The Virtual Van Tour is Underway!

Hooray--it's day one of the Virtual Van Tour, and we are hot to trot! Rawr!

Saundra Mitchell put up the first blog post HERE. Be sure to check it out, and leave a comment to enter to win the book of your choice!! It's a worldwide contest, so get clickin to her post and ENTER. I order thee!

Here's the master schedule of our tour, below. Make sure you stop by each blog post, because we're going to be doing random weekly giveaways! And they're random. So they can be at any time. Randomly!

Join Us on Our Van Tour!

Monday, Nov 30th – Edgar Allen Poe’s Grave, Baltimore, MD (Saundra Blogs)
Wednesday, December 2nd – Washington State (Mandy Blogs)
Friday, December 4th – Drooping, WV (Rhonda Blogs)

Monday, December 7th – The World’s Biggest Ball of Twine, Cawker City, KS (Saundra Blogs)
Wednesday, December 9th – Half.com, Oregon (Mandy Blogs)
Friday, December 11th – Statue of Liberty, NYC, NY (Rhonda Blogs)

Monday, December 14 – Toad Suck, AR (Saundra Blogs)
Wednesday, December 16th- Giant Cow at Wilkes Barre, PA (Mandy Blogs)
Friday, December 18th – Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, CA (Rhonda Blogs)

Blog Tour: Kristina Springer!!

Okay, my last 2009 Debut blog tour guest is Kristina Springer, whose book The Espressologist debuted on October 27. I am so excited to read this one!

Here’s a blurb about The Espressologist:

What’s your drink of choice? Is it a small pumpkin spice latte? Then you’re lots of fun and a bit sassy. Or a medium americano? You prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps it’s a small decaf soy sugar-free hazelnut caffe latte? Some might call you a yuppie. Seventeen-year-old barista Jane Turner has this theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their regular coffee drink. She scribbles it all down in a notebook and calls it Espressology. So it’s not a totally crazy idea when Jane starts hooking up some of her friends based on their coffee orders. Like her best friend, Em, a medium hot chocolate, and Cam, a toffee nut latte. But when her boss, Derek, gets wind of Jane’s Espressology, he makes it an in-store holiday promotion, promising customers their perfect matches for the price of their favorite coffee. Things are going better than Derek could ever have hoped, so why is Jane so freaked out? Does it have anything to do with Em dating Cam? She’s the one who set them up! She should be happy for them, right?

Aaaaaand, a little about author Kristina Springer:

Kristina Springer has a Bachelor of Arts in English Education from Illinois State University and a Master of Arts in Writing from DePaul University. Her first novel, THE ESPRESSOLOGIST, was published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux on October 27, 2009. Her second novel, MY FAKE BOYFRIEND IS BETTER THAN YOURS, also from FSG, will be published in the fall of 2010. She lives in a suburb of Chicago, IL with her husband Athens and their four small children Teegan, Maya, London, and Gavin. Visit her online at http://www.kristinaspringer.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 sitting in the local Starbucks with the hubs one day and it sorta hit me that I could tell what kind of coffee drinks people were going to order from observing them. I thought ooooh-- I should write a book and call it Espressology. I was thinking nonfiction at this time. Then I thought no -- a fiction book and have a barista be the Espressologist using this information. So, you know that became my lucky table and I wrote the entire book from that same table in the Starbucks.

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?)

The giant chocolate chip cookie because it was yum.

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

Happy readers. I love getting the nice notes from people who enjoyed the book.

Thanks for coming to my blog, Kristina--and I hope you celebrated your release with style!

Stupid Prada Summer Van Tour!!

Welcome to the 2009 Stupid Prada Summer Virtual Van Tour! We know you're asking yourself, "What the heck is a Stupid Prada Summer Virtual Van Tour?" Well, three debut authors--Saundra Mitchell (author of Shadowed Summer), Mandy Hubbard (author of Prada and Prejudice), and Rhonda Stapleton (author of Stupid Cupid), decided to do a super-awesome 9-day United States "online" van tour and hit some rather high-falutin important sites, as well as lesser-known locales.

See the map below to find out where we're gonna be each day starting Monday, November 30, and drop by all of our blogs daily to get the scoop on how the tour progresses! We'll be offering prizes throughout the tour, so make sure you follow us each day for your chance to win copies of our books, gift certificates, and other fun gifts!

Thanks, and we look forward to "seeing" you online!

Saundra Mitchell ~ http://www.saundramitchell.com/
Mandy Hubbard ~ http://www.mandyhubbard.com/
Rhonda Stapleton ~ http://www.rhondastapleton.com/

Booky book winners!!

I have my 3 winners drawn--sorry I didn't get this posted yesterday, as I'd intended! So, here are the names I drew out of the basket:

-Rita Sawyer

-Rachel S

-Larissa

Congrats to you three, and thanks so much for entering my contest, everyone!! You all had some great answers, and I don't feel quite so weird anymore. Okay, we all know I'm still weird. LOL

Winners, drop me a line at rhonda @ rhondastapleton dot com, and I'll send you a list of the books I have to give away--you can pick 2 (and be sure to give me your full name and addy so I know where to send them!). First come, first serve!

Thanks!! (PS, don't forget about my BIG Stupid Cupid launch contest! click HERE for deets).

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...