year now, and voice is still one of those sketchy areas of the publishing world that everyone throws around and nobody know how to explain, least of all me. Along the way I've learned a few things.

Dictionary.com has no specific definition of voice that relates to writing, but the one that comes closest is as follows: a range of such sounds distinctive to one person. In other words, your voice is that thing that makes you sound, well, like yourself. The classic examples are Janet Evanovich and Stephen King. There's hardly a single sentence in any of their writing that, taken completely out of the context of their books, couldn't be identified as their writing.

So, if voice is what makes you sound uniquely like you, then how do you know what you sound like? Let me tell you how I found my voice (or at least as far as I've found it so far).

1. Write in different genres. The first book I wrote was an historical. Then I switched to chick lit. Then young adult. The thing I realized as I did my genre hopping was that: a) the tone of my writing never changed very much, and b) contemporary settings were so much easier to write. My critique partner and I did a workshop once on finding your voice. We did an activity where we passed around pictures we pulled from magazines and asked attendees to write about the scene in that picture in a genre they had never written in before. Let me just say the results were amazing. It gives you some distance from the writing so you can look more objectively at what makes your style unique. Try it and let me know what you come up with.
   
2. Write like you talk. Okay, this might not work for everyone (especially historical authors, and maybe some fantasy/paranormal stuff) but I have definitely found that my writing rhythm is the same as my speaking rhythm. As in--as devoted BuzzReaders might possible have noticed--I like to write with interrupted sentences. Anyone who's ever met me knows that I speak the same way. (Usually with entire paragraphs and/or stories inserted into the middle of a sentence--much to the utter confusion of the listener.)
3. Talk to your agent. Or critique partners. Or get feedback from contest judges. I was just talking to my fabu agent yesterday about that historical proposal I've been working on for, oh, millennia. After three rewrites and replottings and re-everthinging, we came to the conclusion that my voice was just not historical. "It seems like you're trying too hard," she said. "Like your trying to force your voice to be historical." Ding, ding, ding. That's a major warning bell. When you get feedback like that--especially from industry professionals who know what they're talking about--it's like a big flashing neon sign pointing to your voice.

Calling all writers (aspiring or otherwise)... Have you found your voice? How?

Hugs,
TLC
[who is thankfully writing this on her good-as-new laptop]
Growing Up Godly, Summer 2008
Dutton Children's Books

what I'm reading ... Spying In High Heels by Gemma Halliday (part of my quest to read as many RITA-nominated books as possible before they are awarded in mid-July)

One Dangerously Good Book

One night last week, while preparing to leave for my son’s baseball game, I grabbed a book from my To Be Read pile. My custom is to settle in on the top bleacher bench and read while his team warms up, then put the book down when the first inning begins. Because, you know, I AM supposed to be there to cheer my son and his team on.

But this time I hit a snag: the game started, and I simply couldn’t stop reading. I HAD to find out what happened next. In the recesses of my mind, I was hearing umpire’s voices and the occasional crack of the bat, but it was sort of like trying to wake from a lazy nap...I knew I should open my eyes, but I just couldn’t find enough incentive.

Then came the elevated voices: “Head’s Up! Head’s Up! Head’s Up!”

The intensity of the tones finally made me look. As a foul ball hurled through space and slammed into the stadium wall. Right beside my ear.

Talk about a wake-up call! I gasped, realizing how close I’d come to taking it in the face.

So, Lauren Baratz-Logsted, if you are reading this, I do believe you owe me a drink for taking me into the danger zone with ANGEL’S CHOICE. But I’ll settle for coffee and a nice chat at some upcoming conference, so that I can hear more about your writing, and to thank you for one fantastic and compelling read!


I encourage all of you to pick up a copy. But I’d better add a disclaimer: make sure you’re in a safe environment with plenty of free time before you start. Because I promise you, once you pick this book up, nothing--not even people screaming at you--will stop you until you’ve read the last page.

What I’m Reading Now: GRIEF GIRL by Erin Vincent (another page-turner)

Tina

Top Ten Uses for An Unworn Prom Dress
www.tinaferraro.com

I get by with a little help from my friends...

I don't have much book talk this week because I just got back from the New England RWA chapter (my home chapter) Let Your Imagination Take Flight Conference this past weekend. My agent, Deidre Knight, my critique partner, Diana Peterfreund, and I gave a presentation on Networking 101 that was a lot of fun.

Here we are presenting:



And here I am with my Knight Agency Sistahs who were at the conference, from left to right, Diana Peterfreund, me, Janet Louise Campbell, Kwana Minatee-Jackson, Maureen McGowan, Deidre Knight, Cathy Chant, Jessica Andersen:



Then, there was a costume party to "Bring Fiction to Life." A lot of people came as their favorite character or as a character they'd written. Since my books aren't out yet, it didn't make much sense to go as my sorority sisters, so I went as an admired writer-idol...Jaqueline Susanne.

That's me on the left with Elizabeth Mahon (as Lady McBeth), Kwana Minatee-Jackson and our very busy conference chair, Pam Claughton:



So, for those of you who are writers and you go to a conference, what's the best thing you bring out of the weekend? What is it that inspires you to get home and write your heart out?

Marley = )
Sorority Rush Begins - Spring 2008!
Rush - A Sisterhood Novel
Pledge Class - A Sisterhood Novel
Puffin Books

Sex, Drugs and Rock n Roll...in YA

This is a topic I've been wrestling with in YA for a few weeks now. I am working on my second YA novel HOW LIA MET ANA and my book is well...boring! My main character goes from being an uninspired tomboy to having an eating disorder without much of a personality change. She is not acting like a teenager at all.

How to liven things up? Sex, drugs and some rock and roll, of course! My question for everyone is: how far can we go in YA books in regards to sex and drugs? My main character, Liah, is sixteen and average. She's had boyfriends, she has friends, but is tired of being one-of-the-crowd. She wants to beautiful and special and...wanted. That leads to her eating disorder and also a bit of a wanton attitude when it comes to sex. She fools aound heavily with a guy she just met (an OLDER guy) and is ready to sleep with him becuase he makes her feel good. And because the love of her life has fallen for someone else. Of course, a few twists and turns later, she has the opportunity to seduce the love of her life. Does she or doesn't she? You'll have to wait and see.

The drugs part: Liah starts to rely heaviy on diet pills and becomes an addict...until a very real tragedy stares her in the face and she needs to make a decision.

My questions for you writers and you readers is this:
- Is it acceptable for teen characters to have on-screen sex in novels when the target audience is ages 13-15? Or maybe even 12-14? I've read books where it's something like. "He kissed her, lowered her to the bed....The next morning, he was gone.", but I've never read any on-screen stuff. I feel like the on-screen part is necessary in my books because of all the regrets my main character is having during and after some of the acts.

-Is diet pill abuse kosher?

I have never been one of the "rule following" girls, but I don't know what is allowed in 2007 and what isn't. As far as I remeber from my YA days, there wasn't any actual sex or drug use in books, nor was there any drug use. In today's day, with GOSSIP GIRL and the ALIST, I know there is.

I would love to get your thoughts on this...

Currently, I'm reading DAUGHTER OF FORTUNE by Isabelle Allende and THE WARRIOR TRAINER by Gerri Russell.

Dona Sarkar-Mishra
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HOW TO SALSA IN A SARI - January 2008 Kimani Tru
dona@donasarkarmishra.com
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