Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category

April 4, 2012 • 1 Comment

Thought I’d post about Australia. The weather here is amazing, I’m sitting in my office looking at lush green grass; I can see the sea, the sky is blue and the sun is shining. Yes, I know it’s tough but someone’s got to do it. And I’m also very close to lots of author friends. Last week we all met for a long (very long) lunch in Mooloolaba. We sat in a cafe overlooking the beach and gossiped…. it doesn’t get much better than that. Here’s a photo of all of us, which I pinched from Amy. Me, Amanda Ashby, Robyn, Grady and Rachel Bailey (except for some reason the photo chopped off Rachel’s head… if you click on the photo Rachel appears). Amy took the photo.

 

 

March 1, 2012 • Comments

I’m very excited to be touring Allison Rushby’s book Shooting Stars (what an awesome title)

Meet Josephine Foster, or Zo Jo as she’s called in the biz. The best pint-sized photographer of them all, Jo doesn’t mind doing what it takes to get that perfect shot, until she’s sent on an undercover assignment to shoot Ned Hartnett—teen superstar and the only celebrity who’s ever been kind to her—at an exclusive rehabilitation retreat in Boston. The money will be enough to pay for Jo’s dream: real photography classes, and maybe even quitting her paparazzi gig for good. Everyone wants to know what Ned’s in for. But Jo certainly doesn’t know what she’s in for: falling in love with Ned was never supposed to be part of her assignment..

And now for the usual questions:

What inspired the plot for your book?

The initial inspiration was reading an article about a real-life sixteen-year-old paparazzo. I found my eyes boggling as I read about how he got around LA either on his pushbike, or his dad drove him late at night. I couldn’t imagine what this part-time job must be like (as I guessed it had to be extremely cut-throat, especially compared to working at McDonald’s!), so I decided to imagine away and came up with Jo. I had an absolute ball researching this book, including reading trashy magazines and a lot of books written by, and about, the paparazzi (fellow Aussie Darryn Lyons’s Mr Paparazzi is a fabulous one if you’re looking). The things they had to say about celebrity — about the dark side of celebrity and fame — were truly revealing.

Why did you decide to write in this genre?

I started out writing women’s fiction and found that my voice was slightly more suited to YA. I really love the immediacy of YA and the fact that characters tend to act on their true emotions, rather than already being weighed down by years and years of emotional baggage!

What is your writing process like?

I’m completely mad about plotting and now that I’m ten or so books in, have my own little formula and way of doing things. I’m sure it would seem completely crazy to other writers, but it works for me! I really like a lot of the screenwriting processes, which may seem strange, but, at its essence, story is story.

What are you working on now?

At the moment I’m writing something very different — a Downton Abbey-esque six episode e-serial for St Martin’s Press, tentatively titled The Honourables, which will be published Summer 2012, with one episode being published per month. It’s been a very steep learning curve learning all about writing serialised fiction, but I’m enjoying the writing very much, especially as the series is set in London in the 1920s.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

We’re currently living in the UK for 18 months, so we’re trying to pack in a lot of travel throughout Europe in our free time. We’ve just got back from a long weekend in Dublin, the next trip is a week in Lapland and then we’re off for two weeks in Berlin, Prague and Vienna at Easter.

Who do you like to read?

Anything and everything! At the moment, I’m reading mostly travel memoir (as I’m also writing a travel memoir in the few spare minutes I have per week!) and a lot of lovely fiction and non-fiction set in the 1920s, which has been great in helping to shape the dialogue in my e-serial.

Bio:

Having failed at becoming a ballerina with pierced ears (her childhood dream), Allison Rushby tried writing instead. This is working out a lot better for her as it means she can sit on her backside most of the day and eat a lot more than a ballerina ever could. Plus, she can wear her pyjamas until midday and her book, movie ticket and DVD purchases are tax deductions. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Over the past ten years, she has published five books for young adult readers and five for adult readers in the women’s fiction genre. She is originally from Brisbane, Australia, but in 2011 and 2012 will be living in Cambridge, UK where she will most likely spend her days whingeing constantly about the weather.

She is currently working on a six episode New Adult e-serial for St Martin’s Press, a new YA novel, a travel memoir and her sanity. Oh, and she got the pierced ears in the end, thanks for asking…

Checkout Allison’s webpage http://allisonrushby.com

January 20, 2012 • 3 Comments

I’m excited to be touring Lucienne Diver and her book Fangtastic.

What do you wear to face down a cadre of killer kids?
Gina Covello would rather be working on her manicure than missions for the Feds’ paranormal unit to which she’s been recruited. That changes when a group of killer kids takes out a family in the sunshine state and disappearances begin to plague the lifestylers who only play at the kind of existence our fanged fashionista leads. She and her crew are sent undercover into the vampire clubs…which turn out to be run by real vampires. While Gina’s BFF Marcy hangs with the steampunk-styled Burgess Brigade that seems to have spawned the killer kids, Gina herself is supposed to get in good with the fanged fiends behind the scenes, even to the point of playing double-agent, offering to hand over her powerful boyfriend Bobby. Her playacting threatens to become a bit too real when she discovers things about her spy handlers that make her wonder whether she’s truly on the right side of the battle between Feds and fangs.

And now for the usual questions:

What inspired the plot for your book?
It’s so hard for me to start here, because it will make Fangtastic sound like a really dark book, and it certainly has dark underpinnings, but much in the way that Legally Blond is about a murder trial or Psych and Monk are about deadly investigations, it’s the lens of the characters that really sets the tone of the novel. My heroine is Gina Covello, a fanged fashionista whose life hasn’t been totally under her own control since she was vamped and conscripted to work for the Feds. The mission in Fangtastic has to do with killer kids, inspired I think by the story of Rod Ferrell, who believed (or at least told people) that he was a 500 year old vampire and led a group of other teens to kill the parents of a former girlfriend. In my story, this is just the tip of the iceberg. It turns out that there are real vampires behind the vampire clubs which spawned the killers, and darker doings than anyone first realizes.

Why did you decide to write in this genre?
I’m a huge fan of the absurdity of life and the juxtaposition of light and dark. That, more than anything, inspires my writing. My characters are young adult in the Vamped series, hence the genre, but I didn’t decide them. They decided to start speaking to me. And Gina, at least, has never shut up. She even has her own blog (http://ginasgems.livejournal.com).

What is your writing process like?
I’m mostly a pantser. I’ll have a general idea of where the novel is going and an overall plot arc in my head, but the details of how I’m going to get there…those come to me as I go along. I generally only truly plot about three chapters ahead, because I find if I plot any further I have to throw out the rest by the time I get there anyway, because my characters have seen fit to take things in another direction. That’s the problem with characters who feel as real to you as your family, they do tend to hijack your story and try to take control. And yes, I know how crazy that sounds.

What are you working on now?
I’ve turned in the fourth novel in the Vamped series, Fangtabulous, which will be out in January 2013. I’m now working on Crazy in the Blood, which is the sequel to Bad Blood, the first novel in my Latter-Day Olympiansurban fantasy series in which Tori Karacis, a private investigator, finds out that her family tales are true and that the Greek gods do still walk the earth (Apollo as a film star, Hephaestus as a special effects artist, etc.). Her family line may even trace back to them. Unlike her gorgon ancestress, she can’t quite turn men to stone, but as for stopping them in their tracks….

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I’m also a literary agent with The Knight Agency. I’ve been in the business for almost nineteen years now, and I represent over forty authors of fantasy, romance, mystery and young adult fiction, so whenever I’m not writing, I’m reading and critiquing their work, negotiating contracts, chasing down checks…you name it. Oh, and I have something of a life between times with my family in Florida.

Who do you like to read?
All forty+ of my authors! Also, Janet Evanovich, Suzanne Collins, Laurell K. Hamilton, Rick Riordan, J.K. Rowling, Aaron Elkins, Agatha Christie, Joshilyn Jackson….

Bio:
Lucienne Diver is the author of the popular Vamped series of young adult novels (think Clueless meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer). School Library Journal calls the first book, “a lighthearted, action-packed, vampire romance story following in the vein of Julie Kenner’s “Good Ghouls” (Berkley), Marlene Perez’s “Dead” (Harcourt), and Rachel Caine’s “The Morganville Vampires” (Signet) series.” VOYA has suggested that the books “will attract even reluctant readers.”
Her short stories have been included in the Strip-Mauled and Fangs for the Mammaries anthologies edited by Esther Friesner (Baen Books), and one of her essays appears in the anthology Dear Bully: 70 Authors Tell Their Stories (HarperTeen).

Sample praise for the Vamped series:“As ever, Gina’s feisty, funny narration carries the day. Gina never fails to please, as she strides down the runway of afterlife with just the right mix of humor, make-up advice, youthful lust that never crosses the line and a kung-fu style all her own. This one doesn’t miss a beat.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Perfect for teens and adults, this is a book to share, savor and revisit. ReVamped is full of smart, spot-on dialogue, engaging, authentic characters and a plot that’s so much fun it’s impossible not get swept up.” —Examiner.com

“VAMPED is a total delight! Diver delivers a delightful cast of undead characters and a fresh, fast take on the vampire mythos. Next installment, please!” — Rachel Caine, New York Times bestselling author of the Morganville Vampires series

“Diver uses wit and adventure to hook readers with this teen vampire story.” —VOYA

“Have you ever wondered what it would be like if Cordelia Chase got turned into a vampire? If you have, look no further than Vamped for the answer. It’s like Mean Girls with fangs, with witty dialogue and more pop culture references than you can keep up with.” – Wondrous Reads

“Diver takes vampires to a whole new level.” —I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read

January 10, 2012 • Comments

I’m very excited to be touring Eileen Cook and her latest book Unraveling Isobel

Isobel’s life is falling apart. Her mom just married some guy she met on the internet only three months before, and is moving them to his sprawling, gothic mansion off the coast of nowhere. Goodbye, best friend. Goodbye, social life. Hello, icky new stepfather, crunchy granola town, and unbelievably good-looking, officially off-limits stepbrother.
But on her first night in her new home, Isobel starts to fear that it isn’t only her life that’s unraveling—her sanity might be giving way too. Because either Isobel is losing her mind, just like her artist father did before her, or she’s seeing ghosts. Either way, Isobel’s fast on her way to being the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons.

Now for the usual questions:

What inspired the plot for your book?
I work as a counselor and am interested in mental health issues. I think one of the most difficult things about having mental illnesses is that you can’t trust your own perception of reality. How do you cope when you aren’t sure what you see and hear is real? I decided I wanted to write about Isobel who struggles with trying to figure out if she’s seeing a ghost, if she’s going crazy, or if her step dad is trying to make everyone think she’s crazy so he can get rid of her.

Why did you decide to write in this genre?
I’ve always loved gothic novels. I love creepy old houses, buried family secrets and the potential for a ghost or two. Not to mention a cute boy in the picture.

What is your writing process like?
I love the idea of having a daily schedule, but I never seem to stick to it, my life is too chaotic. I do try and write every day, even for just a few minutes, so that I can stay in touch with the story while I’m writing. I set weekly word count goals that let me write just a few words on one day or a whole bunch on another.

What are you working on now?
I am working on a book that we’re currently calling Shady Sadie (stay tuned I suspect the title will change!). It’s the story of Sadie, who is a teenage con artist. When she realizes that she looks like an age enhanced photo of a missing child she decides to pull the ultimate con… until she begins to suspect she may actually be the missing child.

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I love reading, knitting and watching movies. I also like to walk on the beach near my house and watch while the dogs roll around in dead stinky things they find on the shoreline.

Who do you like to read?
My reading tastes are so wide. I love mystery, contemporary, paranormal, non-fiction, historical fiction and science fiction. I tend to choose what to read next based on my mood. I recently read The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson and couldn’t put it down.

What they’re saying about Unraveling Isobel:

“Thrilling and creepy, super sexy, and so very hilarious.” –Lisa McMann, bestselling author of the Wake trilogy

“Ideal for readers who like their stories supernatural but their dream guys human.” –The Bulletin

“Spine-tingling setting….Isobel’s sass and her steamy romance with her new stepbrother will help readers race toward the dramatic conclusion.” –Publishers Weekly

“This blend of paranormal romance, murder mystery and quirky, coming-of-age narrative offers tasty moments….Cook gives readers a fast-paced plot, a likable narrator, and interesting characters.” -Kirkus

“Isobel, all snark and sharp edges covering some intense vulnerability as she continuously checks in to see if she has crossed into mental illness (as her father did when she was young), is a compelling narrator.”- Horn Book Magazine

Bio:

Eileen Cook is a multi-published author with her novels appearing in six different languages. She spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer.

You can read more about Eileen, her books, and the things that strike her as funny at www.eileencook.com. Eileen lives in Vancouver with her husband and two dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.

December 23, 2011 • Comments

This is the last GCC tour for 2011 and I’m excited to be touring Laurie Stolarz and her latest book DEADLY LITTLE VOICES part of her Touch series.

Camelia Hammond thought her powers of psychometry gave her only the ability to sense the future through touch. But now she’s started to hear voices. Cruel voices. Berating her, telling her how ugly she is, that she has no talent, and that she’d be better off dead. Camelia is terrified for her mental stability, especially since her deranged aunt with a suicidal history, has just moved into the house. As if all of that weren’t torturing enough, Camelia’s ex-boyfriend, Ben, for whom she still harbors feelings and who has similar psychometric abilities, has started seeing someone else. Even her closest friends, Kimmie and Wes, are unsure how to handle her erratic behavior.
With the line between reality and dream consistently blurred, Camelia turns to pottery to get a grip on her emotions. She begins sculpting a figure skater, only to receive frightening premonitions that someone’s in danger. But who is the intended victim? And how can Camelia help that person when she’s on the brink of losing her own sanity?

Praise for the TOUCH series:
Texas Tayshas List, 2010 (DLS)

Children’s Book Council’s 2010 & 2011 Teen Choice Book of the Year Nominee

Reluctant Reader Quick Pick Nominees, 2010 & 2011, American Library Association

Teens@Random, Favorite Book of 2009 (DLS)

Gold Star Award, TeensReadToo.com, 2009 (DLL)

“…lively first-person narrative…. CW-worthy dialogue, quirky secondary characters, romance and suspense: a winning combination” – Kirkus Reviews

“An engaging, eerie tale about the darker side of relationships – when it becomes a matter of life and death to know who your friends are.” – KLIATT

“The book was full of shocking surprises and revelations, earning the book five stars. This is a must-read for fans of romance, suspense, and mystery because it won’t disappoint.” – Teens Read Too (DLL)

“Laurie Faria Stolarz is a master creator of suspense and romance. Her words cause the heart to pound, the palms to sweat, the spine to shiver, and the stomach to flutter. The trepidation born from the anonymous threats will make the pages fly, and the palpable tension between Camelia and Ben as they attempt to ignore their hearts causes the fire to burn hotter.” – TeenReads.com

Bio: Laurie Faria Stolarz is the author of Deadly Little Secret, Deadly Little Lies, Deadly Little Games, Deadly Little Voices, Project 17, and Bleed, as well as the bestselling Blue is for Nightmares series. Born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts, Stolarz attended Merrimack College and received an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College in Boston. For more information, please visit her Web site at www.lauriestolarz.com.

Laurie’s Guilty Pleasures
Favorite snack: Popcorn with soy butter and lemon/pepper seasoning.
Touristy Trip: Paris.
Fashion addiction (at the moment): artfully torn jeans, tall boots, pretty scarves, and Michael Stars tees.
Dessert: Dark chocolate in almost any form – the darker the better.
Fast food: French fries at least once every few months (with lots of ketchup).
Beauty Binge: Aveda haircare products, which includes indulging in high-and/or-low-lights every eight weeks. Also, Caudalie skincare, Ineke perfume (Field Notes from Paris), Revitalash mascara, and Buxom Lips from Bare Escentuals.
Late-Night TV: Real Housewives of (wherever), Mad Fashion, Fashion Hunters.
Chick Flick: Never Been Kissed, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Juno, Green Card, Once, The Devil Wears Prada, Bridget Jones Diary, Thelma & Louise, Mean Girls, Moonstruck, Clueless, Under the Tuscan Sun, and anything with John Cusack.
Nightlife: Pilates in front of the TV (a regular occurrence), answering e-mail (also regular), and dinner and/or a movie out with friends (happens far too rarely).
Cheap Thrill: Window-shopping, tabloid magazines, buying a new lip gloss, a tall cup of coffee from Peet’s or Starbucks.
Ultimate Splurge: G2O Day Spa for a massage.

Other Random Info:
Favorite Quote: Perseverance is key.
Favorite cuisine: Indian food – onion chutney, curried vegetables, and kashmir bread. I also love cheeseless pizza from Bertucci’s.
Interests: Vegetarian cooking, holistic nutrition, aromatherapy.
Favorite Music: Adele, Fergie, James Blunt, Gavin Rossdale, Tori Amos, Sting, Sarah MacLachlin, Gwen Stefani, Black-eyed Peas.
Hobbies: Walking, napping, cooking, shopping, interior decorating.

October 15, 2011 • Comments

I’m thrilled to be touring JUST YOUR AVERAGE PRINCESS by Kristina Springer

Jamie Edwards has loved everything about growing up on a pumpkin patch, but ever since her cousin Milan Woods arrived, things have really stunk. Jamie can’t imagine it was easy for Milan to leave her life back in Los Angeles and move to Average, Illinois, population one thousand. But it’s kind of hard to feel sorry for her since (a) Milan’s drop-dead gorgeous; (b) she’s the daughter of two of Hollywood’s hottest film stars; (c) she’s captured the attention of everyone in town, including Danny, Jamie’s crush since forever; and (d) she’s about to steal the title of Pumpkin Princess right out from underneath Jamie!

And now for the usual questions:

What inspired the plot for your book?
I love pumpkin anything—candles, bread, you name it. I was staring at my pumpkin colored kitchen walls and the idea of a pumpkin patch setting popped into my mind. Then I thought what if you were a teen girl who grew up on an awesome touristy pumpkin patch. And I was off from there.

Why did you decide to write in this genre?
I’ve always loved reading young adult books and my voice seems to fall in the same area.

What is your writing process like?
I write whenever I can. It might only be a few minutes or a half an hour here or there but I do whatever I can.

What are you working on now?
Right now my newest YA book, THE PAPARAZZI PROJECT, is on submission. This was a super fun book to write and I think any tabloid loving teen will love it.

What do you do when you’re not writing?
A million activities with my four kids, spin classes, and go to book club.

Who do you like to read?
I adore contemporary books and have a special love for anything chick lit—whether it’s adult chick lit or young adult chicklit.

Praise for Just Your Average Princess:
“This cheerful and heartwarming novel set in a small town will appeal to teens who enjoy YA chick lit.” –VOYA

“It was such a quick and cute read! The dialogue contained a generous amount of wit and snark. As a fan of both, it heightened my enjoyment of Just Your Average Princess even more. I really enjoyed Kristina Springer’s style of writing as well as the cast of characters she created in Just Your Average Princess.”
–The Fiction Enthusiast

“Springer does an excellent job capturing the fall setting, and describing the pumpkin patch. So much so, that I found myself wishing I could find the place and go there! Overall, this is a fun lighthearted read that is sure to entertain. Definitely a perfect fit for the season.”
-Melissa from Goodreads, Teen Librarian

Bio:
About the author:
Kristina Springer is also the author of The Espressologist, a Society of School Librarians International Book Award Honor Book, and My Fake Boyfriend is Better Than Yours, which Meg Cabot calls, “Irresistible as a fluffy kitten. I laughed out loud and so will you!” You can visit her online at www.KristinaSpringer.com, follow her on Twitter @TinaSpringer, or friend her on Facebook at facebook.com/KristinaSpringer