It's time for another Guest Star! Our guest this week is
Laurie Stolarz, author of the brand new release,
Deadly Little Voices!About DEADLY LITTLE VOICESCamelia 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?
From DEADLY LITTLE VOICES“You’re just one big fat joke,” the voice hisses.
I cover my ears, but the insults keep coming.
“Just do it,” a voice whispers. It’s followed by more voices, of different people. They talk over each other and mingle together, producing one clear cut message – that I’m a waste of a life.
I rock back and forth, trying to remain in control. I smother my ears with the sheet. Press my forehead against my knees. Pound my heels into the floor, bracing myself for what comes next.
Meanwhile, there’s a drilling sensation inside my head; it pushes through the bones of my skull, and makes me think that I’m going crazy.
“Please,” I whisper. More tears sting my eyes. I shake my head, wondering if maybe I’m already dead, if maybe the voices are part of hell.
Check out the book trailersDEADLY LITTLE SECRET:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fzMpVMy2fQDEADLY LITTLE LIES:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9Qk0VG2Nz0DEADLY LITTLE GAMES:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc8N4Q0YDuMTOUC
It's time for another Guest Star! Our guest this week is
Kristina Springer, author of the brand new release,
Just Your Average Princess!About JUST YOUR AVERAGE PRINCESSJamie 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!
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
And here's my interview with the author, Kristina Springer
Just Your Average Princess sounds like such a great concept. How did you come up with the idea?
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
By: Jessica Brody,
on 9/26/2011
Blog:
Jessica Brody
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Guest Star,
Add a tag
It's time for another Guest Star! Our guest this week is
Jeri Smith Ready, contributor to the brand new anthology,
EnthralledAbout ENTHRALLEDThis 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.
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.
“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
A standout among the many paranormal-themed anthologies.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (Recommended review)
And here's my interview with the author, Jeri Smith-ReadyWhat was your favorite part of writing this book? Your least favorite part?My favorite part was trying something different-writing in free verse. I've always loved reading it, in books by authors like Ellen Hopkins, Lisa Schroeder, and Jame Richards. It drills down to bare emotions and forces the writer to choose precise words to express their meaning. I loved creating rhythms and sounds to reinforce the feelings and thoughts Logan was trying to get across.
My least favorite part is my fear that I did it wrong.
As writers, we all love to procrastinate. What's your favorite procrastination activity?Hands down: Twitter. I've never been addicted to anything-food, video games, drugs-but I'm addicted to Twitter. It's like my lifelife to other people. I have this fear that if I leave it for a day, everyone will forget about me. So it's more than an addiction, it's a full-blown existential crisis! ;-)
If your main character, Logan, could give one piece of advice to teenage girls, what would it be?Since he died from a m
By: Jessica Brody,
on 9/6/2011
Blog:
Jessica Brody
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Brazil,
Add a tag
So here I am in gorgeous, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and it couldn't have exceeded my expectations more! It's so beautiful here! I love it!
 |
| Atop Sugar Loaf Mountain! |
I really enjoy experiencing new countries and cultures. And since it's my first time here, I thought I'd share with you a few things that I love (so far!) about Brazil.
A quick disclaimer: I've only been in the city of Rio and so these impressions are limited to what I've seen here. I obviously can't speak for the rest of the country!
Food/Drink: - There's cheese EVERYWHERE! In the pastries, in the bread, served as a side dish. And since I'm such a big lover of cheese, this won me over on day ONE!
- The soda here is made with actual sugar (not high fructose corn syrup!) In fact, when I tried to explain this strange American phenomenon of the High Fructose Corn syrup to a Brazilian friend of mine here, she looked at me with a funny expression and said, "Corn? In soda?" Exactly!
- The coffee is heavenly! And it's served (at least at my hotel) with a choice of cold AND hot
milk! And the milk is thick and creamy and delicious! I haven't seen a dinky little artificial creamer cup anywhere.
- They serve coconuts with a straw in it! As evidenced in the photo. It's better than any "juice box" of coconut water I've ever tasted! The coconut is literally pulled from the tree, a whole is drilled in it, a straw is added, and voila! Refreshing drink! (And" it's got electrolytes!" Note: if you haven't seen the movie, Idiocracy, either go rent it or disregard this joke.)
- Other random foods I've found irresistible: Pão bisnaguinha (little sweet bread rolls that look like mini hot dog buns), pipoca caramel (caramel popcorn), Aipim Frita (some kind of fried root vegetable similar to a potato that reminded me a lot of potato pancakes), Guarana Soda (which tastes kind of like ginger ale but sweeter, hence, better!) and Pão de Queijo (cheese bread. Let's face it, is it EVER possible to go wrong when you put cheese and bread together?)
General Cultural Observations:
Time for another Brody Book Hunt!
Background:I travel around so much I thought, wouldn't it be fun to leave things behind in the various cities I visit...as little mementos for others to find. And thus the idea of the "Brody Book Hunt" was born.
This is what I'll be doing:
In random cities that I visit, I'll be "hiding" an autographed copy of one of my books somewhere. (Stores, shops, restaurants, etc.) Then I'll Tweet and Facebook clues and photos about where it is.
If you're the first to find the book, it's YOURS! Yep, FOR FREE! Just Tweet/Facebook me back to let me know you found it so I can mark it as "claimed."
So without further ado, here is the next Brody Book Hunt location:
If you're in the LA area, head over to Sony Studios in Culver City. On the corner of Washington and Motor, you'll find a surprise. For a hint, check out the photo below:
Happy Hunting!
Jessica
Hoorah! Today I revealed the cover for my next book, 52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER, which will be released on July 3, 2012. And here it is!
As you can probably tell from the cover and the title, the book is another comedy. And I think this cover represents the humor and tone of the story perfectly!
52 REASONS TO HATE MY FATHER is about a spoiled teen heiress, famous for her party-girl antics and tabloid headlines, who is forced by her ever-absent mogul father to take on a different low-wage job every week for a year, if she wants any hope of receiving her trust fund.
The book was recently optioned for film by producer Jane Startz (Ella Enchanted, The Babysitter's Club, Tuck Everlasting). We've got our fingers crossed that it will be made into a movie soon!
Click here to mark this book as "To Read" on GoodReads!Have a great week, everyone!
Jessica
Sooooo! I'm getting REALLY pumped because the big Pen Fatale Tour with fellow authors Alyson Noel, Mary Pearson, Gabrielle Zevin, and Alexandra Adornetto is kicking off in a little over a month!
And the publisher just released this AWESOME poster for it! Check it out!
So the BIG question now is...will you be there????
Check out the list of cities and book stores we'll be visiting
here.
I hope to see you at one of the events!
XO
Jessica
By: Jessica Brody,
on 7/18/2011
Blog:
Jessica Brody
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Guest Star,
Add a tag
It's time for another Guest Star! Our guest this week is
Melissa Walker, author of the brand new novel,
Small Town SinnersAbout SMALL TOWN SINNERSLacey Anne Byer is a perennial good girl and lifelong member of the House of Enlightenment, the Evangelical church in her small town. With her driver's license in hand and the chance to try out for a lead role in Hell House, her church's annual haunted house of sin, Lacey's junior year is looking promising. But when a cute new stranger comes to town, something begins to stir inside her. Ty Davis doesn't know the sweet, shy Lacey Anne Byer everyone else does. With Ty, Lacey could reinvent herself. As her feelings for Ty make Lacey test her boundaries, events surrounding Hell House make her question her religion.
Melissa Walker has crafted the perfect balance of engrossing, thought-provoking topics and relatable, likable characters. Set against the backdrop of extreme religion, Small Town Sinners is foremost a universal story of first love and finding yourself, and it will stay with readers long after the last page.
"Walker has written a credible and tender evocation of the moment when a young person’s beliefs begin to emerge and potentially diverge from the teachings of a family’s religion"
— New York Times Book Review“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.”
— Publisher's WeeklyAnd here's my interview with the author, Melissa WalkerWhich came first, the title or the novel?The novel. I was calling it HELL HOUSE while I was writing it, until people started telling me that might not fly with some bookstores/libraries. I never thought of "the H word" as especially bad, but I didn't want to risk it being an issue, so my agent and I brainstormed SMALL TOWN SINNERS and I love it just as much!
If you could choose one dessert or snack food that you could eat as much as you want of (and never gain an ounce!) what would it be?Buttered popcorn. I can't stop eating it if it's in front of me. I'll eat until the bottom of the bowl and then I'll chew on unpopped kernels. It's a sickness. I blame years of working in a movie theater in high
Hey everyone! I'm so delighted, I just have to share!
MY LIFE UNDECIDED was chosen as both a
TEEN VOGUE Must-Read Book of the Summer AND a
SEVENTEEN Summer Beach Read pick! Squeee!!!
You can read the reviews from each by clicking the links below.
Teen VogueSeventeenMY LIFE UNDECIDED is about a fifteen-year-old girl, notorious for making terrible decisions, who enlists blog readers to vote on how she should live her life. But she soon discovers, some things in life simply aren't a choice...like who you fall in love with.
If you haven't seen the book trailer yet, watch it below!
And check out the brand new book website I just launched for the book:
www.MyLifeUndecided.com where you can post your own undecided questions and poll our readers for some advice!
Happy Friday everyone!
XO
Jessica
By: Jessica Brody,
on 7/8/2011
Blog:
Jessica Brody
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Add a tag
Who likes scavenger hunts!? ME!
I travel around so much I thought, wouldn't it be fun to leave things behind in the various cities I visit...as little mementos for others to find. And thus the idea of the "Brody Book Hunt" was born.
This is what I'll be doing:
In every city I visit, I'll be "hiding" an autographed copy of one of my books somewhere. (Stores, shops, restaurants, etc.) Then I'll Tweet and Facebook clues about where it is and the secret password you need to claim it.
If you're the first to find the book, it's YOURS! Yep, FOR FREE! Just Tweet/Facebook me back to let me know you found it so I can mark it as "claimed."
So without further ado, here is the first Brody Book Hunt location:
If you're in the Dallas area, visit the Yogurtville in Carrollton (on Hebron Pkwy) Tell them, "Karma Sent Me" to claim the prize.
Happy Hunting!
Jessica
By: Jessica Brody,
on 6/30/2011
Blog:
Jessica Brody
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Add a tag
So, I just noticed I'm ALMOST at 1000 followers on Twitter. I know 1000 followers is just a Wednesday afternoon for people like Jessica Simpson and Justin Bieber, but for me, it's pretty dang exciting!
To help me reach that 1000 mark, for every 25 new followers I get, I'll be giving away a free autographed copy of THE KARMA CLUB to a lucky (random) follower.
So since I'm currently at 900, the first giveaway will happen at 925, then 950, etc, until we reach 1000!
Which means, if you're not already following me, you should! Just click on www.Twitter.com/jessicabrody and click "Follow"
And if you ARE already following me, then just relax. You're already entered!
Winners will be announced on Twitter (obviously!) so all the more reason to follow so you can see your name printed when you win!
Good luck! And thanks for the follow!
XO
Jessica
By: Jessica Brody,
on 6/29/2011
Blog:
Jessica Brody
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Guest Star,
GCC,
Add a tag
It's time for another Guest Star! Our guest this week is
Suzanne Young, author of the brand new novel,
A Need So BeautifulAbout A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL:We all want to be remembered. Charlotte’s destiny is to be Forgotten…
Charlotte's best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she's cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what's really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.
But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become—her mark on this earth, her very existence—is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.
Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny—no matter how dark the consequences?
"A clever and well-written fantasy. Whether Charlotte is an angel or a being less freighted by religious tradition is left up to the reader, but the dilemma of how we can make a lasting impression is a very human concern. Young offers an elegant solution that is well worth consideration."
— Booklist, starred review“A gripping supernatural romance… An imaginative twist on the timeless battle between dark and light.”
— Kirkus ReviewAnd here's my interview with the author, Suzanne Young!A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL sounds like such a great concept. How did you come up with the idea?A family member was sick and I was feeling lost. At my lowest point a stranger gave me advice and it helped me through the tough times. I often wondered how she was there, just when I needed her. It sparked the idea of these beings from the light, meant to help others. And A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL was born.
Which came first, the title or the novel?The novel. My original title was just BEAUTIFUL—but that was taken. So I thought about it and came up with A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL. And after that, I couldn’t imagine calling it anything else.
What’s your strangest writing quirk or habit? Something that would make all of us go, “huh?”I like to eat candy corn or other tiny food items while I work.
I love the name Charlotte! How do you come up with your character names?I discovered a site for old fashioned baby names and now I’
I'm so excited to be part of a fantastic fall tour featuring FIVE totally kick-ass authors! It's called the Pen Fatale Tour (get it? Femme fatale, pen fatale, 5 female authors? Haha!) and it features the following authors:
Alyson Noel (author of the Immortals Series and the Riley Bloom series)
Mary Pearson (author of the Jenna Fox series)
Gabrielle Zevin (author of Elsewhere, Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac, and the upcoming All These Things I've Done)
Alexandra Adornetto (author of the Halo series)
And Yours Truly! Moi!
The details are still being ironed out, but here's what I know so far about where we'll be stopping:
September 28, 2011: Barnes & Noble, The Woodlands, TX
September 29, 2011: Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX
October 1, 2011: Austin Teen Lit Festival, Austin, TX
October 3, 2011: Anderson’s Bookshop, Naperville, IL
October 4, 2011: Anderson’s Bookshop, Naperville, IL
October 5, 2011: Barnes & Noble, Boulder, CO
October 6, 2011: Tattered Cover, Denver, CO
October 9, 2011: Vroman’s, Pasadena, CA
October 10, 2011: Los Angeles, CA (events TBD)
October 12, 2011: Third Place Books, Seattle, WA
October 13, 2011: Barnes & Noble, Lynnwood, WA
These events are subject to change but should stay the same. So mark your calendars! Hopefully you can make it to one! I really hope to meet some new readers who haven't been able to make it to my usual LA/Denver events.
I will post more details as they come to me. So check back!
XO,
Jessica
By: Jessica Brody,
on 6/21/2011
Blog:
Jessica Brody
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Add a tag
My Guest Star author this week is
Elana Johnson, author of the brand new novel,
PossessionAbout POSSESSION: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.
But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they’re set on convincing Vi to become one of them….starting by brainwashed Zenn. Vi can’t leave Zenn in the Thinkers’ hands, but she’s wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous: everything Zenn’s not. Vi can’t quite trust Jag and can’t quite resist him, but she also can’t give up on Zenn.
This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.
"Possession held me completely captivated from beginning to end. And what an end! I fell in love with the characters and had countless moments of 'Wow.'"
--James Dashner, bestselling author of The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials
"Who Should Read This: Anyone who wants a challenge: This plot is so twisty, I had to read the last chapter twice before I could believe what happened. There's also a very nice balance between badass action and romantic tension for readers who like a good mix of the two."
--MTV.com
“Most [readers] will be drawn in by the love triangle, revelations about Vi and her family, and a dark twist ending that maintains the faintest glimmer of hope.”
--Publisher's Weekly
And here's my interview with the author, Elana Johnson!If you could have dinner with one of your characters who would it be?Oh, I would definitely have dinner with Zenn Bower. He’s so mysterious in the book—and in my head. I still don’t quite have him figured out. So dinner with him would be fab!
What’s the first thing you do when starting a new book? What’s the first thing you do when finishing a new book?I don’t really have a process for writing. So sometimes I begin my books with an email to myself. Or a scene in my head that just needs to be written down. I think a lot. I might write another scene. And another. After a while, I think, “Hmmm, this might be a book.”
The first thing I do when I finish a book is celebrate. Writing an entire novel is a lot of work! Then I let the MS cure for a little while before coming back for the first round (of many) massive rewrites.
Which came first, the title or the novel?The novel came first. I brainstormed a billion titles with the word “control” in it. I thought I had a good one. My publisher and I discussed it, and decided something a little less punny would be better. That’s how we came to POS
By: Jessica Brody,
on 6/18/2011
Blog:
Jessica Brody
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Add a tag
I'm SO excited to announce that my new website project, MyLifeUndecided.com is now LIVE!
The site has been a fun little project of mine for a few months. It's the same site Brooklyn starts in the book, MY LIFE UNDECIDED (where she posts all her life's decisions and has people vote on what she should do) but now it's been expanded so that anyone can post their life's big questions and ask for help deciding what to do!
So head on over and post your pressing questions, collect votes, and get help making those decisions. Or just head over and vote on everyone else's questions. Either way it's fun!
And keep a look out for little posts, notes, and photos from Brooklyn herself. After all, she's the original founder of the site. :)
Enjoy!
Jessica
My Guest Star author this week is
Amanda Ashby, author of the brand new novel,
Fairy Bad Day
I ordered my copy last week and let me say, it looks fantastic! I can't wait to start reading!
About FAIRY BAD DAY:It’s going to be a fairy bad day...
First, my rightful designation of dragon slayer is STOLEN right out from under me by Curtis Green. Sure, he’s really cute, but that doesn’t give him an excuse.
On top of that, I am assigned to slay fairies. I know what you’re thinking—how hard could it be, right? Wrong! These menacing beasts with their tiny hipster clothes and mocking sarcasm love taunting me. And they won’t STOP!
But the thing that tops my list of stuff to ruin my day? That would be the GIANT KILLER FAIRY that I have to hunt down and slay because I am the only one who can see it. There is someone who can help me. Unfortunately…it’s Curtis.
"Teens with a taste for the paranormal school story and a tolerance for raucous humor will be involved with and amused by this romantic fantasy. The exciting plot, humor throughout—often provided by the little fairies—and relatively innocent romance between characters will grab readers and keep them involved. " Kirkus Reviews
"In a fun mashup of the modern and the magical, Ashby (Zombie Queen of Newbury High) creates nicely developed characters and supports them with strong plotting and zippy writing. Laced with humor, danger, and romance, this book will have readers smiling all the way to the last page." Publisher's Weekly
And here's an awesome interview with Amanda!What fictional character would you like to have coffee with? Bartimaeus from Jonathan Stroud’s amazing series or Stephanie Plum from Janet Evanovich. Or both. In fact I think they’d have a lot in common since they both accidently get into lots of trouble despite having the best of intentions and while I’m not sure that Bartimaeus has blown up as many cars as Stephanie has, he’s sure pissed off his fair share of Kings, which has to count for something!
As writers, we all love to procrastinate. What’s your favorite procrastination activity?Twittering with Jessica Brody about our shared love of English nineties pop music and chocolate bars. I also tend to check pinkisthenewblog a zillion times a day for my latest celebrity gossip (for research purposes obviously!)
Who’s your favorite character in the book and why? Who was the most fun to write? I really loved writing Emma, my main character. She’s quite bolshy (and I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that some people might find her annoying) but I just really felt she was justified in acting the way she did. Plus, she was pretty tough, which made her fun to write because she got to play with swords and kill things!!!!!
Which came first, the title or the novel?Title!!!!! I actually started writing a werewolf book called Bad Hair Day and then I decided to change it to a fairy book and steal the title! Unfortunately my agent didn’t like the first chapter I sent her but she adored the title so we brainstormed the book and she actually came up with the idea of
By: Jessica Brody,
on 6/2/2011
Blog:
Jessica Brody
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Add a tag
So apparently my scattered writer brain has failed me once again! A lot of people have been asking me when I'm going to announce the winner of the Find the Typo Contest from back in March and I quickly realized that although I announced the winner on Facebook and Twitter (and emailed the winner), I forgot to add it to the blog. Doh!
My apologies if I've kept you waiting!
The winner was John Nowakoski.
If you didn't win, fear not! We'll be having TONS more contests to win copies of MY LIFE UNDECIDED (which releases in FOUR days!) so keep an eye out for those coming soon!
Again my apologies!
Jessica
I consider myself lucky. I was born and raised in a time before internet and 300+ TV channels, and being able to control your refrigerator with your iPhone. When you had to be home at 8:00 pm on the dot if you wanted to catch your favorite TV show and writing on people’s walls would land you in jail.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not one of those luddites who despise technology and think it’s the end of the world. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. I LOVE technology. I embrace it. I read books on my eReader and make dinner plans via text and do my Christmas shopping with a single click.
But the reason I consider myself lucky is because I’ve been able to witness the rise of all these advancements. I remember what it was like to have to drive to the AAA store and buy a map for your next road trip, or ask people for step by step directions, or look things up in the phonebook. I remember what a phone book is. And therefore I feel as though I can fully appreciate things like Google maps and phone apps and the soothing voice of my car’s navigation system. More so than the generation that’s growing up not knowing any different.
A few years ago I was babysitting for a friend. Her two year old son and I were watching a Tivoed episode of Sesame Street. Like any human being with a developing personality and sense of taste, there were certain characters and skits in the show that he liked better than others. But I’ll never forget when Bert and Ernie came on and this two year old kid turned to me and made a pantomime motion of pushing on a remote button with his thumb. It took me a few seconds (and him a few more fake remote jabs) to realize that he was asking me to fast forward. He didn’t want to watch Bert and Ernie. He wanted to skip it and get to Elmo or Grover. And I remember being so blown away by this realization. This kid can’t speak yet. Can’t tell me what he wants for dinner. But he can tell me that he wants to fast forward through Bert and Ernie.
There is an entire generation of kids today who don’t know (and will never know) what it’s like to watch live TV. To be forced to sit through things you don’t like in order to watch something you do. And that is simply baffling to me.
Although I didn’t grow up being able to fast forward through things I didn’t want to watch or have an entire conversation with my friends using 140 characters or less, as an author of young adult fiction, it’s my job to understand what it’s like. If I’m going to write believable stories for teen audiences, I have to be able to put myself in the shoes of someone coming of age in today’s world. A world in which your embarrassing moments are not only at risk of being gossiped about…but at risk of being caught on film (sorry, digital video) and posted on YouTube for all to see.
Everyone knows your teenage years define you. It’s when you start to search for your own identity. Seek independence. Rebel from your parents. Try to figure out what kind of person you want to be and why. And in today’s modern society, those kinds of life-altering reflections are not done in private anymore. They’re done in public. For all to see. On the internet.
Today’s teen is growing up on Facebook and Twitter and Youtube. They’re posting things we use to only share with our closest friends in notes passed between classes. Photographs that used to be kept privately in our photo albums are now sitting on a server somewhere in Palo Alto, CA for all of eternity. You can no longer rip your ex-boyfriend out of a picture after he cheats on you. There’s no physical photograph to rip. All you can do is “unfriend” him. “Unfollow him.” Unsubscribe. But it’s only virtual. It’s not real. Like money in your bank account. It’s all just data on a screen. 1s and 0s.
New contest alert everyone! I know how we all LOVE contests!
So here it is. It's quite simple: Buy THE KARMA CLUB this week and win MY LIFE UNDECIDED next week! That's two books for the price of one!
Here's how to enter:
1) Buy a copy of THE KARMA CLUB paperback edition between 5/24 and 5/31.
2) Post a photograph of you with the book on your facebook page
3) Tag The Karma Club Book Fan Page in your photo (this part is important so we can count your submission!)
That's IT! You're entered!
Next week we'll be choosing FIVE lucky winners to receive autographed copies of MY LIFE UNDECIDED (which releases in stores June 7!)
The Karma Club Paperback can be found in Barnes and Noble bookstores, online at B&N.com, Amazon.com or other online book retailers. If your local bookstore doesn't have it in stock, tell them to order it (they can!)
**Open to U.S. and Canada only
This just in! The Brazilian cover for Karma Club has long last been revealed. TA DA!
Isn't it gorgeous? I just want to eat it up! Okay, perhaps I'll simply frame it and put it on my wall. Purple is my favorite color, so I'm just loving this one! Thanks, Brazil! And side question: how can I get that dress in my size. I adore it!
The book releases in Brazil on May 27th! So if you live there (I wish I did!) then
go pick it up next Friday! And if you haven't seen the Brazilian book trailer,
watch it here. 
Okay, in other good news, this great review just came in from the School Library Journal for MY LIFE UNDECIDED. And let me tell ya, it definitely made my day!
"Brooklyn is a sympathetic protagonist with whom teens will identify. Her journey is fun to read, and decision-challenged readers will learn an important lesson about self-acceptance along the way."--School Library JournalWoo hoo! More evidence to support the fact that I truly still am a teen and never did grow up past age 15. But hey, I'll take it!
That's all I got for now. Except to say that MY LIFE UNDECIDED comes out in (yikes!) 17 days! And The Karma Club Paperback edition releases on TUESDAY! Be sure to hit stores and pick up a copy. It's got LOADS of bonus stuff in it. Tchau! Ate mais! (That's bye and later in Portuguese) :) Jessica
By: Jessica,
on 5/12/2011
Blog:
Jessica Brody
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Add a tag
I used to be one of those writers who could only write at home. Shut up in my office, lights low, door closed, windows shut—a make-shift cocoon. Because I required complete silence and isolation. But I became frustrated that I couldn’t be one of those cool writers you see in coffee shops and cafes, sitting at their laptops with a cappuccino on one side and a yummy pastry on the other. Plus, I also found that being able to write only in my home was extremely limiting to my overall mobility as an author.
But then, about three years ago, I discovered the magic solution. Well, at least it was magic for me. Because now I barely ever write at home. I write everywhere. Coffee shops, cafés, restaurants, airports, airplanes. The world is my writing oyster. So I hope in sharing my little magic tip, that other writers may be able to come out of their cocoons as well and experience the joys of writing in public.
So…are you ready for it? Are you sure? It’s pretty life-altering. And yet, so simple. It’s called “White Noise Meditation.” Which is really just a music track of white noise. I play it on repeat in iTunes, stick in my little noise canceling ear buds, crank up the static and voila! I am safe in my “virtual” cocoon, yet still out in the world like a normal human being! The noise blocks out all distractions and actually helps me focus. To the point where I don’t even write at home any more without my white noise track playing.
I actually use a track called “10 Hz Alpha Relaxation and Learning” by “White Noise Meditation”. It has an extra special technology embedded in it called “Holosyncing.” You might have heard of it before. Basically holosyncing is the science of “syncing” your brain waves to vibrate at a certain frequency. In this case, the frequency is one of “relaxation and learning,” helping me to concentrate on my writing even more. The waves are buried deep below a constant waterfall sound, making them undetectable. And the overall effect is awesome. After having written three books listening to the same 10 minute track over and over again, my brain has ultimately been trained to go into writing mode when it hears that track. So it ends up keeping me motivated to write as well. A double whammy!
Writers are very good a coming up with clever ways to procrastinate. Ask any writer and they’ll immediately recite off the top of their head five useless things that they can easily do every morning before tackling that looming daily word count. Which is why I’m always trying to come up with new ways to trick myself into writing…as opposed to out of it.
Over the years, I’ve found that I tend to write most efficiently and quickly when I’m “in the zone.” Meaning when I’m fully focused on writing, the rest of the world has disappeared, and it’s just me and the story. But as a full-time writer with tight deadlines, I can’t always count on that zone to just magically appear and for me to just magically fall into it. For most writers I’ve spoken to (myself included), the “zone” seems to be this far-off fantastical place (like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow) and we’re lucky if we happen to stumble upon it once in a blue moon (and always when we’re not looking for it) let alone every day.
Obviously that’s not the most effective way to write a novel…waiting around for a fantastical place that may or may not exist. So throughout the course of my six years working as a full-time author, I’ve come up with several methods that I use to literally “trick” myself into the zone. It may not be as wonderful as the real thing, but it’s worked for me. So I’ve decided to share. Here are my top three favorite:
1. Location! Location! Location!
Reserve a place in your house or a local favorite coffee shop that is designated for writing and writing ONLY. Nothing else can be done there. No emailing. No Facebooking. No TV watching. Just writing. (Oh and cell phones should ALWAYS be turned off in this space). It can be a spare bedroom that’s rarely used, a small fold up table in the corner, or even a linen closet! But it has to be RESERVED for writing. After a few days, just entering that space will automatically jump start your brain into writing mode. You’ll feel less prone to procrastinate because your mind and body will know it’s time to work. If you need to take a quick break, LEAVE the space and come back only when you’re ready to write again. Don’t take email or twitter breaks in your sacred space, only write there.
Living in LA, I don’t have a huge house with idle bedrooms to spare, so I use a coffee shop down the street from my house. I never go there with friends. I never go there just to read the paper. I ONLY go there to write! Now, the moment I step foot in there, I’m instantly in work mode.
2. The Magic of Food (and Beverages)
Along the same lines, I will always eat and drink the same thing during the course of writing a book. When writing MY LIFE UNDECIDED, every morning for three months I would eat the same two mini brioches and a cup of coffee while I wrote. And I never ate this UNLESS I was writing. This further helps in getting your brain into writing mode. Not only are you in your little writing “sanctuary” but now you’re eating your writing food. Your mind is tricked into thinking it’s time to write! And it is. It doesn’t matter what food it is, just make sure you only eat it when it’s time to write. And don’t cheat and start chowing while you’re finishing up that email to your mother! All other windows should be closed and your manuscript should be open on your screen and ready to be tackled before you take that first bite!
I also have a rule that I only drink coffee when I’m writing. Not when I’m blogging, emailing or doing any other work-related things (I usually drink tea then). Only when I’m chipping away at my word count do I allow myself a cup of joe. So now my mind automatically associates the caffeine buzz from coffee with working. And I get so much more done that way.
3. The (Artificial) Ticking Time Bomb
This third one, I actually found out the hard way
Oh my, so much new stuff. Where do I begin?
Releases:
First up, THE KARMA CLUB paperback releases on May 24...that's like 18 days away! I can hardly believe it. If you haven't pre-ordered, DO! Here, I'll make it really easy for you. CLICK HERE! It has a fancy new cover and everything. Read all about the book here.
Next up is
MY LIFE UNDECIDED! Hoorah! It releases on June 7 (which is less than a month away!) If you haven't seen the trailer yet,
be sure to watch it here. You can also read an excerpt there. I'm so excited about this book. It's actually my favorite book I've written thus far (shh...don't tell that to my other books). And not just because it's shiny and new and has an awesome cover. But because I really do love this character. She's very different than any of my other characters...and really nothing like me. At times, while I was writing, I felt as though I were channeling her from some far off place. Anyway, you can pre-order that one too! Look, I'll make it just as easy:
CLICK HERE!Reviews:The reviews for MY LIFE UNDECIDED are starting to roll in! Publisher's Weekly called it, "An amusing coming-of-age story with many funny moments."
Check out the full review here!
Upcoming Events:
I have some really cool upcoming events to share as well. I'll be reading and signing copies of MY LIFE UNDECIDED and KARMA CLUB in Los Angeles and Denver next month. Here are the deets for both:
June 7, 2011 - 7:00 pm
Barnes & Noble - Santa Monica
1300 Third Street Promenade
Santa Monica, CA 90401
Event Page June 9, 2011 - 7:00 pm
Tattered Cover
9315 Dorchester St # H-101
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129-2521
www.TatteredCover.com
I hope to see you at one (or both, if you happen to have a lot of frequent flyer miles).
Until then, Ate mais! (I'm taking Portuguese lessons for my upcoming trip to the Rio Book Fair.)
2 Comments on Upcoming Releases and Events!, last added: 5/7/2011
View Next 25 Posts
Attention, writers!!! Back by popular demand (I've always wanted to say that!), I'm doing another SAVE THE CAT Novel-Writing Beat Sheet Workshop!
I sooo wish I could go! :-}