Release Day (in pics)

*cross-posted from Author2Author.

My release day this past Tuesday was so fantastic! Since it was my birthday also I decided it was going to be a big fun wonderful day. It started bright and early with dropping off tot #1 at school (husband took the day off from work to watch tots #2 through 4) and then a stop at:





















You saw that coming didn't you? :-) Yep. I didn't get my regular drink though. Instead I got a celebratory Venti Espresso Truffle. Yum. Then off to:


















for a spa day! Oh my, this was HEAVEN.





















5 hours of quiet and relaxation! Facial, massage, pedicure, manicure, and makeup. Awesome. I tried the steam room for approximately 13.5 seconds and thought I was going to die though. Do people really like that?!

After my spa day, there was still a little time before I needed to pick up tot #1 so I stopped at the local B&N. And look:




















5th row down, 4th from the left. My book!! I just gazed at it with a stupid look until a woman came over and asked if I needed something. I told her that's my book!! She was very nice and asked if I would sign the five that they had. I said of course! And then she put these cute little autographed by author stickers on them:




















After I got home with tot #1 we finished off the day with family birthday stuff: dinner, cake, and presents.




















It was a super fabulous day!!

Interview with Pam Bachorz, author of CANDOR

Pam Bachorz, author of CANDOR is here to chat today. This book is at the very top of my wish list (aka shopping list next time I go to the bookstore) because it sounds so darn cool.



About the Book:

In the model community of Candor, Florida, every teen wants to be like Oscar Banks. The son of the town's founder, Oscar earns straight As, is student-body president, and is in demand for every club and cause.

But Oscar has a secret. He knows that parents bring their teens to Candor to make them respectful, compliant–perfect–through subliminal Messages that carefully correct and control their behavior. And Oscar' s built a business sabotaging his father's scheme with Messages of his own, getting his clients out before they're turned. After all, who would ever suspect the perfect Oscar Banks?

Then he meets Nia, the girl he can't stand to see changed. Saving Nia means losing her forever. Keeping her in Candor, Oscar risks exposure . . . and more.

Our Interview:


KRISTINA: What's your very favorite thing about your book (Certain chap? Scene? Cover?)

PAM: I love my main character--he's an antihero, really, with a smart mouth, dark outlook and some really questionable morals. But I love him like my own child. I know he's actually very lonely and vulnerable. I just want Oscar to be happy! *big mama sniff*

KRISTINA: Where do you do most of your writing? And if you have a picture could you share?

PAM: I do most of my writing in my study, at a little old oak desk we bought at an antiques show in Mount Dora. It's tucked in the upstairs part of our house, carved out of attic space and with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. I have a wire that runs from one end to the other that I hang index cards on whilst plotting. Pic here: http://pics.livejournal.com/pambachorz/pic/0000fdp3/

KRISTINA: What's the naughtiest thing you did in high school that you DIDN'T get caught doing (Fess up now!)

PAM: My secrets stay buried deep, deep within me. I mean come on, man, my Mom follows my online life too closely! Although, really, I was a good girl in high school. Not much exciting stuff to report. I think my imagination is too outlandish for me to do much bad stuff; I am all too aware of what the consequences, however unlikely, could be!

KRISTINA: What did you do on the release day of CANDOR?

PAM: I would have loved to be in Florida, since that's where the book is set and it's where I wrote nearly the whole book. But I can say that I did NOT cook dinner, or wash dishes, or any other such daily-life stuff! I reveled!

KRISTINA: What's your favorite coffee drink? (If you don't like coffee, WHY NOT?! Really, what do you like to drink then while you're writing?)

PAM: Decaf iced cafe americano. Because Starbucks does not make decaf iced coffee and we don't have a lot of Dunkin Donuts near our house!

KRISTINA: Thanks so much for stopping by Pam! Good luck with Candor!

Interview with Lauren Bjorkman, author of MY INVENTED LIFE

I have always wanted a sister. Seriously, I still give my mom crap for not having given me a sister. Sisters look like they have SO much fun. They are the built in best friend right? So I'm curious to check out Lauren Bjorkman's debut book about sisters, My Invented Life.

About My Invented Life

Roz and Eva are sisters, close friends, and fierce rivals. Roz fantasizes about snagging the lead in the school play and sexy skate god Bryan as her boyfriend. Sadly a few obstacles stand between her and her dreams. For one, Eva is the more talented actress. And Bryan happens to be Eva’s boyfriend. But is Eva having a secret love affair with a girl? Enquiring minds need to know.

Roz prides herself on random acts of insanity. In one such act, she invents a girlfriend of her own to encourage Eva to open up. The plan backfires, and Roz finds herself neck deep in her invented life. When Roz meets a mercurial boy with a big problem, she begins to understand the complex feelings beneath the labels. And she gets a second chance to earn Eva’s trust.

My Invented Life is set in a small California high school during rehearsals for a Shakespeare comedy.

Our Interview

KRISTINA: What's your very favorite thing about your book (Certain chap? Scene? Cover?)

LAUREN: My characters. I wish I could hang out with them more!

KRISTINA: Where do you do most of your writing?

LAUREN: In bed. My house is cold a lot of the time. I upgraded to fuzzy sheets recently.

KRISTINA: What's the naughtiest thing you did in high school that you DIDN'T get caught doing (Fess up now!)

LAUREN: I was too good in high school. Ah, the regret. One night I snuck out with three friends and we picked up some visiting track stars from USC who'd come to compete at Stanford. We pretended to college students. Hah! I bet they weren't fooled for a second.

KRISTINA: What did you do on the release day of My Invented Life?

LAUREN: A full on bash!

KRISTINA: What's your favorite coffee drink? (If you don't like coffee, WHY NOT?! Really, what do you like to drink then while you're writing?)

LAUREN: If coffee didn't exist, I couldn't write, and ergo sum, there'd be no book to celebrate. I adore cappuccinos, lightly sweetened, for their lovely foaminess. I have many foam spoons. And my nine year old son can say demitasse in a French accent. I only let him drink decaf for now.

KRISTINA: Another coffee lover! OMG, I think we'd be BFFs if we met! Thanks so much for stopping by Lauren, good luck with your book!

That's my boy!

We just got another delivery of stuff for the launch party.

6yr old son: Book stuff again?
Me: Yep
6yr old: Isn't your book released yet?
Me: Nope. Soon.
6yr old: It's too bad you're just an author.
Me: Um...what?
6yr old: Maybe someday you can be an illustrator too.
Me: :-) I doubt it.
6yr old: When I grow up I'll be your illustrator for you.
Me: Awwwwwww! *slobber with kisses*

Interview with Megan Crewe, author of GIVE UP THE GHOST

The perfect book to read this Halloween:

Megan Crewe is here to talk about her new book, GIVE UP THE GHOST.

About Give Up the Ghost

Cass McKenna much prefers the company of ghosts over "breathers." Ghosts are uncomplicated and dependable, and they know the dirt on everybody... and Cass loves dirt. She's on a mission to expose the dirty secrets of the poseurs in her school.

But when the vice president of the student council discovers her secret, Cass's whole scheme hangs in the balance. Tim wants her to help him contact his recently deceased mother, and Cass reluctantly agrees.

As Cass becomes increasingly entwined in Tim's life, she's surprised to realize he's not so bad--and he needs help more desperately than anyone else suspects. Maybe it's time to give the living another chance...

Our Interview:

KRISTINA: What's your very favorite thing about your book (Certain chap? Scene? Cover?)?

MEGAN: I have favorite scenes, but most of them are spoilery! I'm very fond of the moment when Cass feels haunted by the sounds of the waves on the lake, even though there aren't any actual ghosts around.

KRISTINA: Where do you do most of your writing? And if you have a picture could you share?

MEGAN: The back third of my bedroom is my writing space--I've got my writing chair, my computer desk, and bookshelves with all my research and YA books. You can see it here.

KRISTINA: What's the naughtiest thing you did in high school that you DIDN'T get caught doing (Fess up now!)

MEGAN: I was pretty stick-to-the-rules in my teens, especially at school. There was a while, though, where my parents felt I was getting too serious with my boyfriend, so they limited my phone time with him to one hour a day. I used to call him on the school payphone during lunch hour to get extra time talking with him that they didn't know about.

KRISTINA: What did you do on the release day of Give up the Ghost?

MEGAN: I stopped by stores I knew had copies in stock and signed books, and went out to dinner with my husband to celebrate.

KRISTINA: What's your favorite coffee drink? (If you don't like coffee, WHY NOT?! Really, what do you like to drink then while you're writing?)

MEGAN: I love Tim Hortons' iced cappuccinos--so good! I'm also fond of their French Vanilla coffee.

KRISTINA: Oooh, haven't heard of Tim Horton's. Must try! Thanks Megan and good luck with your book!

Interview with Sydney Salter, author of Jungle Crossing

Sydney Salter is pretty busy this year with two new books! She's back to talk about her second book, JUNGLE CROSSING.

About Jungle Crossing

Thirteen-year-old Kat can think of dozens of good reasons not to go on a boring family vacation to hot, grungy Mexico. Number one: missing her friend Fiona's minicamp. If she's not there, she'll begin eighth grade as a social reject. And it looks like she's the odd girl out on vacation, too. When Kat's parents arrange for her and her younger sister, Barb, to go on a teen adventure tour, Barb makes more friends than she does. The only person who will talk to Kat is Nando, a young Mayan guide (who happens to be quite a cutie). Each day as they travel to different Mayan ruins, Nando tells Kat and Barb another installment in the original legend of Muluc, a girl who lived in the time of the Ancient Maya. The dangerous, dramatic world in which Muluc lives is as full of rivalry, betrayal, jealousy, and sacrifice as Kat's world at school. And as she makes new friends and discovers new treasures in Mexico, Kat begins to wonder: Is she willing to keep sacrificing her self in exchange for popularity?

Our Interview:

Kristina: What's your very favorite thing about your book (Certain chap? Scene? Cover?)

Sydney: I love the setting--the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. I've traveled extensively in that region and loved writing about my favorite places in Jungle Crossing.

Kristina: Where do you do most of your writing?

Sydney: When I wrote Jungle Crossing I took a lot of notes while on a family vacation in Mexico. Pool side writing is pretty hard to beat! I used almost all of my notes in the novel. I guess I need to go on more vacations, right? Please? Pretty please?

Kristina: What's the naughtiest thing you did in junior high school that you DIDN'T get caught doing (Fess up now!)

Sydney: A girl teased me about having hairy legs in 6th grade so I shaved my legs with my mom's razor after school. I felt so guilty when my mom came home that night with my very own razor. I couldn't tell her what I'd done. I had very smooth legs that day!

Kristina: What did you do on the release day of Jungle Crossing?

Sydney: I celebrated at my favorite Mexican restaurant with family and friends. Mmm... salsa!

Kristina: What's your favorite coffee drink? (If you don't like coffee, WHY NOT?! Really, what do you like to drink then while you're writing?)

Sydney: I do as the Mayans do--and drink hot chocolate. Sometimes with chili peppers!

Kristina: Thanks for stopping by Sydney! Good luck with your book!

Interview with Kate Messner, author of THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z.

Kate Messner's here to talk about her debut book, THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z. I was lucky enough to get to read an advanced copy of this and I have to tell you, I ADORED this book. It's the kind of book that I can't wait to give my kids when they're old enough to read it.

About The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z

Gianna Zales has a lot on her plate this fall – a father who drives her to school in the family hearse, a mother who’s turned into the junk food police, a little brother who thinks he’s a member of the paparazzi, and a grandmother who leaves false teeth in the refrigerator. Worst of all, she’s left her 7th grade leaf collection to do at the last minute. It’s a monster project, and Gianna will miss cross-country sectionals if she doesn’t meet the deadline. She’ll need the help of her geeky friend, Zig, and some brilliant ideas of her own to pull it off.

Our Interview:

Kristina: What's your very favorite thing about your book?

Kate: I loved writing all the outdoor scenes - hiking around New England in autumn and calling it research really can't be beat! And I adore Joe Cepeda's cover art; I feel like he captured Gianna's spirit just perfectly.

Kristina: Where do you do most of your writing? And if you have a picture could you share?

Kate: I do most of my writing at my desk in the office I share with my husband. It's...umm...messy. But I'm also a teacher and mom, so sometimes I have work to do when I'm out and about. I did most of the revisions for my next book in the coaches' room at the ice rink where my daughter has her skating lessons. (It's a book about figure skating, so that actually worked out perfectly!)

Kristina: What's the naughtiest thing you did in high school that you DIDN'T get caught doing (Fess up now!)

Kate: I was the school superintendent's daughter and was afraid to do much of anything wrong! I did occasionally steal more than my share of the ice cream out of the freezer when my parents were out, though.

Kristina: What did you do on the release day of The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z.?

Kate: Release day was pretty quiet - some swimming and biking with the family. Our launch parties - one on each side of Lake Champlain, where I live - were the following weekends!

Kristina: What's your favorite coffee drink? (If you don't like coffee, WHY NOT?! Really, what do you like to drink then while you're writing?)

Kate: I love the frozen mocha latte with skim milk from Koffee Kat, our local coffee shop and favorite writing hangout, too!

Kristina: Yum, you're making me thirsty. Thanks for stopping by Kate and good luck with your book!