The Scariest Place on Earth

One of my favorite things about Halloween is trying to find ways to scare myself silly. The bad news is that I don't scare easily, so the bar is really high on the terrifying front.

I generally find that my imagination is way worse than anything a movie can show me. It's usually in the hours after a scary movie that I'm actually frightened enough to check the doors and windows, not during the movie itself. Like when I watched Dawn of the Dead the other night.

Zombies Eat Ur Brainz

I was totally fine through all the blood and limb eating and accidental chainsaw attacks. But when the movie was over, my mind started to wander. I started making my own plans for the looming zombie-pocalypse. (And really wishing my car was full of gas and parked in the garage, so I could get to it without venturing outside.)

Most "scary" movies affect me that way. The only times I can remember being truly scared during a movie were the remake of Cape Fear (which I watched with my best friend in high school, and I think her fear was contagious)...

Bobby DeNiro is pretty darn scary.

...and Signs (but the fear vanished when we finally got to see the aliens, because M. Night Shyamalan's vision of scary is not mine).

Hello, Mr. Alien

A book, though... that's a whole different story. Books have the ability to scare me like nothing else, simply because a book exists entirely in my imagination. The most terrified I've even been was when I read And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.

Even the cover is scary!

I made the mistake of reading this when I was home alone in the two bedroom apartment I shared with three other employees at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival. Halfway through the book I literally had to get up to make sure all the doors and windows where locked and that all the closets and bathrooms were empty. I think what makes this book so frightening is that there doesn't seem to be an explanation for how everyone keeps dying. (And boy do they keep dying.) Even my imagination couldn't guess the answer. Doesn't get much scarier than that.

The bottom line is that there is no place scarier than your imagination (okay, maybe Tim Burton's imagination) and if you want to frighten yourself silly this Halloween, then head to the nearest bookstore or library and find a book that will truly terrify you.

Today there are two audience participation questions.

1. Which scare you more, books or movies?
2. What book would you recommend for fright night reading?

Hugs,
TLC

teralynnchilds.com
@teralynnchilds

It’s a Gleek Halloween!

Like many people, I’ve fallen like the proverbial ton of bricks for the high school musical TV program, Glee. And this week (actually, tomorrow night), Glee is running their Halloween special, their own rendition of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

I had a coming attraction video I had planned to post here, but the website has taken it down. So instead I offer up the songs they will be performing:

1. Science Fiction Double Feature
2. Damn It, Janet
3. Whatever Happened to Saturday Night?
4. Sweet Transvestite
5. Touch a Touch a Touch a Touch Me
6. There’s a Light (Over at Frankenstein Place)
7. Time Warp

As well as a TV Guide quote from actor Chris Colfer, who plays Kurt: "I’ve loved Rocky Horror since I first saw it when I was 12. There is no point to it except being crazy and having a good time.”

Which is exactly what I am expecting from the Halloween episode--a good time!

So...tell us, are you a Gleek, too? And is this week's Glee show part of your Halloween celebration this year?

Tina

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

Scary Movies!

You're in for a scary treat as the Buzz Girls host a whole week of Halloween-themed posts. If you know me at all, you know that Halloween is my all-time favorite holiday. I love the costumes, haunted houses, candy, meals (click HERE for 2 of my favorite recipes), parties, and movies of the season. Today I'm going to share some of my favorite too-scary-to-watch-alone-at-night movies.

Classics

These are the oldies-but-goodies that are just as scary the first time I saw them as the tenth.

1. The Shining -- especially because I'm from Colorado and have been to the Stanley, where it's filmed.

2. The Exorcist

3. Rosemary's Baby

Shockers

These movies are disgusting and highly disturbing but I'm not one to turn off the TV or leave the theater just because I'm squirming.

1. Hostel

2. Seven

3. Saw

Slashers

Sorry, but I don't really have any favorite slasher movies. Do you?

Creepy

'nough said.

1. Silence of the Lambs

2. The Ring

3. Poltergeist (I saw this one when I was a little girl and I had a Bozo clown very similar to the one in Carol Anne's room so maybe it wouldn't creep me out so much now, but it sure did back then!)

Scary Cool

These flicks are scary, sure, but they're also really cool in execution.

1. Sleepy Hollow (the 1999 one with Johnny Depp) Tim Burton does a great job adapting this freaky old story.

2. The Corpse Bride (okay, not too freaky but again, Tim Burton rocks)

3. Coraline

Scary Funny

1. Shaun of the Dead

2. Zombieland

3. Ghostbusters (I saw this for the first time as a little girl so I wasn't quite sure whether to be screaming or laughing, but it's a classic for sure)

What are some of your favorite scary movies?

Teen READ Week

The Bee's are celebrating ALA's Teen Read Week. Teen Read Week started in 1998.

Every year teens vote on their Top Ten. How many have you read?

1. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

2. City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

3. Heist Society by Ally Carter

4. Shiver by Maggie Shiefvater

5. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

6. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

7. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

8. If I Stay by Gayle Forman

9. Fire by Kristin Cashore

10. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

You can also vote on next years theme here. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/trw2011

However you celebrate Teen Read Week, try and make it contagious. Make the only text you see this week, the text out of a delicious novel. Happy reading!

xo,

Stephanie

www.stephaniehale.com

Teen Read Week!

It's mid-October and just week and a half from Halloween. Yay! But an even cooler celebration happens this time of year --ALA's Teen Read Week. To celebrate we're posting about it all week long on BBB.

Today, I'm remembering my early teens, when books were the salvation and the escape from the horrible world of school life. My dad was a teacher at the local high school, which was only three blocks from my middle school. So, I would ride into work with him and then trek over to my m.s. on foot. I was often early, so I hid out in the library, working my way through a ton of mysteries and spy books. In the afternoon, I'd be subjected to riding home on the bus with the gross boys, bullies, mean girls, etc. But those mornings, when it was just me, the librarian, and a written world of escape, were precious.

I recently got a reader letter from a girl who'd enjoyed Never Cry Werewolf. She said that she loved the book because it helped her escape from the awful world of middle school. Isn't that cool and funny? That what I once treasured about others' books, this girl treasured about mine? I wrote back that my respite used to be reading in middle school, too - but now I used writing to find that same escape.

Reading is unlike any other activity I know. Readers and writers escape together in some way. We're both invested in the worlds we're creating in our minds and on the pages. I think that's a beautiful thing and it changed my life, starting in my teen years.

So how did you come to reading as a teen? What was or is your favorite place to escape with a book?

Happy Teen Read Week!

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

We Got the Beat

As Wendy introduced on Sunday, this week is the fabulous Teen Read Week™ sponsored by the ALA (American Library Association) and YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association) and the theme for this year's week is...

Books with Beat @ your library®

As the Teen Read Week Wiki says, this theme is open to lots of interpretations. And, being a child of the 80s, my first thought is the Go-Go's (as interpreted by Kids Incorporated):

Now beats can mean a lot of different things. Heart beats. Music beats. Hoof beats. Bad beats (in poker). Beat downs (not such a good thing). Getting beaten (as in a race). Beat feet (to run away). Beat an egg (which I don't do anymore, since I'm vegan). And those are just the one that I can come up with. There are even more great theme ideas on the Teen Read Week Wiki.

Your turn. How would you interpret the 2010 Teen Read Week theme?

Hugs,
TLC

Gearing Up for Teen Read Week

I love Teen Read Week! This year, I'm getting a head start by visiting 5 middle schools in my neighboring state of Idaho.
Then, on Friday, Oct. 30, I'll be joining a group of fabulous YA authors (Scott Westerfeld, Brandon Mull, Brandon Sanderson, Sara Zarr, James Dashner, Bree Despain, Jessica Day George, Kristin Chandler, Carol Lynch Williams, Ally Condie, Ann Dee Ellis, Lisa Magnum, Sydney Saltar, Nathan Hale, Ann Cannon, Dene Lowe, Sheila Nielsen, J. Scott Savage, and Chris Crowe) at Provo City Library for Teen Book Fest. Click HERE for mo' info. If there's any way you can make it to Provo, Utah, you won't want to miss it.
What are YOU doing to celebrate Teen Read Week? And remember to stop by the blog all week to see what the other Bees are up to. :)

Finding a writing community

This week the Bee's are talking about the writing process. So far, we've discussed body language, inspiration, finding your process, and revising. All of the posts this week have been amazing and so full of information. If you haven't already, make sure you read all of them.

Writing can be a very solitary profession. Maybe you are the kind of person who can sit alone day after day, and not have it effect you. Maybe you are completely secure with your work and prefer not to have any feedback. I do not fall into either of these categories, nor do most writers I know. Most of us are completely insecure about our work, and crave companionship with others of our writer insecurus species.

Some people are lucky enough to live in an area where they can find a writing group or a local chapter of a writing organization like RWA, SBCWI, MWA, etc. For the rest of us, there's the Internet. There is a virtual group for any kind of writer, you just have to know where to look. I found my first group on Yahoo in 2005 (I think). I truly feel that this group is responsible for my success as an author. I found critique partners, agent and editor info, and networking through this group. If you are interested in writing YA, I highly recommend joining the teenlitauthors group on Yahoo!

In just a few weeks, NanoWriMo http://www.nanowrimo.org/ begins. For those of you who don't know what this is, it's National Novel Writing Month. It brings writers together in a forum for one month to inspire everyone to write a 50,000 word novel. There is just something about knowing that thousands of other people are working toward the same goal to motivate you. I am participating in Nano for the first time this year. You can friend other authors and keep track of everyone's word count and offer/receive encouragement.

I also love Verla Kay's blue boards, even though I don't get on as much as I would like. http://www.verlakay.com/boards/index.php

As with anything, moderation is key. You don't want to spend so much time online that you are sacrificing your writing time. Other writers are some of the most giving, wonderful people I have ever met. I wish you luck finding an online community that supports you and your writing.

xo,

Stephanie

http://www.stephaniehale.com/

Writing Tips: Revision

This week, we bees are posting our favorite writing tips. So, if you or someone you love is crazy enough to want to write, send them here to get the scoop on how we do what we do.

My writing tips topic is near and dear to my heart. Revision - the ugly "R" word. Something a lot of people dread.

A lot of people will claim that their work is perfect as is - that they never need to revise. But if you really want to be an author, one of the most important jobs you have is to make your story better and stronger.

I spend a lot of time revising -- whether I’m writing a paranormal novel or something realistic. It’s an important way you improve the experience of your book (and your fictional world) for your reader. You want them to get the sharpest picture, the clearest image of what you’ve created.

Ok, so where do you begin? Whether you have completed a long short story or just finished a novel -- but the process is pretty much the same. Start by reading through the story and asking yourself some basic questions.

Does this make sense? Fiction has to make more sense than real life. You have to show why the characters do what they do. The choices they make in the story should be true to their personalities and motivations. If a character’s action seems unfounded, find a way to add clues for the reader - a line in a conversation, a small detail about the character’s environment - that back up the action. For example, someone who decides to become a ghost hunter might have paranormal research books in their room. Or maybe, they argue with a friend who doesn’t believe in ghosts in the first few pages of the story. You need to set things up so they make sense.

Are my characters likable? Remember that readers want to be rooting for your main characters. If your protagonist is always whiny, or feels sorry for herself, we are going to get sick of them quickly. Give them traits we can identify with, or show them doing something kind or noble. For example, maybe despite having a shy exterior your protagonist goes out of her way to defend someone in her class who’s being bullied -- okay, now we’re rooting for her.

Did I use interesting language and description? Check through the story for overused words and ditch them for more interesting ones. Get rid of some (not all) of the boring verbs like “walk” in favor of “saunter” or “stroll”. Make sure you’re including specific sounds (have you ever spelled “aaaaahhhoooooooooo!” for a werewolf?) and other sensory details your reader needs to imagine what you’re trying to tell us on the page. This includes the five senses, of course, but don’t forget in paranormals, we often need to feel that creepy foreboding -- something’s not quite right in the neighborhood anymore.

After you’ve gone through those questions, check for the regular stuff. You know what I mean here -- grammar, misspelled words, etc. It does make a difference, so if you’re not really great at this, ask a friend for help, check out dictionary and grammar sites on the web, or, crack open that dusty reference book on your shelf.


Get some Feedback. When you think the story is in good shape, you might want to show it to a friend or writing group you trust. Be brave! Get some feedback on the story from other storytellers. They will see things that you didn’t, and if you think they have valid points, you can use their feedback to tweak the story.


Be true to yourself. Remember that this is your story. You are the artist. The things you’re trying to tell the world are important and real. Don’t ever change your story because of feedback that doesn’t resonate or make sense to you. Go with your gut, your heart -- and your sixth sense.

Do you love or hate to revise? Have any great revision tips? Share them in comments!


Hugs,

Heather
www.heatherdavisbooks.com

Never Cry Werewolf - HarperTeen
The Clearing - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Wherever You Go - Harcourt, Fall 2011

Writing Tip: Find Your Process

Okay, so the title of this blog is kind of a misnomer, because I don't think you can actually find your one, single, absolute, perfect process. I've written a total of nine complete books at this point (not all of them published or publishable, obviously) and I've used almost as many processes.

For my first book, I plotted out a very specific and elaborate outline. For the next three, I knew my characters and their situation and just dove into the mist. Then I got an editor and she kinda wanted to know where things were going, so I started then next book with the end in mind. In the middle here I wrote an unpublished book that required a very specific structure, inherent to the story, and I had to walk a very strange and specific line in plotting.

Then my editor wanted to know even more about where things were going, so I broke out the big guns. For the next two books I used Michael Hauge's six step screenplay structure to plot my books ahead of time.

That worked pretty well... until I got to the latest book, the first in my Medusa series. I cannot count how many hours I spent trying to figure out how to structure this trilogy. I have three girls. I have three books. Each girl has an arc in each book. The girls have an overall arc that spans the trilogy. It's ten books in one. When I tried applying the Hauge structure to this mess my brain nearly imploded. In the end, I had to just start writing a train-of-thought synopsis, starting from the point where the book opened and guiding myself through ten pages of "and then this happens."

If I've learned anything in my several years and several books of writing it's that as soon as you think you have something figured out, it'll change on you. And you have to be open to that. You can't waste time trying to hammer an unruly story into a process that doesn't fit. If the Hauge structure works for this book, great. If it's better with Randy Ingermanson's the snowflake method, then try that. Or Chris Vogler's the hero's journey. Or Aristotle's three act structure. Or the monkey poo method of plot development.

(I don't recommend that last one, but, hey, if it works...)

The point is, each new book is a different world (and, honestly, you're a different writer) so you can't expect it to conform to the process that worked for any previous book. You're best bet is to just chuck everything you knew before and start fresh. Plot this book in the way that suits it best. It'll thank you in the morning. Hopefully with a nice, juicy publishing contract.

Hugs,
TLC

teralynnchilds.com
@teralynnchilds

When the Words Stop Flowing

We are talking this week about writing tips, and I thought I'd throw my hat into the ring about the hard times, when the words stop flowing.



While there is no easy answer to days when the voices simply aren't there, here's a few tricks I try to get back in the game:

--Walk away. Do errands, take walk, a shower, cook a meal. And do NOT think about the book. For me, what often happens is the book slips back into my thoughts on its own.

--Turn to sugar and caffeine (a nice mocha latte?) which often jump starts my body and brain.

--Go read a book. Sometimes one I love--as well as one I don't--will inspire me to return to the keyboard, reminding me why I love to do what I do.

--Re-read what I've written so far, and do a little clean-up editing work. Just being in the story often helps me make new connections.

And when all this fails for me? I remind myself of Nora Roberts' famous quote (that I carry around on my keychain): "You can't edit a blank page." In other words, just get SOMETHING on that paper or computer screen to work with and from, even it seems horrible.

So now I'm calling out to other writers. What do you do when the words stop flowing?

Tina

Tina Ferraro
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
How to Hook a Hottie
The ABC's of Kissing Boys
www.tinaferraro.com

Writing Tip: Use of Body Language

This week's topic is Writing Tips, and my tip is how and why to add body language into your writing. When done skillfully, your readers will find your characters are more interesting and your overall writing is more believable. Body language (or nonverbal communication), paired with a character's words (verbal communication) and thoughts, adds another layer to that character's personality. In essence, it helps bring the character to life in the mind of the reader.

Does a character's body language agree or disagree with what he's saying?

As a Speech Communication/Broadcast major and an actor, I'm always paying attention to how people's posture, gestures, eye movements, and facial expressions portray what they're REALLY thinking at any given moment. Sometimes their body language goes along with what they're saying. For example, a character yawns and the reader understands that he is bored or tired. On the flip side, certain movements can contradict what a character is saying. Some signs of dishonesty include: averting one's gaze, touching one's face, biting one's lower lip, blushing, fidgeting, twitching, scuffling feet, twirling one's hair, scratching, blinking (either more or less than normal), etc. As a reader, I think it's fun to try and figure out, based on what the author gives me, whether or not a character is being honest.

What movements are believable and interesting?

If a character doesn't care, she might shrug or turn her back on someone else. If a character is excited, he might actually jump a little and his voice might get louder. You can also think of movements that aren't quite as common (or cliche). Perhaps the character is in a windstorm and the entire time her boyfriend is breaking up with her, she's preoccupied with the futile task of keeping her hair looking nice. (Hmm, I kinda like that scene. Lots of intrigue. Might have to use it someday! LOL) Or think of other ways to describe some of the more common body language. Maybe a smile can be described as a wry grin? A sexy smirk? A wolfish sneer?

When deciding what body language to use for a character, there are many things to consider so it comes across as believable. Here are a few things to get you thinking along these lines:

1. Gender. If your 40 year -old male character flutters his eyelashes, he will come across as feminine. How characters sit, stand, and walk can also suggest that they're masculine or feminine. Be careful not to go over the top, though. For example, if your male character is always grunting, spitting, and grabbing his crotch, you need to ask yourself if guys REALLY do that stuff, at least so often.

2. Age. Younger people typically express themselves more enthusiastically and with less inhibition. For example, a three year-old wouldn't think twice about jumping up and down and shouting, "I gotta pee!" for the whole restaurant to hear, whereas an adult would probably (hopefully) excuse him- or herself discreetly.

3. Attire. A woman in stilettos will trudge through the woods with more difficulty than one in hiking boots. Conversely, a woman who's used to wearing stilettos will be more graceful in them at the ball than a girl who's only ever worn hiking boots.

Of course, this is just a short list, but basically you'll need to know your characters well to keep their body language believable.

How can body language help a writer "Show, Don't Tell"?

Adding body language is a great way to obey the "Show, Don't Tell" maxim.

a) "Please don't go," Bertha says sadly. (Telling)

b) Bertha wipes the tears off her face. "Please don't go." (Showing)

a) Casey was infuriated. (Telling)

b) Casey clenched his hands into fists and his face turned crimson. (Showing)

a) Penelope wasn't happy to see fried chicken on her dinner plate. (Telling)

b) Penelope took one look at the fried chicken on her plate and hurled it across the kitchen. (Showing)

In the above examples, the same (or at least very similar) information is being shared, yet the second examples (b) are more interesting and offer new insight into the character.

Does your character have a signature move?

In addition to weaving body language into your writing, you might want to invent a signature movement for your character.

I remember when one of my friends told me he'd seen me standing in the parking lot from his dorm room some fifteen stories high. My boyfriend and I had just been in a wreck and the emergency personnel was checking out my boyfriend to make sure he was okay. My friend could tell it was me way down there because of the way I held my right arm straight down and grasped my right forearm with my left hand. It's what I always did whenever I was nervous about something, he'd said. I'd never noticed it before then, but he was right. It's one of my signature poses, and if a writer were to write a story about me, he or she'd want to describe the position of my arms when my character is nervous.

Maybe your character, a 16 year-old female cheerleader, is always smacking her gum. Maybe your newly turned vampire is constantly touching his fangs. Perhaps your Victorian-era duchess is prone to giggling when she's in the presence of her crush. Maybe your 800 year-old alien blinks his single eye verrrrrry slowly when he's trying to comprehend English, or your grandmother character tends to dab her nose with her deceased husband's handkerchief when she's thinking of him (her late husband, not the alien).

Giving your characters signature movements is a great way to help your readers get to know them.

What are some easy and effective ways to fine-tune your character's body language?

Sure, there are many books you can read to learn more about kinesics, the study of body language. But even if you just observe people in their natural settings, you'll see what kind of movements they do and under what circumstances. Then you can transfer those gestures and movements into your writing.

You can also pay attention to a talented actor in a movie or on a TV show. Some movie characters that are excellent examples of how body language can help develop a character are: Cap'n Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean (his walk), Bridget in Bridget Jones' Diary (her fidgeting), Kevin McCallister in Home Alone (his scream-face), James Bond in various Bond movies (his posture and poise), and Shrek in Shrek (his charmingly bashful smile).

A final note

Now that I've hopefully got you thinking of ways you can weave body language into your writing, make sure you use it sparingly so it isn't too overbearing. A good way to check is to read your scene out loud or have someone else read it for you. Remember, integrating physical movements into your writing is meant to add to what's being said or thought, not take attention away from what's being said or thought. Writing is something you'll get better at the more you practice, and using body language is a great method to get your readers into your story.

Hot for Teacher

Yesterday I had my Parent-Teacher conferences for both of my sons. I basked in the glow of all the wonderful things that both their teachers had to say about them. And thanked God that they didn't behave at school like they do most of the time at home. :)

My sons attend the same school that I graduated from. I got to thinking about how much things have changed since I was in school. One of the biggest changes of all is the teachers themselves. When I was in school, all of the teachers were ridiculously old and grouchy. I'm not kidding. I think my second grade teacher was like ninety. I was a shy bookworm, so I fared just fine, but some of my more rambunctious schoolmates met with the wooden paddle quite often (can you believe this was ever allowed?).

(I got straight A's twice in fifth grade. I'm kind of proud of that. )

While I browsed the halls yesterday I realized how ridiculously good-looking a significant amount of the teachers were. Seriously. It is like a smorgasbord for the eyes around those halls. And each and every one of them is patient and kind. You even see some of them on the playground at recess with the kids. And yes, they do get paid extra for this, but they could stand there doing nothing just making sure no one impales them self on the playground equipment, but instead they actually "play" with the kids. This has given my children an opportunity to see their teachers as people and not just teachers. Sure, they still act like freaks if we see their teachers at the mall, but I truly believe it has made them better learners. A mother can dream, can't she?

Did you have crush on a teacher in grade school?

xo,

Stephanie

www.stephaniehale.com

E-Books Controversy Strikes Again

On Tuesday, the NY Times had an article about the price of E-books on Amazon. Best-selling author Ken Follett’s new book had a hardcover price of around $19.39, but the Kindle electronic version was $19.99.

The fallout was dramatic, with readers actually slamming Ken in the reviews of the book because of the outrageous e-price. But in fact, the publisher sets its own price for electronic versions, so it really wasn’t the author’s fault. Add to that the cheaper price on the hardcover (which Amazon sets) and you can see why readers were confused and incensed.

I know more and more teens who read on Kindle. It’s bringing more kids to books, which is a great thing. That said, making it more expensive to enjoy a book is a terrible idea -- both for readers and authors.

Do you use a Kindle or E-reader? I don’t. I’m not saying that I ever won’t, but for right now, I’m still in love with the old fashioned experience, no batteries required. Plus, I spend all day on my computer, so I don’ t want to have more screen time when I read for pleasure. I know people who love their Kindles, but I love the sound of turning book pages, the smell of the ink, the way you can read for hours if you want.

There is room for both, of course, providing the books are affordable for everyone. This kind of crazy pricing makes no senses -- especially when publishers don't have the expense of paper, printing, shipping, etc. It's digital for a reason, remember? Physical books at the library are free -- you may have to wait a little while, but the price is worth it. And if you buy a physical book, you can read it, love it, and either pass it on, or keep it on your shelf to enjoy again.

The future is not so far away, though -- can you imagine your local library loaning limited-time Kindle downloads as if you were checking out books? I’m sure it’s only a matter of time...

Would you pay $19.39 for a e-book? I really want to know.


Happy Reading,


Heather
P.S. Pug/Kindle photo taken by amazing author Alyssa Day and starring Daisy.

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

Is it seriously already October?

Hey, hey, hey! Wow...it's October already. Where has this year gone? Wheeeeeeeeee!!!

You must forgive me as I'm wicked busy this week planning events and booking travel. As you can imagine, October is "Christmas season" for us ghost hunters...so we're in great demand!

So, while I'm busy RSVPing to invitations to speak and such, I'm gonna let you win a copy of my "Halloween" book: GHOST HUNTRESS: THE GUIDANCE.



Leave a comment in the trail about what you plan to go as this Halloween...or, if you're not dressing up, then tell us the best costume you've done in the past. For me, it would have to be when I went as a Navy Blue Crayola. LOL!!

Winner will be announced next Wednesday!

Hugs,
Marley = )

Why I Still Go To Conferences

This weekend I attended the terrific Emerald City Writer's Conference in Bellevue, Washington. Technically, this is a joint trip to speak at the conference and to hunt for potential apartments for my upcoming move. But even if I hadn't been apartment hunting I'd still attend this and other writing conferences.

Now, since I'm a multi-published author with an agent, an editor, and various deadlines, you might think that I don't need to spend the time and money to go to conferences anymore. And, in one regard, you'd be right. I don't need to attend for the same reasons as when I was first writing. I don't need to pitch my book to agents and editors, desperate for someone to love the story as much as I did. I don't need to learn the basics of publishing, craft, promotion, market, and all those other things that are so important to a writer's education.

Conferences have other things to offer, though, beyond the networking and educational opportunities. Things that you couldn't buy with all the money of a New York Times bestseller.

1. Inspiration -- Keynote speeches never fail to make me cry, even the funny ones. As I sit there and listen to how writing or reading has affected the speaker's life (Barbara Vey) or what obstacles the speaker has overcome to reach this point (Alyssa Day) or even research and anecdotes about the power of belief and courage and creativity (Brenda Novak), I can't help feeling that the work I do is important. That I'm very lucky to be on this path in the career I love so much. That I'm proud of the work I do, of the people who help me do it, and of the readers who help me keep doing it.
2. Motivation -- Maybe it's because I'm an extrovert, but something about being around dozens (hundreds) of other writers just fills me with writing energy. When I attend a workshop with new tips on time management or a clever new way to plot or first-hand insights on writing forty-seven books a year, I walk away super motivated to put that new knowledge into practice. Right now I'm chomping at the bit to start on Secret Project IW--but I have to wait until my revision is done, darn it!
3. Shared experience -- Since the very first writing conference I attended, when I heard one of my favorite, ultra-bestselling authors stand up and say that at the end of each writing day she thought she'd produced the worst pile of poo ever written and that soon the world would realize this and take away all her contracts and bestseller titles and she'd never write again. Then, the next day, she reads it over and thinks that it's not so bad, but the next pages... To know that every writer at every stage and at every level of success suffers the exact same fears and doubts that I do just makes me feel... better.

I guess my point is that there are some quantifiable benefits to writing conferences (like meeting agents and learning craft) and others are unquantifiable. Others aren't as tangible, but just as important. So no matter what level I reach or how many books I write or how busy I get, I'll always make time for conferences.

Hugs,

TLC

teralynnchilds.com

@teralynnchilds

A Quarter of a Century!

I don’t do many personal posts here at the Buzz Girls’ Blog, but this past weekend, my husband and I celebrated a landmark--our 25th wedding anniversary--and I want to share!

Here is a picture of us, “back in the day,” on October 2, 1985, in Arrowhead, California:


To celebrate, we’re going to spend a romantic week in Hawaii-- but not just yet. Between his work schedule and making sure our kids and cats and home are properly attended to, we need to hold off a bit.

So as we anticipate our “silver anniversary” trip, perhaps some of you could help us with “silver” phrases...like, “the silver light of the moon?” Anything else come to mind?

Tina

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

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

While Andy Williams might argue with me, I think early autumn is the most wonderful time of the year.

Where I live in Utah, there are all sorts of trees covering the mountains, so they are spectacularly multicolored come late September/early October.

Here are some other things I love about this time of year:

Footall season (Go Broncos!)

Seasonal foods and drinks like soup, pumpkin rolls, spice cake (with cream cheese frosting), red wine, and hot tea

Fall fashion (especially boots)

Halloween (costumes and candy, what's not to love?)

Warm days, chilly nights (perfect for snuggling up with someone you love)

What's your favorite time of year, and why?

Banned Books Week

Thanks for helping the Bee's support Banned Books Week. I'm not really sure what else I can say. It's pretty apparent that the seven fabulous authors of this blog, plus hundreds more, think banning books of any kind is ridiculous. I had to laugh out loud when I saw the Captain Underpants series on the list. My boys crack up at these books!

What is funny to me is that everyone knows as soon as you tell somebody not to do something, or watch something, or read something....yep, that's the first thing they are going to do. I do appreciate the fact that these people are at least paying attention to their children enough to know what they are reading. But don't they realize that there are going to be WAY bigger battles to fight down the road?

Let's say your child is curious about magic. Wouldn't it be better to let him read Harry Potter to satisfy his curiosity then drop out of college someday to join the circus? Okay, so that's an extreme example, but I know that anything I was denied growing up, I completely longed for. For the record, I wasn't denied much, except a dog, because of my allergies.

And even if they don't agree with a certain book for THEIR child, should they really be given the power to make the decision for all children? I think not. Personally, even if I wasn't an author, I wouldn't pay a bit of attention to these lists. We all parent differently. Maybe you feed your kid cotton candy for dinner? I don't agree with it but it isn't my business. Just like it isn't your business what book I let my kid read.

If you want to read more about Banned Book Week, check out this article with Meg Cabot. She says it better than I ever could. http://www.storysnoops.com/blog/?p=596

And don't forget to pick yourself up a banned book this week.

xo,

Stephanie

www.stephaniehale.com

Banned Books Week - Say What?

It's Banned Books Week on Books, Boys, Buzz... and as I perused the ALA lists of books most frequently cited for complaint over the years (you can find the lists here) I was shocked to find one of my childhood favorites - ok, not so shocked, just disappointed.

Bridge to Terebithia?

People actually brought forth complaints of "the occult and satanism" about this lovely, award-winning book by Katherine Patterson. I'm sure they didn't like the idea of Jess and Leslie creating their own world in the book, but what is more troubling is that they probably didn't like the questions that Jess asks when Leslie passes away.

Jess is a Christian in the book, and Leslie's family does not believe. When Leslie is killed in the flood, Jess knowing that Leslie is not a Christian, wonders what will happen to her. Will Leslie go to Heaven or Hell if she is not saved as he understands it?

What a great question! I think that when you believe in something, it is imperative to keep asking questions, to understand the tenets and feel comfortable discussing the hard topics. More than challenging your faith, questions refine your faith. Books like this bring up the hard questions, create discussions, and foster learning and growth.

And this book is just a great coming-of-age story -- a young boy choosing between hanging out with his friend Leslie or going to the museum with his art teacher, who he's crushing on.

I hope if you haven't read Bridge to Terebithia, you will check it out. It's one of the books that made me want to become a storyteller - and it's a book that deserves to be read by people everywhere.

What is the most surprising title you found on the Banned Books List? Seriously, I can't believe these people.... ;)

Happy BB Week!

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

Banned Books and Censorship: Not on my watch!

As a reader and an author, I am in total support of Banned Book Week. I'm proud of the Buzz Girls for bringing this topic to the forefront for our readers and I hope you agree with us. Banning books and censorship are just NOT cool.



We've all seen the list of banned books over the years...a list that contains one classic after the next. Well, I just read this news article on Yahoo.com with ten (10) banned books that will really surprise you!

I'm horrified to see not just one, but two dictionaries included on the list. All because they define words that some find offensive. You know what? Don't look those words up! And to see Lord of the Rings considered as "Satanic?" Did they read the same book I did in middle school? And good old Harry Potter...not just one of the books is banned, but the whole series. An entire series! They say it's "Satanic" and "occultist" and...get this..."anti-family." Are you kidding me? After losing his real family, Harry finds solace and comfort in his Hogwart's family. It's anything BUT anti-family. And the last one that knocked me off my seat is Grimm's Fairy Tales. In particular...Red Riding Hood. Why? Because she had a bottle of wine in the basket for her grandmother. Honestly people!

Which brings me to censorship. A topic very near and dear to my heart. I'm totally against it. Big time! I'll let this e-mail exchange that I had with a librarian recently explain my views exactly:

Subject: A wish....
Comment: Dear Marley: I saw you on TV on "My Ghost Story" and when I heard you write teen ghost hunting novels I went straight and looked you up. I am an elementary school librarian and my kids love supernatural reading. I was soarly [sic] disappointed to see that I had already checked out your book to purchase and then realized you had so much fowl [sic] language. I have never written to anyone before, I am not a stodgy person, but I am so tired of books that I think would be great for my kids, being filled with language that I don't want encouraged. I go through all these books (because I like the topic too) and then I have to mark out bad words just so my kids can still read the book. I know 12-14 year olds are not angels... not by a long shot... but I don't want to encourage this behavior until they are old enough to REALLY know what is right or wrong. Is it so hard to write a book that I don't have to sit with a marker in my hand just so my kids can have a good supernatural book to read? Sorry for the venting... I would so like to get your books for my kids, I know they would love them... I just wish you had not gone down the language, etc. path.

And my response to her...not attacking her horrid misspellings...

Hi NAME WITHHELD...

I appreciate the time you took to write to me voicing your concerns.

I am, however, appalled to think that you go through books—by any author—with a marker to “mark out bad words” and "language that [you] do not want encouraged." I’m sure your intentions are good, but the reality is that you are censoring books, a practice that most Americans would agree is horrific at best, and one we rightly vilify as a society.

My books are not geared for elementary school-aged children. They are written for "young adults," kids older than 12 (they’re clearly marked as such), and I write them in common vernacular to better connect and identify with my teen audience. I have never had a teacher, librarian, parent, or student object to the language in my books - nor mark out words before letting others read it.

As a librarian, I assume it is your responsibility to select which books are included in the SCHOOL WITHHELD Elementary library. If you choose not to include mine, I understand. I’ll just hope that the kids who would enjoy them find them from another source. I am curious to know if the school administration, WITHHELD County School Board, or the PTA condone your practice of editing the books that you *do* choose to put in the library?

It is my sincere hope you will reconsider your censorship practices. I realize I'm in good company with the likes of Judy Blume, Lois, Lowry, Steven King, J.D. Salinger, and others, but it still doesn't make it right in my opinion. As an author, I will do everything in my power to see that censorship is stopped, wherever and whenever I become aware of it.

Sincerely,
Marley Gibson

Now, I shared this with a PR friend of mine who told a friend of hers at The Washington Post about it and she wanted to do a story on it. She contacted the librarian and didn't get a response. She then contacted the school and was told, "She will not be marking out any passages in books anymore."



Well...score one victory against censorship.

Pick up a "banned" book this week and see what you think. And if you feel so inclined, read the GHOST HUNTRESS books and judge them for yourself.

What do you think? Should librarians (whom I love!) be able to mark out passages of books they personally feel are inappropriate? Would you speak up at your local school or library if you ran across such markings in a book?

Thanks for your support!
Marley = )

Get spooked this Halloween!
GHOST HUNTRESS: THE COUNSELING - available now!

Book Banning: Coming To A Town Near You

I'm starting to think it's me.

First, a school visit from Ellen Hopkins got cancelled in Norman, OK, just a few miles from where my parents lived at the time. Then, Ellen got disinvited from the Humble ISD Teen Lit Fest, to which I had also been invited and in a district just a few miles from where I used to live in Houston, TX. Now it's Laurie Halse Anderson and Sarah Ockler getting trashed in the News-Leader in Springfield, MO, the town where I went to high school.

Seriously, maybe I'm the Banned Book Fairy and I don't even know it.

What bothers me most about these, and all censorship situations, is that a very narrow minority is trying to decide what others can/cannot or should/should not read because they know better. They believe teens are incapable of thinking for themselves, incapable of discerning the difference between rape and sex, between smart choices and dumb ones, between right and wrong. If a parent hasn't raised their kid to know the difference between right and wrong, then stopping them from reading a book isn't going to prevent the train wreck.

The good news is that every time one of these small minded, book banning, brainwashing, goosestepping goobers steps out into the public spotlight, there are hundreds of us open-minded, banned book reading, intellectual freedom loving, think for yourself advocates to raise our voices in protest.

And thanks to the internet and the real-time news distribution that happens on Twitter and Facebook, we can spread the word fast and wide.

When Ellen's event got cancelled in Norman, she went anyway and held an alternative event, speaking to a huge crowd at Hillsdale Baptist College. When Ellen got disinvited from Humble, several of the other authors involved, including me, withdrew from the festival rather than show any level of support for this kind of censorship. And when the Springfield newspaper posted the book banning opinion piece, they got almost 500 comments and posted a response from Laurie a few days later.

As readers, writers, and consumers, we have two weapons in our arsenal against censorship: the power of the dollar and the power of the word. Next time you hear about a book or an author getting banned, break out your power tools. Buy the banned book and read it or give it away. Write a blog post or an email or a Tweet, and spread the word. Speak loudly.

Because, in the end, when one of us loses intellectual freedom, we all do.

Hugs,
TLC

teralynnchilds.com
@teralynnchilds

Buzz Girls Support Banned Books Week!

The Buzz Girls are proud to be supporters of Banned Books Week, the national celebration of the freedom to read. I kicking things off our theme week with some background information.


Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries, their targets ranging from books that explore contemporary issues and controversies to classic and beloved works of American literature.

Topping the 2009 list of the American Library Association’s Top Ten list of the Most Frequently Challenged Books is Lauren Myracle’s best-selling young adult novel series TTYL, the first-ever novels written entirely in the style of instant messaging. MY SISTER'S KEEPER by Jodi Picoult, CATCHER IN THE RYE by J. D. Salinger--and one of my favorite books for its humor, grit and heartwarming realism, THE EARTH, MY BUTT, and OTHER BIG, ROUND THINGS by Carolyn Mackler, also appear.

“Even though not every book will be right for every reader, the ability to read, speak, think and express ourselves freely are core American values,” says Barbara Jones, the director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. “Protecting one of our most fundamental rights – the freedom to read – means respecting each other’s differences and the right of all people to choose for themselves what they and their families read.”

For more information on book challenges and censorship, please visit the ALA Office website.

And please leave a comment, offering up your supportof Banned Books Week, and naming any favorite books that you know of that have been challenged.

Tina

Tina Ferraro
The ABC's of Kissing Boys
How to Hook a Hottie
Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress
www.tinaferraro.com

What'cha reading?

In case you are just tuning in, the Bee's are discussing what we are reading this week. I just finished a fabulous book called SHADE by Jeri Smith Ready.

Here is the book trailer:


It really is a unique twist on ghosts and I couldn't put it down. But just in case you still aren't convinced, you can read the first chapter here:
http://www.jerismithready.com/books/shade/excerpt/

There is one thing that sucks about this book though. The sequel doesn't come out until next May!!! I can hardly wait to find out what happens with Aura and Logan.

It's the perfect book with Halloween right around the corner! I'm going to give away my copy to a random commenter. Tell me what your favorite Halloween costume was that you wore growing up. You have until Sunday, September 26 at midnight to comment!

xo,
Stephanie
www.stephaniehale.com

What I'm Eating (I Mean Reading)...

It's funny, but sometimes, especially when I'm in the thick of writing one of my stories, it's very refreshing to read some non-fiction, or at least something totally unrelated to the story I'm crafting.

Cue Cheesemonger by Gordon Edgar.

My boss gave me this book to borrow, because, he said, "You're the resident foodie." I started to read a little bit every day on my lunch break and found myself hooked into the story of how a punk rock kid living in the Bay Area found work at a cheese counter and in doing so, a whole new life as a cheesemonger.

Punk rock and cheese? I know, right? They don't seem related, but Gordon brings the two together, talking about culture and agitation and individuality. He also makes some great points about small producer cheese versus factory cheese - about valuing the artisan's work and nourishing your palate in the process. About the need for food and farm workers to have a healthy, safe life. About how people should be adventurous and step away from commercially produced cheddar, jack, and swiss cheeses every once in a while.

Do you guys this this is totally crazy of me to read a book about cheese? Well, I love to cook, I love to eat, and I love to read - so it's kind of a good fit for me. And actually, it's a pretty great read. I savored it, cover to cover. (And -- here's a shocker -- it made me hungry for cheese!)

So, what's the most off-beat non-fiction book you've read?

Hugs,

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

Reading on...the Nook!

Because I live on the RV, it's hard to hoard the amount of books that I'm used to, well...hoarding. I had to put all of my precious books into storage to read another day. But I've found a solution...

My Nook!



I got this wonderful tool at the Romance Writers of America conference in Orlando this summer and it has changed my life. I can now literally carry 1,500 books with me anywhere I go. And there are tons of free and cheap downloads to nab. Of course, I had to get the Kate Spade "traveler" cover to go with it.



I just finished FORGET YOU, by my friend and critique partner, Jenn Echols. She really knows how to delve into teen relationships and make them come alive on the page. I also downloaded former Buzz Girl, Simone Elkeles' PERFECT CHEMISTRY and will begin reading that shortly.



Two of the free ebooks I got were THE COMPLETE WORKS OF JANE AUSTEN and Louisa May Alcott's LITTLE WOMEN. It's amazing how many classics are available for free. I plan to catch up on them and remember how wonderful these stories are.



Have you gotten into the ebook craze? What do you think of it? I'll admit, I still love the smell and feel of a book and wandering through the book store reading the back and deciding which one will come home with me. But, for now, this is a really convenient device for me. Let us hear your thoughts!

Hugs,
Marley = )

Get spooked this Halloween!
GHOST HUNTRESS: THE COUNSELING - available now!

I'm Reading Now

This doesn't fall into the category of Very Exciting Reading or even anything teen or YA-related, but the book I'm reading now is called The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play.

The book I'm reading.

Basically, I was looking for a book to help me manage my time better (aka not waste so much of it) and be more productive. I already have Getting Things Done, which is great for helping me organize the stuff I have to do, but not so great at helping motivate me to actually do the stuff.

I'm only a couple of chapters in, and already it's helped me figure out why I procrastinate. (FYI, it has to do with perfectionism and temporary stress relief.) Now I just need to read the part that helps me learn how to actually stop procrastinating.

As a side note, I downloaded the free sample of this book on my Nook and it gave me just enough pages to know that I wanted to read the whole thing (not always true for Nook samples, btw). I'm generally gun-shy of self-help-type books, so the sample chapters were definitely helpful.

What about you? Have you got any time-management, procrastination-abatement, task-motivation techniques to share? I promise I'll pay you back by writing even more books sooner!

Hugs,
TLC

teralynnchilds.com
@teralynnchilds

Revisiting Required Reading

As Wendy pointed out yesterday, this week we’re talking about, simply, what we’re reading.

Being that I was currently in-between books, I realized that this was the perfect time to pull out from my to-be-read pile the water-swollen, yellow-paged, twenty-five cent copy of Willa Cather’s My Antonia that I recently found at a used book sale. It was time for my long-anticipated re-read.


The last time I read it? In 11th grade. When it was assigned English class reading. I remember looking at the cover (a barren field) with disgust, thinking it looked even more boring that the books we’d already had to read that year...and would this torture of reading the classics ever end?

Then I started reading it. And the most amazing thing happened. I liked it. A lot. Soon, I loved it. To the point that for the first time ever, I read beyond what was assigned. And finished well pretty quickly because I could not stop reading.

Reading such quotes now as, “No romantic novel written in America, by man or woman, is half so beautiful as My Antonia,” [H. L. Mencken], I see the sparks of my own interest in reading and writing romance.

And so how is it standing up to my first read? Well, I’m still in the first half, but I think it’s fair to say I've already jumped ahead to loving it again.

So now I’m turning the tables to you. What’s an assigned reading book that you’ve loved? And if some time has passed, what was your experience with a re-read?

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

What We're Reading

Hello! This week the Buzz Girls will be blogging about what we're reading. And lucky me, I actually had a little time to read a book this past week. Realizing I'm probably the only person in the universe who hasn't read a Holly Black novel since having snuggled up with the Spiderwick Chronicles (which she wrote with Tony DiTerlizzi) with my oldest son, I picked up Valiant: A Modern Tale of Faerie. It's about Val Russell, a 17 year-old lacrosse player and gamer who runs away to New York City when both her mom and her boyfriend betray her. She joins up with a group of homeless teens living in the subway tunnels and is promptly introduced to a delicious, dangerous, and unpredictable new world--one she would've thought was impossible until she began to experience it herself. The urban fantasy explores friendship, addiction, love, and standing up for what one believes in--even if your beliefs are being challenged with every step. As I voraciously turned its pages, I felt the danger, smelled the odors, and hoped our smart, witty, and lovable heroine would not only survive, but thrive.

As I'm sure you can tell, I really enjoyed Valiant. It was well written, highly imaginative, full of action and emotion, and quick-paced. The romantic in me was pleasantly surprised who Val connected with on a romantic level (I can't say because it would be a spoiler; but trust me, it's cool!) and I have to admit that I feel a bit sad that I'm finished reading it.

So! I'm really looking forward to finding out what books the Bees have been reading lately, and I hope you'll share with us what YOU've been reading!

Over It In a BIG way.....

The Bees are being random this week so I decided to post on something that has kind of been driving me a bit crazy lately.

3-D. Seriously, what's the deal? Personally, I get a terrible headache watching anything in 3-D. My son even brought home a new dinosaur book that came with 3-D glasses. I know the studios make more money off the films because they can charge an extra fee but I just feel like I'm missing the point. I mean, seriously, how close to the action do you want to be, especially at something like Piranha?



I've been lucky that a few of the 3-D movies I've wanted to see like Shrek and Toy Story also came out in 2-D, but I'm getting kind of worried. What if this trend continues?

(Me and my hubby getting ready to ride the Toy Story Mania ride at Hollywood Studios, which I think is in 4-D. It was awesome. )

What about you, are you over the 3-D thing or am I just a buzzkill?

xo,
Stephanie
http://www.stephaniehale.com/

Umbrella Time Again...

First of all, yay for Marley! I'm so proud of her.

If you didn't read her post below, please scroll down and read it, I'll wait...

Ok, good. You're back... Isn't that awesome news? I can't wait to read RADIATE and hear all about Marley's journey.

It's a rainy Thursday here in the Northwest. Out my window, everyone has umbrellas and the sound of rain pattering is unmistakeable. I'm not quite ready for it to be rainy fall. We never did get enough sunny days this summer for the season to feel real - and now the downpour begins.

Over the years, Harper Cat's spent a good deal of time testing my umbrellas. Here she is with last year's model... and a (fake) mouse.

And in other news.... I finished my revision and turned in my new mauscript. Yay! I can't wait to share WHEREVER YOU GO with you next year. ;)

Hugs,

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

A New Deal!

Sorry for the late post, but it's been a crazy-busy, exciting day. I'm thrilled to share my news here with my Buzz sistahs and our readers. Without further ado...

PUBLISHERS LUNCH DEAL

Marley Gibson’s RADIATE, by bestselling author of the GHOST HUNTRESS series, the fictionalized version of her own battle to overcome cancer as a teenage cheerleader through humor, humility, and perseverance for Spring 2012, again to Julia Richardson at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, by Deidre Knight at The Knight Agency (NA).

I can't tell you how excited I am about writing this book. It's very near and dear to my heart because the story will be loosely based on my own experiences when I had cancer in 1982 and was a varsity cheerleader.



There won't be anything angsty, bitter, or negative about it. It's about facing adversity and overcoming anything. I really hope this book will be an inspiration to teens coping with cancer. I often wondered WHY I had to go through that so many years ago...maybe THIS is the reason!

Time to celebrate!
Marley = )

Lazy Daisy Post

Ooops! I forgot to post yesterday, and since no one else has posted today, I'm throwing up a quick post to cover my slackerness. I now present some adorable pictures of my dog Daisy.

What do you mean my ear looks like a funny hat?

I want to move but my head is just ... so ... heavy.

Puppihood can be exhausting.

Yes, most of my pictures of Daisy happen to be when she's sleeping. That's because when she's not sleeping she moves too fast for me to snap a shot!

Hugs,
TLC

teralynnchilds.com
@teralynnchilds

WINNERS!

Thanks to everyone for helping celebrate the paperback release of Never Cry Werewolf this week! And thanks to all the readers who commented for their chance to win a signed copy of the book.

And the winners are:

Ladytink_534
brendajean
Steph
Jessie Oliveros
Jenny N.

Please email me at heather(at)heatherdavisbooks.com with your mailing info.

Ahooooh!

Heather
www.heatherdavisbooks.com

Congrats to Heather on the paperback release of Never Cry Werewolf. With Halloween just around the corner I can't think of a better time for you to get yourself a copy! And don't forget that Heather is also giving away five autographed copies so make sure you comment each day this week for your chance to win! This week the Bee's are all talking about the second time we have done something and how much better the experience is. Several years ago, I picked up and moved to Colorado. My dad and stepmom lived out there but other than that I didn't know a soul. I was kind of in limbo when I first moved out, there not going to school or working, so it was next to impossible to make friends. The movie of Maeve Binchy's Circle of Friends came out at the theater. I wanted to go so bad I could hardly stand it. But my parents didn't really care for going to the movies so I made the decision to go alone. To a Friday night 7pm showing. Yeah, I know. I might as well of had an L tattooed on my forehead. I was scrunched in between two couples the entire time. After the movie I drove home sobbing and swore I would never, ever go see a movie alone again.

Fast forward about twelve years, a husband and two kids. I was desperate to see the movie Hairspray and get some "me" time. The only problem is that the only time I could get away was when all my friends were working and my husband said he would rather eat broken glass than see THAT movie. So I ventured off alone to the theatre. I admit that this time it was an early afternoon matinee and the theater was pretty empty. But I couldn't believe how different the experience was. I truly enjoyed myself and didn't rush from the movie bawling my head off.

(He is really why I wanted to see the movie)

I'm sure it made a difference that I was now married and a mommy when before I was certain that I would never find The One. Or maybe I had just grown up enough to realize that I don't need permission from strangers to do something I enjoy. And if the theatre around me had movies that ended before I had to pick the kids up from school I would probably be there every week.

Can you go see a movie or eat in a restaurant by yourself without worrying about what other people think?

xo,
Stephanie

http://www.stephaniehale.com/

Great Expectations

Hooray for the new paperback version of NEVER CRY WEREWOLF by our own Heather Davis!

This week we're chatting about things that are better the second time around. The types of things that pop into my mind have to do with:

1. My taste changing with time.

For example, music, art, and food. Avocados used to gross me out, but now I find myself actually craving them, whether in salads, on sandwiches, or guacamole.

2. Being in a better or different mind set the 2nd time around.

You know, when you aren't really enjoying yourself because you're not in the right mood? For instance, vacations, books and movies. Vegas was a bit of a blur my first time, but the more I go, the more I explore and enjoy it. And sometimes a book or movie is better the 2nd time I read or watch it because I look at the details instead of just the big picture.

3. Knowing better what to expect and therefore being able to relax the 2nd time around. This is close to #2, but a little more specific. It is what happened to me with my first kiss.

Since I was older (almost 18) when I finally had my first REAL kiss, I'd been playing the moment over in my head for eons. And when it happened, I was so shocked, I literally fell over! I recently told this story on Nisha Sharma's blog, so if you want to read it, click HERE. But then, as can be predicted, subsequent kisses went much smoother--with him, as well as with future guys (Notice I didn't write "boyfriends" because I admit that when I got in college I kissed my share of random guys. ha!)

Want to win 1 of 5 signed copies of NEVER CRY WEREWOLF (in its new paperback version) by Buzz Girl Heather Davis? Of course you do! So leave a comment here, as well as on the other posts made this week, for a chance to win. Here's your prompt for today: What have you enjoyed more the 2nd time around 'cause you knew better what to expect?