I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six Word Memoirs by Teens Famous & Obscure

I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six Word Memoirs by Teens Famous & Obsure

Edited by Smith Magazine

HarperTeen

Released September 1, 2009

Source: ARC received from publisher

Summary (from Amazon): One life. Six words. What's yours?

True tales of love, loss, good friends, and bad hair days filled Not Quite What I Was Planning, the New York Times bestselling first book in the Six-Word Memoir series—and an international phenomenon. Some of the most compelling were by teens, so now SMITH Magazine has compiled a book written entirely by these bold, brash truth-tellers. From cancer to creativity, prom dates to promiscuity, and breaking hearts to breaking laws, the memoirs in this collection reveal that often the youngest writers have the most fascinating stories to tell.

Met online; love before first sight.

Hair's pink to piss you off.

I fulfilled my awkwardness quota today.

I'm seventeen, engaged, and not pregnant.

My mom had my boyfriend deported.

Late for school every single day.

According to Facebook, we broke up.

Review: I received I Can't Keep My Own Secrets for review ages ago, and I now see that I was certainly missing out by not reading it sooner. Creatively telling the life stories of teenagers by the teenagers themselves in only 6 words, this collection of memoirs captured my attention.

Even though the teens were only allotted six words, each painted an accurate picture of what the lives of today's teenagers truly entail. Some of their stories were witty. Others told emotional tales of tragedies. Many of the memoirs were uplifting and gave a peek of hope, while others forced me to laugh out loud.

This collection is absolutely impressive and excites me about the futures of our young people. These short, intimate glimpses into the lives of teenagers are sure to be enjoyed by people of all ages.

I Can't Keep My Own Secrets will remain on my shelves as a favorite, and it is definitely a book I will be rereading many more times to come!

Rating: 9-You've gotta read this one!

Just for fun, a few six word memoirs from me:

Blessed newlywed loving my AMAZING husband

I eat sweets before bed nightly

Teenager at heart, license reads twenty-seven

The Education of Bet-One Question Tour with Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Today I am pleased to welcome Lauren Baratz-Logsted back to Shalonda's Blog for an interview question on her One Question Tour. Lauren is the author of the upcoming The Education of Bet, which will be released on July 12th.

Summary of The Education of Bet (from Amazon): When Will and Bet were four, tragic circumstances brought them to the same house, to be raised by a wealthy gentleman as brother and sister. Now sixteen, they’ve both enjoyed a privileged upbringing thus far. But not all is well in their household. Because she’s a girl, Bet’s world is contained within the walls of their grand home, her education limited to the rudiments of reading, writing, arithmetic, and sewing. Will’s world is much larger. He is allowed—forced, in his case—to go to school. Neither is happy.

So Bet comes up with a plan and persuades Will to give it a try: They’ll switch places. She’ll go to school as Will. Will can live as he chooses. But once Bet gets to school, she soon realizes living as a boy is going to be much more difficult than she imagined.

And now for today's question...

If you could travel back in time and visit the Victorian Era, what is the first thing you would do?

LBL: Make sure there's indoor plumbing! Yes, I like to go camping, but if we're talking long-term usage...I want modern conveniences!

Thank you so much, Lauren, for allowing me to be a stop on your tour! I totally agree; there's no better invention than indoor plumbing!

Be sure to visit Lauren's stop at Eleni's blog, La Femme Readers in case you missed it yesterday. Tomorrow you can find her at Julie's blog, Bloggers Heart Books.

I Am Officially a Mrs.

Yep, that's right! I married the love of my life on Saturday and had the best time ever! My day was even better than I had expected. Everything turned out lovely and I was surrounded by so many family members and friends.

I promised pictures, and thanks to Vania, the photos she snapped are available for viewing at Vania's Life Captures. I expect to post pictures taken by my photographer, as well as my sister, as soon as they become available.

Until then check out Vania's photography (she's just so fabulous, and she, Kelsey, and Tori looked AMAZING on Saturday!!!).

48 Hour Book Challenge Finish Line

So at 9:35 PM, the 48 Hour Book Challenge ended for me. I originally set a goal of 20 hours and provided a list of the books I planned to read.

I fell 14 hours short and did not finish any of the books I planned to read. I did however finish one book and read from two others.

I started the challenge with Zetta Elliott's A Wish After Midnight. I read 56 pages before I decided to put it away. I felt myself rushing so that I could reach my goal, and A Wish After Midnight is not a book you want to rush through. I enjoyed what I read so much that I wanted to save it for after the challenge so I could take my time while reading it.

Today I moved onto I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six-Word Memoirs By Teens Famous and Obscure. I LOVED this one and it was the perfect book to push me through the challenge.

I then began Maus by Art Spiegelman. This is the first graphic novel I've ever read (I checked one out of the library before, but never got around to reading it). I only read 73 pages before my time ran out, but I will be finishing this one tonight.

I'm disappointed with my numbers for the challenge (though I always hate numbers), but the challenge has excited me, and I will make more time for reading because I feel like I have been missing out on some good material during my hiatus. That said, expect to be hearing more from me very soon!

Time Spent Reading: 5 Hours

Time Spent Blogging/Reviewing: 1 Hour

Total Time: 6 Hours

Total Number of Pages Read: 311

Thanks to MotherReader for hosting the challenge. I had a great time and am looking forward to the next 48 Hour Book Challenge!

48 Hour Book Challenge: Update 2

So you may have noticed I haven't posted an update since my 12 hour mark. The reason being, I have done a pathetic job at reaching my goal of 20 hours.

I joined in on the challenge because I wanted a wedding planning free weekend and wanted to get back to reading and blogging. That idea went out the window yesterday when I realized I had wedding related errands to run. Immediately after, I received a sweet phone call from my future mother-in-law that inspired me to work on a few minor wedding details. What was originally supposed to be three hours of work turned into a whole day of planning. I worked on wedding stuff until 2 AM, when I decided I should finally go to bed.

I am hoping to hit the books hard for the remaining 10 hours of the challenge (Yes, I will finish this challenge), and I am crossing my fingers I won't get interrupted or become too distracted.

Books Read: 0

Pages Read: Still far too low to report

Hours Read: 2 (Yep, that means I only read for 20 minutes yesterday. ARGH!!!)

24 Hour Book Challenge: Update 1

Okay, so I'm at hour 12--Did I just say hour 12? Yes. If you refer to the start time on my previous post, you'll sadly recognize that I started later than I anticipated.

I officially started at 9:35 PM last night, and now 12 hours later, I am embarrassed to report that I only read for 1 hour and 40 minutes. :-(

Because I did not decide to participate until yesterday evening, I missed out on the opportunity to take a nap. That said, I am not much of a night owl and was too tired to carry on.

But that's okay, I'll make up for it today!

Books Read: 0

Pages Read: Far too low to report yet (I am a SLOW reader)

Time Read: 1 Hour 40 Minutes

48 Hour Book Challenge: Can You Believe I'm Doing This???

It's been three months since I last posted, and it feels like forever! It is such a crazy idea that I am going to spend this weekend participating in the 48 Hour Book Challenge, considering I have so much to do!!! But I've missed the book blogging community so much and figured this was the best way to get back on track and communicate with you all about something other than my wedding plans (Trust me, once it's over, I will let you all know in a special post). That said, I am going to spend 48 hours, beginning at 8:30 pm tonight, reading and reviewing!!!

I am way behind on reviewing, so below is a list of books that I plan to read, and hopefully I will make it through them all without getting too distracted!

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

A Wish After Midnight by Zetta Elliot

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Freaksville by Kitty Keswick

The Clearing by Heather Davis

And if I read and review each of those before my 48 period is up, I hope to read these for fun (but will also post reviews):

The Karma Club by Jessica Brody

The Not-So-Star-Spangled Life of Sunita Sen by Mitali Perkins (originally The Sunita Experiment)

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

My plan is to read for at least 20 hours of the 48 hour period. Wish me luck!

Celebrity Authors

When I was growing up (I'm an 80s baby), authors were men and women who had a special way with words. They had a story to tell and practiced their craft diligently.

These days, everyone thinks he/she can become an author. From non-fiction by Tori Spelling (which I enjoyed) to realistic fiction (if you grew up in Laguna Beach) by Lauren Conrad, it seems that if your name is recognized by a majority of the public population, you're guaranteed a book deal.

Today's YA news includes that of Hilary Duff signing a book deal with Simon & Schuster. Smart move on the publisher's part because it is guaranteed to sell a number of books to those fans who grew up watching Hilary Duff on television and the silver screen, but I'm a little irked by this.

I don't know if Hilary Duff is a talented writer, so I am not going to make prejudgements on her writing ability. I may or may not read the book; only time will tell. But my heart goes out to all those fabulous people who put their blood, sweat, and tears into crafting their writing day after day. Many of whom may never be published. Many of whom may end up with disappointing book sales due to lack of publicity.

I'm sure Hilary Duff is going to have a huge marketing plan with signings, interviews on major networks, etc., which will rake in tons of cash. And I'm not saying it's not deserved (I actually find her refreshing and genuine), but when will this celebrity book trend end?

Developing a novel takes creativity, passion, and devotion. The men, women, teenagers (Go Steph Bowe!), and children who write for fun or for a living are remarkable people and they deserve to have their stories read by many. I'm glad to see books being advertised on television and in major magazines, but when will a truly deserving author (other than Stephanie Meyer or Stephen King) appear on the cover?

I do have books written (perhaps ghostwritten) by celebrities, like Lauren Conrad and Tyra Banks, so I'm not saying down with celebrity authors. I want to see amazing authors like Walter Dean Myers, Elizabeth Scott, Jen Echols, and John Green on the covers of major magazines and newspapers (heck, I'll settle for inside--but not just in the book section) when they have exciting book news or receive a new accolade. I long for a world where we're not driven only by celebrities, but by normal people who make a difference in the lives of others be it through music, writing, community service, etc.

I want to know: What are your thoughts on celebrity authors? Have you read any books written by celebrities? Do you think you'll read Duff's novel?

You may have noticed...

You may have noticed that I have been neglecting my blog lately. While I have been reading, the books have all been about weddings. With my wedding now less than four months away, I have been in a frenzy making sure everything will be perfect for the big day. Though my wedding is currently my number one priority, there will be reviews sometime in the near future. Until then, happy reading to you all!!!

Spotlight on Kristin Walker

Today I am so excited to have Kristin Walker on the blog for a Q & A. Kristin is the debut of the hilarious debut novel, A Match Made in High School, which is out is stores TODAY!!!

How did you decide to write for a YA audience?

I actually worked my way up to YA. I started out writing picture book manuscripts many years ago, and just kept moving higher and higher in age-group until I finally sold a book. If I'd known how fantastic it is to write for teens, I would've started there first!

What part of the writing process do you find most fun?

I love getting the first glimmer of an idea, and I love finishing the manuscript. Everything in between is slightly more difficult to deal with.

Collaborations seem to be gaining popularity in YA. If you could collaborate with another author, with whom would you choose to write?

For a YA, I'd chose Kristina Springer (THE ESPRESSOLOGIST). She's such a riot to be around, and I just love her work. Plus, she lives about 25 minutes away from me! So awesome.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of being a Tenner?

As a Tenner and a former Deb, I can tell you that the most rewarding thing by far is the opportunity to become friends with so many incredibly talented authors. They're all so fun! It's been amazing.

What are three upcoming or newly released YA novels that you would suggest to teen (or teens for life, like me) readers?

Only three? ACK! Okay, for ones along the same lines as mine...

1. THE ESPRESSOLOGIST, by Kristina Springer
2. PRADA & PREJUDICE by Mandy Hubbard
3. STUPID CUPID by Rhonda Stapleton

Fill in the blanks:

I first knew I was a writer when I held my first writing-earned paycheck. It was for a poem I sold for $10.

The hardest job I've ever had besides being a mom and a writer? Hmm... I guess when I was a lifeguard at an apartment complex pool in high school. One summer, the temps were above 90/100 degrees for like three weeks in a row. And I found a huge rat swimming in the pool, one morning. Good times...

The craziest thing I ever did in high school was skip a class and walk down the road to the local convenience store with my friend, Anita. Of course, we got in trouble when we got back. Typical.

My high school class most remembers me as a dork.

In one word, A Match Made in High School is funny!

Thanks so much Kristin and congrats on your release!

If you've not yet visited Kristin's website, take the time to do so. It is full of personality, music, and other fun stuff (the picture from above is courtesy of Kristin's fabulous site). Honestly, it's the best I've seen yet!

Spotlight on Bonnie Doerr

I am very excited to welcome Bonnie Doerr, author of Island Sting. Bonnie's novel is the first book published by Leap Books and I am tickled to have her on the blog today! Get to know a little more about this fascinating lady by reading on...

You have lived in a number of different places. How do you feel your many surroundings have impacted your writing?

It’s true. I’ve lived in eight widespread states and sometimes in several places within the same state. You wouldn’t believe the number of accents I hear when I’m writing! I work to silence them on the page so readers don’t

get confused about where they are and who’s talking. So far I’ve kept the Texas twang and Georgia drawl quiet. But they’re itching to come out.

What has been the most exciting or most nerve wrecking thing about being the first author published by Leap Books?

I don’t really feel like the first author because I have two close Leap sisters, Kitty Keswick and Judith Graves. We’ve all been thrilled and nervous together. Bless them. Speaking for myself, it’s an amazing honor. It has been a tad hairy launching so soon after the holidays when businesses slowed down and some work deadlines had to stretch. But Leap Books is an amazing new publisher and their personnel really care about us as individuals, not bottom line numbers.

How much of Island Sting came from your personal experiences? What other research did you complete to make the novel an accurate representation of ecology in the Florida Keys?

Researching Island Sting was so much fun. Any scene where Kenzie and Angelo explore the island environment was probably based on personal experience. I enjoyed many days on the water as well as under it. There were days when I took notes while I observed the deer and their antics, as well as when I interviewed people living in national refuge neighborhoods. I also spent time with the National Key Deer Refuge personnel and contacted Texas researchers by phone and email.

Environmental thrillers are very rare in the YA genre. Why do you feel it was important to get Island Sting into the hands of readers?

I know it’s true that these books are rare, and I just don’t get that. After Carl Hiassen’s Hoot won the Newbery Honor I attended an SCBWI conference where I asked an editor if she thought this “new” genre was a trend. She said, “No, it’s just a fluke.” Well, that kind of slowed me down. Thank goodness it didn’t slow Carl! But why are historical novels popular and environmental ones not? In one the reader has fun while accidentally learning history. In the other the fun sneaks in environmental science. And that sneaking in environmental awareness is the answer to your second question.

What advice do you have for teens who, like you, love nature and want to become more proactive in saving the environment?

I don’t want to get all preachy here. There are many green teen organizations popping up and environmental clubs at schools. I’d say start by joining one of these social organizations so that anything you do is fun as well as relevant. Many schools require community service. Earn your hours outdoors. Volunteer at an animal shelter or zoo. Is there a therapeutic horseback riding school near you? Volunteer there. Clean up streets and streams. The more time you spend with green teens outdoors, the more proactive ideas come your way. It’s like you begin to hear Mother Nature call your name.

Fill in the blanks:

If I could have dinner with a famous person, I would dine with First Lady, Michelle Obama. Maybe some of her grace, wisdom, and intelligence would rub off on me.

People would be surprised to know that I just remarried my ex- husband after twenty years of marriage to a different man. I can no longer refer to him as my “once and future husband.”

The animal I share the most characteristics with is the mule. This was the immediate response of my husband because I’m hard-working and stubborn. If only he’d said Clydesdale…

In my opinion, the most important word in the human language is hope. Think of all its usages: trust, expectation, optimism, dream, faith. If we could prevent the attachment of the suffix less to it we’d have the perfect word.

Lovers of YA should read Island Sting because it’s an inexpensive trip to paradise, and it won’t give you nightmares, just sweet dreams. You’ll hang out with intriguing, intrepid, fun-loving teens who successfully tackle challenges adults haven’t been able to master. Oh, and you just might experience your first crush while you’re at it.

Thank you so much for participating, Bonnie! You can find out more out Bonnie at her website or on the LeapBooks site.

Above photo is from Bonnie's website.

The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard

The Secret Year

Jennifer Hubbard

Viking

Published January 7, 2010

Source: ARC received from publisher

Summary: Colt found Julia to be the perfect girl. Although they came from two totally different worlds, they shared secrets and a strong romance. Too bad no one else could ever find out about their relationship. After Julia dies in an accident and he is given her journal, Colt learns more about Julia than he ever knew and revisits their secret year together.

Review: The Secret Year was a moving novel that I enjoyed very much. I think what separatedthis book from other YA novels was its genuine realism. The characters in the book were flawlessly created. Each of them possessed what makes us human--conflict. The internal battles faced by the characters struck through to the heart and their emotions were felt on every page. I was most drawn to Colt's brother, Tommy, who is a true gem. Very rarely do secondary characters, who make only minor appearances in a book, have the same impact on the reader's experience as Tommy did mine.

In addition to the characters' feelings, the events in the story were true to life. Each was captured on the pages in an exciting fashion, yet could take place in any of our own teenage years. The hatred and resentment felt between the Black Mountain kids and those from the flats gave an accurate and thrilling depiction of small town drama.

To help out with the characters and events, the settings were beautifully crafted. I could use all five senses through Jennifer's breathtaking descriptions of the settings and felt as though I was there watching each scene play out.

Fresh, mesmerizing, and authentic, The Secret Year is a powerful debut novel and I look forward to reading more by Jennifer Hubbard (hopefully) in the near future.

Rating: 9-You've gotta read this one!

Mistletoe by Abbott, de la Cruz, Friedman, and Malkin

Mistletoe

Hailey Abbott, Melissa de la Cruz, Aimee Friedman, and Nina Malkin

Scholastic

Released October 6, 2006

Source: Purchased

Summary: What do you get when four popular YA authors come together? One captivating holiday novel full of drama, parties, presents, and romance!

Review: This collection of four short stories was well written and provided some much needed holiday pleasure. Because each of the stories was unique, I am going to give you a quick rundown of each.

In "Working in a Winter Wonderland" by Aimee Friedman, Maxine takes a holiday job in a big city department store in order to purchase the perfect dress for her best friend's New Year's Eve bash. While working, she also becomes one step closer to attaining her secret crush. One of the aspects I enjoyed most about this story was that both Hanukkah and Christmas are celebrated. As a person who celebrates Christmas, I enjoyed learning a little about Hanukkah and hope to read more YA novels about the holiday next winter. This story was full of charm. Aimee's writing was clear, and I loved the ending, even if it was a little predictable.

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Breakup" by Hailey Abbott shares the story of how people change and grow apart. Aria is super excited that her best friend Emily, who is a year older than she, is returning home from her freshman year of college. However, she learns that Emily has grown apart from her boyfriend and her friendship with Aria. Though I knew what was going to happen after reading a couple of pages of this story, Hailey is a good storyteller and kept my attention through her use of three dimensional characters in a realistic situation.

"Scenes from a Cinematic New Year's" by Nina Malkin was an interesting story to say the least. Connor Moline, a television star, experiences a wild ride while trying to join his friends for a winter getaway in Tahoe. I am still unsure of my thoughts on this one. The ending provided a nice twist, but I found the format and the characters to be very annoying. I do have to credit Nina though. She did a great job of showing rather than telling the story which made it easy to follow.

In "The Christmas Choos" by Melissa de la Cruz, neither Kelsey nor Brenden has much money to spend on Christmas presents, but both are determined to make it an unforgettable holiday for the other. This was my favorite of the four stories. I fell so in love with this retelling of "The Gift of the Magi" that I talked about it for several days after reading it. The characters in this story were so believable; I felt their emotions throughout the adorable plot. The ending was heartfelt, and Kelsey and Brenden became one of my favorite YA couples.

This book really put me in the holiday spirit. While reading, it made me feel warm and I became even more excited about all things holiday related--hot chocolate, Christmas lights and wrapping paper! This was a light read, but it was absolutely delightful.

Rating: 7-Good, enjoyable, but not great

2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge

The 2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge is hosted by J. Kaye. This will be the last 2010 challenge I join. I originally set a limit of 3 challenges; however, since I hardly read anything other than YA, I couldn't resist this one!

I am participating in the Super Size Me YA Reading Challenge, so by December 31, I shall read 75 YA novels (which is a LOT for me)!

I will be tracking my progress on this post, so continue to check back as I add my completed list and links to the reviews here!

Books Completed

1.

In the Middle Reading Challenge

The O.W.L. is hosting the In the Middle Reading Challenge. The goal of this challenge is to read middle grades books (books for readers ages 9-12). While there are four levels to this challenge, I am going to think realistically and participate as a 6th grader, which means I must read at least 6 books. Sounds like an attainable goal!

My list of potential reads

Eighth Grade Superzero Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich

Luv Ya Bunches Lauren Myracle

One Crazy Summer Rita Williams-Garcia

The Prince of Fenway Park Julianna Baggott
Maniac Magee Jerry Spinelli

*I will select the final two books at a later time.

Upon completion of each book for this challenge, I will highlight it in fuchsia and link to its review.

Special Note: The four books above were chosen based on reviews I have read at The Happy Nappy Bookseller. If you are not already a follower of Doret's blog, you need to check out her honest reviews. She truly is one of the best bloggers and I admire her work.

TwentyTen Reading Challenge

I am joining another challenge (yay for being brave in 2010)! The TwentyTen Reading Challenge is hosted by Bart's Bookshelf and is one of the coolest challenges I've seen yet. Participants must read two books from each category or a total of only 20 books. Because of its fun categories, I had to participate.

Below are the details about the categories directly from Bart's challenge post.

1. Young Adult
   Any book classified as young adult or featuring a teenage protagonist counts for this category.
2. T.B.R. **
   Intended to help reduce the old T.B.R. pile. Books for this category must be already residents of your bookshelves as of 1/11/09.
3. Shiny & New
   Bought a book NEW during 2010 from a bookstore, online, or a supermarket? Then it counts for this category. Second-hand books do not count for this one, but, for those on book-buying bans, books bought for you as gifts or won in a giveaway also count!
4. Bad Blogger’s ***
   Books in this category, should be ones you’ve picked up purely on the recommendation of another blogger count for this category (any reviews you post should also link to the post that convinced you give the book ago).
   *** Bad Bloggers: Is hosted by Chris of Stuff as Dreams are Made on.
5. Charity
   Support your local charity shops with this category, by picking up books from one of their shops. Again, for those on book-buying bans, books bought for you as gifts also count, as long as they were bought from a charity shop.
6. New in 2010
   This category is for those books newly published in 2010 (whether it be the first time it is has been released, or you had to wait for it to be published in your country, it counts for this one!)
7. Older Than You
   Read two books that were published before you were born, whether that be the day before or 100 years prior!
8. Win! Win!
   Have a couple of books you need to read for another challenge? Then this is the category to use, as long that is, you don’t break the rules of the other challenge by doing so!
9. Who Are You Again?
   This one isn’t just for authors you’ve never read before, this is for those authors you have never even heard of before!
10. Up to You!
    The requirements for this category are up to you! Want to challenge yourself to read some graphic novels? A genre outside your comfort zone? Something completely wild and wacky? Then this is the category to you. The only requirement is that you state it in your sign-up post.

Aren't those some neat categories?!?!?! For number 10, I am going to read nonfiction titles due to last month's post, in which I requested nonfiction suggestions from you! I received a few recommendations that caught my interest, so I'm looking forward to reading them myself!

I will add titles under each category as I decide which books to read. Upon completion of each book, I'll also link to its review on this post.

2010 Debut Author Challenge

During 2010 I plan to make more time for reading and blogging. What better way to make sure I succeed than to join in on The Story Siren's 2010 Debut Author Challenge?

Kristi has challenged her audience to read at least 12 debut novels this year, and I think that this will help motivate me to read more this year.

I will be marking my progress on this post. After reading a book from the list, I will highlight it in fuchsia and link to its review. Any book with an asterisk is a 2010 debut, but will not count toward the challenge, as I read it in 2009.

Wish me luck!

My 2010 Debut Author Challenge List

Eighth Grade Superzero Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich (January 1, 2010)

Bleeding Violet Dia Reeves (January 4, 2010)

The Good Girl's Guide to Getting Kidnapped Yxta Maya Murray (January 7, 2010)

Leaving Gee's Bend Irene Latham (January 7, 2010)

The Secret Year Jennifer Hubbard (January 7, 2010)

Freaksville Kitty Keswick (January 8, 2010)

All Unquiet Things Anna Jarzab (January 12, 2010)

The Mark Jen Nadol (January 19, 2010)

Dirty Little Secrets Cynthia Jaynes Omololu (February 2, 2010)

A Match Made in High School Kristin Walker (February 4, 2010)

The Naughty List Suzanne Young (February 4, 2010)*

The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin Josh Berk (January 9, 2010)

Tagged Mara Purnhagen (March 1, 2010)

Forget Her Nots Amy Brecount White (March 2, 2010)

Hex Hall Rachel Hawkins (March 2, 2010)

The Line Teri Hall (March 4, 2010)

Split Swati Avasthi (March 9, 2010)

The Body Finder Kimberly Derting (March 16, 2010)*

Princess for Hire Lindsey Leavitt (March 16, 2010)

The Snowball Effect Holly Nicole Hoxter (March 23, 2010)

Under My Skin Judith Graves (March 27, 2010)

The Cinderella Society Kay Cassidy (April 13, 2010)

Three Rivers Rising Jame Richards (April 13, 2010)

Party Tom Leveen (April 27, 2010)

Whisper Phoebe Kitanidis (April 27, 2010)

Shade Jeri Smith-Ready (May 4, 2010)

The Red Umbrella Christina Diaz Gonzalez (May 11, 2010)

Harmonic Feedback Tara Kelly (May 25, 2010)

The Tension of Opposites Kristina McBride (May 25, 2010)
I Now Pronounce You Someone Else Erin McCahan (June 1, 2010)

Nice and Mean Jessica Leader (June 8, 2010)

Sea Heidi R. Kling (June 10, 2010)

The Deathday Letter Shaun Hutchinson (June 15, 2010)

13 to Life Shannon Delany (June 22, 2010)

Shadow Hills Anastasia Hopcus (July 13, 2010)

The Absolute Value of -1 Steve Brezenoff (September 1, 2010)

Losing Faith Denise Jaden (September 7, 2010)

Merry Christmas!

While I know that the day is almost over, I figured it's never too late to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas (Happy Holidays to those who do not celebrate).

I hope everyone had a very peaceful and blessed day!

Spotlight on Kitty Keswick

The end of the year is nearing and I am excited to present my last author spotlight of 2009 with Kitty Keswick!

Kitty is the author of the January 2010 release Freaksville. It will be published on January 8 by Leap Books. I am so excited to read Kitty's work. And you will be too, once you read more about how cool Kitty is!

On your website, you proclaim your love of 80s movies. Which movie for that decade was most like your life growing up?

Ack, that’s a great question. I’d say my life was a John Hughes montage; I liked to dress funky and make my own clothes like Andy in Pretty in Pink. (No, I didn’t have a Ducky…I wish!) I played the drums—although not as great as Watts in Some Kind of Wonderful. (I want to take them up again. And I didn’t get the diamond stud earrings.) I could totally relate to the entire cast of the Breakfast Club.

You stated, "Conflict makes good fiction." Do you find internal conflict or external conflict more important when developing characters and plot? Which is easiest to tackle during the writing process?

External conflict is the easiest for most to write, because it’s obvious it’s happening to the characters. I like internal conflict, the angst the characters go through…being torn over some decision they have to make that will change their life path forever. It’s the conflict you can’t see, but it’s the one that has the most punch. Internal conflict keeps you up at night; it eats away at you. Internal conflict is what will either beat you or make you stronger.

What inspires you while writing?

Everything. My characters speak to me. Many times they inspire me. I get to know them and then build the story around their quirks and dreams. Also art, music, nature—I know it’s cliché, but I draw from them all.

Though you write paranormal fiction, are any of the events/characters inspired by personal experiences?

All writers pull from experiences they’ve had, but I don’t base my stories on me or people I know. Certain aspects of characters are me. For example, Kasey’s mom is an interior designer, so was I. And I was a theater minor, so I used some of my knowledge in the story. I do go a little weak in the knees when I hear a British accent, and so does my heroine, Kasey. I moved from California to Pennsylvania and didn’t like the move at first, so I could relate to Kasey in that way, too. Do I see ghosts and werewolves? Well, my lips are sealed.

What has been the most exciting part of the road the publication?

Everything. Signing the contract, editing, working with the illustrator…It’s a roller coaster!

Fill in the blanks:

If I could collaborate with an author (living or deceased), I would love to write with Rachel Caine, Kelley Armstrong, Maria V. Snyder, P.C. Cast, Jane Austen, and John Hughes.

The most rewarding part of writing for a teen audience is they are so passionate about the characters. Everything in teens’ lives become huge when it’s happening to them. They feel things intensely; the world is full of possibilities, and they haven’t been jaded by it yet. They are standing at the edge of their future with so many paths to take—all they have to do is close their eyes take a deep breath and choose. It’s an exciting time.

If I could land a guest spot on any show, I would like to appear on Supernatural as Dean Winchester’s (Jensen Ackles’) love interest. Oh, but I’d have this really cool power to kick demon butt! Duh! I’d wear some really kickin’ boots and have my own muscle car—deep midnight blue, Chevelle SS… The racing stripe is optional. The rumble is not. Grrrr.

My biggest pet peeve is people that lie.

Freaksville is a novel that should be read by those who love paranormal, humor, have a thing for British hotties, like ghost stories, werewolves, fashion and theater, and believe that love is worth the work.

Thank you, Kitty for taking the time to participate! And best wishes with your upcoming release!

Nonfiction Suggestions

I very rarely read nonfiction writing for pleasure, unless I am reading the newspaper (which I do daily) or a magazine. It's not that I have anything against reading about factual subjects; it is more that I haven't found many nonfiction YA novels that grasp my attention like the creativity of fictional characters and settings.

In my classroom, this past quarter has been devoted to nonfiction, and I must admit that I have had a blast working with the texts I selected for my students. The thing is that many of these informational texts came from online sources and magazines or were excerpts from autobiographies, memoirs, and biographies. When looking for full copies of them, I've had very little luck.

I would like to devote some of 2010 to reading more nonfiction, which is where you guys come in.

I need your help! What nonfiction YA books would you suggest I read? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!