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Tomorrow is May 5th, which is turning out to be a significant date for me. Last year on that date Breaking Up is Hard to Do was released. I completely adore this anthology! One, because I had an absolute blast writing Don't Mind Me and two, because I got to put this book together with Lynda Sandoval, Niki Burnham and Ellen Hopkins. If you haven't checked out our fun, funny and empowering stories of overcoming break-ups, I hope you will.

Strangely, but very cooly, I have another book coming out with Niki and Ellen. Flirtin' with the Monster officially hits shelves tomorrow. If you're a big fan of Ellen--and who isn't?--you'll want to nab a copy of this book. Here's the deets:

Where is the line between truth and fiction?

Why do love and addiction so often go hand in hand?

What does the real “Kristina” think about the way her story is told in Crank and Glass?

Crank and Glass have always been more than just stories. Join their author Ellen Hopkins and a host of other writers as they delve deep into Kristina’s story, from the straight truth on the physical effects of methamphetamine addiction to the psychological consequences of keeping secrets (and how Hopkins’ books have encouraged so many teens to reveal theirs). [<-- The secrets essay is mine.]

With an essay by Ellen’s real-life daughter (the basis for the character of “Kristina”) that tells her version of the events that inspired the books—along with perspectives from “Scott,” “Jake,” and 11-year-old “Hunter,” the baby from Crank—Flirtin’ with the Monster is a compelling journey through the complexities of Hopkins’ beloved bestselling works.

You can read an excerpt here and enter to win a copy, along with Crank and Glass, here.

I know I've mentioned this before, but it can't be said enough...I work for the coolest library district. They've been so good about supporting me as an author. A couple months ago one of my co-workers, and an incredible mentor I couldn't live without, interviewed me for the district's first author videocast. It was a lot of fun! If you're interested in the results, here's the interview. It's done in four short parts.

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do is one of TeenReads featured grab bag of books giveaways. As TeenReads is one of my favorite newsletters, I'm really tickled about this. Enter for your chance to win!

Lynda and I had THE BEST book signing yesterday at Borders. It was so much fun. A big party! We had a great turn out and the management and staff loved us. Admittedly, we fed them cake and chocolate dipped fruit. <G>

I'm thrilled to say that Breaking Up Is Hard To Do has gotten some great reviews lately. I hope you don't mind my sharing. 

Publisher's Weekly said, "...these four stories about love gone wrong...are likely to go over big with teens in search of solace for their own romantic misadventures."

But my favorite review came from Tirzah at the great Compulsive Reader blog. "Each of these characters will speak to the reader as their story unfolds. The writing is straightforward and perceptive, from Clark's funny and fast paced style to Hopkins's beautiful and striking poems. This is one book that holds a powerful message between its two covers: heartbreak happens, and along with it is something better if you can let go and continue to move forward."

She really got the message we tried to convey with our stories and that is everything I could hope for. You can read the review in its entirety on her site. 

Have a great Sunday! :)

Michael Sedano

Popular wisdom, such as that derived from literature, seems always if not to get stuff wrong, to have it only approximately right. These thoughts were running through my head Sunday, December 16, as I took my seat at Disney Hall.

It was one of those days that serve as a constant reminder of what it means to be Zubin Mehta. What it means to be a great conductor.

Mehta came home to the L.A. Philharmonic to an absochingaolutely enchanted house. The orchestra obviously welcomed him with wide open arms. Played with the intensity and discipline of the 1970s, when fresh out of the Army I moved to Los Angeles to find Mehta conducting the Phil with Toscanini type control. When Mehta left for Manhattan in 78, Carlo Maria Giulini brought a different perspective. We’d gained as much as we’d lost with Giulini at the helm, but still, Mehta had left big footprints.

Esa Pekka Salonen, today’s director, is a puzzle. He conducts a beat ahead of the band. His arms—sometimes with the stick, sometimes not-- will be swinging wildly in anticipation of the next phrase while the orchestra is still playing a quiet passage, and vice versa. And he uses the safety rail on the podium. Mehta stands there feet firmly planted, he knows where he's at.

Mehta conducts on the beat in complete synchrony with what’s happening in the risers and on the page. Mas, Mehta’s seating chart places the Basses far right rather than alongside and above the Violins, giving both a more distinct presence. It helped that the orchestra was huge on Sunday, over a hundred musicians in contrast to Salonen’s 80 or so hands on a typical afternoon. Eight French Horns give a mighty sound! Salonen typically hires three or five.

Exultation is the only word for what transpired on that stage. It wasn’t that the audience had to take Mehta back. It was more, dang, bro, you’ve been away too long! But you haven’t lost a step. OK, he’s a lot older and more . . . substantial.

Los Angeles audiences invariably give standing ovations even for modest achievement. But the riot that greeted Mehta’s curtain calls had such wild spontaneity I guessed that gente had risen from the dead to attend this concert. I found it totally delightful that when Mehta walked out for his second call the horns gave forth a graceful fanfare that took Mehta by surprise. He was halfway to the podium when the Tuba sounded a single note then was joined in rich full chorus by the whole Brass section. Mehta stopped in mid stride, beamed up at them, then finished the walk.

I regret the prohibition of photography in the hall. This was truly an historic event that deserves to be memorialized beyond words and fading memories.

The Phil sells iPod/.mp3 recordings. I'm not a fan of Webern's unusual 6 Pieces for Large Orchestra, nor Richard Strauss--I'd have loved a night of Beethoven and Mahler's Hammer of God-- don't have to be, to want to order the concert to enjoy it all over again and again, to remember the day Mehta finally came home again. "Zubin?" Someone will ask me. "Alive!" will be all I'll answer.

mvs

And ahora en seguida vamos a ver que pasa con day eight of los 12 days of Xrismas. Adelante, RudyG! And remember, La Bloga enjoys guest columnists--check out Sunday's interesting contribution, Full Scale Parenting from Ann Hagman Cardinal. If you've a word or so to share, click here, or leave us a comment. See you next week. Wonder what I'm gonna get for Christmas? Come tell everybody if you saw mommy kissing you-know-who.