| Dead Is The New Black |
[Jul. 21st, 2008|12:06 pm] |
I received an ARC of DEAD IS THE NEW BLACK by Marlene Perez. 
Once I started reading it was hard to put down.
When teenage girls are mysteriously attacked in the town of Nightshade, CA, Daisy suspects Samantha, head cheerleader and ex-best friend, as the culprit.
First sentence: "Being dead became fashionable approximately forty-five minutes after Samantha "the Divine" Devereaux came back from summer break."
DEAD IS THE NEW BLACK is the first in a series of paperback originals. This book is creepy and fun. Highly recommended. |
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| Friday Five |
[Jun. 4th, 2008|02:26 pm] |
1-5 Busy busy busy busy busy
I'll be back around July 7th. Don't forget me!
Have a great month! |
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[May. 15th, 2008|01:23 pm] |
I also tried it with medwriter, but there's no way I'm posting what it said. |
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[May. 14th, 2008|12:19 pm] |
I finished the rewrite on the extra horrible and stinking first draft. It came out to be 40K. The next revision will be big, but I now have something more substantial to work with. It's a beginning to the real writing to come.
I will print out the manuscript, make an outline with the point and theme of each scene. The pacing has major problems. I feel like I've cooked a room full of broken up spaghetti noodles and I have to sort them. I am amazed I have a plot, and I love the characters. I have been working on this for nine months.
Blood Brothers made the Bank Street list of excellent teen books for mature readers. |
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[May. 8th, 2008|11:59 pm] |
You Are a Brazil Nut
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To most people, you seem exotic, unusual, and even a bit scary.
But you're really quite normal. You're just hard to get to know.
If people leave you alone and let you do your thing, you really shine.
But you tend to get lost in a crowd, especially if it's filled with big personalities.
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[May. 8th, 2008|02:49 pm] |
I bought a new curling iron thinking this was the solution to my limp, fine hair problem. I already have several curling irons, but not like this one. The instructions said, "Do not use while sleeping." I would like to sleep and have my hair fixed at the same time.
Yesterday was my oldest son's birthday. He would have called, but he emailed and said he lost his cell phone. That is no big surprise. Somebody in my family always has a misplaced cell phone. Usually him.
Last night I had a library dream. I was working at the library--actually volunteering--but I got fired for reading all the time. My oldest son used to get into trouble at school for reading all the time. I had a hard time breaking him of that habit.
Have a happy day!
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[May. 6th, 2008|11:40 am] |
I hope to post pictures from the banquet soon. I am having a little problem doing it, and I have to wait for my husband. My laptop is the pits, and it isn't that old.
Yesterday the florist came to my door and brought me the most beautiful flowers from my agent. I should take a picture, but I think I am totally inept with a camera.
Hope everyone is having a nice day!
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[May. 4th, 2008|12:01 pm] |
The trip to NYC and to the Edgars was fun. A car arrived early Thursday morning and took my husband and me to the airport. The flight was long and boring. In NY, another car took us to the Helmsley hotel. The room was on the sixteenth floor. A while later Beverly Horowitz called to say hello and congrats, but I was in the shower so my husband talked to her. At around 6PM we went downstairs and met with Caroline Cooney, Claudia Gabel, Nancy Siscoe, Beverly Horowitz, and Wendelin Van Draanen. (I may be forgetting somebody. I was in awe of meeting Wendelin and Caroline.) We took a couple of cabs to the Grand Hyatt. At a reception, the nominees had their picture taken with their group. I met the rest of the nominees in the young adult category and I was again in awe. I had read their books and thought they were great. My agent Steven showed up. Everybody chatted. Next we went into the banquet room. Thankfully all I had to do was follow Claudia. We sat at the Random House table. It was sort of surreal. I met Ginger Knowlton, Elizabeth Harding, Meg O'Brien, and Nancy Siscoe. There was lots of conversation so I mainly listened. When we started dinner, clips from famous scary movies were shown. I shut my eyes as soon as the one from Psycho came on. Dinner was pretty good. Then the awards began and I was glad the ya category was near the beginning. My husband said I did not look at all disappointed, and I said I wasn't. It was amazing to be at the awards. After the banquet, we went into another area and there were free books! I was very excited.
On Friday my husband and I walked around some etc. It was cold and windy IMHO, and I wasn't prepared for that. We flew back into Atlanta on Saturday, and another driver met us and drove us home. It's kind of nice getting driven around all the time.
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[Apr. 30th, 2008|12:01 am] |
The other day I met with Eddie Suttles, a blogger, reviewer, and bookseller. His review of my book and our chat are Here
Hope everyone has a great rest of the week. I won't be around for several days. |
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| AJC article |
[Apr. 27th, 2008|10:34 am] |
If you live in the Atlanta area, check out the AJC article "WHOWUNIT?" by Phil Kloer. The article is about the three Edgar nominees from the Atlanta area: Derek Nikitas, nominee for first novel, Evelyn Coleman, nominee for best juvenile mystery, and me, nominee for best mystery in the ya category.
"The Edgar Awards are the Oscars of mystery writing, with less cleavage and more IQ," Kloer says in the article.
I will be attending the ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in NYC on Thursday evening.
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[Apr. 19th, 2008|10:57 am] |
Last night I went to the 2008 High School Literary Arts Competition at GA Perimeter College. The keynote speaker was author Hollis Gillespie, and she was hilarious. I hope if I ever give a speech, I can be that entertaining.
All the student winners are published in a nice magazine. I've read some of the poems and stories. They are wonderful.
My youngest son turned eighteen this week. The only thing he wanted to do was get the driver's license removing the restriction, no driving after midnight.
My daughter called the other night, and we talked for about an hour. She is excited about her trip to Belize for her environmental studies course. She received her passport within two weeks.
Thirteen days until the Edgars.
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| Newspaper article |
[Apr. 6th, 2008|12:27 pm] |
The title of the article is:
Thrilling beginning
Local author gets 'Edgar' nomination for debut novel
It's in my hometown newspaper and online. Here
Edited to add: For some reason it appears a link can't be made directly to an article. Don't know if this will work or not: http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/main.asp?SectionID=30&TM=47910.46
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[Apr. 3rd, 2008|02:48 pm] |
Five things. Maybe.
I was interviewed by a local newspaper this week. One of the questions was: What young adult authors influenced you? The stumper was: How would you describe your style?
Horn Book recently reviewed my book. "Direct, honest language and raw emotions will grab readers by the heart."
I'll been heading here in June to attend son's graduation.
I haven't gotten a dog yet. These next three months are extremely busy. (I haven't even found the time to buy shoes.)
I was asked to blurb a book. It is a great book. (No, I don't know the author.) My blurb may not be used, but it was nice to be asked. |
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[Mar. 28th, 2008|12:42 pm] |
A few weeks ago, a writer friend emailed and said she had had enough. She was giving up writing because it caused her too much disappointment. She said it only brought her unhappiness. I reminded her how long it had taken me to be published. Over the years, I've quit writing and then I would forget I quit and start writing again. She told me, "I'm not like you. You have the disease. I can walk away." (I am betting she'll be writing again after she takes a break.)
On another note, I was sad to learn Verla Kay's books will be going out of print. Linda Joy blogged about it at ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) lindajsingleton This is a great opportunity to support another writer who has been giving back to the writing community for many years.
Hope everyone has a great weekend. I'll be writing. |
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[Mar. 27th, 2008|04:37 pm] |
Kobe Bryant and Neil Sedaka?
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[Mar. 23rd, 2008|11:43 am] |
About a year ago, writerross sent me a link to a Bruce Springsteen song, BLOOD BROTHERS, right after she found out the title of my book. I had never heard the song before, and it was kind of eerie for me.
"Now we're out on this road.. out on this road tonight. I close my eyes and feel so many friends around me.. in the early evening light. And the miles we have come. And the battles one won and lost. I've just so many roads travelled, so many rivers crossed. May god give us strength and the faith in one another. Because it's a good night for a ride, cross the river to the other side. My BLOOD BROTHERS!"
Yesterday my neighbor had her annual doggie treat hunt. (It's like an egg hunt for kids but the dogs are the guests.) Sounded like the dogs were having a terrific time. It has been two months since I lost my sweet doggie.
I hope everyone is having a lovely day. It's beautiful here.
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[Mar. 19th, 2008|12:24 pm] |
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You are The Wheel of Fortune
Good fortune and happiness but sometimes a species of
intoxication with success
The Wheel of Fortune is all about big things, luck, change, fortune. Almost always good fortune. You are lucky in all things that you do and happy with the things that come to you. Be careful that success does not go to your head however. Sometimes luck can change.
What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out. |
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[Mar. 16th, 2008|05:08 pm] |
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[Mar. 14th, 2008|12:54 pm] |
I participated in the Meadowcreek High School literary festival yesterday. It was great. I didn't take any pictures.
I was pleased when the principal commented he had heard my name before. Then he told me it was because he had been assistant principal where my kids went to high school and remembered them well.
My daughter wants to do a summer environmental science program out of the country. I don't know if she has time to get a passport, and naturally I worry. My son will be graduating from college, and he is applying for jobs. He mentioned a job in Nevada. My youngest son will be going to LA for Academic Decathlon, taking AP exams, and then graduating from high school. There are several things he has to do before starting college in the fall.
Time passes too fast.
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