First off, I’d like to remind everyone of my event in Barrie this coming Saturday, November 21st! Stop by and chat, grab some swag, and get a book signed. Would love to see you!

Saturday, November 21st, 2:00 – 4:00pm
Chapters – Barrie
76 Barrie View Drive
Barrie, ON

I also have three new appearances to announce, as part of the 2009 Debs Holidaze Tour. I’ll be in New York on December 6th with several fellow Debs, and a bunch of Debs will be joining me here in Toronto in early January:

Sunday, December 6th, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Books of Wonder
18 West 18th St.
New York, NY
(with Sarah Cross, Deva Fagan, Neesha Meminger, Kate Messner, Shani Petroff, Jon Skovron, and Michelle Zink)

Thursday, January 7th, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Indigo – Yorkdale Shopping Centre
3401 Dufferin St.
Toronto, ON
(with R.J. Anderson and Neesha Meminger)

Saturday, January 9th, 2:00pm – 4:00pm
Indigo – Eaton Centre
220 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON
(with Neesha Meminger, Sarah Ockler, Rhonda Stapleton, and Lara Zielin)

For the full list of Holidaze tour dates, including Chicago and the San Francisco area, click here.

Hope to meet a bunch more of you in the next couple months!

Originally published at Megan Crewe - another world, not quite ours. You can comment here or there.

We fired up the random number generator and the Random Number Gods have spoken! The winner of this months' Debsness bag is:

learningtoread!!!

Congratulations! I will be contacting you for your mailing address shortly so we can get this Debsness bag into your hot little hands!

December 15, 2009 at 12:01am EST is your LAST chance to win! Stop back by and see us, and thank you again for celebrating with us!!

2009 DEBUTANTES' HOLIDAZE TOUR - Updated Itinerary!

New dates are highlighted in red!

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: Lauren Bjorkman, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, Malinda Lo, Sarah Quigley, J.A. Yang

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

January 7, 7pm
Yorkdale Indigo
Yorkdale Mall
3401 Dufferin St.
Including: R.J. Anderson, Megan Crewe, Neesha Meminger

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

givesushope
It's that glorious time of year when we reunite with loved ones (we neglected all year), stuff our faces to excess, and pass out in front of the TV. Perhaps a recalibration of the thanksometer is in order. A spin-off of the popular GivesMeHope.com site, this community invites you to document moments of kindness, generosity, and pure human love.

veggieslackers
Despite its mainstream appeal, Thanksgiving is not for everyone. There are those struggling with food disorders, for whom this day causes endless conflict. There are the cash-challenged, who can't afford the gluttony we've grown to expect. There are the lonely, who don't have loved ones nearby. And let's not forget the vegetarians, who decry the animal cruelty. But there's one more group we often overlook: the terminally lazy! This community of lazy vegetarians offers easy recipes for an animal-friendly feast.

fashin
Just in time for holiday shopping season, this fashionista community brings you the world of haute couture in the form of sumptuous photos, video clips, and candid commentary. There's also a sugary sprinkle of mainstream movie discussions and debates on such pressing social issues as manicure styles and celebrity colonics. If you need a break from the daily grind to indulge your girlie side, this is twinkly pink on steroids.

LIBRARIANS! Want to win 46 new MG and YA books? Go here for details.


I realized after my last post that I included plenty of beach photos from my weekend, but none from the bookstore event!

Sadly, that’s because I didn’t take any. I only had my camera phone – which doesn’t take great photos indoors – but I was also caught up in the whirl of events!

But my fellow debut author Sarah Quigley did, and was kind enough to share them with me.



Left to right: Sarah Quigley (author of TMI), C. Lee McKenzie (author of SLIDING ON THE EDGE), me, and Cheryl Renee Herbsman (author of BREATHING).

I had such a great time at Not Your Mother’s Book Club, and again, THANKS to everyone who came out for the event!

seaheidi gave me an Advance Reader Copy of SEA, her beautiful YA novel, which is scheduled for release in June 2010. I feel like I've been waiting forever to read this book, and I gobbled it up in two sittings. Ohh ... so good. Full of love and loss and hope and heat and heart. Most of the story takes place in post-tsunami Indonesia, and Heidi creates such a vivid setting that it leaps off the page. When Sienna (the main character) meets Deni (a 17-year-old tsunami survivor) ... well. That scene is unforgettable. I'll post a more thorough review when it's closer to release date. But put this one on your to-be-read list!

Here’s a roundup of recent interviews:

Sarah Ockler invites Blake to have a party – what food and entertainment will he have? Check it out.

Kristin Walker wants to know what one piece of writing advice I would give myself, if I could go back in time.

Jenny Moss asks me to reveal my favorite book character.

I confessed to Deva Fagan my least favorite fairy tale.

Jennifer Jabaley asks several probing questions, including one about my writing routine.

Saundra Mitchell invites me to answer 9 important questions, like “Legs or pudding?”

Entries are now closed! Find out who wins the second to last Debsness bag EVAR tomorrow at noon!

Only two more months of Debsness left! Click on the image below to enter to win a bunch of fun items from the 2009 Debs:

Originally published at Megan Crewe - another world, not quite ours. You can comment here or there.

Originally published at MSUFaL. You can comment here or there.

LK Madigan’s debut novel FLASH BURNOUT is about a boy torn between two girls- the one who loves him, and the one who needs him. We’re asking LK 9 essential questions we need to know about every author!

9. Legs or pudding?
Wow, hard question! I practice tae kwon do, so legs are pretty important, but I figure I’ll be toothless someday, so … PUDDING!

8. Jean jacket or leather jacket?
I have a lot of memories tied up in an old jean jacket my honey gave me (it was once his), so JEAN!

7. Blind faith or cold logic?
Blind faith has gotten me this far, I’ll stick with it.

6. Pen or keyboard?
Keyboard, unless I am trying to be a stealthy spy and note-taker out in the wild.

5. Zombies or unicorns?
Team Unicorn!

4. Hardback or paperback?
I’m too eager to wait for paperbacks, so HARDBACK!

3. Bookmark or fold the page?
Bookmark, of course, what was I … raised by wolves? Don’t hurt books.

2. Hoard or share?
Hoard chocolate, share unsolicited advice.

1. Happy ending or total devastation?
Happy ending, please, or – failing that – at least not total devastation.

Thanks, LK! To find out more about LK, check out her website at www.flashburnout.com!

Originally published at MSUFaL. You can comment here or there.

Welcome back, friends! It's that time again- the time when the YA and MG authors of Debut 2009 give you a party in a bag- a Debsness bag! Each one is packed with more than thirty-five treats, delights, novelties and oddities! You keep coming back so we keep adding more prizes! Want to take a peek?

( Take a peek! )


Enter by leaving a comment in this entry. Anonymous and OpenID entrants, please include your name and an e-mail address where we may contact you if you're the winner. The winner will be chosen at random from all the entrants- but don't hesitate!

This post will be open from 1:30am EST until 1:30pm EST, November 15/16th, 2009 only! Your next chance to win one of these exclusive bags is a month away, so enter now! The winner will be announced Friday at noon!

Good luck, Happy Debsness, and thanks to all of you for celebrating our debut year with us!

***

Boring Small Print:

Anyone, anywhere is eligible! Entrants must be 13 years of age, or have their parents enter the giveaway for them. Debs and their immediate families are, sadly, ineligible to win. This means you, Snoop and Baxter, sorry. You may only win ONE Debsness bag, but winning a Debsness bag does not disqualify you from other Debs giveaways during the year.

This is such a bummer! They're both right!

via Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

San Francisco traffic: shudder.

I did arrive early and only a little harried. I saw my dear literaticat first – she was busy getting the most critical part of the evening in order: the cookies and mini-cupcakes! Alas, I never did partake of their desserty goodness – once things got underway, I was too busy.

We had a little time before the event started, so I said hi to Sara Zarr, met Allen Zadoff and Barry Lyga … then met some of the other MG/YA authors in the crowd who had come out to support us: Sarah Quigley, Cheryl Renee Herbsman, C. Lee McKenzie, Heidi Kling, Courtney Sheinmel, and Daisy Whitney! Three Debs, two Tenners, and lovely Courtney, in a class by herself. (I've met Cheryl and Lee before, but it was so good to see them again.) Thanks so much for coming out, you guys!

I also got to meet some new agent-sisters: Ilene Wong and Whitney Miller. Stay tuned … I’ll bet it’s not long before we’re hearing that their books have sold.

And of course the evening would have been tragically lacking without the amazing Martha Flynn in attendance! She needs to come visit me in Portland. I also met Debbie Duncan, aspiring novelist and busy reviewer.

I met lots of other people, including some young book bloggers … forgive me for not listing everyone. I’m supposed to check out of my hotel room in ten minutes (literally!) so I’m rushing.

Andrew Smith was the fifth YA author on our panel, but I didn’t actually meet him until the event was over. His book is called IN THE PATH OF FALLING OBJECTS, and sounds sooo chilling. Can’t wait to read it.

Barry spoke first, and read an excerpt from GOTH GIRL RISING (about boobs). Then Sara talked about the inspiration behind ONCE WAS LOST, and read an excerpt. Then Andrew got up to talk, and I said to Allen, “Let’s do boy-girl-boy-girl. I’ll go next.”

When it was my turn, I talked a little bit about FLASH BURNOUT, read an excerpt, and talked briefly about next year’s book – THE MERMAID’S MIRROR. On Twitter, Heidi had mentioned that she hoped I would read a teaser from the mermaid book … so I did! (The prologue, nice and short.)

Then it was Allen’s turn, and he read an excerpt from his debut YA novel – FOOD, GIRLS, AND OTHER THINGS I CAN’T HAVE. Within minutes we were all laughing so hard we were crying. I can’t wait to read the whole book! And selfishly … I’m really glad I didn’t have to follow him. Can you imagine?

We answered some questions, signed some books, and then the Third Annual Fall Book Bash at Not Your Mother’s Book Club was over! Sob.

I got to spend time chatting with Heidi about writing and parenthood and contemporary realistic fiction versus fantasy, and all kinds of deep topics. She’s awesome – and she gave me an ARC of her upcoming YA: SEA. Squee!!

I got back to my hotel around midnight, but I don’t think I fell asleep until around two. I was just so buzzed from the event. Thanks so much, Jenn, for making it happen. <3

I woke up this morning, poured some coffee down my throat, and went for a walk on the beach.

Even though Half Moon Bay is only 30 miles from the crowded metropolis of San Francisco, the beach was empty, except for one fisherman and two surfers in the distance. I love being on a deserted beach. It was more than an hour before any other people appeared.

(Again, camera-phone quality photos.)




The surf was high this morning, and loud.

( Read more... )

Originally published at devafagan.com. You can comment here or there.

Today I’m happy to welcome L.K. Madigan to my blog, to answer a few questions about her debut YA novel Flash Burnout.

Q: Tell us about a scene or character from your novel that was especially easy (or especially difficult) to write.

A: The scene in which Blake’s dad talks to him about birth control was really fun to write.

Q: What is your favorite (or one of your favorite) myths or fairy-tales, and why? Or alternately, what fairy-tale or myth do you dislike, and why?

A: Classic fairy tales are pretty grim. (Get it? Grimm?) The female character is always being poisoned or slaving away for villains or getting locked in a tower/dungeon/cellar. The fairy tale I most dislike is the original Little Mermaid story – not only does she give up her voice to be with her beloved prince, but having legs instead of a tail feels like walking on knives to her. THEN he chooses someone else, anyway, and she can’t go back home unless she kills him. She bravely refuses, and becomes foam on the sea. Sob!

Maybe that’s why I wrote my own mermaid book. (Coming out next year.)

Q: So, what has been the most exciting part of selling your book(s) and getting published so far?

A: I’m starting to receive fan mail (really! I got an email yesterday titled “fan mail”), but I think the most exciting part of this journey has been the friendships with other writers I’ve developed. I expect that pleasure to continue, so I’m totally thrilled by that perk of being published.

( Read the rest of this entry » )

Wanted to remind you all that my event at Bitten by Books is happening right now! You have until noon EST today (Saturday) to enter to win a pack of awesome ghost books, ghost scents, swag, and more.

Read the interview and find out how to enter here.

Hope to see you there!

Originally published at Megan Crewe - another world, not quite ours. You can comment here or there.

Despite criticism of the trope, the “bad boy” character remains immensely popular among readers and audiences. Whether he’s got a supernatural side that makes him potentially lethal, like True Blood’s Eric and Twilight’s Edward, or a callous side that could turn him into a heartbreaker, like Lost’s Sawyer and Gossip Girl’s Chuck, they catch other characters’ eyes and make fans swoon. (“Femmes fatales” likely serve the same function, for similar reasons, though they seem to be less common in stories these days.) The theory most often suggested is that we like the idea of a love interest we can change for the better. But wouldn’t it be easier to go for someone who doesn’t need changing in the first place, and who isn’t so likely to rip out our hearts (figuratively or literally)? Why is dangerous so much more appealing than safe? I think psychology may provide an answer.

Read on!

Comment there or here!

Originally published at Megan Crewe - another world, not quite ours. You can comment here or there.

The wonderful secret about the northern California coast is that sometimes the best weather is in the fall.

Please excuse the quality of the camera-phone photos … but I think they capture the gorgeousness of this day.



Pillar Point Harbor

( Read more... )

Okay, it's not just for Barb. Viva la Meep!