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Barrie Summy had the fabulous idea of having a July 4th recipe exchange. So…… I live in NZ and we don’t celebrate 4th July…. and I don’t cook….. not a lot of hope for me then. But, suddenly I remembered chocolate biscuit cake, which is what I make on special occasions (not very often because I love it so much I can hardly draw breath without popping a piece in my mouth).

So….. Happy 4th July to all of you in the USA…… and if you make Chcolate Biscuit Cake I promise you won’t be disappointed. Sorry, all measurements are in imperial and not metric. Hopefully you’ll understand what all the ingredients are:

Chocolate Biscuit Cake

8oz of digesstive biscuits - crumbled very finely (I use the end of a rolling pin)

2oz butter or margarine (I use dairy free spread, just as good)

2 tablespoons of golden syrup

4½ oz plain (dark) cooking chocolate

Half an orange

Melt syrup, chocolate and butter in a pan. Stir in the biscuit. Put mixture into a greased tin. Press down all over with the cut side of the orange.

Leave to set. Cut in squares.

YUM!!!

In LOCAL GIRLS, friendships are in danger of ending with the summer. Kendra and Mona are best friends, local girls who spend their summers catering to rich tourists and the rest of the year chafing against small-town life. Then Mona’s mom marries one of the island’s rich summer visitors, and Mona joins the world of the Boston elite, leaving Kendra and Martha’s Vineyard behind. When Mona returns the following summer, everything is different.

Unlike his sister, Mona’s twin brother Henry hasn’t changed. He’s spending his summer the way he always has: with long, quiet hours fishing. Early mornings before work become special for Kendra as she starts sharing them with Henry, hoping he can help her figure Mona out. Then Kendra hatches a plan to prove she’s Mona’s one true friend: uncover the identity of the twins’ birth father, a question that has always obsessed Mona. And so she begins to unravel the seventeen-year-old mystery of the summer boy who charmed Mona’s mother. But it may prove to be a puzzle better left unsolved–as what she is about to discover will change their lives forever…

In RICH BOYS, Winnie jumps at the chance to babysit for a wealthy summer family and earn some extra money—but soon learns that life in the Barclay’s beautiful vacation home isn’t as perfect as it appears. And what was supposed to be a carefree summer quickly becomes more complicated than she ever thought possible.

I can’t wait to read these two books. Jenny took the time to answer a few questions for me:

1. What inspired the plot for your books?

The books take place on Martha’s Vineyard, so first and foremost summer was the greatest inspiration. I’ve always felt like summer is a time when anything can happen, it’s all about possibility. LOCAL GIRLS and RICH BOYS have very different plots, but they’re both about the possibilities, opportunities and changes summer brings.

2. Why did you decide to write in this genre?

I love writing teen books. It’s a blast going back and remembering what it was like to be a teenager – so much of what I write is based upon my own experiences growing up.

3. What is your writing process like?

Pretty much sit down and start typing. I know the beginning, the end, and nothing in between. I just let the story take shape as it unfolds.

4. What are you working on now?

A third book in the Island Summer series.

5. What do you do when you’re not writing?

I work! I have a “real job” that I also love (in advertising). I also play field hockey, which is why I have odd black and blue spots all over my body.

6. Who do you like to read?

I’ve been on a Sarah Dessen jag lately, I love her books. I love going back and reading books I read as a teen, just to see if they still hold up – and they do! I don’t read fantasy or mystery or historical or suspense. I just like reading about ordinary girls like me.

Learn how you can win an Island Summer t-shirt – just in time for the beach. Go to http://jennyoconnell.blogspot.com and enter to win today! And learn more about LOCAL GIRLS and RICH BOYS at www.jennyoconnell.com.

I am very excited to tour Read My Lips, by my author friend Teri Brown. And what’s even more exciting is that in just over five weeks I’ll be meeting Teri in person at the RWA conference in San Fran….. there will be lots of hugging and squealing…..

So here goes……

1. What inspired the plot for your book?

My niece is profoundly deaf and I was always fascinated with her ability to read lips and keep up with conversations when the family got together. There were times when as a youngster she would tell her grandmother, “too loud!” because we were all talking at once and the noise was overwhelming through her hearing aids. My Mother in law was very active in deaf advocacy and I learned a lot from her. I think the seed for Read My Lips was planted during some of those conversations.

2. Why did you decide to write in this genre?

I enjoy teens. I “get” them. I remember very clearly what it’s like to be in high school and I get along with my children’s friends really well. In fact, my daughter was talking to some of her friends about texting other people’s moms and they all agreed that it was weird… except for her Mom. I guess I’m different, because my kids’ friends text me a lot! So writing a book for them wasn’t that much of a stretch.

3. What is your writing process like?

You mean beyond panic? Is there a writing process other than, “Oh crap, I better start on that?” I usually come up with an idea and let it perk a bit. Then I try to write a synopsis. Sometimes the characters are so compelling that I jump right into writing, but that doesn’t workout so well. I like to have a roadmap first. Sometimes I do a collage while writing the synopsis and other times I do a brain map on a program called Inspiration. Then I just sit and write as often as I can.

4. What are you working on now?

What am I not working on? LOL! I am juggling an inspirational young adult, my Pulse option book and a YA paranormal. I usually don’t work on so many at the same time, but I couldn’t help myself. It’s just the way it turned out.

5. What do you do when you’re not writing?

Like most writers, I READ! A lot. I also spend a lot of time hanging out with my kids. Or as much time as I can… they lead very busy lives, so when they have a moment to hang with Mom, I grab it. Sometimes I even bribe them with fast food or trips to the mall. Hey, whatever works!

6. Who do you like to read?
So many! Right now, I am loving Rachel Vincent and Cassandra Clare. And I love anything by Kate Brian and Scott Westerfeld.

Thanks so much, Teri.

Ummmmmm I’ve just finished a jigsaw (much better than the last one). I’ve almost finished the latest Louise Bagshawe… omg can that girl write… and I just noticed from the jacket flap she lives in Northamptonshire… that’s where I used to live in the UK… which means we’re practically related.  I’m seriously thinking of doing some stalking.

Oh… I’ve just remembered… I’ve been spending an inordinate amount of time planning my wardrobe for the conference in San Francisco. And, a writer friend’s husband phoned yesterday about ordering a limo to get us all from the airport to the hotel. A LIMO!! I was very excited by that because I think I’m the only person in the world who hasn’t actually been in one. So, picture me standing up, head out the sun roof waving….. a la movie Calendar Girls, or Pretty Woman.

Talking of weekends, I had a very girly one and we had lots of fun eating, gossiping, going to the movies (SATC - it was fab) and out for dinner. Oh yes, we did talk about writing a couple of times hahahaha.

See you at Teri’s party, it’s going to be such fun!!

Anyway,  this week I’m being interviewed on компютриThe First Book and I’d love to see you there.  I’m also blogging at Teen Fiction Cafe this week, if you have time to pop by.

What else… oh yes…. I have just finished the mother of all jigsaws. It drove me CRAZY!!! It was a destiny puzzle so you see a picture from the past and then the puzzle is what it’s like in the future. So, a few clues about what goes where but rest is up to you. Normally I like this type of puzzle but this was set on the beach and the whole puzzle was full of faces. It was a nightmare. And I was so fed up with it I forced my self to finish it yesterday….. at the expense doing anything else. And I didn’t enjoy it!!! Give me lumps of solid colour, a few people and a couple of animals and I’m much happier.

I used to love watching because my all time favourite radio present Terry Wogan introduces it for UK and is hysterically funny. He needs to be because though it’s called a song contest that is a very loose definition. In reality voting is hugely political….. you always know who each country will give the most to. And the other problem is a lot of countries aren’t keen on the UK!!!

The contest began about 50 years ago and each year more and more countries join. So much so, there has to be two semi-finals before we get to the real contest. Luckily for the UK the four countries who fund the contest (of which UK is one) get automatic entry into the final… phew!! The most famous group to come from Eurovison is Abba.

Anyway, I’m listening as we speak. The UK entry was really good, and I also liked the Iceland entry….. still about 13 more songs to go….

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend. I intend to work on a new YA proposal (while I’m waiting to hear back about my mid-grade series).

And watch this space for the launch party of another author friend….. yes I’m being very mysterious…. but it’s worth waiting for!!!

And what else…..   kids gone back after the mid-trimester break…. so lots less cooking for me to do……. hurray…. downside is I don’t get to put the dishwasher on every day (le sigh).

I watched 27 Dresses on dvd yesterday…. omg…. I totally LOVED it. Will definitely be watching it again.  Also saw Death at a Funeral again (so funny………. British humour at it’s best).

V ery excited because tonight we get the Andrew Lloyd Webber American Idol show (we’re a few weeks behind). Even though I know the outcome it’s still just as exciting for me to watch. A new series of America’s Next Top Model has just started which is on before Idol. So, my Friday night viewing is complete!!

It’s one I haven’t seen before, though I’m seeing lots of people taking part. So, here are the instructions:

1. Pick up the nearest book.

2. Open to page 123

3. Find the fifth sentence.

4. Post the next three sentences.

5. Tag five people and post a comment to the person who tagged you once you’ve posted your three sentences.

The book: Frenemies by Megan Crane (fab book btw) :

Three sentences:

“I think we already talked about Ashley,” Henry said reprovingly, alhthough his mouth was twitching. He was trying not to laugh.

“Oh, right,” I said.

And now I need 5 people to tag:

Maureen McGowan

Alyssa Goodnight

Stephanie Kuehnert

Melissa Walker

Jessica Burkhart