Blog Tour: Jon Skovron!!

Okay, my next blog tour guest is Jon Skovron, whose book Struts & Frets debuted on November 1. I read an ARC of this and absolutely adored it--you have to grab this book!

Here’s a blurb about Struts & Frets:

More than anything, Sammy wants to play guitar in a famous indie rock band. The problem is that his front man is a jerk who can't sing, his bassist is a burn-out who can't remember the songs, and his drummer is just out to lunch. But Sammy needs this band because it's the only good thing he's got going. His father skipped out before he was born, his mother is an overworked therapist with a drinking problem, his grandfather is slowly losing his mind to Alzheimer's, and the girl of his dreams is dating his jerk lead singer.

Now that jerk lead singer has entered them in a Battle of the Bands contest to win free studio time and guaranteed radio play. Sammy has two weeks to get them to sound like a real band, or face public humiliation in front of the entire local indie music scene.

Aaaaaand, a little about author Jon Skovron:

Jon Skovron is an insatiable music geek who can play eight instruments, but none of them well. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, has lived all over the US, and now resides with his wife and two sons in Washington, DC. His short stories and reviews have appeared in publications like Jim Baen's Universe and Internet Review of Science Fiction. Struts and Frets is his first novel. Visit him online at http://www.jonnyskov.com/.

You can visit your local bookstore, or go to Amazon HERE to buy a copy of his book online!

And now, onto the vastly important 3 interview questions:

1--What was the spark of inspiration for this story? Tell us what event, or idea, or dream got this book started.

I just had this image in my head, of a couple of teenagers rehearsing their band in an old, run down dance studio in the basement of community center. And Sammy's voice, clear as a bell, saying, "One thing I knew for sure, we were going to be famous."

2--What food did you looooove getting from the cafeteria at lunch in high school, and why? (or if you didn't eat cafeteria food, what was your favorite brown-bag lunch?)

I was a brown-bag kid and not particularly inventive with my lunch-making. I ate the same thing every day: sandwich, veggies (usually carrots and green peppers), and chips. I guess my favorite was when my step-father picked up roast beef for lunch meat that week from the grocery store.

3--What is your absolute favorite part of being a writer?

Being in the flow of writing new material. Man, there's no better feeling than when it's just coming to you and you're just banging out whatever you hear in your head.

Thanks for coming to my blog, Jon--and big congrats on your book release!

contest time: tell me little-known-facts about you

I'm bored. Let's learn more about each other, Gentle Reader! I'd love to know about who all's out there. Kinda like a "first-date" questionnaire. So, I'm holding a contest (PS, don't forget about my BIG Stupid Cupid launch contest! click HERE for deets).

All you have to do for this mini-contest is tell me, as a comment in this post, 3 things about yourself that most people don't know. FYI, please keep it PG-13, LOL.

I'll pick 3 random winners from all the entrants, based on creativity and uniqueness. Each winner can pick 2 books out of a list of books I currently have on my bookshelf. Shipping is on me! And as far as picking your books, first come, first serve!

This contest ends Sunday at midnight, EST. So, enter now, and enter more than once!

Also, each new place you advertise this contest gets +1 to your entry (e.g., twitter, facebook, myspace, etc). Just let me know in your entry where you advertised it.

Also, sorry guys, but for the US and Canada only.

To get you guys started, I'll go first:

1--I have a Bel Biv DeVoe tape in my car. Yes, I do not have a CD player. My manpanion says that tape is my theft deterrent.

2--I like chewing on paper. I know that's weird--that's why it's something most people don't know.

3--I hate Hamburger Helper. I can't stand the way the meat is all crumbled up in it. It tastes just like I'm eating crumbled meat in pasta, and it makes me ill to my stomach. The only way I can eat crumbled meat is if it has seasoning, like taco.

Now, it's your turn. Dish it up!

I can haz bookmarks!

We're at t-minus less than six weeks now until release (December 22), and I'm getting all my promotional stuff in order. My darling friend and brilliant graphic designer Saundra Mitchell whipped me up some bookmarks, which just came in the mail yesterday. WOO HOO! Here's what Stupid Cupid's bookmark looks like:

FRONT:

BACK:

Sorry the blurb text isn't clear on the back (I reduced the size), but it comes out really nicely in person. Anyway, yay! I'm super happy. I plan on handing them out to everyone I see, LOL.

I also have postcards with my cover on the front and the book blurb on the back. I plan to mail them out to indie bookstores to let them know about me and my book.

Yanno, it's so crazy, knowing my book comes out in less than 6 weeks. My family has been super supportive and encouraging. My friends are already pre-ordering my book and planning to come to my launch party. People I don't even know are telling me how excited they are to read Stupid Cupid. It's amazing and super-humbling. *sniffle* So, I'd like to give a huge THANK YOU to everyone out there who's helped me along the way! XOXO

ps--don't forget to enter my book launch contest! Up for grabs is a signed copy of my book and 3 $30 gift cards. Just write a horrible love poem of at least 8 lines for me...the worse it is, the better! Go HERE for details. I've gotten some reeeeeally funny entries so far and have been giggling a lot. Thanks!!

2009 Holidaze With the Debs

The 2009 Debut group I belong to is doing a holiday tour! YAY! Since my book doesn't come out until Dec 22, I'll be participating in the January 2010 event with some great writers....we're unofficially dubbing our signing the "Holidaze Hangover." haha

Anyway, here's the press release for the tour! Check it out. And if you live in the Toronto area, I would LOVE to meet you for my first official book signing!!

Introducing Holidaze with the Debs

We are pleased to announce Holidaze With the Debs, a series of author events in the U.S. and Canada this holiday season. At bookstores, libraries and schools in the New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Toronto areas, members of the 2009 Debutantes will talk about their own books and other 2009 favorites. A full list of events is available below.

"Publishers are working with shrinking promotional budgets in this economy," notes Rhonda Stapleton, author of STUPID CUPID (Simon Pulse). "As first-time authors, we know that much of our promotion is going to have to come from us, and over the last year we've also learned how much fun it is to do events together. So we're especially excited to be able to talk to readers directly this holiday season."

2009 DEBUTANTES' HOLIDAZE TOUR

NEW YORK

Dec. 6, 1-3 p.m.
Books of Wonder
18 West 18th St.
New York, NY
Including: Megan Crewe, Sarah Cross, Deva Fagan, Neesha Meminger, Kate Messner, Shani Petroff, Jon Skovron, Michelle Zink

CHICAGO

Dec. 5, 1-3 p.m.
Borders
161 N. Weber Road
Bolingbrook, IL
Including: Cynthea Liu, Saundra Mitchell, Aprilynne Pike, Kristina Springer, Darcy Vance, Lara Zielin

Dec. 5, 7-9 p.m.
The Book Cellar, Inc.
4736-38 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL
Including: Cynthea Liu, Saundra Mitchell, Aprilynne Pike, Kristina Springer, Darcy Vance, Lara Zielin

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

Dec. 5, 3-4 p.m.
Borders
588 Francisco Blvd. West
San Rafael, CA
Including: Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, Sarah Quigley

Dec. 8, 7 p.m.
Menlo Park Public Library
800 Alma St.
Menlo Park, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, C. Lee McKenzie, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang

Dec. 9, 12 p.m.
Petaluma High School*
201 Fair St.
Petaluma, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang
* Open to the public, but visitors should check in at the school office when arriving

Dec. 12, 2-4 p.m.
Barnes & Noble
119 Colma Blvd.
Colma, CA
Including: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, C. Lee McKenzie, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang

TORONTO

Jan. 9, 2 p.m.
Indigo
Eaton Centre
220 Yonge St.
Toronto, Ontario
Including: R.J. Anderson, Megan Crewe, Sarah Ockler, Rhonda Stapleton, Lara Zielin

STUPID CUPID book launch contest--ENTER NOW!

We're only 50 days out from my release, so it's time to kick off my Stupid Cupid book launch contest! Here's what's up for grabs:

--a copy of Stupid Cupid, signed by yours truly
--a $30 bookstore gift card to the store of your choice
--a $30 iTunes gift card
--a $30 Starbucks gift card

That's a $100 value!

So, what do you have to do to enter this incredible contest? Simple--write me a horrible love poem. The more purple-prosed and nauseating, the better. Lay on that sugar, bay-bee! I want to get a massive cavity from your lovingly wretched words.

See, in Stupid Cupid, one of Felicity's friends Maya is wooed by a guy who writes her a horrible love poem. Here's what he wrote (and it took him ALL night to whip up this lovely one):

Ode to Maya

The sun rises and sets in your fair face
Being near you makes my heart race
Your laughter, wit, and style are so bright
I’d love to take you out tonight

What I want to know is, can YOU top that in the awfulness factor? I'm betting you can. So enter my contest by leaving a comment in this thread with your worst love poem and an email address where I can reach you.

Here are the contest deets (aka, the fine print), subject to updating as needed--so please check back often:

--Each poem must be at least 8 lines. There are no set requirements for the poems other than that, so feel free to let your creative streak take over!
--Entrants must be at least 13 years of age.
--The contest is open worldwide (and gift cards can be modified if needed for international purposes).
--One comment entry per poem, but please feel free to enter as many times as you like (include an email address with each entry). Entries must be made in this post, or they do not count toward the contest.
--Poems must be 100% your own original material--NO PLAGIARISM, dudes!
--You retain full copyright and ownership of your work. By entering, you grant me permission to display your poem.
--Contest winner will be picked by a panel of judges (not me!), who will decide which poem wins, based on loving sappiness, creativity, and sheer awfulness.
--If you are chosen as the winner and do not respond to me within 7 calendar days, I reserve the right to have another winner chosen.
--Contest begins Monday, November 2, 2009 and ends Monday, December 21, 2009, 11:59 PM EST.
--Sorry, family members are not eligible to win--I know my sister Lisa is going to kick me in the hiney for that one, but I gotsta be fair. LOL
--Please feel free to email me with any questions: rhonda at rhondastapleton dot com

Please pass this on and tell everyone you know! And thanks so much for entering. I am greatly looking forward to reading your masterpieces. Mwahahahaaaaaa...

Blog Tour: L.K. Madigan!!

Okay, my next blog tour guest is L.K. Madigan, whose book Flash Burnout debuted on October 19. I'm very excited to read this story!

Here’s a blurb about Flash Burnout:

Fifteen-year-old Blake has a girlfriend and a friend who's a girl. One of them loves him, the other one needs him.

When he snapped a picture of a street person for his photography homework, Blake never dreamed that the woman in the photo was his friend Marissa's long-lost meth addicted mom.

In a tangle of life, death, and love, Blake will emerge with a more sharply defined snapshot of loyalty.

Aaaaaand, a little about author L.K. Madigan:

L.K. Madigan is a writer living in Portland, Oregon, who finds it odd to speak in the third person. Therefore: Hi. I am married with one son, two big black dogs, hundreds of books, and a couple of beaters, I mean vintage cars.

Visit her online at http://www.lkmadigan.com/.

You can visit your local bookstore, or go to Amazon HERE to buy a copy of her book online!

And now, onto the vastly important 3 interview questions:

1--What was the spark of inspiration for this story? Tell us what event, or idea, or dream got this book started.

I have a photo of a little girl we used to know – she’s about five in the photo – and she is beaming. But she has circles under her eyes. Of course, it’s probably a hereditary trait, but every time I looked at her photo, a sentence came into my head: “She had the most heartbroken eyes in the world.”

Right around the same time, I was talking to a friend about a different young adult novel I had written. I had received a few rejections, and was wondering if I should stop submitting it. My friend, a medical examiner, said, “You know, I see a lot of meth cases. Did you ever think of writing a book about the meth problem?”

Suddenly, the sentence that kept pinging around in my head – the one about the heartbroken eyes – blossomed into a story. A teenage boy’s voice began talking about a girl he knew, but it wasn’t his girlfriend. It was a friend. The better he got to know her, the more he learned about her troubled life, including her meth-addicted mother. How much was he willing to risk to help this friend?

I started writing, and FLASH BURNOUT was born.

2--What food did you looooove getting from the cafeteria at lunch in high school, and why? (or if you didn't eat cafeteria food, what was your favorite brown-bag lunch?)

I loved going off-campus with my best friend during senior year to Chuck E. Cheese! Maybe it was the flavor of freedom that tasted so good, but I remember that pizza as being DELICIOUS.

3--What is your absolute favorite part of being a writer?

The thrill of epiphanies when you least expect them.

Thanks for coming to my blog, L.K.--and I'm so happy about the release of your novel!

How I Rocked Robert Palmer

This Halloween at work has been kind of a bittersweet one. We all know this is probably our last one together, since they're closing our work site down sometime next year.

So, our team decided to do a group costume. One coworker had the brilliant idea of us going as the Robert Palmer video Addicted to Love. Remember this classic 80's video, with all the models in dramatic makeup, fake playing instruments and excessively jiggling?

If you don't, click HERE, then come back. I'll wait.

Okay, welcome back! Anyway, we went as that--um, without the jiggling, of course. And for me, without pantyhose too, because I don't own a pair. I hate them so, so much, with the passion of a thousand burning suns. It was a lot of fun, though. We even had the song playing in the background.

So, here's a pic of us (I'm on the far right)--note the fake guitars we're holding, as well as the intense looks on our faces:

We didn't win, but we had a blast! I'm glad we got to do it, because I'm sure I'll remember this for a long time. :D

Are you dressing up this year? What are you going as?

Stupid Cupid release party info!

Well, folks. We've been going along this pre-publication path together for a long time, haven't we? Twenty months so far, to be exact. Can you believe it's been so long for us? Why, I do believe you get more attractive every year! *pinches your cheek*

We're nearing the promised land now...there are only 55 days until STUPID CUPID releases. I'm feeling rather sentimental, thinking about my journey to publication. It's been a long haul, but I'm truly glad I got to experience it all. I've met so many awesome people and have made contacts I never would have dreamed. I've stressed out, I've cried buckets of tears, I've laughed until my sides ached, and I've done the sacred booty dance in my kitchen. And no, I didn't tape that, sorry.

Anyway, I'm getting stuff ready now to prepare for my release. Here's what I've been doing:

First: planning my launch party. Whoop whoop! I have it all finalized--it'll be January 14, 2010 at the Parma-South Library in Parma, OH, at 6:30 PM (check out the library link HERE). And Joseph-Beth bookstores in Cleveland is providing the books for purchase! If you're able to attend, PLEASE let me know. You can leave a comment here or drop me a line. I want to make sure I send you an e-vite!

Second: organizing contests. I have a few fun contest ideas in the works that will be starting in just a week or two. Stay tuned! I'll be giving away copies of Stupid Cupid (once they are available), as well as other fun goodies. What kinds of goodies, you ask me? Well, you'll just have to come back and find out. haha

Third: creating promo items. I ordered new business cards, and also some postcards. I really like them! I put my book cover on one side and the blurb/ISBN/my website on the back. I plan to stand on a street corner and hand them out. haha if only that would work...

Fourth: lining up signings. I'm going to be going around to some different places next year, which should be a blast! So far, I plan on hitting Chicago, NYC, Toronto, Huntington WV, Louisville, and probably will try for Cincy too, if I can. I'll be sure to let you know when I get stuff finalized!

Anyway, just wanted to check in with you and let you know I'm still alive. She's ALIIIIIIVE! *rubbing hands together evilly*

Awesome YA books!

So, I've gotten my hands on some great YA novels recently. Here are two books that are on my mind right now:

I just recently finished SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater...and let me tell you, this book is amazing. I am not a "werewolf" person--never have been interested in them (in fact, they totally freaked me out, to be honest). But after reading SHIVER, I admit I am now a convert. This book was beautifully written...the language is magnificent. Evocative. Poetic. I found myself rereading passages just to soak the words in. And I hardly ever do that. So anyway, if you haven't read this one, you must--get thee to a bookstore immediately and buy this book!

I'm reading HATE LIST by Jennifer Brown right now. She's a fellow 2009 Debut author with me. Wow, this book is intense. It's raw, real, and I feel like I am deep inside the main character's head, feeling things as she does. In case you don't know what this one is about, it's about a girl whose boyfriend takes the "hate list" the two of them created and uses it in a mass shooting at school, right before shooting himself. The girl returns to school and has to face what happened, plus deal with her own turbulent emotions. I am loving this story so far!

Have you read anything amazing lately? Dish it up--I want more book recommendations! :D

Blog Tour: Pam Bachorz!!

Okay, my next blog tour guest is Pam Bachorz, whose book Candor debuted on September 22. This book has gotten amazing buzz, and it sounds fantastic!

Here’s a blurb about Candor:

Oscar Banks has everything under control. In a town where his father brainwashes everyone, he’s found a way to secretly fight the subliminal Messages. He’s got them all fooled: Oscar’s the top student and the best-behaved teen in town. Nobody knows he’s made his own Messages to deprogram his brain. But then Nia Silva moves to Candor, and Oscar falls in love. He must choose whether to let Nia be lost to brainwashing—or to sacrifice himself.

Aaaaaand, a little about author Pam Bachorz:

Pam Bachorz grew up in a small town in the Adirondack foothills, where she participated in every possible performance group and assiduously avoided any threat of athletic activity. Pam attended college in Boston and finally decided she was finished after earning four degrees. Her mother is not happy that Pam’s degrees are stored under her bed.

Pam lives just outside Washington, DC with her husband and their son. She likes to read books not aimed at her age group, go to museums and theater performances, and watch far too much television. She even goes jogging. Reluctantly.

As far as she knows, Pam has never been brainwashed. Or maybe that’s just what she’s supposed to say. Visit her online at http://pambachorz.com/.

You can visit your local bookstore, or go to Amazon HERE to buy a copy of her book online!

And now, onto the vastly important 3 interview questions:

1--What was the spark of inspiration for this story? Tell us what event, or idea, or dream got this book started.

I was living in a planned community in central Florida, and took the dog for a walk one late night. The mosquito truck drove by and we were coated in the white spray that the town swore was harmless. What if, I wondered, it had Prozac in it? That would explain why everyone in the town was so happy and friendly. From there I developed my idea of a town where everyone pays a premium to be brainwashed (but neglects to clue their kids into the plan).

2--What food did you looooove getting from the cafeteria at lunch in high school, and why? (or if you didn't eat cafeteria food, what was your favorite brown-bag lunch?)

I liked hitting the snack machine in the caf. Nutty Buddies all the way. You got two to a pack so you could share with a friend and not feel disgusting for eating them.

3--What is your absolute favorite part of being a writer?

I get to tell stories and people actually listen to them. For me, writing is performance, and now I am standing on a big old stage--with all eyes on ME!

Thanks for coming to my blog, Pam--and big congrats on your release!

Rhonda's Top Ten Creepy Songs

I like doing lists of things. It makes me feel productive, for some bizarre, type-A reason. It also helps me share my thoughts with you guys--and I know you're a captive audience to my every word. Okay, stop laughing now. Anyway, here's a list for ya:

Rhonda's top 10 most creepy songs, in no particular order:

1. Benny Mardones -- "Into the Night." These so-called classic lyrics start off, "She's just 16 years old / Leave her alone / They say". Um, HELLO, pedophile much? Here's your well-worn copy of Lolita, sir.

2. The Police -- "Don't Stand So Close To Me." Ah, everyone knows the theme to this one, summed up in the following line: This girl is half his age." Come on, kids--it's fun to get into a relationship with your teacher! Just don't stand next to him in school, because he has to pretend he doesn't LIKE you like you. (Bonus: their song "Every Breath You Take" is also totally freaky--gotta love stalkers!)

3. Patti Smith -- "I am the Warrior." There's a line in there that goes, "Your eyes touch me physically." I shudder every time I hear that. I don't know about you, but I don't want anyone's eyeballs touching me physically.

4. Clay Aiken -- "Invisible." Innocent charmer Clay Aiken wishes he was invisible, so he could watch you in your room. Uber-romantic, or total creeper? I think we all know the answer to that one.

5. Jimmy Buffet -- "Escape (The Pina Colada song)" -- Wait, why did I add this one? Let me explain. It sounds like a classic fun song at first, until you really listen to the overall story. This guy is tired of his "old lady", so he answers a newspaper ad by some mysterious woman he's instantly attracted to. They meet, and it turns out to be his current girl. And they LAUGH IT OFF and decide to work it out with each other. Nice. I don't know about you, but both of these people are messed up in the head.

6. Kenny Rogers -- "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town." The guy is a war veteran, crippled, depressed, and his gal goes out cheating on him a LOT. He wants to kill her, but he can't. Cheery! Gotta love those good old country songs.

7. Eric Carmen -- "Hungry Eyes." First off, I don't want anyone with hungry eyes watching ME. And check out some more of these lyrics: "I've got a feelin' that won't subside / I look at you and I fantastize / You're mine tonight." Not if I can outrun you, buddy.

8. Union Gap -- "Young Girl." Another pedophile song. Here's a couple of lines: "Young girl, get out of my mind / My love for you is way out of line / Better run, girl / You're much too young, girl." Dude, when someone advises you to RUN away from them, you should take them up on that offer. Because you may not get another chance. Just sayin'...

9. Captain & Tenille -- "Muskrat Love." A romantic song about muskrats is just over-the-top frightening. They even have names: Muskrat Suzie and Muskrat Sam.

10. George Michael -- "Father Figure." With creeptacular lyrics like these, how could it not make the list? "I will be your father figure / Put your tiny hand in mine / I will be your preacher, teacher, / Anything you have in mind."

So, what songs creep you out, whether they're meant to be disturbing or not? I wanna know!

Debsness contest--today only!

Click on the pic above for your chance to win a bag of treats and goodies from a whole bunch of 2009 debut authors! But you only have TODAY to enter, so go go go!

Would you rather...?

Come visit me at the Fictionistas today HERE, where I ask "would you rather" questions in the hopes that people will jump in and share their answers too. It's more fun than a barrelful of cliches! Yee haw!!

Last week sucked *sigh*

Between job drama, kid drama, home drama, writing drama--you name it, it "drama'd" my life last week--I had a craptacular time of it. But today is new day, and I'm ready to shed the ick and leave it behind me.

Not much else going on here. I gave myself a much-needed break over the weekend. I read RAMPANT by Diana Peterfreund (have you guys checked this one out? Killer unicorns = one crazy ride), watched movies/TV, played games on my PC, chilled with the fam, planned my future as best as I could, and tried to reeeeelaaaaax. Basically, I was super-lazy and totally unapologetic about it. haha.

I think I'm ready to jump back in the saddle today, though. I found that my brain kept going back to my story in progress, telling me suggestions on twists I can do or ideas to throw in there.

That's one of the cool things about being a writer--even when I'm not technically writing, I'm "writing." My brain knows I take this job seriously, so it prods me into working and developing the parts of my story that need to be fine-tuned. I dig that.

I've also been working on promo/publicity ideas for Stupid Cupid's release in December (22, for those of you wanting to know the date). My debut comes out in a mere 69 days, 11 hours, and change. Not that I'm tracking it or anything. haha PSYCHO!

ANYWAY, I'm planning some really fun contests. MWAHAHAHA. You guys will have to stay tuned to see all of my crazy schemes. :D I'm also getting signings lined up. 2010 is going to be a SUPER-awesome year!!

Suspension For a Butterknife in School??

I had a very interesting talk with my 5th grade son's principal today. Apparently, my son brought a butterknife to school--which is considered a weapon.

And the circumstances of him bringing this "weapon?"

It was packed in his lunch so he could peel his orange.

An adult aide in the cafeteria saw him with it and told him it wasn't allowed. The issue was escalated to the principal, who called me at work.

To be fair, the principal sounded apologetic. He quickly said that my son wasn't in trouble and all was okay, but that weapons of any kind (even plastic butterknives) aren't allowed at all. Because of these circumstances (him bringing it for lunch), he was not going to be suspended--this time. But if it happens again, he would be.

I was then told that if I wanted to get my butterknife back, I'd have to come and pick it up, because in good conscience, he could not let my son take it home to me. And that if my son needed help with such kinds of food-related tasks in the future, there would be someone in the cafeteria who could assist him with that.

You know, I'm not mad at my son--not at all. I'd told him to pack an orange in his lunch (he makes his own). And he has a hard time getting peels off. Obviously, he was thinking logically--if he couldn't peel the orange with his fingernails, he could use a butterknife to do so. He had absolutely no malicious intent in using the butterknife, nor did he realize he would get in trouble for it. And I'm sure this scared the pants off him, so I doubt we'll run into this situation again.

I know in all fairness, I shouldn't be mad at the principal either. After all, his job is to ensure our children's safety, right? In order to keep a tight rein on problems before they start, he has to have ZERO tolerance. And I completely respect that.

So, I guess I'm furious that my 5th-grade son, an ELEMENTARY-SCHOOL KID, cannot bring a freaking BUTTERKNIFE to school with 100% innocent intent without having it confiscated and getting a serious warning and a call to his mom. What kind of world do we live in? How can we teach children responsibility with things if we punish them for bringing butterknives in their lunch?

Hey, pencils can stab people (in fact, I got stabbed in the arm with one in 2nd grade)--why not take those away too? And protractors? And pens? And you know, people can get papercuts from paper...are we sure we should allow that in school too?

Are we right to be so freaking paranoid in our society, to unfairly assume that a child with a butterknife is a danger waiting to happen? Or are we setting our children up to fail, because we offer them NO chance to prove responsibility in these aspects?

Maybe I'm being a little hot-headed about this issue. But that's because I KNOW MY SON. He's a good kid. He's scared of bugs. He likes to use a nightlight. He loves cuddling up beside me on the couch while I play my PSP or DS. He reads fast and devours action stories. He's smart as a whip and has a super-funny sense of humor.

My child is NOT a danger to school.

But because he brought a butterknife to peel an orange for lunch, he's been unfairly lumped in with those kids who are.

Blog Tour: Lauren Bjorkman!!

Okay, my next blog tour guest is Lauren Bjorkman, whose book My Invented Life debuted on September 29. I've heard really good things about this book and can't wait to get a copy!

Here’s a blurb about My Invented Life:

Roz and Eva are sisters, close friends, and fierce rivals. Roz fantasizes about snagging the lead in the school play and sexy skate god Bryan as her boyfriend. Sadly a few obstacles stand between her and her dreams. For one, Eva is the more talented actress. And Bryan happens to be Eva’s boyfriend. But is Eva having a secret love affair with a girl? Enquiring minds need to know.

Roz prides herself on random acts of insanity. In one such act, she invents a girlfriend of her own to encourage Eva to open up. The plan backfires, and Roz finds herself neck deep in her invented life. When Roz meets a mercurial boy with a big problem, she begins to understand the complex feelings beneath the labels. And she gets a second chance to earn Eva’s trust.

My Invented Life is set in a small California high school during rehearsals for a Shakespeare comedy.

Aaaaaand, a little about author Lauren Bjorkman:

Lauren Bjorkman grew up on a sailboat, sharing the forecastle with her sister and the sail bags. Against all odds, they are still friends. She enjoys making things up, chocolate in large quantities, and anything that makes her laugh. She lives in Taos, New Mexico with her husband, two sons, and a cat that plays fetch. Visit her online at http://laurenbjorkman.com/.

You can visit your local bookstore, or go to Amazon HERE to buy a copy of her book online!

And now, onto the vastly important 3 interview questions:

1--What was the spark of inspiration for this story? Tell us what event, or idea, or dream got this book started.

Events around my high school reunion. That's when I discovered the secret lives and dramas of my LGBT classmates. And I mean drama. Well, intense and beautiful experiences, too.

2--What food did you looooove getting from the cafeteria at lunch in high school, and why? (or if you didn't eat cafeteria food, what was your favorite brown-bag lunch?)

Ha! My dad learned to cook from Diet for a Small Planet. For the unfamiliar, lentils, tamari, sprouts, and brown rice featured prominently. Fast food was strictly forbidden. So when I started earning my own money, I bought french fries every single day. They were only a dollar, and oh so salty and delectable.

3--What is your absolute favorite part of being a writer?

The writing! I love being holed up creating and revising my story. With snacks to sustain me, of course. Some of my friends find this strange. Maybe I was a mole in a past life.

Thanks for coming to my blog, Lauren--I hope your book flies off the shelves!

Blog Tour: Megan Crewe!!

Okay, my next blog tour guest is Megan Crewe, whose book Give Up the Ghost debuted on September 15. I read the ARC of this and loved it--it definitely kept me hooked!

Here’s a blurb about Give Up the Ghost:

Cass McKenna much prefers the company of ghosts over "breathers." Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody... and Cass loves dirt. She's on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.

But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass's whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.

As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim's life, she's surprised to realize he's not so bad--and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it's time to give the living another chance...

Aaaaaand, a little about author Megan Crewe:

Like many fiction authors, Megan Crewe finds writing about herself much more difficult than making things up. A few definite facts: she lives in Toronto, Canada with her husband and two cats (and does on occasion say "eh"), she tutors children and teens with special needs, and she has yet to make friends with a ghost, though she welcomes the opportunity. Visit her online at http://www.megancrewe.com/.

You can visit your local bookstore, or go to Amazon HERE to buy a copy of her book online!

And now, onto the vastly important 3 interview questions:

1--What was the spark of inspiration for this story? Tell us what event, or idea, or dream got this book started.

I had an image of a girl hanging out talking with her sister, just a normal everyday conversation...except her sister was a ghost. And I knew I had to write about this character who was totally comfortable chatting with ghosts.

2--What food did you looooove getting from the cafeteria at lunch in high school, and why? (or if you didn't eat cafeteria food, what was your favorite brown-bag lunch?)

Spicy fries! They had the best spicy french fries in my high school caf and I would've eaten them every day if I could have. :)

3--What is your absolute favorite part of being a writer?

Making stuff up. I love being able to go "what if" with all sorts of crazy ideas, and then playing them out and seeing what happens.

Thanks for coming to my blog, Megan--and huge congrats on the release of your great book!!

Stupid Cupid sampler in Simon Teen newsletter!

Stupid Cupid is a sampler in the Simon Teen newsletter this month!!! How cool is that? :D Just click HERE to download the .pdf file.

Here's the list of all 9 Simon Teen YA novels being featured:

The Door of No Return by Sarah Mussi

Ice by Sarah Beth Durst

Blood Ninja by Nick Lake

The Seven Rays by Jessica Bendinger

Beautiful by Amy Reed

The Hollow by Jessica Verday

Nothing Like You by Lauren Strasnick

Stupid Cupid by Rhonda Stapleton

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

To subscribe to the various S&S newsletters, you can click HERE.

By the way, my book has 84 days to go until release! EEEEH! So freaking cool...and a bit scary. But trying not to think about the scary part. Oh! And I have a venue and bookseller for my launch party. Once I get the final date, I will post it everywhere. I'd love to see people come! :D

OMG I Want These T-Shirts

I was browsing a t-shirt and kitchy items website called http://www.nerdyshirts.com/ and saw some really funny shirts in stock. Take a gander at my favs (all images courtesy of http://www.nerdyshirts.com/):

Okay, Saved By the Bell was one of the cheesiest shows ever, but I watched it. A lot. I won't say how much. Anyway, Slater rules. ROFL

HAH. Nothin' else to say about this one.

Ah, the Internet. Making high-quality love matches since the early nineties.

The manpanion would totally love this one. He's a big Streetfighter fan.

Another funny shirt. Ah, I love the video game tees. I used to LOOOOVE my Nintendo, back in the day.

Whew, I'm in my revision cave!

Just checking in quickly with you guys to let you know I'm still alive and kicking. LOL. I'm working on revisions for book 3, and I've been intensely chugging away at them. Plus, I'm going out of town for a few days next week for a work thing. I'll post more when I return!

Hope everything is going fine for you guys. :D

PS--I just realized that Tuesday Sept. 22nd is the 3-month marker from the release of Stupid Cupid. SO cool!! It'll be here before we know it. I'm planning a launch party for mid-January and will post deets when they're available. :D EEEEEH! Okay, this is not the time to throw up. haha

Blog Tour: Sydney Salter!!

Okay, my next blog tour guest is Sydney Salter, whose book Jungle Crossing debuted on September 1. I read the ARC of this and really enjoyed it!

Here’s a blurb about Jungle Crossing:

Thirteen-year-old Kat can think of dozens of good reasons not to go on a boring family vacation to hot, grungy Mexico. Number one: missing her friend Fiona's minicamp. If she's not there, she'll begin eighth grade as a social reject. And it looks like she's the odd girl out on vacation, too. When Kat's parents arrange for her and her younger sister, Barb, to go on a teen adventure tour, Barb makes more friends than she does. The only person who will talk to Kat is Nando, a young Mayan guide (who happens to be quite a cutie). Each day as they travel to different Mayan ruins, Nando tells Kat and Barb another installment in the original legend of Muluc, a girl who lived in the time of the Ancient Maya. The dangerous, dramatic world in which Muluc lives is as full of rivalry, betrayal, jealousy, and sacrifice as Kat's world at school. And as she makes new friends and discovers new treasures in Mexico, Kat begins to wonder: Is she willing to keep sacrificing her self in exchange for popularity?

Aaaaaand, a little about author Sydney Salter:

Sydney Salter's fascination with Mayan culture started when she was six years old and climbed down a steep, dimly lit stone staircase to the elaborately carved tomb of King Pacal who had once ruled Palenque. Visiting Mayan ruins, walking through fragrant Mexican market places, watching women wash clothes in a river, and chasing lizards in the jungle ignited the spark in Sydney's imagination that led to writing Jungle Crossing. Sydney now lives in Utah with her husband, two daughters, two cats, and two dogs. She loves reading, writing, cooking, and traveling—especially to Mexico where she can explore ancient Mayan ruins and swim in underground rivers. Visit her online at http://www.sydneysalter.com/.

You can visit your local bookstore, or go to Amazon HERE to buy a copy of her book online!

And now, onto the vastly important 3 interview questions:

1--What was the spark of inspiration for this story? Tell us what event, or idea, or dream got this book started.

I wanted to write something to teach my daughters about Mayan culture before a family vacation to Mexico. I ended up writing my first novel which they weren't old enough to read yet!

2--What food did you looooove getting from the cafeteria at lunch in high school, and why? (or if you didn't eat cafeteria food, what was your favorite brown-bag lunch?)

I've always been suspicious of cafeteria food. But I'm a lazy lunch maker and often packed just yoghurt and a rarely-eaten apple.

3--What is your absolute favorite part of being a writer?

The writing! I'm so happy while drafting something new or diving in to fix something old. It's the waiting in between that makes me cranky!

Thanks for coming to my blog, Sydney--and congrats on your second release of the year!!

Debs Giveaway--enter now!

Check it out--this month's 2009 Debutantes giveaway! You have until tomorrow at noon EST to enter. Good luck!

Blog Tour: Kate Messner!!

Okay, my next blog tour guest is Kate Messner, whose book The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z debuted on September 1. I'm stoked to read this story--it sounds adorable!

Here’s a blurb about The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z:

Gianna Zales has a lot on her plate this fall – a father who drives her to school in the family hearse, a mother who’s turned into the junk food police, a little brother who thinks he’s a member of the paparazzi, and a grandmother who leaves false teeth in the refrigerator. Worst of all, she’s left her 7th grade leaf collection to do at the last minute. It’s a monster project, and Gianna will miss cross-country sectionals if she doesn’t meet the deadline. She’ll need the help of her geeky friend, Zig, and some brilliant ideas of her own to pull it off.

Aaaaaand, a little about author Kate Messner:

Kate Messner grew up in Medina, New York and graduated from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Communication with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. She worked as a television news producer and reporter in Syracuse, NY and then Burlington, VT, before going back to school to get a teaching degree. These days, Kate is a National Board Certified middle school English teacher. She has helped hundreds of kids work on leaf collection projects and likes sugar maples and catalpa leaves the best. Kate lives on Lake Champlain with her husband and kids and loves spending time in the woods. Visit her online at http://www.katemessner.com/.

You can visit your local bookstore, or go to Amazon HERE to buy a copy of her book online!

And now, onto the vastly important 3 interview questions:

1--What was the spark of inspiration for this story? Tell us what event, or idea, or dream got this book started.

I'm a 7th grade English teacher, and for about a decade, I've watched the 7th graders at my school work on a great big leaf collection project each autumn. It's a great project - but an overwhelming one for kids who tend to procrastinate, and I've seen so much humor and drama surrounding that one project over the years that I knew I wanted to write about it. Gianna Z. is assigned a very similar project in the book. She's one of those creative, free-spirited kids who aren't organized, and she struggles with it. On top of that, she's dealing with a changing family situation and changes in her feelings about her best guy friend. Ultimately, that's what I hope readers find at the heart of this book - a story about facing changes and challenges with a sense of humor and a creative spirit.

2--What food did you looooove getting from the cafeteria at lunch in high school, and why? (or if you didn't eat cafeteria food, what was your favorite brown-bag lunch?)

You remember loving food from the cafeteria in high school?? (Methinks we did not attend the same high school, Rhonda.) My favorite high school lunch memory is from senior year when my friend and I would leave school grounds, go to Dave's ice cream, and have dessert-for-lunch. My favorite was the soft chocolate ice cream with M&M's mixed in.

3--What is your absolute favorite part of being a writer?

There are a million things I love about being a writer -- the rush I get from creating, the fun research trips, the excitement of having a book out there in the world... but my absolute favorite thing is talking with kids about books. There is nothing in the world like listening to a fifth grader explain his or her theory about a character you created. It's just so, so cool.

Thanks for coming to my blog, Kate--and congrats on your release!!

Blog Tour: Jennifer Brown!!

Okay, my next blog tour guest is Jennifer Brown, whose book Hate List debuted on September 1. I've heard FANTASTIC buzz about this novel, and I am so eager to get a copy!!

Here’s a blurb about Hate List:

Five months ago, Valerie Leftman’s boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saves the life of a classmate, but is implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things they hated. The list her boyfriend used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

Aaaaaand, a little about author Jennifer Brown:

Jennifer Brown is the author of HATE LIST, a YA novel coming out in September 2009. As a two-time winner of The Erma Bombeck Global Humor award and weekly columnist for The Kansas City Star, as well as Saturday Featured Blogger for Mom2MomKC.com, Jennifer spends a lot of time dressing up her dog for laughs and thinking of new ways to works words such as "Puh-lease" and "Ch-yeah!" into sentences. Jennifer grew up in the Kansas City, Missouri area, where she still lives with her husband, three kids, and whole herd of uncooperative pets. Visit her online at http://www.jenniferbrownYA.com/.

You can visit your local bookstore, or go to Amazon HERE to buy a copy of her book online!

And now, onto the vastly important 3 interview questions:

1--What was the spark of inspiration for this story? Tell us what event, or idea, or dream got this book started.

Actually, it was a song. You know when you get a song stuck in your head right before bedtime and then you can't sleep because all night long that song is replaying over and over and over again in your dreams? Yeah, normally I hate it. But one night I got that Nickelback song, "If Everyone Cared," stuck in my head, and when I woke up, I had the idea for Hate List. I mulled it over the next morning with my coffee, and by the time breakfast was over, I had a pretty good idea exactly where the story was going to go.

2--What food did you looooove getting from the cafeteria at lunch in high school, and why? (or if you didn't eat cafeteria food, what was your favorite brown-bag lunch?)

I didn't eat lunch very often in high school. Instead, I used the $2 a day lunch money my parents gave me as gas money. So usually I'd scrape up 50 cents for a soda, and that would be lunch. Today, I can't imagine skipping lunch. I'd be a puddle by the end of the day.

3--What is your absolute favorite part of being a writer?

NOT having to work in an office somewhere. And I get to feed my inner introvert shamelessly all day long.

Thanks for coming to my blog, Jennifer--and BEST WISHES on your new novel!!

ABC meme about me

I decided to do the ABC meme that's floating around. Even though you're supposed to tag 3 people, I'm not gonna. I'll just share my answers, and you can do it too if you like!

Available or single? Nope, I have a manpanion. :D

Best Friend? The manpanion. Awwwww I'm so sappy. Don't judge me!

Cake or Pie? OMG cake, hands down. Unless it's bread pudding. *drool* Or peach cobbler. That stuff is evil good too.

Drink of choice? Either Dr. Pepper, or Coke with lime. Tasty!!

Essential item for every day use? Um, my brain. LOL

Favorite color? Greeeeeeeeen. I love it. So soothing and pretty.

Google? Um, YEAH, I lurve Google so much.

Hometown? Cleveland, yo. I don't really have a "hometown" per se, because I moved around a LOT. But I've been here over 10 years now, so I guess this counts.

Indulgences? Books and books and books. And shoes. And did I mention books? LOL

January or February? February!

Kids and their names? 2--Shelby and Bryan

Life is incomplete without...? Love. Awwwww there's that sappiness again. LOL

Marriage date? Don't know yet--good question! LOL

Number of siblings? I have a sister, and she's crazy. :D

Oranges or apples? Oranges, I guess. I'm not a huge fan of either one.

Phobias and fears? OMG I have so many. I'm not going to list them all, but a few of them are spiders, clowns, sidewalk grates, being pushed off a cliff, and dying. Eclectic!

Quote for the day? "Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." Groucho Marx

Reason to smile? I'm alive! I think that's a pretty darn good reason. LOL

Season? Fall is my fav. I love when the weather cools just a little bit, and the leaves turn.

Tag 3 people? Nah--people can tag themselves. :D

Unknown fact about me? Ummmmmm good question. I can flip my tongue upside down in both directions. That's pretty weird. And probably TMI. haha

Vegetable you hate? I hate tomatoes, but they're fruit. As far as veggies go, I don't really hate any. I'm not a fan of split pea soup, though. Blech.

Worst habit? HAH, oh man, I have a lot of bad habits. Probably biting my nails. And leaving my shoes scattered across the house. And my desk is a total mess. Anyway, I'll just stop now.

X-rays you’ve had? I had my back x-rayed when I went to the chiro.

Your fave food? This is hard. I'm a total foodie. I love Japanese food (especially sushi). I also rabidly love General Tso's chicken. Mmmmmmmm I'm huuuuuungry...

Zodiac sign? Cancer/Leo cusp. So I'm totally moody and introverted at times, then outgoing and loud at other times. I'm a regular barrel of laughs!

If you do this meme on your blog, please provide a link in the comments so I can check it out! :D

Pictures of me as a kid--check it out!

I was scanning and uploading some old pics of myself from my younger days, and I figured I'd post a few on here so you guys could mock me mercilessly. haha

Here's a pic of my sister (left) and me (right) fishing. With sticks. High class! And look how dirty and scrawny we are! But at least we're happy--my grin couldn't be any bigger or cheesier. Also, we're not sure WHO caught that beer can in the corner. Probably my sister.

Ah, it's Christmastime in the Stapleton household. No, that bottle of booze was NOT my present.

Here's me, age 9, playing soccer. Okay, I was actually pretty terrible at it and didn't understand the rules and stuff like that, but I really liked wearing shin guards. My son looks just like me in this pic, by the way--I don't know if I should feel bad for him, or for me.

I think I was in 5th grade for this gem of a pic. Look at the feathery wings on the sides of my head. Sharp! And yes, I'm dangerously flirting with a mullet. *sigh*

Here's 6th grade Rhonda, all mature and stuff. As you can see, I've refined my curling iron techniques to make some ridiculously huge swirls on the side of my face. Maybe I burned some important part of my brain, which is why I have that lovely glossy look in my eyes, like I'm a Stepford daughter.

Anyway, thanks for letting me share my pics and embarrass myself. Good times!

Blog Tour: Jackson Pearce!!

Okay, my next blog tour guest is Jackson Pearce, whose book As You Wish debuted on August 25. This one looks fantastic, and I've heard such great buzz about it!

Here’s a blurb about As You Wish:

Seven months ago, Viola's boyfriend told her he was gay—moments before she was going to lose her virginity to him. Heartbroken, Viola has resigned herself to near invisibility, until she inadvertently summons a young jinn out of his world, Caliban, and into her own. Here he will remain until she makes three wishes.

Jinn is anxious to get back to Caliban, but Viola is terrified of wishing, afraid her wishes will be manipulated into curses. Jinn knows that should she wait too long, the Ifrit, guardians of earthbound jinn, will press her to wish by hurting those around her.As they spend time together, Jinn can't deny that he's slowly falling in love with Viola, blurring the lines between master and servant. It's only after Viola makes her first wish—for a popular boy to love her—that she realizes the feelings are mutual.

With every wish Jinn's time with her diminishes, but the longer she waits to wish the greater danger she's in from the Ifrit. Together, Viola, Jinn, and Viola's ex-boyfriend try to outwit the Ifrit while dealing with their own romantic complexities and the alcohol-laced high school social scene.

Aaaaaand, a little about author Jackson Pearce:

Jackson Pearce is twenty-four years old and currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with a slightly cross-eyed cat and a lot of secondhand furniture. She recently graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and a minor in Philosophy and currently works for a software company even though she auditioned for the circus (she juggled and twirled fire batons, but they still didn't want her). Other jobs she's had include obituaries writer, biker bar waitress, and receptionist.

In addition, Jackson coaches both colorguard and winterguard at a local high school; she's taught over four hundred students since starting six years ago. Coaching provides the greatest "research" for writing YA that she could ever ask for and has introduced her to some of the most unique characters she's ever met.

Jackson began writing when she got angry that the school librarian couldn't tell her of a book that contained a smart girl, horses, baby animals, and magic. Her solution was to write the book herself when she was twelve. Her parents thought it was cute at first, but have grown steadily more concerned for her ever since. Visit her online at http://www.jacksonpearce.com/.

You can visit your local bookstore, or go to Amazon HERE to buy a copy of her book online!

And now, onto the vastly important 3 interview questions:

1--What was the spark of inspiration for this story? Tell us what event, or idea, or dream got this book started.

I was driving. Then I had an idea! I wish there was a cooler story, but to be honest, that's it. To quote Empire Records: Who knows where thoughts come from, they just appear.

2--What food did you looooove getting from the cafeteria at lunch in high school, and why? (or if you didn't eat cafeteria food, what was your favorite brown-bag lunch?)

I got these breadsticks all the time which, in retrospect, were terrible. How is it that in all this time, school cafeterias haven't found a way to make lunch delicious?

3--What is your absolute favorite part of being a writer?

I have no favorite part-- I love EVERY aspect of it. Seriously. This is all I've EVER wanted to do with my life, so I'm appreciative every moment that I'm fortunate enough to be able to do it. It sounds sappy, but it's true!

Thanks for coming to my blog, Jackson--and YAY YOU for the release of your novel!!

Blog Tour: Jennifer Jabaley!!

Okay, my next blog tour guest is Jennifer Jabaley, whose book Lipstick Apology debuted on August 6. I can't WAIT to read this story!!

Here’s a blurb about Lipstick Apology:

Four little words written in lipstick mean Emily must say goodbye to everything she knows. Emily Carson has always been a good girl. So when she throws a party the night her parents leave for vacation, she's sure she'll get busted. What Emily doesn't know is that her parents will never return. That their plane will go down. And the only thing left amidst the wreckage will be a tray table with the words: Emily please forgive me scrawled in lipstick - her mother's last words.

Now it's fall in New York City and Emily's trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Her public tragedy captures the attention of more than just the media - and soon two very different boys at her new school are pursuing her: the cute, popular Owen, and the quirky chemistry partner slash pastry-baker-by-night, Anthony. But even with such delicious distractions, Emily can't let go of her mother's mysterious apology. Does she have the courage to face the truth?

With help of a whole new kind of family - one that includes a make-up artist to the stars, a teen hand model, and a wacky hairdresser - Emily must choose between the boy who makes her forget it all, and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately, heal.

Aaaaaand, a little about author Jennifer Jabaley:

Jennifer Jabaley was born in New York and raised in Bridgewater, New Jersey. She graduated from James Madison University with a degree in chemistry and received a doctorate from Southern College of Optometry. A part-time optometrist and mother of two, Jennifer began writing her first novel after a phone call from her sister sparked an idea for a story that lingered in her mind and stirred her creative juices. LIPSTICK APOLOGY will be released in August of 2009 by Razorbill. Jen lives in Blue Ridge, Georgia and is currently at work on her second book. Visit her online at http://www.jenniferjabaley.com/.

You can visit your local bookstore, or go to Amazon HERE to buy a copy of her book online!

And now, onto the vastly important 3 interview questions:

1--What was the spark of inspiration for this story? Tell us what event, or idea, or dream got this book started.

My sister inspired LIPSTICK APOLOGY. Several years ago she took her first trip away from her kids and she was freaking out in her melodramatic way. But it got me thinking - what if a plane went down? What if a teen was left without their parents? And what if someone hadn't said all the things that needed to be said? In those final moments, what would you do? How would you say those crucial words?

2--What food did you looooove getting from the cafeteria at lunch in high school, and why? (or if you didn't eat cafeteria food, what was your favorite brown-bag lunch?)

I ate a turkey sandwich just about every day. I know - totally boring!! But I also would bring Pop Tarts as a treat and man, I still love them!

3--What is your absolute favorite part of being a writer?

Well, I've just started getting some really great reviews from teens and I've even received some fan mail - knowing that my story touched someone, made them laugh or entertained them - that is the absolute best thing ever.

Thanks for coming to my blog, Jennifer--and congrats on the release of your novel!!

the random questions game

I'm bored--let's play "random questions". haha. Feel free to answer with as much or as little detail as you like. I'll give my own answers in the comments.

1--Ever read a book that really freaked you out?

2--What's your favorite type of shoe?

3--What's one of your worst habits?

4--Why did the chicken cross the road?

5--What word do you always have a problem spelling?

Thanks for playing! :D

Great YA books I've read recently!

Hello, hello, hello! I hope you all had a great weekend. I've been fighting a stupid sinus infection (blech), so to keep from going insane, I've kept myself busy reading like the wind. Yes, that is some pretty fast reading, just in case you were curious. LOL

Anyway, here's an update on what I've been reading lately that I've just adored:

--Struts & Frets by Jon Skovron. This one comes out in November, and I got to read an ARC of it. You guys should be super jealous, because this book is absolutely awesome. LOL. Jon Skovron has a way of writing that pulls you in quickly and keeps you flipping the pages. I read it in one sitting and adored it. And I was surprised by the amount of heart and depth in the story--it's not just about the narrator trying to get his band to win Battle of the Bands, but also about his struggle to "justify" being a musician to his mom, his worries about his increasingly demented musician grandfather, and dealing with a best girl friend who he suddenly finds out wants to be more. I loved it, and it totally made me remember why I loved playing music back in high school and college. Okay, okay, I was in marching band, which isn't exactly the same as being a rocker, but I did sing in a jazz ensemble once--and that was pretty darn cool. LOL

--The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams. If you haven't read this one yet, get thee to a bookstore, STAT. Seriously, this is one of the most intense, amazing books I've ever read. I actually started choking up at the end and had tears burning my eyes because I was anxious about how it was going to resolve itself. The poor 13-year-old heroine is in a polygamist cult and finds out she's been chosen to marry her uncle...and even worse, is in his sixties. Her voice is so authentic, so painful to read at times. But I could not put this book down. I give it a hearty two thumbs up.

--Sweethearts by Sara Zarr. OMG Sara Zarr, where have you been all my life? I gobbled this book up--the writing is beautiful, haunting, and I was captivated by the story. I wanted to see what was going to happen to the poor heroine when a boy she was best friends with (who had disappeared in their youth) showed up in her life again. It was bittersweet, captivating, and so well written. I understand she has another book called Story of a Girl that's supposed to be just as awesome. I'm stoked to go get it!

--Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols. Yanno, I liked Jennifer Echols when I read Major Crush. But I admit, reading Going Too Far totally pushed me into Echols fandom. LOL. The story is simple--a wild teen is forced to spend her spring break on patrol with an officer so she can change her ways before it's too late. OMG I can't even tell you how sizzling the chemistry is between her and the cop. I was almost fanning myself reading this story. ROFL. Yowza--so, so good.

--Crowned by Julie Linker. Dude, this one made me snort out loud in so many passages. It's set during a pageant, with the heroine fighting her nasty rude archenemy for the coveted crown. I was dying laughing at the antics--there's a catfight at the end that was simply hilarious involving nail scratches and a poorly mishandled weave. And of course, there's a romance with a dreamy guy. Very, very fun and funny read!

--Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt. I love the structure of this one--it's set both in the past (showing how the guy and girl met and started dating) and in the present (showing the two of them broken up and trying to deal with each other on this road trip to college). And along the way, they both learn about honesty, trust, and love. Lauren Barnholdt's voice rings so true and fun and earnest in the story. I loved reading about their angst, and I was rooting for them to find their way back to each other.

So, that's been my great reading lately. How about you--any good finds you can share? I'd love to hear what you've been diving into. :D