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Authors are Rocking the Drop around their areas RIGHT NOW! Here's who's tweeting so far.... use the #rockthedrop tag and join in with readergirlz and Figment to ROCK THE DROP!

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Linda Gerber has another pull-you-in title, Trance, out this month. You may remember her cinematic, action-filled Death By... series (remember the covers with the pop-art cut-out covers? LOVE!). She's back to share her new, hypnotizing Cover Story for Trance:

"The cover gods at Puffin have been very good to me. Theresa Evangelista was the designer of the Death by Bikini Mysteries covers, and I knew she was the one working on this cover as well, so trusted it would be fabulous.

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Wow, friendly people! Thanks so much for coming out to celebrate with me this week! It's been quite a whirlwind, what with TWO birthdays and a book birthday thrown in there for good measure!

This was the first time in my 6(ish)-year writing career that I've had a book release on my actual birthdate - what a fun feeling of accomplishment. Publishers: take note. :)

Thanks to everyone who came by and chimed in! 
*NOTE: There's still time to enter to win SASS books! Post a comment on ANY of the entries from this week, and you'll be eligible to win a SASS prize package. Winners will be announced on Monday, May 3rd. So anything posted between now and then is fair game! 

In the meantime, I am thrilled to kick off our grand finale with Linda Gerber, the divine author of two SASS novels: Now and Zen, and The Finnish Line. Linda is also the author of the action-packed DEATH BY...series, and a prolific blogstress in her own right. Her next novel, Trance, releases in October 2010 and looks totally spooky. Can't wait! 



Thanks for joining us today, Linda!
 So, any horror stories from trips you've taken? 

I've been pretty lucky. Most horror stories were just inconveniences that wound up being adventures... such as the time my dear husband left my suitcase sitting on the driveway on our way to Paris, or when my daughter lost her passport enroute to Tokyo via New York... or when the man we hired as our driver/guide in Beijing turned out to have no car of his own and we ended up taking a taxi everywhere - even all the way out to the Great Wall.

Viewing the setbacks as adventures is probably half the battle! :)
What's your number one travel tip? Can't-live-without travel item?

Number one tip: Keep an open mind and try to experience what's unique about an area. Eat the food, climb the climb, dance the dance. If you want everything the same as it is at home, why are you traveling?
Can't-live-without travel item: Books! I will have anxiety attacks if I finish the book I'm reading and we're still on the road. I must find a bookstore immediately. Preferably one with English titles...

I'm right there with you. Do you have any souvenirs from travel that have special meaning or importance to you?

While we were in Tokyo, I found a signed, limited-edition print featuring the stone Zen garden at the Ryōan-ji Temple in Kyoto, where a pivotal scene from my first SASS book, NOW AND ZEN was set.

That's so exciting! Noah and I definitely had particular fun visiting some of the places in Australia that our character visits in UODU. So, What's your dream vacation spot -- the one place you're dying to visit, and why?

There are so many places I want to see so I have dozens of dream vacation spots!
Tops on the list for forever has always been Greece. I love those travel posters showing the whitewashed buildings

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This week the GCC welcomes Linda Gerber, author of the brand-new YA novel, Death by Denim (Penguin), the third in the Death By series.


Aphra Connolly is being chased by some very dangerous people. She knows her survival depends upon staying far away from love interest Seth, and listening to her mom’s lectures on the finer points of anonymity and survival. But how is a girl supposed to live under the radar and not think about her boyfriend when she’s in Paris—the most romantic city in the world? When her mom’s contact in Paris is found floating in the Seine with a deadly message stuffed in his mouth, Aphra realizes that she will never be able to stop running unless she confronts the situation head-on. Sneaking away from her mom, Aphra tracks down the criminal mastermind in Italy, only to unwittingly reveal Seth’s location. And her mistake has just put them both in mortal danger. . . .



The interview:

Stacy: DEATH BY DENIM is set in France and Italy. Did you do any on-site research, I hope?

Linda: Ha! I would have loved to use this as an excuse to go back to Europe, but I was not so lucky. I have been to Paris, though, so I was able to use that experience in describing the settings there. I've also been to Italy, although not to the city Aphra travels to in the book. For that, I had to rely on a lot of books, pictures, maps and other travelers' accounts. Not quite as fun as going there...

Linda: Where do I begin? We live in a suburb now with no public transportation to speak of, which means we have to drive to go anywhere. In Japan, we rode our bikes the train most of the time. My kids had more freedom there, not having to rely on me to take them places. Which brings up another huge adjustment. In Japan, even young children go places, walk to school, go to the store, ride the train, etc. by themselves. We would never dream of letting the same age kids out of our sight around here.

Stacy: What's the most surprising thing to happen since publication of your book?

Linda: My 13-year-old daughter thinks I'm cool.

Stacy: What are you working on now?

Linda:  I'm just about to tackle the revisions for my first YA paranormal that will be released next year.

Praise for Death by Denim: 

“Starting with a heart-pounding chase scene… Gerber weaves in some major cultural landmarks as Aphra races through Paris and then Italy on a mission to expose the would-be assassin and rescue her love interest, Seth. Taut suspense… along with interesting tips of the espionage trade, will propel readers to the neat ending.”   - Booklist 

“Death by Denim, the third book in Linda Gerber's fun, action-packed, and suspenseful series, is just as riveting as its prequels. Gerber's style is not only modern and down to earth, but cunning and intelligent as well… Aphra is an engaging and lively narrator whose bravery and smarts readers will admire. Equal parts action, romance, and mystery, Death by Denim is a fun-filled and engrossing read that will appeal to fans of Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series.”  – The Compulsive Reader 

“Gerber does not disappoint with this exciting novel from her Death by… series. Gerber’s strength is by far in creating such a thrilling and fast paced plot that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. …Death by Denim is a wholly enjoyable read, full of action, romance, and international flair. Fans of Death by Bikini and Death by Latte, the earlier installments in this series, won’t want to miss Death by Denim. Teen girls in particular looking for a fast and fun mystery to devour will enjoy Gerber’s Death by… series.”  - The Book Muncher 

“Nancy Drew meets "Alias" in the latest fast-paced, murder-mystery romance.” - Paddyfield 

***  Top Choice Award - Flamingnet Book Reviews *** 

 

Praise for the series: 

“Will capture mystery fans.” – Booklist 

“Strong writing and plenty of plot twists.” -The Providence Journal 

“Fast-paced, fun, and maybe just a little scary.”-YA New York 

Just “the right amount of intrigue, suspense, humor and romance.”-Flamingnet Book Reviews 

“Five enchantments.”-Enchanting Reviews 

“Refreshing read.”-Simply Books

About the author:

Linda Gerber recently returned to life in the Midwest after four years in Japan, where she served as the Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Her books include SASS: NOW AND ZEN, SASS: THE FINNISH LINE and the YA mysteries DEATH BY BIKINI, DEATH BY LATTE and DEATH BY DENIM. She currently lives and writes in Dublin, OH, blissfully ignoring her husband, kids, and one very naughty puppy.  

You can find Linda online here:

http://lindagerber.com

http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=518643863

http://lindagerber.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/gerbsan

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About the book
Death by Denim is the third in Linda Gerber's Death By series.

Aphra Connolly is being chased by some very dangerous people. She knows her survival depends upon staying far away from love interest Seth, and listening to her mom’s lectures on the finer points of anonymity and survival. But how is a girl supposed to live under the radar and not think about her boyfriend when she’s in Paris—the most romantic city in the world? When her mom’s contact in Paris is found floating in the Seine with a deadly message stuffed in his mouth, Aphra realizes that she will never be able to stop running unless she confronts the situation head-on. Sneaking away from her mom, Aphra tracks down the criminal mastermind in Italy, only to unwittingly reveal Seth’s location. And her mistake has just put them both in mortal danger. . . .

About the author
Linda Gerber recently returned to life in the Midwest after four years in Japan, where she served as the Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Her books include SASS: NOW AND ZEN, SASS: THE FINNISH LINE and the YA mysteries DEATH BY BIKINI, DEATH BY LATTE and DEATH BY DENIM. She currently lives and writes in Dublin, OH, blissfully ignoring her husband, kids, and one very naughty puppy.

You can find Linda online here:
http://lindagerber.com
http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=518643863
http://lindagerber.blogspot.com/

Early praise
“Starting with a heart-pounding chase scene… Gerber weaves in some major cultural landmarks as Aphra races through Paris and then Italy on a mission to expose the would-be assassin and rescue her love interest, Seth. Taut suspense… along with interesting tips of the espionage trade, will propel readers to the neat ending.” - Booklist

“Death by Denim, the third book in Linda Gerber's fun, action-packed, and suspenseful series, is just as riveting as its prequels. Gerber's style is not only modern and down to earth, but cunning and intelligent as well… Aphra is an engaging and lively narrator whose bravery and smarts readers will admire. Equal parts action, romance, and mystery, Death by Denim is a fun-filled and engrossing read that will appeal to fans of Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series.” – The Compulsive Reader

I asked, Linda answered
A. What's the scariest thing that's ever happened to you? Bonus question: have you used it, in any way, in a book?

L. One of my scariest experiences was when I was at the beach on Maui and got tumbled by a huge wave. I was there to attend a writers’ conference that had not yet started, so I was on my own at the beach and all I could think as the water pulled me under was that no one would know to come looking for me. I was sure I was a goner. Finally, I scraped the bottom and I was able to twist myself the right way to pop back up to the surface, but it really shook me up.

That experience was the basis for a scene in DEATH BY BIKINI.

A. Mystery writers often give their characters an unreasoning fear - and then make them face it. Do you have any phobias, like fear of spiders or enclosed spaces?
L. I don't know what my phobia is called. I'm not exactly afraid of heights, but I am afraid of falling from heights. I've had dreams where I'm on an elevator with no walls or on a steep staircase with no railing and I wake up in a sweat. In fact, when I took my kids to see Monsters vs. Aliens, I was about crawling out of my seat when they had Susan (Ginormica) zipping around on that little platform thingie with nothing to keep her from falling off. *Shudder*

A. Do you have a favorite mystery book, author, or movie?
Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard - book and movie. Great stuff.

A. At its heart, every story is a mystery. It asks why someone acts the way they did - or maybe what will happen next. What question does your book ask?
L. DEATH BY DENIM has a lot of questions. Will Aphra ever get to have a normal life again? Should she rely on her training or her impulses? Is love really enough to get you through any situation?

A. Is there a mystery in life that you are still trying to figure out?
L. Yeah. Why do I still procrastinate when I know it's just going to stress me out? Ongoing theme in my life!

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Hello peeps,

My lazy month is coming to a close and things start speeding up again for me.

I'll be in San Francisco July 13-15 at the Ypulse Mashup (Youth Marketing Convention). I heard MC Hammer is going to be there and if he is, I'm totally getting his autograph for Michigan friend Brian Aulick, who still owns Hammer pants (rumor has it, anyway). I'm excited to meet cool authors like Melissa Walker, Justina Chen Headley, David Levithan and Dave Nadelberg.

Then it's off to see family and friends in Michigan for 10 days. If I have a chance, I'll stop into Holland's bookstores to sign copies of WAKE. Same goes for the "South of Detroit" area.

Then I'll fly out to NYC for the Backspace Conference (details in the post below) for an August 6 signing with fellow YA authors Melissa Walker and Linda Gerber:

BOOKS OF WONDER
18 W 18th Street
New York, NY 10011

(212) 989-3270

The reading/signing is Wednesday August 6 from 6-7:30 pm. Please spread the word!

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For playgroup recently, I had everyone over for Storytime. I chose the theme--Friendship--ahead of time, and picked out a few of my favorite books that fit the theme. We read Fox Makes Friends by Adam Rex, Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems (you'll never go wrong with Mo), Duck and Goose by Tad Hills, and Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend by Melanie Watt (as much as I love the Scaredy Squirrel books, I discovered that they are kind of difficult for Read-alouds). 

After the stories, we played Musical Pillows with a twist. Instead of having someone lose every time the song turned off, we'd take a pillow out, and the kids would have to share. By the end of the game, all-15-or-so kids were reaching in to get a hand on the last pillow. It was lots of fun, and fit the Friendship theme.

Lastly, we made turkeys as you see above. I found a similar turkey on a preschool crafts website (unfortunately I can't remember which one), but changed it up a bit to fit the theme. I also thought it would be fun to add balloon gobbles (we used water balloons blown up with a little air.)


About our playgroup in general...

Every six months or so, someone in the neighborhood puts together a schedule for Friday playgroups. We meet at a designated location every Friday at the same time, and then go to our scheduled location. I made the schedule this time around. Some of our favorite activities have been Apple Picking/Hay Ride, the Dinosaur Museum, the LDS Museum of Church History and Art, and Picnic at the Park days. I am also excited about a couple activities we have coming up, including the Fire Station tour and the Christmas Festival of Trees.

Everyone who wants to come is welcome to our group. We have children everywhere from 9 months to 4 years old...and the mommies have fun, too.

The schedule I made is coming to an end, so I'm starting to gather ideas for next year. I'm planning to include a farm and the zoo in the schedule.

Are you part of a playgroup? I'd LOVE to hear some of the things you have enjoyed doing in your group!

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