Category: Reading & Writing

Me, on the radio

Well, the interview went well, from the perspective that I didn’t faint during the middle of it. I say, whenever I don’t faint in the middle of something, well, that’s a good day.

Did I speak words in the English language? That remains to be seen (or heard as the case may be). I’m not sure I have the nerve to listen.

However, if you have the nerve, it will air this Thursday at 10:30. I’m up first, followed by the lovely Sarah Ockler who will talk about her YA novel Twenty Boy Summer (up next on my TBR pile). 

Rachael’s show, The Weekly Reader, is part of the Minnesota Morning programming at the station. You can listen live online, if you so choose. If you’re using Windows, you’re probably already set up for Windows Media Player. Click the link and the program should launch and after it buffers, you’ll hear the show.

Adventures in Danville

Our adventures in Danville this weekend. I’m testing out the gallery function here on WordPress, mainly because I’m feeling oh, so tired, lazy, innovative.

Click on a photo to see the larger image.

Andrew was dying to go to Big Boy (don’t ask, I have no idea why), which we finally did after we went rollerskating and played laser tag on Sunday.

This morning on the way to school, I asked Kyra what her favorite part of the trip was. She said, “Meeting Darcy.”

Awwww.

Not exactly live blogging

I really wanted to live blog the book signing, but couldn’t get a signal on my laptop. So … I decided to “live blog” anyway, only put it on time delay.

No pictures yet, since my camera has decided not to talk to my laptop, but Andrew played roving photographer and got some nice photos.

I’m glad I did take this little notes, because I’m not sure I’d remember anything, or at least coherently. We sold all the books on hand, and with the extra orders, ended up selling 54 books! Amazing!

Everyone was so nice and it was a really great experience.

So, here you go, live blogging:

1:48:cannot get wireless connection. Decide to put live blogging on  time delay.

1:49: My daughter is skipping around the room like a maniac.

1:57: just signed a book. It’s almost time and I’m freaking nervous.

2:00: Okay, it is two o’clock and we haven’t officially started. I may have a heart attack.

2:06: Clearly I’m behind the power curve. We’re signing first.

2:07: Just met Jen from TRT! So. Cool.

2:15: Our books are all gone. We sold them all. Dude!

2:19: We are now signing bookplates

2:23: My kids, running amok.

2:26:Darcy’s giving her cheerleading/expectations talk.

2:27: Did you know Steve Martin was a cheerleader?

2:28: So was Kirk Douglas

2:30: So was Ronald Reagan.

2:33: And Ruth Bader Ginsberg (Dude!)

2:34: Local historical cheerleaders now! So cool. We’re making them stand up (but not cheer).

2:36: Darcy’s mom!

2:48: We’re done!

2:49: Snacks!

3:00: Wait! Q&A, then the snacks.

3:18: Bathroom break for my daughter.

3:21:  Off to see Lincoln without a beard (this is my son)

3:27: Signing more bookplates for book orders.

3:30: My kids have vanished. Am hoping they are with Lincoln.

3:50: My kids return and it’s time to leave. I eat one cookie.

In. Stock.

So, our official release date isn’t until Tuesday, but we just got word that The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading is in stock at Barnes and Noble! Darcy was so excited, she called me on my cell.

We put a call out on the Geek Girl site. If you’re out and about this weekend/next week, and see Geek Girl in the wild (or on the shelf), snap some pictures and we’ll post them on the Geek Girl blog.

A funny thing happened on the way to the post office

Well, actually it happened at the post office. I had a big stack of books I was sending out (eleven to be precise). The guy working the counter asked me about them, thinking I was an eBay bookseller or something.

I, seizing upon opportunity (somewhat uncharacteristically), said, why, no, this is a book I wrote.

Post office guy? He. Was. Astounded. I had to tell him all about it. His wife had to know because she loves to read.

It’s at this point I think to myself: wow, I should really have some book business cards made up.

Then, the woman next in line piped that she has teen daughters who love to read.

Insert an image here of me kicking myself.

I was reduced to writing down titles on scrap paper.

So, I need some cards, ASAP. I tried some of those online design-your-own type places, but the results looked like someone with no graphics arts ability using one of those online design-your-own type places. But something is better than nothing, so I’m pushing this task up on my to-do list.

I also need a better answer to the question: “How long does it take to write a book?”

“It depends.” did not go over too well. The guy working the counter looked at me like: What? Is she crazy? She doesn’t know how long it takes to write a book? Isn’t that what she does?

I guess I could’ve told him four years. I got the initial idea for Geek Girl’s Guide in February of 2004. It sold in March, 2008 (and we still had another revision to go through).

Of course, I wrote other things during that time. Shelved it, took it out again, shelved it, started working with Darcy … hm, I had a moral in mind, I’m sure, beyond persistence and being in it for the long haul.

But all I really can think of is: book business card.

Must. Have.

Reviews you can use

Em of Em’s Bookshelf posted a terrific review of The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading. You can read the whole review over on her blog, but I love the way she closes it:

All in all, this book does a great job of breaking down stereotypes and social groups. In the end, you’ll find yourself asking, what’s not to like about a geek girl cheerleader?

I’m beyond pleased with this review (our first! our first!). I saw it last night right before I went to shut down the computer and go to bed. I was so keyed up, I want to say I didn’t sleep. But I did. The only reason I know this is I woke from crazy dreams all night long.

Usually me + sleep = rock.

Be sure to stop by Em’s blog. She has a bunch of great reviews up.

Geek girls, meet world

Note: I’ve made this a sticky post. It will be up for the next week or so. Scroll down to see new entries.

After a fair bit of work, and one epic freak out, we’re doing it. Darcy and I are launching The Geek Girl’s Guide website. As of today, we’re open. Come on by and let us know what you think.

To celebrate, we’re offering a free YA online read and the chance to win a $10.00 Starbucks giftcard (read the story to find out why).

speechsmall

Speechless, a YA short story about what happens when you stay quiet–and what happens when you don’t.

Enter the contest:

Between March 7, 2009 and Wednesday, March 18, 2009, enter to win a $10.00 Starbucks gift card.

Somewhere in one of the six segments of Speechless is a question for you to answer (don’t worry, it’s pretty obvious). Once you find the question, post the answer in our Speechless Guestbook.

We’ll draw one lucky winner from the entrants and post the results on the Speechless main page and The Geek Girl’s Guide on March 19th.

Good luck!

Raiders of the lost ARC and other book news

Look at what I have:

arcs

I’ve been sitting on these for a while (well, not literally, that would be uncomfortable). I wanted to surprise my mom with a copy, which meant pretty much not telling anyone else I had one (or rather, two). We don’t have enough to give out right now, but soon, I’m sure. We’ll get some more, launch our Geek Girl website, and give away some ARCs.

Oh, and our other big news? Our release date has been moved up to May 19th. So that whole Geek Girl website? Yeah. We know. We need to get it out there.

In January, I’m taking M.J. Rose’s Buzz Your Book class. I’m also participating in JaNo, which is sort of like NaNo (National Novel Writing Month), only it’s not in November, or national, plus you don’t need to write a complete novel, just aim for 50,000 words.

And yes, I will be working on Dating on the Dork Side. Told you I had dibs on that. Look for updates over at the JaNo site.