Category: YA

Geek Girl and the final frontier

Yes, it’s true. Geek Girl has gone where no geek girl has gone before (that we know of):

That’s right! We’re in American Cheerleader Magazine, or more precisely, there’s a review of The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading in the May/June 2010 issue (which we haven’t seen yet, but copies are on the way).

And Darcy and I chatted some more with senior editor Brittany Geragotelis for an interview on their website here: Time Out With: Authors Charity Tahmaseb & Darcy Vance.

Plus, keep an eye on their contest page. Pretty soon, five autographed copies of Geek Girl will be up for grabs as well.

May is shaping up to be a cheer-tastic kind of month.

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.

I see myself in this …

Courtesy of Lara Zielin, one of the fantabulous 2009 Debs, comes this video:

While I haven’t knocked on anyone’s door … yet, I’ve been known to sing the praises of “The Donald” more than once. Okay. A lot. All the time. Actually, I probably need a 12-step program, the one where I promise not to annoy my writing friends.

But, but, but … their (writing) lives would be much more fulfilling if only they listened to Donald Maass. Try the gateway drug Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook. Just one exercise. Or two! How could it hurt? It’s an exercise, silly, not a way of life.

That comes later.

And look, he’s going to be in Madison, WI in November! I may have to make a pilgrimage.

Seriously. I used Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook extensively with Geek Girl. But you know, writing craft books are just like any other book–they work for some people and not for others. For me, voice and tone go a long way in whether I simply enjoy a writing craft book.

But, yeah. I’ll try to stop curb the proselytizing.

On writing partners

I’m always fascinated by how other writing partners work. I wonder if it’s like being a twin–you have a connection with someone most people don’t have.

So naturally, I loved every minute of this interview. I don’t think the process Darcy and I go through is quite as bloody. But we do trade scenes back and forth, and write over each other, and we do have sentences where I’ve probably written two words and she’s written three (and vice versa).

And we do talk about the characters as if they’re real people. (You mean they’re not? Oh.) We’ve been know to spend copious amounts of time shopping for the perfect prom/homecoming dress/shoes etc. for them.

And … we’re doing a lot of that right now, which is why the blog content has been a little thin.

I <3 Susan Beth Pfeffer

Sending you over to John Scalzi’s site and Susan Beth Pfeffer’s “big idea” post.

I ❤ Susan Beth Pfeffer. She was a mainstay of my YA reading when I was actually in that demographic. Two of my favorites were Marly the Kid and Starring Peter and Leigh. In fact, I read them so many times, I can still quote lines of dialogue and name significant plot points (and seriously, I wish she’d written a sequel where Marly does join the cheerleading squad like she–Marly–threatened to).

Susan Beth Pfeffer’s career is long, varied, and impressive. The story behind the three books Life As We Knew It, The Dead and the Gone, and This World We Live In is pretty incredible (and pretty funny).

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.)

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.

Today’s post brought to you by the letter Squeee!

Okay, so squee isn’t a letter. It should be. Yesterday, our editor informed us that The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading is going into a second printing.

Am I excited? Is Darcy? Maybe a little. (Okay, maybe a lot.) But more than that, we’re grateful. Because, clearly, if people weren’t reading Geek Girl, there wouldn’t be a need for a second printing.

So, thanks to everyone who has read and support Geek Girl. We wouldn’t be here without you.