Tales from the Real OC (Really!)

Cover Girl!

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:13:00 +0000

Ever wonder about the journey behind a book cover? How it goes from idea to picture, and just who's responsible for getting it to look that way anyway? And just how much input, (if any), the author had?

Well, wonder no more! The awesome Melissa Walker has been posting a weekly cover story on her blog, and today it's my turn as I tell all--giving you the story behind the story on the CRUEL SUMMER cover!

All you have to do to read all about it, just click HERE.

Oh, and how's this for the power of television! Straight from the New York Times mass-market paperback bestseller list:

1. NIGHTS IN RODANTHE, by Nicholas Sparks
2. THIRD DEGREE, by Greg Iles.
3. BOOK OF THE DEAD, by Patricia Cornwell
4. DEAD UNTIL DARK, by Charlaine Harris
5. STONE COLD, by David Baldacci
6. PLAYING FOR PIZZA, by John Grisham
7. COMPULSION, by Jonathan Kellerman
8. LIVING DEAD IN DALLAS, by Charlaine Harris
9. PROTECT AND DEFEND, by Vince Flynn
10. SANDPIPER WAY, by Debbie Macomber
11. CLUB DEAD, by Charlaine Harris
12. YOU’VE BEEN WARNED, by James Patterson and Howard Roughan
13. DEAD TO THE WORLD, by Charlaine Harris
14. SWEET REVENGE, by Diane Mott Davidson
15. SHOW NO MERCY, by Cindy Gerard
16. KEEPING FAITH, by Jodi Picoult
17. DEAD AS A DOORNAIL, by Charlaine Harris
18. TRUNK MUSIC, by Michael Connelly
19. DEFINITELY DEAD, by Charlaine Harris
20. ALL TOGETHER DEAD, by Charlaine Harris

Yup, that's Charlaine Harris occupying a ton of (count 'em--seven!!) spots for her Sookie Stackhouse series, which HBO's new show, TRUE BLOOD is based on! I don't even know Charlaine and I've never read the books (though I have watched the show), but I was so excited for her when I saw this--talk about an author's dream come true! Rock on, Charlaine!

And speaking of writing, literary agent Donald Maas is giving away free downloads of his book, The Career Novelist: A Literary Agent Offers Strategies for Success

All you have to do to download your copy is click HERE!

That's it for now--

Happy Monday Everyone!

Keeps Gettin' Better!!

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:29:00 +0000

It's Saturday, which means it's time for another round of Jessica Brody's FREE BOOK FRIDAY!
This week she's featuring the awesome Lisa Lutz who's giving away a signed copy of her New York Times bestselling novel, THE SPELLMAN FILES, so be sure to go HERE for your chance to listen to the podcast interview and win a copy of this amazing book!

Also, talented debut author of UNDONE, Brooke Taylor, (who I was lucky enough to meet at the RWA national convention in San Franciso last summer and she totally rocks!) is holding a Monster Giveaway (seriously monster sized!) on her blog this month, with prizes so great you won't want to miss it! I'll be giving away a signed ARC of the first book in my upcoming paranormal series, EVERMORE, at the end of the month, but trust me, you're going to want to head over there now for your chance to win the awesome, New York Times bestselling, HOUSE OF NIGHT series! Just. Click. HERE!

And, don't forget about the Secret Fates Blog contest that's also running all month in celebration of Kelly Parra's (who I also met at the RWA convention and she's sooo nice!) new release INVISIBLE TOUCH. Today, Erica Orloff (who writes one of the best blogs on writing- ever!) is not only spilling secrets but also giving away a copy of her YA hit, THE POKER DIARIES! I'll be giving away a signed copy of EVERMORE this month too, and since I'm running pretty short on copies, this maybe your only chance (other than Brooke's giveaway) to get a first look, so don't miss it! Go HERE now!

And did anyone watch THE EX LIST last night? I did, right after GHOST WHISPERER, it's kind of a MY NAME IS EARL (mostly because of the list) meets SEX AND THE CITY (mostly because of the dating--only it takes place in L.A.) hybrid. If you didn't see it, it's about a girl who goes to a psychic and learns that she has one year to get married (or it will never happen) and that her soul mate is someone she's already dated. So I'm guessing each show will be about her going through her (long) list of exes, trying to figure out who it could be. And while it got me thinking about my own list of exes (not that long-- I swear!), it also reminded me of the time I went to a psychic with a friend who predicted my future husband to a T. Seriously. All the way down to his education, birth place, astrological sign, etc. The reading took place eight years before he would come into my life (which she also predicted!) and it seemed so crazy at the time I put it right out of my mind- until the night we met, (yup, 8 full years later), and it went just as she said . . .

So, in celebration of all things paranormal, Halloween, and THE EX-LIST, tell me:
Have you ever been to a psychic--and did any of the predictions come true?

Vote!

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:05:00 +0000

Okay, I admit, I totally have election fever!

Seriously.

Debate watching party? Check.
Lapel pin? Yes!
Bumper sticker? Mais oui!
T-shirt featuring my candidates logo? You bet!

And while I won't tell you who to vote for (even though I'd LOVE to), I will urge you to vote.

Yes YOU!

Vote!

It's never been more important!

Seriously.

PS- and if you're not old enough to vote, you can still bug other people to vote!

Speaking of Books . . .

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:02:00 +0000

Lots of exciting things happening in the world of books this week, including:

It's Cybils time again! That's right, nominations for the Children's & Young Adult Blogger's Literary Awards are open for nominations! To nominate your favorite book, just visit HERE and leave the title in the comments section--it's so easy!

Also, the Leave a Mark auction has begun! This is the one where various authors (including moi), mark up one of their books (thereby turning it into a sort of director's cut edition!), and auction it off to benefit First Book, a wonderful charity providing books for the needy! This amazing idea was the brainchild of Lauren over at Shooting Stars Magazine and Chelsea at The Page Flipper. They'll be auctioning off a different title every few days (including my marked up version of SAVING ZOE- though I'm not sure which day it will run so check back!), and all you have to do to participate is click HERE!

And, as it that wasn't enough, today also marks the start of Kelly Parra's Secret Fates Blog Extravaganza! In celebration of her latest release, INVISIBLE TOUCH, from now til the end of the month, she'll be featuring various authors spilling secrets and giving away prizes and you won't want to miss it! I'll be giving away a rare (um, rare because I'm running out of copies!) ARC of the fist title in my upcoming paranormal series, EVERMORE!! But since I'm not sure which day I'm up--you should probably visit everyday since there's loads of good stuff you're going to want! And all you have to do to win, win, win--is just click HERE!

That's it for now-- Happy October Everyone!

Gateway Books . . .

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:16:00 +0000

In continued celebration of Banned Books Week, I thought I'd post a list of what I like to call "Gateway Books." You know, the ones that got you hooked on reading. The one's that might've taken you from a "reading is boring" mentality to the proud owner of a towering TBR pile.

This list, compiled by votes from First Book, which, by the way, is not only a rockin' charity providing books to children in need, but pretty much a 24/7 book-lovers-love-fest, contains many of my favorite titles, many of which, big surprise, have been banned and/or challenged!

While the first book I learned to read was HORTON HATCHES THE EGG by Dr. Seuss, my personal gateway book, the one that changed everything and turned me into a bonafide addict, was Judy Blume's ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET, which just happens to claim the number 62 spot on the Top 100 most frequently challenged books of 1990-2000 list because apparently writing about REAL issues affecting REAL girls is somehow dangerous.

Or something.

I can't quit grasp the ideology behind the pro-book banning argument. It all seems so--dumb.

All I know is that Judy Blume says this about it:

“[I]t's not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers.”

And I totally agree.

Any who, below is the list of gateway books, some of them deemed dangerous, some not. But what I really want to know is:

DID YOUR BOOK MAKE THE LIST?

Top 50 Books!
The Nancy Drew series
Green Eggs & Ham
Little House on the Prairie series
Charlotte's Web
Cat in the Hat
Little Women
The Boxcar Children
The Bobbsey Twins
Black Beauty
The Dick & Jane series
Go Dog Go!
To Kill a Mockingbird
Goodnight Moon
Gone With the Wind
Heidi
Anne of Green Gables
Curious George
Black Stallion
Harry Potter series
The Secret Garden
The Bible
The Pokey Little Puppy
The Giving Tree
A Wrinkle in Time
The Little Engine That Could
The Hobbit
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The Hardy Boys series
Hop on Pop
Where the Sidewalk Ends
The Velveteen Rabbit
Are You There God? It's me Margaret.
The Babysitters Club series
Pippi Longstocking
Amelia Bedelia
The Hatchet
Superfudge
Ramona Quimby books
Cinderella
Island of the Blue Dolphins
The Wizard of Oz
The Outsiders
Winnie the Pooh
Treasure Island
Horton Hears a Who
Love You Forever
Old Yeller
Call of the Wild
Twilight

WHICH BOOK SERVED AS YOUR ENTRY INTO THE WORLD OF READING?

I Heart Banned Books!

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:20:00 +0000

Today marks the official start of Banned Books Week--a national celebration of the freedom to read! Over a thousand books have been challenged since its launch in 1982--many of which have a permanent home on my keeper shelf.

I can't imagine life without Judy Blume's FOREVER, JD Salinger's CATCHER IN THE RYE, Margaret Atwood's THE HANDMAID'S TALE, Stephen Chobsky's THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER, (and too many more to mention!)--all books that have shaped me not just as a writer, but as a person!

Books are challenged in every state and in hundreds of communities--and they run the gamut of contemporary works to classic and beloved works of American literature. And according to the American Library Association, more than 400 books were challenged in 2007. The 10 most challenged titles were:

1. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
2. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
3. Olive’s Ocean by Kevin Henkes
4. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
7. TTYL by Lauren Myracle
8. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
9. It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

So tell me, what are some of your favorite banned books??

Bye Bye American Pie (and dairy, and gluten, and . . .)

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:59:00 +0000

So the winners of this week’s Free Book Friday have been announced, and big congrats go out to: Jen, Jeanne, and Terra who won signed copies of Fly Me to the Moon, Cruel Summer, and Saving Zoë respectively! And be sure to stay tuned as Jessica has lots of amazing guests lined up—starting tomorrow! (Saturday!)

And speaking of food (I know we weren’t but I couldn’t come up with a decent segue), yesterday, in the interest of better health, I visited a naturopath, sure that some of my health complaints were most likely attributed to my diet but wanting a professional to confirm it. So after a two hour session I learned that basically everything I eat is doing me in, which was really shocking as I was sure that my dislike and complete avoidance of fast foods and processed foods made me the poster child for healthy eating—but alas, it is not so. It seems my penchant for dairy and gluten based products is the true root of all evil. So, in a moment of insanity (and a dash of pioneering can do spirit) I agreed to give it all up, along with alcohol and tomatoes (no salsa pour moi!) for 3 weeks and note the progress—starting, um, today!

Though in the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit that I already know it'll work since I've done this before, back when I lived in NYC and was on an extended disability leave from work (a hand injury that required surgery), where just three days in I felt better than ever—light on my feet—like I was lit from within! But the moment I returned to the polyester dress wearing, roller bag dragging, sleep-deprived life of a flight attendant, I regressed quicker than you can say, “Ready for Take Off Captain!” So, we'll see if this second go round really sticks!

And speaking of food (now that’s a segue!), I strategically scheduled my naturopath appointment well after this event. For those of you feeling especially click shy, the event is Savor The Season—an annual food feast benefitting Break The Cycle—an organization empowering teens to build lives and communities free from domestic and dating violence--(did you know that 1 in 3 teen girls will be in an abusive relationship??). So in the interest of empowering youth and promoting peace I ate this:

And drank some of those dry sodas:

Along with a whole lot of other stuff that didn't photograph so well. Though funnily enough, in a night that was all about food, the only pictures I took that actually turned out were of my friend Snarky’s new shoes!

And speaking of shoes—well, I’m trying to decide which shoes I’ll wear for the Debate Watching Party I’m attending tonight. Okay, I’m really not all that concerned with my footwear, I just wanted to mention that I'm going to a debate watching party!!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Interview on Writely So

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:39:00 +0000

Hey Everyone-

Just wanted you to know about a fun interview I did over at DeAnna Cameron's awesome blog-- Writely So.

Every Wednesday she interviews an author on The Business of Books, asking about their promotional plans, what they've learned along the way, what they'd recommend etc, and this Wednesday (um, that would be today), she's featuring moi. Though I urge you to bookmark it and check back as often as you can since there's a lot to be learned!

Thanks -- and have a great day!

Free Book Friday Podcast Interview!

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:09:00 +0000

Hey Everyone-

Amazing author of THE FIDELITY FILES and good friend, Jessica Brody, is featuring moi this week on her awesome new website-- Free Book Friday!

She put together a really fun (and very professional sounding, I might add!) podcast interview where I talk about which airplane stories were true in FLY ME TO THE MOON, the story behind the story in SAVING ZOE, and why I chose the blog- email-postcard format in CRUEL SUMMER -- and more!

Oh, and while you're there, I'm giving away signed copies of those books as well so be sure to sign up for your chance to win!

It's so easy-- all you have to do is click HERE!

Oh, and to subscribe on iTunes click HERE!

Best of luck and Happy Monday!

Free Books!!!

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:56:00 +0000

So, in honor of the fabulous Linda Gerber's new release, DEATH BY LATTE, (see last post for more details), she's throwing herself a major blog party and giving away all sorts of awesome prizes!

And since today's my turn, I'm blogging about LYING. So, please drop by, and leave me a comment about the last lie you told, or just how you feel about lying in general, for your chance to win a signed copy of my debut novel, FAKING 19, and my most recent release, CRUEL SUMMER.

All you have to do is click HERE!

Happy Sunday everyone!!

GCC Presents . . .Linda Gerber!!!

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:45:00 +0000

Hey Everyone-

I'm so thrilled that amazing author and fellow Teen Fiction Cafe patron, Linda Gerber, stopped by to chat with us about her new book, DEATH BY LATTE, released today! She has all sorts of fun planned for the launch, including a world class blog party you will not want to miss! Just click HERE for your chance to win prizes!

Oh, and even better, since there's a lying theme to it all, you'll also learn about some of the BIG FAT LIES your favorite authors have told- including yours truly!

Except that I don't lie--seriously.

Other than that last sentence. And this one that follows, I've a strict no lying policy--I swear!

But first-- here's the lowdown on Linda's new book:

Following on the heels of this summer’s killer YA mystery, DEATH BY BIKINI, DEATH BY LATTE (Puffin Paperback; September 18, 2008; $9.99) is a modern-day romantic mystery/suspense in the tradition of Victoria Holt and Philippa Carr.
DEATH BY LATTE Aphra Connolly, who had been living a quiet existence on her father’s secluded island resort, until Seth Mulo turns up and steals her heart… and provides information that leads her to find her mom in Seattle. But the reunion isn’t quite what she expected. Aphra’s mom, Natalie, doesn’t seem happy to see Aphra, and Natalie’s boyfriend, Joe, insists that Aphra go home. Even worse, Seth shows up, only to ask her to return the ring he had given her that summer. At least Natalie’s good-looking neighbor is sympathetic. But when Joe is found dead at a nearby coffee shop, Aphra discovers her whole trip to Seattle has been based on a lie. And now someone just might be trying to kill her. . . .

Praise for DEATH BY LATTE:

“Great characters, plot twists, and non-stop action and excitement.”-YA Books Central
“Full of action, suspense, and mystery, Death by Latte is a thrilling edition to the Death by series!”-The Story Siren
“An entertaining Seattle joy ride that… teens will appreciate.”-Genre-go-Round Reviews
“Death by Latte is a compelling read for those who like mystery, action, and adventure with a little romance and humor thrown in for good measure.”-Purple Pens Reviews
“Enjoyed quite thoroughly!”-Critical Mass
“This exciting installment features non-stop thrills and leaves you guessing right up to the end.”-Presenting Lenore
“High action and suspense.”-Library Thing

Praise for the DEATH BY series:
“Will capture mystery fans.”- G. Engberg - Booklist
“Strong writing and plenty of plot twists.”-The Providence Journal
“Fast-paced, fun, and maybe just a little scary.”-YA New YorkJust “the right amount of intrigue, suspense, humor and romance.”-Flamingnet Book Reviews
“Five enchantments.”-Enchanting Reviews
“Refreshing read.”-Simply Books

And now, the same 5 questions we always ask:

1. Every story has a backstory, what's the backstory for your book?
A few years back, I had written a short story as an exercise for a writers' forum. I had so much fun with it that I decided to develop it a little more until eventually it grew to book length, though it was never intended for anyone's eyes but my own. Meanwhile, I

had sold a couple of books to Puffin and - in a moment of utter insanity - I decided to take a chance and show my for-fun book to my editor. She liked it. DEATH BY LATTE is book two in a three-book contract I earned from that moment of insanity.

2. What's your work environment like? Any rituals, totems, or must haves?
I'm a mom who travels, so I have to be really flexible with my work environment. I've written my share of chapters on the sidelines, in airports or on trains. Some of my fav

orite places to write: in Japan I had a desk in our living room that overlooked a stand of bamboo and a sakura tree. Sigh. In our current house I have my own office, but my favorite place to write is in an easy chair,

looking out at the woods in our back yard. My mojo is a little sumo figurine I got in Tokyo. He stands on my desk in the office looking fierce and telling me to stop messing around on youtube and get back to work…

3. If you could live inside any book-- which would it be?
Oooh. That's tough because there are so many places to choose. I'd love to live in Ella's world in Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted. And I wouldn't mind living in that haunted bedroom in Meg Cabot's Mediator series as long as it came complete with the hot Spanish ghost!

4. What book rocked your world growing up?
I don't know about rocking my world, but the book I remember as the turning point for me where I became a full-blown book addict was As the Red Fern Grows. It was the first book I stayed up all night under the covers reading because I had to know what was going to happen next. That was way back in grade school, but still tear up thinking about that final scene with the fern between the dogs' graves. *sniff* And I've had many an all-night book affair since then!

5. If you could visit any time, place, or person- what, where, or who would it be?
I'd go back to Los Angeles the 20's and hang out with my Grandpa, Leo Cowan. He was really cool and had a great sense of humor when I knew him (he died several years ago) and from the stories he told, he was kind of a rebel when he was young. It would have been a kick to know him then.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Linda 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. She currently lives and writes in Dublin, OH, blissfully ignoring her husband, four kids, and one very naughty puppy.

Where to find her:
Website:
http://lindagerber.com
Facebook: http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=518643863
Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/gerbsplace
Blogger:
http://lindagerber.blogspot.com/
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/gerbsan

Free Book Friday!

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 01:03:00 +0000

Free Book Friday is the brainchild of the amazing Ms. Jessica Brody. And all you have to do to play is click HERE and then leave a comment for your chance to win!!

Have a fun weekend everyone!

Entourage is back!

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:35:00 +0000

Last night was a great night.

Not just because I got to stay home and get reacquainted with my couch after a weekend of running around including my BFF's community gala on Saturday night-- but also because it just so happened to mark one of my favorite things:

The season premiere of ENTOURAGE!!!!!!!!!

It also introduced me to one of my new fave things:

The premiere of True Blood.

For me, ENTOURAGE is a no brainer. Hollywood + Hi jinks + Hottie cast= 30 minutes of Hi-larious fun!

As for True Blood, other than a passing reference over a year ago by my hair stylist, I was completely unfamiliar with Charlaine Harris' vampire series. But when I learned that Alan Ball, genius writer of my all time fave movie, AMERICAN BEAUTY, and producer of one of my all time fave shows, SIX FEET UNDER, was once again, at the helm- I knew I had to watch--and I'm so glad I did. It's dark, campy, and fun, and I can't wait to see where they go with it!

Though I have to admit, the second Sookie started hearing everyone's thoughts but the vampire's, I looked at my husband, and he looked at me, and at the exact same time we said:

Oh my gawd! (okay, the OMG part was just me, but what follows was in unison, I swear)
That's just like Ever and Damen in EVERMORE!

Because just like Sookie, Ever (the EVERMORE protagonist), hears thoughts. But she also sees auras, gets life stories by touch, and talks to the dead. And speaking of EVERMORE, I just received a few ARCs the other day, and this is what the back cover copy says:

Since the horrible accident that claimed the lives of her family, sixteen-year old Ever can see auras, hear people's thoughts, and know a person's entire life story just by touch. Going out of her way to suppress her abilities has branded her a freak at her new high school--but everything changes when she meets Damen . . .

Damen Auguste is gorgeous, exotic, and wealthy. He's the only one who can silence the noise and the random energy in her head. The problem: She doesn't know who he really is--or what he is.

The awesome Kelly Parra is running a contest in October, to celebrate the release of her own paranormal tale, INVISIBLE TOUCH. So be sure to stop by her secret fates blog for your chance to win an advanced reading copy of EVERMORE among many other cool prizes!

So what about you? Which TV shows are you looking forward to?

Mark it Up!

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:12:00 +0000

So, add this to the BRILLIANT IDEAS file:

The good people over at Shooting Stars Magazine and The Page Flipper are hosting an auction to benefit First Book, an organization that provides books for children from low income families, and I'm thrilled to be part of it!

I'll be donating a marked up copy of SAVING ZOE (see above) stuffed with all sorts of post it notes, little known facts, a few odd asides, a notation or two (or five or six), the story behind the story, and more (lots more!).

Tons of authors will be participating, and the auction will run from Oct-Dec, which is just in time to start buying those holiday gifts, no?

So start saving those pennies now-- it's all for a wonderful cause!

I'll post more info as I get it!

Have a good weekend everyone!

Save the date!!

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:07:00 +0000

Hey Everyone-

Just wanted you to know I'll be signing copies of my books on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2008, at 6:30 P.M. at:

Barnes & Noble Booksellers
26751 Aliso Creek Road
Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

Hope to see you there!

Win a copy of CRUEL SUMMER!

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:54:00 +0000

To celebrate the release of her debut novel, SUCKS TO BE ME, Kimberly Pauley is having one heck of a blog party-- and, as it happens, today she is giving away a copy of CRUEL SUMMER!

For your chance to win-- click HERE!

Happy Labor Day everyone!

Desert Daze

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:10:00 +0000

If you're anywhere near the Coachella Valley and interested in picking up a signed copy of one of my books, then stop by the Border's in The River a beautiful outdoor shopping center in Rancho Mirage.

I dropped by yesterday to browse the stacks and sign stock, and just happened to notice that CRUEL SUMMER, which came out in June, has gone into another printing!! And SAVING ZOE, which was released a year ago next month, is in it's fifth! And since YOU are directly responsible for that I just wanted to say:

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also, the EVERMORE galleys arrived the other day, and they're gorgeous!! And while I don't have many to spare, I will be giving one away on Kelly Parra's Secret Fates blog contest, which was recently moved to October. So keep an eye out for that!

Have a wonderful holiday weekend everyone!

Girlfriends Cyber Circuit Presents . . .Melissa Walker!!!

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:06:00 +0000

Question: What do you call someone who's amazingly cool, totally pretty, super smart, and has just penned an amazing new series???

Answer: Melissa Walker.

That's right, Ms. Walker, author of the uber-awesome Violet series, has agreed to stop by for a chat about her latest installment: VIOLET IN PRIVATE.

But first, here's the inside scoop about the books:

Is there life off the runway? VIOLET IN PRIVATE (Berkley Jam Trade Paperback; August 5, 2008; $9.99) is the third novel in the series by former magazine editor Melissa Walker about Violet— the wallflower who blooms into an international modeling star—until she realizes there may be more to life than the runway…

Everyone knows her as Violet Greenfield, the supposedly cultured and worldly nineteen-year-old with sky-high confidence because she’s done fashion weeks internationally. But the truth is, modeling has done little for Violet’s self-esteem. And now that she’s finally headed to college, she’s terrified that she’ll turn back into that girl who blended into the walls all throughout high school…

Violet’s friends in fashion are only a two-hour train ride away in New York City, and they all think she’s crazy to stop modeling. But her best friend Roger hopes she’ll go back to being the girl next door. Of course, things have been weird between them ever since they kissed—and now he’s got a girlfriend. So the question is: if she’s not “Violet on the Runway” anymore, who exactly is she?

Melissa Walker has created a character that teens as well as adults can embrace and relate to. Readers have followed Violet through her highest highs and lowest lows in the modeling industry, and are eager to see how she fares as a regular teenager in college. This wonderful series is a fresh take on the real voice of one girl in the designer spotlight.

And now, the same five questions I always ask:

Every story has a backstory, what's the backstory for your book?

Working in magazines, I got to peek behind the scenes of the fashion world. That was enough inspiration and back story for three books!!

What's your work environment like? Any rituals, totems, or must haves?

I sit in a pink, flowered, overstuffed chair (Alyson notes- Check it out!) and I don't like to get up from the chair until I have 1000 words. Unless I have to go to the bathroom REALLY badly. Then I make an exception.

If you could live inside any book-- which would it be?

Ooh, good question! Maybe James and the Giant Peach? I always really, really wanted that world to be true. Flying fruit and all.

What book rocked your world growing up?

I've vlogged about this, but I really loved FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC by VC Andrews, and I'm finally able to admit that. At the time, when I was around 11, I think I hid it under my mattress so my mom wouldn't find it!

If you could visit any time, place, or person- what, where, or who would it be?

Wow--hit me with three hard ones in a row, Alyson! Man! Just kidding--I love these. Maybe Paris in the 1920s, when jazz was booming and Americans were over there being generally bohemian and finding a place for freer expression and racial acceptance, etc. Somewhere like that, with lots of positive energy.

I told you she was awesome! And don't forget to stop by the Violet contest she's hosting until Sept 1 right HERE!!!

Praise for the VIOLET series:

“Part Cinderella, part girl next door, VIOLET ON THE RUNWAY is a story for any girl who ever wondered what it would be like to have her wildest dream come true.” --New York Times bestselling author Sarah Dessen

“Violet is a hero for all of us wallflowers out there. A fun, fashion-filled, fast-paced read!” --Carolyn Mackler, award-winning author of Guyaholic

“On the runway or off, Violet shines.” --Ally Carter, bestselling author of I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You

“Violet is wonderfully witty and sweetly sensitive. She’s not your typical top model; she’s more like your best friend—only prettier.” --Kirsten Kemp, author of Breakfast at Bloomingdale’s

"Violet on the Runway is a novel about fashion, but it's also a sensitive portrait of adolescence--simultaneously funny and painful. Walker excels at characterizing those moments that we've all experienced, from bumbling in front of the cute boy to being misunderstood by ones parents." --NYLON Magazine

"This novel is a perfect read for teens who want to see what lies beneath the glossy veneer of what seems to be a picture-perfect life." --Family Circle

"Teens will love this fun fashion read." --OK! Magazine

"Take a peek into a model's life with this hip novel!" --Teen Magazine

"I couldn't put it down! You're kind of rooting for her to make it big, and kind of rooting for her to just go home before the biz ruins her." --Glamour

"Funny, engaging, and eye-opening, Violet on the Runway is an addictive read full of all the juicy insights about the fashion industry one could hope for, as well as meaningful layers and observations about the importance of knowing one's self." --Venus Zine

ABOUT Melissa:

As a former editor at ELLEgirl and Seventeen magazines, Melissa Walker knows first-hand the ins and outs of the fashion world. She hails from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her at melissacwalker.com, or at myspace.com/melissacwalker.

90210 Redux!!!

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 21:05:00 +0000

Add this to the "Things I'm Not Embarrassed to Admit I'm Excited About File" --

90201, that hit1990's show that cleared the way for The O.C. and all of it's imitators returns this season with a whole new cast of updated, modern-day high schoolers, born in the same year 90210 first aired. And even though the characters are familiar with the rebel, the teen princess, the dork, and, of course, the brother-sister combo who’ve just moved to Beverly Hill, the difference is this show promises to be gritter-- Less Peach Pit After Dark fun, more Dark Night of the Soul-- with promised appearances of original cast members Jennie Garth, Shannen Doherty, and more!

Now, I admit, I didn't really get into this show until I was living in Mykonos, Greece and pretty much starving for any American TV I could get. So when old reruns of 90210 were aired, I was hooked! And I credit the show's being subtitled for teaching me how to read Greek! Nothing like simultaneously watching and reading the Brenda, Dylan, Kelly love triangle unfold. . .

Oh, and I couldn't resist posting this e-mail I just now received:

Hey We have hijacked your baby but you must pay once to us $50 000. The details we will send later...

We has attached photo of your fume

Um, first of all, I don't have a baby. Not to mention I have no idea what a fume is . . .Do they seriously think this will work???

Anyway, have a good day everyone!

Anything Goes!

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:24:00 +0000

Hey Everyone-

It's anything goes week over at the Teen Fiction Cafe, and on this laziest of August days I've decided to blog about, Barbie, record breaking catfish, Easy-Bake ovens, and favorite ways to waste time and ensure nothing gets done!

To see how that all fits together, (and I assure you, it does!) just click HERE!

Have a good weekend everyone!

A picture's worth . . .a handful of words

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:39:00 +0000

Since today is turning into a day of monumental inertia, I decided that instead of thinking up a topic for this blog post and then sitting down to actually write about it-- I'd just go along with the theme of minimal movement (both in thought and deed) and post some photos that the awesome Jessica Brody took during our RWA conference in San Franciso a few weeks back, which also happen to be the only photos I have of our trip as I forgot to take a single picture! Though luckily for me, that girl is organized!

Have a good weekend everyone!!

GCC Presents . . .Stephanie Kuehnert!!!

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:16:00 +0000

Next up on the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit tour is the amazing debut author, Stephanie Kuehnert, and I couldn't be more excited to host her!

I was lucky enough to meet Stephanie when I took part in her (along with the awesome Alexa Young) brainchild event--
ROCK 'N' READ, and let me tell you that Stephanie is the uber cool girl I always wanted to be.

She's the kind of girl I channel when I play ROCK BAND on my wii!

Seriously.

And as if it weren't enough to be amazingly cool-- she just had to go write an incredible debut novel that's getting a ton of well-deserved notice.

Blurb from Irvine Welsh of Trainspotting fame? Check.
Great reviews from Booklist, Elle magazine, etc? But of course!

Anyway, Stephanie was kind enough to stop by and answer some questions- but first- here's a sneak peek at the book:

A raw, edgy, emotional novel about growing up punk and living to tell.

The Clash. Social Distortion. Dead Kennedys. Patti Smith. The Ramones. Punk rock is in Emily Black's blood. Her mother, Louisa, hit the road to follow the incendiary music scene when Emily was four months old and never came back. Now Emily's all grown up with a punk band of her own, determined to find the tune that will bring her mother home. Because if Louisa really is following the music, shouldn't it lead her right back to Emily?

"...an empowering new twist on a girl's coming of age..." - Los Angeles Times

"...irresistible..." and "...acidly incisive and full-out entertaining..." - Booklist

"Debut author Kuehnert keeps the story raw and gritty... the intensity of the characters' emotions and experiences will beguile many teen readers." - Publisher's Weekly "...a rich, muscular story..." - Bust Magazine

"I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone is a manifesto for defiant high school girls, as well as a refresher course for the goddesses they turn into." - Venus Zine

"Emily's coming-of-age story in I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone is allusive, real, and honest. Even I, the most non-rock oriented teen in existence, found it overwhelmingly easy to connect with and relate to Emily. It makes no difference if you're a punk-rock chick or a glam princess, I would recommend this book to any ELLE girl." - Elle Girl

"This book could be any real band's Behind the Music, but Kuehnert creates some realistic characters that drag you down past reading it on the shitter. Congrats, Steph, you got me to read a whole fucking book for once. Solid writing, Ms. Lady." - Racket Magazine

"A wonderfully written and evocative story of a mother and daughter parted by circumstance and joined by music. I heartily recommend it." - Irvine Welsh, author of Trainspotting

"Some books play at trying to be "edgy"; some books try to hit the right notes; but Kuehnert's prose doesn't notice labels. It just is--which is the purest kinda edge. Teeth. Punk. Combat boots. Attitude. Feminism. Family. Girls with guitars. Relationships that jack you up. Sharp things of the not-good kind. Friendships. Love... It's all here; it's all pure and real. I loved it."- Melissa Marr, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked Lovely and Ink Exchange

"Kuehnert's love of music is apparent on every page in this powerful and moving story. Her fresh voice makes this novel stand out in the genre, and she writes as authentically about coming of age as she does punk rock. She's titled the book after a great song by Sleater-Kinney, and both that band, and the iconic Joey Ramone, would be proud of this effort." Charles R. Cross, New York Times bestselling author of Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain

"I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone is intense, raw and real; a powerful and heartbreaking weave of Emily Black's public dream of making music and the intensely private one of finding her elusive, missing mother. Emily, a gutsy, passionate and vulnerable girl, knows exactly what she wants and strides straight into the gritty darkness after it, risking all and pulling no punches but leaving us with the perfect ending to a fierce and wild ride." - Laura Wiess, author of Leftovers and Such a Pretty Girl

"Stephanie Kuehnert has written a sucker-punch of a novel, raw and surprising and visceral, and like the best novelists who write about music, she'll convince you that a soul can indeed be saved by rock and roll."- John McNally, author of America's Report Card and The Book of Ralph

"Stephanie Kuehnert writes with dramatic flare and all the right beats, as she spins a story with punk rock lyrics, big dreams, and one girl not afraid to reach out to her lost mother through music, while enduring intense journeys in between. A debut like an unforgettable song, you'll want to read I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone again and again." - Kelly Parra, author of Graffiti Girl

And now, the questions:

Every story has a backstory, what's the backstory for your book?

In high school, I was a big punk rocker and was particularly into female bands like Hole, L7, Babes in Toyland, and Sleater Kinney. Towards the end of high school, I got really jaded by the punk rock scene and went goth. Black hair, white face makeup, black lipstick, lots of listening to the Cure... When I came out of that phase, what had been "alternative rock radio," which had been really female friendly when I was a teen with more female artists like the ones I mentioned and more popular ones like No Doubt and Alanis Morrisette and also really woman-positive male artists like Nirvana, all of this had given way to this macho icky Limp Bikzet thing. There'd been this whole backlash and it felt like all the progress we made in the early 90s had been wiped out. The band that really revived my interest in punk rock, was a band called the Distillers with an incredible front woman named Brody Dalle. They weren't a very mainstream band, but I had all these fantasies about what if a slightly more radio-friendly Distillers ruled the airwaves and this icky macho thing never happened. So I created Emily Black, the main character in I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE (which is named after a Sleater-Kinney song by the way) and to make her more complex and interesting, so the book isn't just a Behind The Music for a fake band, I gave her a complicated, absentee mother, Louisa.

What's your work environment like? Any rituals, totems, or must haves?

My office looks a lot like my bedroom as a teenager, decorated with band posters and stickers and postcards and photos of my friends and other weird little knick-knacks. It's kind of cluttered, but the clutter is organized. That is the kind of environment I need. My rituals vary depending on what I'm working on. When I was revising IWBYJR, I listened to the song "I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone" to get pumped. And I do have one little totem type thing taped above my computer. As inspiration, my friend Eryn sent me a guitar pick she found that says "Girls Rock Harder" when I was revising IWBYJR. The note she sent with it was so sweet, too. Looking up at it helps me when I'm feeling stuck.

If you could live inside any book-- which would it be?

The Weetzie Bat books by Francesca Lia Block. Weetzie doesn't have a girl best friend. I would love to be her girl best friend and Witch Baby's godmother.

What book rocked your world growing up?

Erm, not to be repetitive, but the Weetzie Bat books for when I was a teen. When I was in grade school, I was obsessed with the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. Those books are why I became a writer. I wanted to tell stories like Laura. But my world wasn't nearly as interesting as hers, so my stories are fictional.

If you could visit any time, place, or person- what, where, or who would it be?

Kurt Cobain's music really changed my life when I was 13 and shaped my teen years, shaped my creativity, shaped who I am today, so I would really have loved to meet him. Or even just to see him live. My parents didn't allow me to go to what ended up being Nirvana's last concert in Chicago because I was 14 and they thought I was going to too many concerts and it was expensive and I needed to focus on my school work and blah blah blah. They said you can see him next time. There was no next time. So yes, I would like to go back to October 23, 1993 at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago and see that show and if at all possible meet Kurt Cobain. Of course I'd also like to be in New York City when the Ramones were getting started and be partof the whole CBGBs scene and see the Clash in London in their heyday and the Germs and Social Distortion in late 70s/early 80s LA, and Minor Threat when they first formed and The Replacements in their early days and basically all the places where Louisa goes in IWBYJR. I have her following the music and witnessing all that I wished I could have witnessed!

Stephanie Kuehnert works at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing, but is a writer through and through. She has published short stories, interviews, and essays in Hair Trigger and No Touching magazines, as well as for websites such as inkstains.org, freshyarn.com, and Virginia Quarterly Review. She was recently named to the Lit 50, the list of Chicago's hottest writers by NewCity, the renowned list also includes Studs Terkel, Elizabeth Berg, Scott Turrow, Aleksandar Hemon, and Audrey Niffenegger. Stephanie received her Bachelor’s in Fiction Writing at Columbia College in Chicago, and went on to earn her master’s degree there in 2006. She was awarded Third Place in Traditional Fiction by the Columbia University Scholastic Press Association for “Fairytale”, an excerpt from her novel I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone. Stephanie currently lives in Forest Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, with her boyfriend and three cats. Stephanie’s heart and soul will always reside in Chicago, and her up-and-coming work Ballads of Suburbia has been divinely inspired by the Windy City.

Flesh Eating Fish!

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:28:00 +0000

Straight out of the "I'm Open Minded But I'm Not Sure About This" files, I just read this article on the NPR website about a salon in Alexandria, VA that's offering a $45.00 "fish pedicure."

The entire article can be found HERE. But for those of you with click aversion, suffice it to say that for $45.00 you can dip your paws into a bowl filled with flesh eating fish who will suck away all that nasty dry skin.

Apparently, the fish (known as Garru Rufa), originate from hot springs in Turkey where they've developed an appetite for--human flesh.

And according to the salon owners, the pedicures are all the rage, allowing for "beautiful and smooth" feet.

But despite the accolades and promise of callous free toes, I'm still not sure I'm willing to try it. I mean, other than the obvious ick factor that would be really hard to overcome, I happen to be extremely ticklish and I'm afraid this just might send me into spasms!

How about you? How far would you go for smooth soles???

Secret Fates Extravaganza!!

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 04:11:00 +0000

My friend, fellow Teen Fiction Cafe proprietress, and amazingly talented author Kelly Parra is celebrating the September release of her latest book, INVISIBLE TOUCH, by running a month long contest that's so cool, I wish I'd thought of it!

She's gathered tons of YA authors (including yours truly), to blog about a secret (either our own, or one of our characters),then giving away a signed book to a random commenter!

The party starts on Sept. 1- so make sure to mark your calendars! But until then, here's a little taste, to see what you're in for . . .

"Spinoff"

alyson@alysonnnoel.com (Alyson Noel) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:57:00 +0000

Okay you creative types-- yes, I'm speaking to YOU!

The smart, talented, and very funny, Blake Snyder has a really cool contest over at his blog called "spinoff" -- just click HERE to read the rules and enter!

Have a good weekend everyone!