Category: Geek Girl’s Guide

Chatting with Brittany the Book Slayer

Today Darcy and I are over at Brittany the Book Slayer’s blog. Brittany is a senior editor at American Cheerleader Magazine and an aspiring YA author.

Why, you may ask, are we chatting with a senior editor from American Cheerleader? All will be revealed soon. As in tomorrow. Pretty much tomorrow is the day.

But in the meantime, enjoy the interview at Brittany the Book Slayer. This interview contains some in-depth information on just how we go about writing as partners, which may convince you never to attempt to write with a partner.

Amazing news of the amazing variety

So last night, about 5:45, I’d been home about five minutes or so. Here’s what was going on:

  • I was on the computer, trying to order pizza* online, while fielding “suggestions” from the kids.
  • The dog was leaping about, wanting to go outside.
  • The cat wanted her food.
  • Other noisy things.

The phone rang. Andrew picked it up without answering it. He said, “Mom, this Birmingham number’s been calling all day long.”

He thought it might be one of our relatives from down south trying out a new cell phone. Why he thought this and didn’t answer the phone is one of those mysteries forever locked in the mind of a thirteen-year-old boy.

So. I’m not sure what to expect when I answer the phone. It turns out to be the contest coordinator from the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence contest. And yeah, I wondered: Why is she calling me? They already announced the finalists.

Turns out, this is why:

Yeah, Geek Girl won the young adult category. I know. I can barely believe it either. But what a great way to start out a long weekend.

* We went with half pepperoni, half sausage and mushroom and some cheesy bread.

News of the bookish variety

So … yeah, as Andrew would say. We got the word that The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading is a finalist in the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence contest, in the young adult category.

Since I put my home phone (and not my cell) on the contest entry form, the coordinator emailed me to tell us the news. This is maybe just as well, since for a few moments, I forgot how to type. On the phone, I would’ve been all: Dude, no way! (And really, I don’t think you’re supposed to refer to contest coordinators as dude.)

So, when I sent Darcy the news, I asked her for a squee. She saw my squee and raised me a woot.

Anyway, we’re stoked here at Geek Girl central, and check out the other YA finalists:

  • Betraying Season by Marissa Doyle
  • The ABC’s of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro
  • Spring Breakup by Stephanie Hale
  • Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills

That’s some fine, fine company to be in. Plus, I first met Tricia when we both were finalists for the Golden Heart waaaay back in 2003. It’s neat that both our debut YA novels are finalists together now.

(Oh, and to my horror, I’ve just done the 2010 – 2003 math. Oy. Apropos to yesterday’s post with Jasper Fforde.)

Once again, Polyvore makes my day

Ever have one of those days when the best thing about the day is that it’s Friday and the end of the work week?

Yeah, that’s been me, pretty much since Wednesday (except then, it wasn’t Friday, which made it all that much worse). Then, through the magic that is our 21st century technology, I was alerted to this:

It’s a Polyvore devoted to Bethany from The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading. And yeah, my mind boggled a little when I saw it. A thing of beauty and all that.

The little details are amazing and made me smile–like the Lara Croft image, and the T-wolves, and a fantastic cheer uniform, and, and, and … I could go on. Oh, the embedded music (told you I could go on). You’ll have to click through for that.

This is just the cutest thing EVER. I’m all set for the weekend now.

Contest fun

Two contests going on this week, all in an effort to help you survive Valentine’s Day.

First, The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading is being featured on Free Book Friday. Four copies (signed by both me and Darcy) are up for grabs, along with an interview for your reading enjoyment. (Free Book Friday also has a main/adult site–same deal, simply submit your email address to win. Doesn’t get easier than that.)

Second, we’re hosting fellow 2009 Debs author/Simon Pulse sister Rhonda Stapleton over at the Geek Girl site. Not only do we have a signed copy of Rhonda’s début novel Stupid Cupid, but a totally cute T-shirt from Think Geek. Stop on by to read Rhonda’s interview and check out Stupid Cupid.

Hello, Singapore!

One of my fondest memories growing up is visiting the library. We went every other week and left with gi-normous stacks of books, fingertips to chin stacks of books. This leads me to one of the guilty pleasures I have as an author: Visiting Worldcat.org-the world’s largest library catalogue.

And yes, predictably, I search on Geek Girl. Sure, it’s fun to see how many library systems Geek Girl is in, but what’s even more fun is seeing where she ends up.

So the other day I discovered that the National Library Board in Singapore has twenty four copies of The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading. Twenty four! In Singapore! Geek Girl is in New Zealand, too. (Hi, New Zealand!)

Geek Girl has also found her way into the Army Europe libraries. Once upon a time, I was stationed in Europe (more accurately, Germany) and I’m just tickled that Geek Girl now resides in a post library.

So, hello, Singapore, New Zealand, and the US Army Europe. And Geek Girl? Meet world.

Holiday this ’n that

Sometimes the best gifts really are free:

 

 Ha! Do you love it? It’s in my size, too.

 YA Book Nerd’s Best Books of 2009 (scroll down to the category Girls with Brains).

Bookworming in the 21st Century’s review of Geek Girl.

Well, I’m off to cash in some of those gift certificates. Hope everyone had a lovely holiday. Here’s to a happy 2010!

Debs do good!

Every year the technical writers sponsor a silent/not-so-silent auction to support Second Harvest Heartland. One year, I put together a booklover’s gift basket. This year, I put together a basket featuring Debs books:

You can’t see all the books (although I love the way the eyes peek out from over the edge and from behind the pillow), but included in the basket are:

  • Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell
  • My Big Nose & Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter
  • TMI by Sarah Quigley
  • Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon
  • The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading by Charity Tahmaseb and Darcy Vance
  • My Invented Life by Lauren Bjorkman
  • Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

The basket created a lot of interest. Even though I made a printout of all the books w/descriptions, every time I walked by, the basket was in disarray from people picking up the books, looking at the books, not returning the books neatly to their spot, and so on.

High bid was $150.00! When the auctioneer announced that all the books were signed, there was an audible gasp from the crowd. Of course, no donation could touch the four Taylor Swift tickets our CEO donated. In all, we made about $7,500, all of it going to Second Harvest Heartland.

Debs = made of awesome.

My book (signing) report

Things I learned at my book signing:

Kirstin Cronn-Mills, my never camera-shy daughter, me, West Jr. High principal
  • Nerds are much more popular than Smarties. (Note level of candy in red bowl vs. blue bowl.)
  • Giving away free candy is hard. (Don’t take candy from strangers still runs deep, apparently.)
  • Even if you sit at a table with a large stack of the same book, a sign that says you’re signing the book, most people will not realize you’re the author.
  • Some of these people will ask for directions to the restroom (straight back, take a left at information, then a right at the blue frog).
  • Having someone shake their head and wrinkle their nose after you describe your book to them is more funny than awful.
  • Spending fifteen minutes recommending every book you can think of for someone’s reluctant reader son is a lot of fun.
  • Talking to a fellow debut author (Kirstin Cronn-Mills) is both fun and therapeutic.
  • Signing all the stock is also lots of fun.
  • Sitting by the door, during a Minnesota winter, is not.

Most important, I learned that it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be to talk to people and that I’d do this again in a heartbeat.

How many more shopping days?

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The Debs are everywhere this holiday season!

As you can see, Darcy is working overtime on December 5th in Chicago. I guess I will be too, since I’ll be signing–and volunteering–at the fundraising book fair for Andrew’s Jr. High. You know what that means, don’t you (other than the fact I have ample opportunity to embarrass my offspring)?

Not only will I sign your copy of The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading, but I will wrap it for you. (Because I’m also scheduled to work the gift wrapping table, if you haven’t already guessed.)

Hope to see you there!

And for more information on Debs signings this holiday season, check out the link below.

Darcy:

December 5th, Holidaze with the Debs:

1-3 p.m.
Borders
161 N. Weber Road
Bolingbrook, IL
Including: Cynthea Liu, Saundra Mitchell, Aprilynne Pike, Kristina Springer, Darcy Vance, Lara Zielin

7-9 p.m.
The Book Cellar, Inc.
4736-38 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL
Including: Cynthea Liu, Saundra Mitchell, Aprilynne Pike, Kristina Springer, Darcy Vance, Lara Zielin

Charity:

December 5th, First annual Hopkins West Jr. High Book Fair:

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 4 – 6 p.m.
Barnes and Noble Ridgehaven Mall
13131 Ridgedale Drive
Minnetonka, MN 55305