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

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

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.

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.

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

I’m excited to be touring Jeri Smith-Ready and her story BRIDGE in the anothology ENTHRALLED: PARANORMAL DIVERSION, edited by Melissa Marr and Kelley Armstrong

This collection of original paranormal YA short stories grew out of the 2010 Smart Chicks Kick It Tour, a multiauthor, multicity, author-organized tour of the US and Canada. With it, these 16 authors hoped to bring a little taste of the Smart Chicks experience to readers everywhere.

Contributors to ENTHRALLED:

Claudia Gray
Carrie Ryan
Margaret Stohl
Kami Garcia
Jackson Pearce
Rachel Vincent
Melissa Marr
Kelley Armstrong
Sarah Rees Brennan
Jeri Smith-Ready
Kimberly Derting
Ally Condie
Jessica Verday
Mary E. Pearson
Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Rachel Caine

ABOUT THE STORY “BRIDGE”

In the world of the SHADE novels, everyone seventeen and under can see and hear ghosts, but no one else can. So when Logan Keeley dies and his eighteen-year-old brother Mickey blames himself, they can’t ease each other’s pain or reconcile their rage. Over the course of SHADE and SHIFT, Mickey sinks into a near-suicidal depression over Logan’s death.

“Bridge” is the story, told in free verse, of how two brothers, with the help of a stranger, forge the chasm between them to find a lasting peace.

And now for the usual questions:

What inspired the plot for your story?

In the first draft of SHIFT (SHADE book 2), I wrote some sections in
free verse from Logan’s point-of view. He had the intro, the outro,
and a couple of interludes to bridge parts of the novel where a lot of
time passed. None of my beta readers really “got it”—they thought it
was supposed to be a song, not part of the narrative—and my editor
wanted SHIFT to be consistent with SHADE, keeping to Aura’s
point-of-view. So I took out Logan’s sections.

But I’d been bitten by the “free verse” bug! I’ve always loved
reading verse novels, and since Logan is a songwriter, it made sense
for his story to be in verse.

Besides, Logan is a special dude. He’s more like me than any other
character in the series. I wanted to show him apart from Aura, the
POV character in SHADE, so readers could see who he was without her.

Why did you decide to write in this genre?

Going from adult to young adult urban fantasy was a very natural path
for me to take, because all of my books have a young focus. My Aspect
of Crow fantasy trilogy had 16- and 18-year-old protagonists, and the
heroine of my vampire books, WICKED GAME and BAD TO THE BONE, is only
24 and has a very young, contemporary voice. My adult books have a
large teen readership because of these factors.

More important, in writing for teens, I get to focus on the elements
of storytelling I enjoy most and that I think I’m best at: character
development and voice, especially dialogue. Writing for teens usually
requires a faster pace, and I’m all for that. Whether I’m writing for
adults or teens (and I will continue to do both), I believe in
following Elmore Leonard’s #1 rule of writing: leave out the boring parts.

What is your writing process like?

Hmm, it tends to be different for each book, because each book forces
me to learn how to write a novel all over again. But here’s the
general way it usually goes:
1. Set unrealistically high word count goals.
2. Meet those goals for roughly two weeks.
3. Burn out. Panic. Despair.
4. Reexamine plot, make changes to the outline, and move on with a
more realistic deadline.
5. Finish filthy first draft and send to critique partners, praying
they don’t wonder which hole my talent crawled into to die.
6. Do massive overhaul second draft. This is where the real writing
happens for me, where I discover the true story.
7. Submit to editor.
8. Repeat as necessary until I can look at myself in the mirror and
honestly say the book is as good as it can ever possibly be.

What are you working on now?

I’m still revising/perfecting SHINE, the third part of the SHADE
trilogy, which comes out May 1. Then I’ll write the final book in my
adult vampire series, LUST FOR LIFE, which comes out next October.

Then I start my first YA contemporary, slated for a Fall 2013 release. We’ll be announcing more details next month, but I can tell you this much: 1) it’s about a boy and 2) I am very, very excited about it!

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I love watching football, although I often use the time to mail reader swag, so maybe that doesn’t count as not writing. This job is pretty much my whole life.

I’ve been thinking about learning to play golf. That would at least
get me out of the house on a regular basis. And I’m really good at
the Wii Sports version!

Who do you like to read?

I just finished Maggie Stiefvater’s SHIVER trilogy. So many tears!
I’m a sucker for any writing that truly understands music and the
power it has. Along those lines, I also adored WHERE SHE WENT by
Gayle Forman, the sequel to one of my all-time favorites, IF I STAY.
I’m like a lot of people in that I didn’t want a sequel, but once I
read it I realized the story was truly incomplete without it. Happy
sigh….

I also just read an ARC for INCARNATE by Jodi Meadows, a unique
fantasy also infused with music. It blew me away on every level,
mind, heart and soul. That one comes out on January 31.

REVIEWS

“A solid collection of stories…Sarah Rees Brennan’s ‘Let’s Get This Undead Show on the Road’ follows a vampire in a boy-band and stands out with its perfect blend of snark and sincerity. It’s followed in a one-two punch by Jeri Smith-Ready’s intense and earnest ‘Bridge.’…This collection is ideal as a sampler tray for paranormal readers looking to pick up new authors to follow or to further explore the fictional worlds they already know. —Kirkus Reviews

Bio

Jeri Smith-Ready has been writing fiction since the night she had her first double espresso. Her nine published books include two series for adults and the SHADE trilogy for teens, about a world of ghosts only the young can see, which concludes May 2012 with SHINE. Like many of her characters, Jeri enjoys music, movies, and staying up very, very late. Visit her at www.jerismithready.com, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/JeriSmithready) or Twitter (http://twitter.com/jsmithready), where she spends way too much time. Logan himself can be found on Twitter @keeley_logan, as can his rival/”brother-in-pulp,”Zachary Moore (@moore_zachary). The boys love to chat with each other and with their real-life fans.

I’m proud to be promoting the anothology DEAR BULLY which is a subject close to my heart and a message that’s so important to get out there. So, go buy the book and tell everyone about it.

THOUGHTS ON DEAR BULLY
WHY THEY DID IT
Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones formed the group YAAAB (Young Adult Authors Against Bullying) in April 2010 when they both coincidentally blogged about the Phoebe Prince case on the same day. Megan reached out to Carrie expressing her frustration with this case and the fact that bullying that seemed to be growing at a ridiculously fast rate. As a Massachusetts resident and having already spoken about bullying in schools, Megan was horrified after hearing about the bullying that took place in the Phoebe Prince case. While writing her books, SISTERS OF MISERY and THE LOST SISTER, she had to dig deep to make “mean girls as evil as she possibly could. When she heard about all the bullying and bullycide stories in the news, she felt like the bullies had jumped off the pages of her book and into real life. She was also disheartened by the numerous times she’d done book signings and would say to readers, “I hope you never meet girls as mean as the ones in my book.” Shockingly, they almost always said, “We already have.” Carrie Jones was also moved to do something, as she was the target of bullying as a young child due to a speech impediment. Together, they felt that they owed it to teen readers to discourage bullying — to make it “uncool.” Megan Kelley Hall started by creating a Facebook page that kicked off an entire “movement” to end bullying. This was the day that Megan, Carrie and other authors decided to use their platform as Young Adult authors to actually facilitate change and to be a voice for those kids who cannot speak out or are too afraid to be heard.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Right away, a large number of authors jumped on board of this cause — wanting to be involved in any way possible. The Facebook group jumped from 5 to 1500 members in one weekend and is now closing in on nearly 5,000 members. Carrie and Megan were thrilled when HarperTeen offered to put all of the stories into an anthology. The thought of having 70 authors – well-known, highly successful writers – sharing their personal bullying stories with their fans was something beyond what they had ever hoped for.
The stories in DEAR BULLY come from all angles: from the point of view of the victim, the mother, the friend, the sibling, the classmate – even a few from the actual bully. Some of the stories are light-hearted, while others are raw and emotional. All of them drive home the point that bullying is something that almost everyone has experienced. And while that is a sad fact, they want to prove that it’s not a rite of passage. It doesn’t make you stronger, wiser, or better. But it is something that can be overcome, something that can be changed, something that is relatable, and something that one should never be ashamed of. Through these stories, the authors want to show that they understand what teens are going through today. It is important to encourage bystanders to speak up and make bullying unacceptable. Parents and adults must get involved. Bullying is something that people no longer have to endure–at least, not by themselves.

Though quite a lofty mission, the goal of DEAR BULLY is to help just one person get through a difficult time, and hopefully make bullying a thing of the past.
Don’t forget to join the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dearbully, visit the website at www.dearbully.com, or follow DEAR BULLY on Twitter at www.twitter.com/dearbully.

IN THE NEWS:
“FIGHT BACK WITH WORDS. Better Homes & Gardens recommends DEAR BULLY: Remind youngsters heading back to school that getting picked on is tough—but that words can also heal as much as they can hurt, as one anthology proves.” – Better Homes & Gardens
“This anthology of personal essays provides empathetic and heartfelt stories from each corner of the schoolyard: the bullied, the bystander and the bully himself are all represented. Their words will be a welcome palliative or a wise pre-emptive defense against the trials of adolescent social dynamics.” –New York Times
“Two of them, both authors of novels for young adults (Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones), have drawn on the power of the written word to focus attention on the problem and offer solace to the bullied.” – –The Boston Globe
“You’ll love it if… You know someone (or are someone) who’s ever been involved in any type of bullying incident. There’s something in it for everyone, on all sides of the spectrum. You’ll love it even more if you can find a story that inspires you to help someone else.” – Seventeen.com
“With authority often turning a blind eye and cyber-bullying rampant, this timely collection is an excellent resource, especially for group discussion, and the appended, annotated list of websites and further reading extends its usefulness.” – Booklist
“Powerful…All of these stories feel authentic and honest, and readers will find a story or a person to identify with, to look to for comfort or guidance.” School Library Journal
“Bottom line is this anthology is a terrific tool for the counselor who can customize the entries to the needs of the victimized student.” — Harriet Klausner

ON BLOGS
“This should be required reading of ALL young girls (not to mention some adults)….Dear Bully is for everyone who has grown up in this culture where bullying takes place every day, not just in the schools, but in our streets, in our homes, our place of work (and globally).Dear Bully unveils the truth of who we are as a community of people, and it’s not pretty.” – New Pages Blog
“This is why I think this book is brilliant: Much like It Get’s Better, this is a situation where one generation is reaching back to support the other… When you share your story you are shining a light. You never know who is at sea and relying on that light to get them home.” – Miss New York, Kaitlin Monte “Life Under the Crown” blog
“Dear Bully is a novel that needs to be on the shelves of every school library, and in every classroom. I hope it makes its way to the hands of the bullied and the bullies.” –The Crazy Bookworm Blog
“You Can’t Protect Your Kid From Bullies Until You’ve Done This I was about halfway through Dear Bully, a new book of essays from 70 big name teen lit authors (for my fellow YA fans, I’m talking the likes of Megan McCafferty, Alyson Noel, R.L. Stine, etc.) when it hit me. These were all grown-ups talking about some of the worst days of childhood. And almost none had kind words to say about adults.” – Jeanne Sagar, The Stir and Yahoo Shine
“70 poignant essays that will make your tear and/or cheer. There is literally something in this book for everyone. I cried, I laughed, I wanted to write a letter to my Congressman, but most of all…I learned a few things. Bullying doesn’t take one form and it can occur at any age. This is must have for every library, teacher, and anyone who owns a shelf…or a table. Be a hero and buy this book for someone who is struggling.” –I Read Banned Books Blog
“I wish there had been a Dear Bully book 14 years ago.” –Lost in the Library Blog
“I personally think that this book should be required reading for all kids in the 7th grade. I’d even be so bold as to say a compilation for younger kids should be written as well.” –Confessions of a Real Librarian Blog

GOODREADS REVIEWS
“This collection is so important and it couldn’t come at a better time. This book should be in every administrator’s office (their predecessor’s failing to address this issue is a common thread woven through the experiences shaed), every media specialist’s office, every counselor’s office, and in the classroom libraries of every teacher works with these students who stories have not been told. . .yet. Here is the catalyst for discussion. Here are the authors saying, “It happened to me too. . .tell me your story.” –Paul Hankins
“EVERY ADULT who works with tweens and teens should read this!” – Sandy
“Once I get the library’s budget, this is going to be top of the list – and I’m buying two copies. I want to have one copy on the professional shelf for the teachers to look at and one on the shelf for the students to take out.” – Sarah

“This is a valuable look at how bullying shapes the lives of both the bullies and the bullied.” – Sarah
“Absolutely fantastic. Heart-wrenching and a reality check for anyone believing that this doesn’t happen. I’m recommending this to every librarian I know to put this on the shelf.” – Maya
“What a beautiful, amazing, honest, important book. Five stars isn’t near enough to show my love for Dear Bully. I’ll be donating my copy to my old junior high.” – Colleen
“I knew I would enjoy this book, I just didn’t think it would impact me as much as it did. I wish this could be in every middle and high school in the country.” – Stephanie
“I wish I could individually hug everyone who has ever been bullied. Seeing as how that mission is too tragically expansive to take on, I will settle for shouting, “Bravo!” to all the authors to contributed, and to HarperTeen for publishing this anthology. “Encore!” – Gabrielle Carolina
“Amazing anthology of stories about bullying (victimization, perpetration, being a bystander). I mean, what can I say? This collection moved me beyond words. Teachers, parents, and librarians NEED to share this book with their teens. Core title for all teen/ya collections.” – Lalitha
“It’s another stark reminder that kids can’t do this on their own. They need our help. Thank you to all 70 of these authors and Megan and Carrie for helping me not only set to rest my own past but to chart a path for my future as a mother.” – Jeanne Sagar, Goodreads
“These writers have taken a stand. It’s time for all of us to do so as well.” – Jackie

Anyway, today I’m very excited to be touring Jennifer Echols and her fabulous new book LOVE STORY:

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions – it’s her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family’s racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin’s college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a local coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter… so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?
Then, on the day she’s sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He’s joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin’s heart with longing. Now she’s not just imagining what might have been. She’s writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter… except this story could come true.

And now for the usual questions:

What inspired the plot for your book?

I have taken a lot of creative writing classes. It has always struck me how emotional writers get about their stories, and I thought that heightened emotion would make a great background for a romance.

Why did you decide to write in this genre?

I am writing the book I want to read. I do like to read all sorts of things, but even when I’m reading action/adventure or science fiction, I’m always looking forward to the romantic subplot.

What is your writing process like?

My writing process is a complete mess. Conversations between characters pop into my head, and I write them down. After about 150 pages of that, I try to figure out what the plot is, put everything in order, and fill in the blanks. I would not suggest this process to anyone!

What are you working on now?

I’m writing a romantic comedy that will be published by Simon Pulse in December. Then I’m finishing my next romantic drama, SUCH A RUSH, which will be my hardcover debut in July 2012.

What do you do when you’re not writing?

I run every morning, and I like to spend time with my husband and my ten-year-old son.

Who do you like to read?

Some of my favorite YA authors are Rosemary Clement-Moore and R. A. Nelson, and I also love adult romantic comedies like those by Jennifer Crusie and my critique partner, Victoria Dahl.

JENNIFER ECHOLS is the author of teen romantic dramas for MTV Books and teen romantic comedies for Simon Pulse. She lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her family. Please visit her online at www.jennifer-echols.com.

I’m thrilled to be touring the awesome Melissa Walker (fellow Teen Fiction Café author) and her book Small Town Sinners.

Small Town Sinners is the story of Lacey Anne, daughter of the pastor and perennial good girl, who is eligible for a lead role in the season’s Hell House production—a role she’s been coveting for years. But when Ty moves to town as casting begins, a new perspective is added to Lacey Anne’s world and she starts to see her tight-knit, Evangelical community in a different light. With the help of her two best friends Starla Joy and Dean, and her potential first love Ty, Lacey Anne begins exploring her own thoughts and feelings about her religion, her community, and her place within both. While this novel deals with provocative issues like religion, teen pregnancy and underage drinking, it is not an “issue” book; the topics are masterfully interwoven into this story of friendship and family.

What inspired the plot for your book?
My friend Joy’s mother, Betty, started telling me about her church’s “Judgment House” and my jaw dropped. I researched more about Hell Houses and Judgment Houses, and then I pitched my ELLEgirl editor on a magazine story. She bit, I got to write the story. And the small town I visited, plus the teenagers in it, never left me. Here’s that original non-fiction story:
http://www.melissacwalker.com/media/ellegirl-hellhouse.jpg

Why did you decide to write in this genre?
My inner voice is set squarely at 17, and I’m glad (though I try to act more mature most of the time, it’s just an act).

What is your writing process like?
I outline chapter by chapter, which takes about a week for a full plot (that I’ve been thinking about in my head for anywhere from a week to a year), and then I write, write, write!

What are you working on now?
My next book is called UNBREAK MY HEART–it’s a love story, and it’ll be out from Bloomsbury in summer 2012!

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I read and I watch a lot of TV. I’m a bit of a pop culture junkie.

Who do you like to read?
Anyone who writes with heart. Some favorite reads so far this summer include Dana Reinhardt’s THE SUMMER I LEARNED TO FLY and Nova Ren Suma’s IMAGINARY GIRLS.

Bio:

MELISSA WALKER: Melissa has worked as ELLEgirl Features Editor and Seventeen Prom Editor. She is the author of the Violet on the Runway series as well as Lovestruck Summer. Melissa manages I Heart Daily, an e-newsletter and blogs for ReaderGirlz, an online community for teens. www.melissacwalker.com

Reviews:

“Small Town Sinners shines a light on the fascinating world of the teenage Hell House. Sit back and let Melissa Walker be your guide. She writes without a shred of judgment and plenty of heart.” —Dana Reinhardt, author of A Brief Chapter of My Impossible Life

“Walker is sympathetic and respectful of her characters’ faith, while putting on display the shocking extremist scare tactics that make Hell Houses, well, hellish.” —Donna Freitas, author of This Gorgeous Game and The Possibilities of Sainthood.

“A non-judgmental, nuanced, fascinating look at the teenage religious right… Walker writes an outstanding contemporary novel with a cast of characters who, far from being portrayed as hateful zealots, are relatable for readers of all faiths. The extremism of Hell House is tempered by the perfectly understandable attitudes and intentions of Lacey Anne, who struggles with what it means to grow up, to question and to think for herself.” –Romantic Times

“Both tender and provocative… Walker creates an astutely balanced portrait of a conservative congregation’s in-your-face response to perennial issues of domestic abuse, teen pregnancy, and suicide, as well as of those who struggle to fit the prescribed Christian mold.” –Publishers Weekly

“This secular story about religious people could easily devolve into camp mockery, but because Walker takes her character’s crisis of faith seriously and sensitively, readers will, too.” –Kirkus Reviews