Crusade SECRETS Revealed!

"Getting to know you, getting to know all about you..."

When I was a little girl, I used to skip around my house singing that line, pretending I was Julie Andrews and that some fiery bald-headed King wanted me as his children's English tutor. I wanted to be in The King and I.

If you read FRIDAY'S POST (which was way fun, BTW), you know that I participated in the first Crusader Challenge for the second Crusader Pledge. Feel free to read it now, if you didn't get the chance before. It's less than 300 words and reveals bits about moi.

According to challenge rules, I had to include the following: 4 funky words previously chosen (rabbit, blade, bloviate, fuliguline), one interesting quirk, one annoying habit, one of my best character traits, one of my favorite things in the whole world, one secret, and lastly...one lie or fib as I like to call it.

Pretty cool challenge, I might say. Thanks, Rachel!

"Time to fess up," as my pepere used to say.

I was shocked at how I stumped everyone. Your comments about my short excerpt were endearing, touching my heart. It was wonderful to hear that you appreciated my effort. But more over, despite the fact that you couldn't figure out my fib, you kept reading. Some of you said my writing was beautiful and made you forget what you were looking for. Thank you. I will not forget your encouragement.

So, I did use the four funky words.

My interesting quirk was that I returned to dance at the age of 36 and dance just for fun. (Trust me: that is a quirk.)

My annoying habit is that no matter how sucky I sing, I keep trying. *shiver* I sing in the shower, while I wash dishes, & jam to rock music in the car, looking really stupid at a stop light.

One of my best character traits would probably have to be my ability to look beyond a sacrifice and see hope. You know; when one door closes, a window opens....

Favorite thing in the whole world would be dance.

My secret ~ the dancer's feet in this photo which I included in my post are my actual feet.

And last but not least, the fib. Although I said I stumped you, there were four of you who did guess correctly. Hearts to U! GP Ching, Lydia Kang, Dan Klinefelter, and Regina! I DID NOT play the spoons. But you should have seen my family play them. Stupidly good. Really. When all my older French relatives used to get together, they'd jam on those things and make real music. It was awesome! I loved listening to them as a kid.

What about you? Did you have a relative who could do something really cool with something as mundane as a set of spoons? Have you ever thought about incorporating a funky quirk like that into one of your characters?

CRUSADERS: Who Is Sheri?

A definite right-sided brainiac (math—B’cawk!), I’ve lived quite the creative life. It only seems fitting to take my fellow Crusaders on an epic journey to unravel Moi.

Surrounded by painters and sketch artists, folk musicians and French singers, my childhood was one for the bloviate record books. Not much of a musician myself, my body lent itself to the rhythm of motion. Well, that’s if you exclude my stint playing the Spoons. Still, the meek at heart may want to cover their cyber-fuliguline-ears.

At the youthful age of 17, I was offered to study dance under a Broadway dancer. Hopes high, I could almost not breathe. All my efforts since I was three were about to pay off. The late nights choreographing, missed high school parties, and yes, declined dates would all be worth it.

Then disaster struck. Mom was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

I made the gut-wrenching decision, casting a blade of grief through my own heart, and gave up my dream to care for my family. Sure, your fist might be clenched at your chest thinking, “Aw…what a sacrifice.” But in all reality, it was no sacrifice. I spent the next fourteen years married to a wonderful guy, who turned into an amazing man, while together giving life to four new human beings. My efforts were blessed ~ abundantly.

And to top it all off, I started dancing again. Yes, and this time it is purely for fun. I am a Monday Night Hottie—a group of woman ranging in age from 23 to 61. They are the Hotties, really. (I’ve yet to consider myself one.) They are my dancing angels on earth, Xanado rollerblading rabbit’s feet and all. 

Hopefully I’ll get to keep dancing when I earn my wings…someday.

Now for my confession: I’ve snuck in per request of Rachel of Rachel Writes a teeny-weeny, itsy-bitsy fib and also a really special truth. Can you guess what they are? (I’ll reveal the answers on Monday.)

For those of you who didn't see my post for yesterday--yes, I normally don't post on Thursdays--please take a peek at it. It's right below here. My Oasis Sisters and I have designed our own meme! We'd love it if you'd take part.
And yesterday I stupidly forgot to say what I'm thankful for -- that would be all of you. Really. Every old and new Alleywalker. I'm not just saying this. The fact that you follow and support me astounds me. There truly are no words other than: Thank You.

In an unrelated issue, I'd like to send my condolences to Author L.K. Madigan's family, friends, and associates. She's the author of THE MERMAID'S MIRROR and 2010 Morris Award-Winning YA novel FLASH BURNOUT who passed away this month. She will be sadly missed.

OASIS Thankful Meme!

I know you normally don't hear from me on Thursdays, but I couldn't resist supporting Oasis for YA and my blogging sisters.

Today Oasis for YA joins the ranks of the Meme owners!! 

See our new Meme! Isn't it beautiful! The lovely Jessie even went down to the beach in Florida to take the warm tropical photo. Just love it. 

We figure that there is something to be thankful each and every day. Times when your work is validated through receiving a request for material or when you finish plotting your next best novel. And what about when one of your children does something that reminds you why you wanted children. Then there's Mother Nature and how simply sitting and listening can make you feel alive.

You can even be thankful when times are tough. And yes, even more so then.

So join us every Thursday in being thankful for something, someone, or whatever else your creative minds can conjure. The only criteria is that you use our Meme logo and be thankful. That's it. You don't have to write YA. All genres are welcome. We are a writing community. Let's be thankful for that.

I am, and I thank you for your support in advance.

Want to Know How Weird I AM?

It's inevitable. We cyber-meet. We chat, carry-on a few blogging dates. Then it happens. I say something that shows how kookie I really am.


Either you like it, or turn from me, walk away, and never visit my humble alleyway again. (*tears well up and balance on my lower lids, threating to escape*) 


"Please don't go..." my voice trails off, my hands reach out to you.


Over the past year, I've been blessed to make some fangtastical blogging buddies who allow me to call them my cyber chums. Thank you.


Today, I'm here to highlight a few. SEVEN to be exact. Do you know why? Because one of those newer blogging chums, Shari, over on Think, Dream, Inspire, has graced me with an award. She is such a sweet person. Take a gander over and give her a wave!


Before I give the award away, Shari has asked me to give you the random scoop on myself times SEVEN. What I've done, is listed a few of my peeves: THINGS IN LIFE THAT ARE JUST WRONG...to me, anyway.


1. I despise buying toilet paper. What a waste. (hee...)


2. I live with four guys. Yes, I gave birth to three of them but they're still of the Y chromesome. Of all those rolls of TP we buy, how many do you think they actually put on the toilet paper holder??? NONE!! Ziltch. NADA!


3. There are more socks littering my yard, family room, and 'man cave' in the basement, then there are in all of our dresser draws combined. I even have found the 14yr-old son wearing my socks!! "Mom, their black and non-see'ems. Who cares?" Um...Mom does, especially when she can't find a pair of socks for herself.


4. Hotdog packages with 8 dogs, but the roll packages only have 6. What is up with that?? That, my friends, is mind-messing. Seriously. It's like a cruel joke. If we set up our kids like that, they'd call it abuse.


5. The dude who gets in the wrong turning lane and looks at me like I have a problem. Really, guy?? It should be legal to ram my car into his.


6. Commercials. Period. They should be optional.


7. Lack of body towels. For some of you, this may be repetitive. I've mentioned it before, but I felt it was appropriate for this list. As stated above, I live with four guys...(the 12yr-old daughter and tiny female dog, too.) My oldest son hoards our towels. The other day, I collected 18 towels from his closet. Yeah, the hubs had to drip dry out of the shower. Not a happy hubby. And just before that, I pulled 11 towels--all crusted, smelly, and plain'ole gross--from said 17yr-old's hockey bag.            Just wrong.


BONUS: Went to the dentist for a hygiene, yesterday. Whenever I go to the dentist, why do I feel like I'm walking into my elementary Catholic school class and the nun is going to scold me?


There you have it. My crabby list for today!!


In no particular order, here are some of my newer blogging chums who are amazing!! Thanks guys for spending cyber time with me.


Don   Michael   Tabitha   Nikki    Cherry   Stephanie   Shannon
These peeps are all wonderful. Pay them a visit!!


SPLATTER: Come back Friday when I'm hoping to post my Crusader entry. Um, yeah, I just need to write it. The kids are home all week on vacation, so it may be tough. I'll try hard. lol

Book Spotlight: DARKEST MERCY

Mondays are a winner around the Alleyway. WE have some swag and book winners to announce. But that will come at the end of this post. So without further delay, read on my dear Alleywalkers and enjoy.


Title: Darkest Mercy
Author: Melissa Marr
Genre: YA
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 336


Favorite line or passage: "She couldn't stop herself; she reached up and ran her fingers through Keenan's hair. It felt different, not sharp enough to hurt, but soft. There was no pain, no steam, no clash--so Donia continued trailing her fingers over his changed body."


Description: The Summer King is missing; the Dark Court is bleeding; and a stranger walks the streets of Huntsdale, his presence signifying the deaths of powerful fey.
Aislinn tends to the Summer Court, searching for her absent king and yearning for Seth. Torn between his new queen and his old love, Keenan works from afar to strengthen his court against the coming war. Donia longs for fiery passion even as she coolly readies the Winter Court for battle. And Seth, sworn brother of the Dark King and heir to the High Queen, is about to make a mistake that could cost his life.


Love, despair, and betrayal ignite the Faery Courts, and in the final conflict, some will win . . . and some will lose everything.


The thrilling conclusion to Melissa Marr's New York Times bestselling Wicked Lovely series will leave readers breathless.


I am a huge Wicked Lovely fan. As the series has progressed, I've been in the minority of approval when it came to the direction Melissa Marr chose to take the books at times. I loved how she explored different characters from altered angles and views. She gave them background voices, when they weren't playing front-and-center as main characters. I found that very interesting.


Wicked Lovely was a beautifully written introduction into this world hidden among mortals. Ink Exchange veered from the main characters, Aislinn and Keenan, focusing on another character and important avenue, broadening this amazing world. Fragile Eternity turned back to Aislinn and Keenan, and their internal struggles to be who they are meant to be. And of course, love and all its balance, sacrifice, and effort plays a huge roll in those decisions.


Radiant Shadows was another drift from the main characters, but, in my opinion, it did the story justice. As a reader, I was able to see more of the world-building Marr is so gifted at creating. Focusing on two different characters, allowed me to watch others at a distance and how they reacted to being background characters.


The climactic ending to the Wicked Lovely saga is strong, enticing, and yes--fulfilling. Darkest Mercy threads together the first four books and their diversity. The main plot, which remained intact throughout the series, grows in strength and angst with the flip of each page. Despite personal gripes or past misgivings between characters of each Court, the fact remains that their beloved Faerie and their futures are in trouble. Will they rise above their differences to have a future?


The voices are as bold as ever, even with a few twists that could have made reading complicated. But Marr does a marvelous and clear job in communicating the character's needs and desires. I also found some of their self-examinations to be deeper - two in particular, but I won't name them not wanting to give any of the story away. The action scenes are poetically descriptive and plausible. I really enjoyed watching certain characters dig deep within themselves, while others sadly faded. As one would say, "It's all in the script, for the love of the story."


The threat War creates builds consistently throughout the story until the climatic ending moves every character--those we've grown to love, be annoyed with, or hate--beyond his/her self to invest in something more. Something real. True internal growth. It was a thing of beauty to watch characters sacrifice more than they thought they were capable of. And it was an enchanting contradiction to menace that had been lurking through each book.

In the end, the story is a journey of love. Whether it be love of another faery, love of home and a place to belong, or love of honor and dedication to one's responsibility, love and what it takes is the ultimate message. It's at the forefront of every character thread and motivation. 


Before I announce the winners, I have a special surprise for you. Over on Oasis for YA, we're giving away an ARC of DARKEST MERCY. For details, head over and ENTER. The winner will be announced this Friday. I'm also exploring the Ugly Doubt Monster and the Sanctuary of Self-Belief in my post over on Oasis, today!


NOW for the WINNERS of both my giveaways.

LYDIA KANG
LISA GAIL GREEN
LENNY

You are the WINNERS of the Elana Johnson signed bookmarks!
CANDYLAND
READING MIND
You are the WINNERS of Elana Johnson signed book plates!

In random order, here are the WINNERS of my 4 book giveaway.

Llehn - Specials

Sarah Bibi Setar - The Lonely Bones

SiNn - The Van Alen Legacy

Christine - Betrayed

CONGRATS to all the winners. I'll be in contact soon. 

Thank you to everyone who entered. It means a ton to me. 

ALLEYWALKERS Galore & More!!

Cyber space is a great way to shout out loud. And I haven't given some somein' some to my blogging mates in a while.

So here's a few SHOUT-OUTS for you.

~ The NUMBER 1 'BLAH' I must mention is a long-overdue GRAFFITI welcome to our newest Alleywalkers!! Seriously, over 140 of you have joined the Alleyway over the last three weeks, alone. Whoa!! I am humbled you've chosen to join us. So many new authors to splatter the graffiti wall with their stories and advice. Don't forget to just ask me if you want an interview. I'd love it!!

I hope you visit often, and that I can keep you informed and entertained. You all RAWK!! During the month of March, I plan on hosting a book giveaway just for my current followers. Yes. You are that special. AND wait 'til you see the hardcover I have for you.

Heart U!!

~ I've chatted about platforms before. Even gave you a nifty picture.

REMEMBER THESE?????

Well, Rachel over on Rach Writes has come up with a pretty sweet way to hone that author platform from the foundation up!

She hosted her first Writer Platform-Building Crusade last year and has decided to host a second Crusade.

It's simple to participate and doesn't take much effort on your part. All you do is visit her post about the SECOND WRITERS PLATFORM-BUILDING CRUSADE and fill out the form. Basically, it's a great way to mingle with other writers and bloggers creating those all important stepping stones and base.




~ AND for another announcement: have you checked out BOOKRUSHED, yet?? Whoa. If not, go HERE now!! I'll wait.

You came back. Thanks!! Aren't they fabulous!? They are just a ton of fun, hosting contests and giveaways, and then there's their amazing book reviews! Yeah, and I'm all hearts over their logo.


~ I also wanted to bring your attention over to my sidebar. 

In passing, I've mentioned that I am in cahoots with 4 other writers. We've been dubbed ~ The Oasis Sisters. Pretty cool. And seeing how I highlighted the blog this past Friday as we hosted the That's YAmore blogfest--which was a fangtabulous success because of some of you--I figured I should do a pluggie for us. I would love it if you'd copy our badge and show us some love with a post, a highlight, or even a follow. The gals are amazing, and we have a set writing schedule. It's all about you.


Merci!! AND have a safe weekend, everyone!!

Book Spotlight: THE WATER WARS

Today, I'm featuring another YA new-release.

Title: The Water Wars
Author: Cameron Stracher
Genre: YA Dystopian
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire (Jan. 1, 2011)
Pages: 240

I would like to thank Sourcebooks for supplying me with a copy of this book to review.

Interesting Line: "His hair bounced on his shoulders like something alive."

Description: Would you risk everything for someone you just met?

What if he had a secret worth killing for?

Welcome to a future where water is more precious than oil or gold...

Hundreds of millions of people have already died, and millions more will soon fall-victims of disease, hunger, and dehydration.

It is a time of drought and war. The rivers have dried up, the polar caps have melted, and drinkable water is now in the hands of the powerful few. There are fines for wasting it and prison sentences for exceeding the quotas.

But Kai didn't seem to care about any of this. He stood in the open road drinking water from a plastic cup, then spilled the remaining drops into the dirt. He didn't go to school, and he traveled with armed guards. Kai claimed he knew a secret-something the government is keeping from us...

And then he was gone. Vanished in the middle of the night. Was he kidnapped? Did he flee? Is he alive or dead? There are no clues, only questions. And no one can guess the lengths to which they will go to keep him silent. We have to find him-and the truth-before it is too late for all of us.

In between a Bring-Along & Multi-Task Read

MY SPLATS: I won't lie. I had a hard time with this story.

When I agree to do a book review, it's always with the intention of truly reading and reading into the story. I desire to examine the characters, setting, and flow so that I may give you an accurate view of the story. It is never my intention to put anyone's work down. This book is on the market, and the author deserve that credit. 

At first glance of the cover, I was excited. It's totally smashing. And on the onset, I felt a connection with the setting. As desolate and frankly depressing as it was, I could see, feel, and smell it. That was the author's point and I heard it. But after a while the desolate world created felt bland and frankly boring. I tried desperately to get into the story. The characters helped a bit. 

Vera, the main character, is bright and caring. And I liked the relationship built between her and her older brother, Will. I actually found Will's character very interesting and would have liked more of him at a deeper level. When Vera meets Kai, who I had thought was going to be a main player in the story, I was really hopeful. But after the first few chapters, he disappeared until the end. I kept thirsting to see him again, wondering how he and Vera would finally meld, but it never really happened. The vision created by Vera and Will's mother's illness and their father's sadness over it and having to bare all the financial and household responsibilities was good. But once again, I felt a bit of distance from this relationship, too.

The unexpected relationship between Vera and a character which would normally be perceived as a bad guy, the pirate, was my surprise. That was strong to me, and I appreciated the feeling Vera portrayed. I connected with her there.  

The actual action in the book was good. The writer used clever gadgets and phrases to enhance his world-building. A monopoly feel between those controlling this world was present throughout the book, which made me think of struggles within corporate America. How certain demographics seem not to matter and others do. There were tragedies, which also added to the canvas painted. 

Overall, I felt disconnected with the relationship between characters and their plight. Threading in a little more character growth would have most likely drawn me into caring about the world created and the characters a bit more deeply. Don't misunderstand me, though. The story definitely has merit, bringing to light a world we should hope never truly exists. It makes the reader think--which is always a positive--and be thankful for the world we still do have. Hopefully, even conjures the need to preserve our current world.

Those who enjoy YA dystopian and probably some sci-fi may enjoy this read.

Just KISS Already, Blogfest!

Yo!! Major HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to you all! I HEART YOU. Yes, I know I mentioned that Friday when I posted my 250ish for the "That's YAmore" Blogfest but I meant it. A girl can repeat, can't she???

I'm majorly excited to participate in Stina & Christine's JUST KISS ALREADY Blogfest!! (If you're not following them, you should be. Both are fabulous writers and just plan fun blogging buds! I enjoy spending time with them every week!)

Now don't forget, my entry is a continuation from my 250ish words posted on FRIDAY. Interested? The words can be found HERE.

I'll wait while you refresh or catch up.

Dah...dah..de...

Lah...de...dah....

'K, finished. SWEET! Here we go...

Without any forethought, I bumped my fingertips over Viktor's lips and traced the stubble of his manly face. The quench from his mouth snapped as it opened, but his eyes closed. My fingers nestled in his jet black waves and then clenched the back of his neck. I pulled myself closer to him. My lips nuzzled his earlobe. Temptation battered me from all sides. 

Viktor dipped his head at my neckline. His cheek seared my skin; he was spa warm. His mist boggled my brain. I couldn’t shake it. And I didn’t want to.

We shouldn’t be this close, but I wanted him, more than anything or anyone. My heart said it, inhibitions fluttering away. I unfastened his tie. My knuckles twisted his two top buttons from their eyelets. The heat from his body soaked into mine. The waxing and waning of his breaths soothed me. 

Braiding his fingers through the dangles clinging to my neck, Viktor released my hair from the remnants of its elastic. Soft hands cradled my head in hammock-like comfort. The sultry pleasure of his lips pressed on my neck then traveled to my cheek. He gazed into my eyes.

Just as in his car, while the rain pelted the earth outside, words were not essential—our personal wordless poetry. 

I tipped my head back, as his lips gently pecked mine. Sweet and long-awaited, the kiss was warm and tender. Our touches heated, and then Viktor’s mouth fully engulfed mine as we gave into the passion we’d resisted. 

So there you have it. My steamy, no-they-did-not-miss KISS. I love writing scenes like that for YA. It's sweet and teasing, yet clean. For some reason, that feels more real to me.

Many thanks for Stina of Seeing Creative and Christine of Write-Brained for hosting!! Ooh, and be sure to take a peek at all the other participants, too!! LINKY. And ENTER both my GIVEAWAYS HERE & HERE for this month! All you have to do is leave a comment. Easy Peasy!!

"That's YAmore" Blogfest (It's a LOVE thang.)

LOVE, an appropriate topic for this weekend and upcoming week. With Valentine's Day being on a Monday (couldn't we have changed that???), lots of folks will probably celebrate the holiday this weekend. Maybe with a fancy dinner night-out. Or maybe a movie and a more intimate snuggle.

Either way, there must be CHOCOLATE! (just sayin')

So my amazing Oasis ladies over on my team blog, Oasis for YA, along with moi decided to host a blogfest about ooey, gooey, and steamy love. If you're participating. AWESOME!! If not, that's okay. Just read below for your pleasure, and PLEASE remember to visit some of the other bloggers' posts. I've added their links to the bottom.

My post will continue with an additional 250 words on Monday as I'm participating in Stina & Christine's Just KISS Already Blogfest.

HEARTS to you all....

Setting the scene: this scene takes place just prior to the major antagonist blowing up and shifting the story in a different and heartbreaking direction for these two characters--main lead female and male, Ana & Viktor.


A twinge of energy pulsed from my heart and made it beat with his. It didn’t matter that it was Viktor or that I’d been abrasive with him. His secrets didn’t matter either, not in this moment. 


Relaxing to the point of liquid in his arms, a dainty sigh floated across my lips. His arms weakened against me. His head now rested atop mine. I’d never felt so safe.


I reached back and slid my fingers over his eyebrows, his eyes, his nose, and then his chin. Goose bumps flooded my flesh, but he shivered. “I want to see you.”


“No.”


“Why not?”


“It’s not a good idea.”


“Please…Viktor.” He hesitated and then loosened his embrace.


For me, the outside was a distant thought, second fiddle to the beauty of his energy. That void, the belly of my soul filled. It had been denied too long.


He dragged his fingertips along my lips, wiping the salve clean. Sniffing his finger, he grinned.


The upper bodice of my dress bumped his chest as I leaned into him. “What’s funny?”


“Nothing’s funny.” His blue eyes deepened to a brilliant sapphire. 


“Then what?” 


“More like cute, you’re cute.”


“Puppies are cute.” I pulled away, but his laugh drew me near again.


From the widening breach between his lips, I breathed in the aroma of mint and mocha. I’d floated in that scent many times but never had allowed its enjoyment. As it coated my membranes, my hunger since the accident got a name—him. 

To Be CONTINUED on Monday...

Thanks for reading!! HERE's the other links as of yesterday.

1. The Daily Harrell 2. Christopher S. Ledbetter 3. Writers Block NZ 4. Adrienne Gelbart 5. AE Rought 6. Jessica Lei 7. Myne Whitman Writes 8. Heather Howland 9. Jus Accardo 10. Katy Upperman

11. Erinn 12. christine danek 13. Tracy Buscemi 14. Stina Lindenblatt 15. Bethany Mattingly 16. Dawn Embers 17. Sheri Larsen 18. ebyss 19. erica @ erica and christy 20. PK HREZO

21. Sophia Richardson 22. Natasha Hanova 23. Nikki Katz 24. Elle Stone 25. Sneha K 26. katharine owens 27. Robin Weeks

I'm GIVING AWAY BOOOOKS, Again!

Cyberspace has endless possibilities. The less limitations there are on something, the greater and more diverse of a potential impact. For my purpose here, let's ignore some of the negatives that surf the internet and focus on the positives. I'm like that. Positive.

Last month I participated in a wonderful blogfest and gave away four books. Well, I'm upping the ante. Inspired Kathy over on I Am A Reader, Not A Writer is hosting yet another amazing giveaway blogfest. Participating sites can giveaway whatever they'd like, as long as its a legitimate giveaway.

At last look, Kathy had over 213 sites linked to this giveaway! Man, there's a lot to be had out there in the world of blogging for books and other what-not. The official hop is scheduled from Feb. 8th to Feb. 13th. I'll be keeping my giveaway open until the 20th. WINNERS will be announced on February 21st, Washington's Birthday! 

Be listening.

Here's what's up for grabs:

SPECIALS, by Scott Westerfeld, The LOVELY BONES, by Alice Sebold, The VAN ALEN LEGACY, by Melissa de La Cruz, and BETRAYED, by P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast

To ENTER, all you have to do is leave a comment below to WIN. (Please leave your email addy & my giveaway is open internationally.) Four winners will be chosen by Random.org. It will be first come first serve, if when you win!

GOOD LUCK, and keep on reading!

Please pay a visit HERE to see what others are offering up on their sites!! ENJOY!

Oh, and WANT to win some signed POSSESSIONS swag from Author Elana Johnson? Check out my post below from yesterday and feel free to enter that, too!

ELANA JOHNSON ~ Period! Oh, and Elana SWAG!!

The Graffiti Wall stills. Past splatters wait in anxious anticipation. A blank space of brick and mortar brightens. And with what, you might ask?

The fantabulos-O Elana Johnson's splats!

If you don't know Elana (Really??), well, pull up a chair and get ready to be entertained. She's one of those fast-movers we hear about every-now-and-then in the publishing world. And rightly so. From mother to elementary school teacher to mentor and writer, she's a class A act all around.

Elana Johnson, Author of POSSESSIONS (to debut June 2011)

The whole writing gig, what was your motivator to start?

I started writing after a personal loss that sent me into a very dark place. I lost myself for a while. A long while. I wasn’t sure how to find my way back. I was turning 30, and I wrote my autobiography of the first three decades of my life. And I discovered I liked writing.

So I started writing a story. And it was horrible, filled with pent-up emotions and darkness and honestly, it’s pretty scary. I keep writing because it is an emotional outlet for me – and what better place to dump my emotions than on teenagers?? (ha!)

Magazine or chapter book kid? Which were you? In Junior High? High School?

Chapter books have always been a love of mine. But I’ll admit I was a Seventeen subscriber as a teen…So I started writing a story. And it was horrible, filled with pent-up emotions and darkness and honestly, it’s pretty scary.


How do you juggle being a mom, teacher, writer, taxi driver, baker, etc....

Very carefully. And also, I’ve learned that sometimes it’s best to let all the balls fall. That way, the juggling is very easy.


You are an accomplished blogger - 1800+ followers and counting. Could you share three of your blogging secrets? 3 cyber Oreo's are up for grabs.

1. Comment as often you can (this is different for everyone, so don’t compare yourself)
2.Follow twice as many as follow you
3.Be yourself
That’s it, really.


Do you feel it's important for a writer to have a platform? A website?

Yes – if it’s kept up. It’s lame to have a blog that you haven’t posted on since last October. You should have a static website with the basics, and if you’re able, a blog that you update regularly. Again, “regularly” is different for every person. You have to do what you’re able to do. Nothing more.

Ideal meal?

Pepperoni pizza with salad and ranch. With ginger ale. And Oreos for dessert.

Oh, Oreos dangling like carrots from the skies, again.


Do you have a system in plotting out your stories?

*insert hysterical laughing* No, and it’s becoming a huge problem. I really need to learn how to outline/plot. Usually what I do is sit down, crack my knuckles and start typing. And not even in order. It’s a real problem.


We interrupt this interview for a very important message: POSSESSIONS, Elana's debut YA novel, is due for release this Summer.


OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION: Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.


Elana's personal take on the story: CI is a dystopian novel in the vein of The Giver and The Hunger Games. It’s set in a brainwashing society, where rules aren’t meant to be broken and free-choice doesn’t exist. But one teenage girl decides that’s not the kind of life she wants, so she tries to beat the Thinkers at their own game.

For those who don't know, what's dystopian fiction? What attracted you to this type of fiction?

Dystopian novels are stories set in the near-future or post-apocalyptic future that have the appearance of being perfect. But they’re far from perfect. I’m attracted to fiction like this because it’s fascinating to think about what our society could evolve into.

The Call. The one we're all waiting for--we'll some of us anyway. You are represented by Michelle Andelman of Regal Literary. How did it go down?

Dude, this story is so long. Let me just say that I went George with Michelle. Have you seen that episode of Seinfeld where George Costanza does everything the opposite of what he normally would? Yeah, that’s what I did with Michelle, mostly because I was sick of being rejected left and right. POSSESSIONS was my second queried novel, and I was up to 189 queries. I was desperate. I went George.

And in the end, I won her over. And we’ve had an amazing ride so far.

I bet you did win her over. And I like you as George!!

I'd like to thank Elana for spending this time with us. As expected, it was informative and filled with her verve. PLEASE stay tuned for Part II of my interview with Elana when she shares her wisdom about writing a fangtastical query letter and offers up her very own query critique!!

LIKE Elana and POSSESSIONS?

Take a trip over to the official website and become part of the RESISTANCE. You can also help Elana spread the word about her amazing story by participating in Operation Bookmark Dropoff.   

NEED  more Elana? Go HERE, and visit the official POSSESSIONS website and Fan page. Don't forget to become part of the RESISTANCE! 

WANT some POSSESSIONS SWAG? Leave me a comment about Elana, her book, or dystopian literature and you're in for the giveaway!! 3 lucky followers will receive a signed bookmark by Elana J. and 2 will received signed bookplates. That's 5 lucky WINNERS in all!! GIVEAWAY is open until February 20th, so please pass the word around. If you do, let me know in your comment for extra entries. (It's not necessary, though.) I'll announce the winners February 21st!! Awesomesaucesome!!

Best of luck to everyone!

The LIPSTICK LAWS up for Grabs!

Amy Holder, Author of The LIPSTICK LAWS is having an amazing ARC and swag giveaway!!

Her book debuts in April of this year. How exciting!

One Lucky Winner Will Receive: 

(below, taken directly from Amy's own blog announcement.)

1 - $25 Amazon Gift Card
1 - $10 iTunes Gift Card
1 - signed ARC of The Lipstick Laws
Lots of Lipstick Laws swag (including signed & unsigned bookmarks, stickers, temporary tattoos, magnets, wax lips, etc.)
Lipstick & gloss from ELF Cosmetics
1 - Signed bookmark from Carrie Harris (my friend & author of the awesome upcoming book Bad Taste In Boys)
Class of 2k11 swag (bookmarks, stickers & postcard)
KidLit Authors Club Bookmarks
Entry Details
All you have to do to be entered once to win is:
1) Follow my Blog
2) Leave a comment saying why you'd like to win an ARC of The Lipstick Laws.
It's that easy! If you'd like extra entries to increase your odds of winning the prize package, you can do any or all of the following:

+1 - Tweet about this giveaway
+1 - Mention on facebook
+1 - Add my giveaway to your blog sidebar
+2 - Write a blog post about this giveaway or The Lipstick Laws
+1-10 - Vote for The Lipstick Laws on any of THESE GOODREADS LISTS. you'll get one extra entry per vote, up to ten total per person. Previous votes do not count.

**You can earn up to 15 extra entries (16 total) if you do all of the above**

Please add up all of your extra entries and leave the total number of entries along with your comment. I will be verifying your extra entries, so if you'd like to leave links, that's great!

This giveaway is open to international participants & the winner will be chosen at random and announced on February 14, 2011 - Valentine's Day! Good luck!
Quick!! You still have time to enter. 
PLEASE make sure to visit Amy's site to ENTER!!

Pay It Forward

A comment was left on my Tuesday POST from a BLOGGER I hadn't heard from in a while. Actually, I'd lost track of him. When I started surfing the blogosphere a year ago, I remember chatting with him now and again.

Have you ever lost track of a blogger??

Lately, I've noticed that a few of the blogs I was following somehow leaped out of my follow column and into oblivion. If anyone knows a reason why, please share. I'd love to know.

Well, this wonderful blogger aka Michael is participating in Shelli (srjohannes)'s Pay It Forward contest. She'll be recommending the winning entry to her very own agent, Alyssa Eisner Henkin of the Trident Media Group. Way cool!

PITCH. That's all you have to do. Submit a pitch, no longer than 4 lines, either as a blog post or on Facebook notes if you don't have a blog. In the blog post or note, you must Pay It Forward recognizing someone who's helped you along your writing journey. But make sure you get it in by this Friday, February 4th (yup that's today) before 5pm EST. For all the exact details, CLICKY. You must then leave your pitch and other info as a comment on Shelli's POST.

I am honored to Pay It Forward to a special lady. I'll be honest, on one hand this was a hard choice, but on the other it wasn't. So many writers have influenced me over the last two years. Really, it's crazy. But there are those core people, like my Oasis ladies and critters over on YAlitchat who keep me going day in and day out.

So I'm Paying It Forward and signaling out AE Rought, today. She is not only a huge encouragement to me, but she's also always honest and true. If she reads a passage I've written and thinks it's inspiring, she tells me. If she sees there's dirt and grim that needs to be dusted off my prose, she tells me that too. I appreciate that she believes in me enough to speak the truth. It's strengthened my wings and given me more courage and determination, molding me into a sharper writer. She's also a huge reason I finally came up with this blurb (along with the Fab-O-Fab C. Lee McKenzie).

If you don't know either of these ladies or follow their blogs, you should. Seriously, they're all that!

Best of luck, everyone!!

So here's my pitch:  High school is a mishmash of fickle yet potent energy, and if sixteen-year-old ANA TATE senses the wrong kind she could lose her mind. So when the one aura she can't resist belongs to the boy who rejects her, she sets out to uncover why. Lurking beneath this boy's alluring façade is his dangerous Lycan heritage but even more threatening is the psychic curse that will claim anyone close to him. And it’s set its eyes on Ana.