Category: YA

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.

Where all my words are going

Where are they going? Clearly, not in this blog. But! I’m up 5,800 words this past week and 4,300 the week before that (these would be revised, new, and “blended” words).

And even though I know this won’t be my only trip through the manuscript (Oh, revision, you have just begun), I’m pleased with my progress and process of finding time to work every single day.

Of course, yesterday I thought to log on to RWA National to see if I had any Rita books coming my way for judging. It turns out that somewhere out there, a box with seven books has my name on it. Seven books I must read/judge by February 28. And I don’t have them yet.

Oy.

But thanks to the magic of Kindle, I’ve started reading. (And yeah, I’m thinking these seven anonymous authors all have a Kindle sale in their future. It’s worth paying for the convenience.)  

Last, but not least, the 2010 American Library Association award winners are in!

Huge congrats and serious squees to 2009 Deb L.K. Madigan for winning the Morris Award for her debut novel Flash Burnout.

I also want to congratulate my friend Nora Raleigh Baskin for winning the Schneider Family Book Award for her middle grade novel Anything But Typical (which I just finished and knew it was going to win).

I also want to mention the Michael L. Printz Award, which goes to Libba Bray this year for Going Bovine—which was one of my favorite books last year.

What do you think of the finalists/winners this year?

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.

Today’s the (upbeat) day!


You Are Upbeat


You are dreamy, peaceful, and young at heart.

Optimistic and caring, you tend to see the best in people.

You tend to be always smiling – and making others smile.You are shy and intelligent… and a very hard worker.

You’re also funny, but many people don’t see your funny side.

Your subtle dry humor leaves your close friends in stitches.

Today’s the day. The Hopkins West and North Jr. High Book Fair. Are we excited? Yes, we are. Are we ready? We think so:

  • Smarties and Nerds (they’re holiday Nerds!)? Check.
  • New outfits (me and Kyra)? Check.
  • A sunny, if cold, day? Check.
  • Camera? Check.
  • Debs bookmarks and such? Check.

I think the only thing I can do now is smile a lot. Wish me luck! If I get any good pictures, I’ll post them here in the next few days.

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

Geek Girlish news

So today I discovered that VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates) reviewed The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading. It’s a terrific review with a terrific pull quote:

This novel is contemporary, laugh-outloud funny, and positive.

I’m going to point you to the Barnes & Noble website for the rest, since 1) I’m not sure I have permission to reprint the review here, and 2) it contains some mild-ish plot spoilers. You’ve been warned.

In other bookish news, the 2009 Cybils awards are now taking nominations. Anyone may nominate a children’s, middle grade, or young adult book (fiction or nonfiction) published between Oct. 16, 2008 and midnight, Oct. 15th, 2009. I’ve already nominated Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith (review forthcoming, I promise). If you’ve read some kid lit this year that you feel passionate about, head on over and make a nomination.

Help save Shrinking Violet

2009 Deb Danielle Joseph could use everyone’s help. Shrinking Violet is about an extremely shy high school senior trying to find her voice and reach her dream of becoming a DJ, despite the obstacles that stand in her way.

The book is about to go on back order and in order for more copies to be printed, more people have to place orders for the book.

Read more about Shrinking Violet:

High school senior Teresa Adams is so painfully shy that she dreads speaking to anyone in the hallways or getting called on in class. But in the privacy of her bedroom with her iPod in hand, she rocks out doing mock broadcasts for Miami’s hottest FM radio station, which happens to be owned by her stepfather. When a slot opens up at The SLAM, Tere surprises herself by blossoming behind the mike into confident, sexy Sweet T to everyone’s shock, she’s a hit! Even Gavin, the only guy in school who she dares to talk to, raves about the mysterious DJ’s awesome taste in music. But when The SLAM announces a songwriting contest, and a prom date with Sweet T is the grand prize, Sweet T’s dream could turn into Tere’s worst nightmare. . . .

Want to help? Here’s what you can do:

Please tell anyone that you think might be interested to place an order now before it’s too late. Guys, girls, grandmas. grandpas, you’re never too old to read humorous teen fiction!

Can’t afford to buy another book? You can still help. Check to see if your school and/or public library carries a copy of Shrinking Violet. If not, request it! (A lot of the time, you can even do this online). Write a review and post it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, GoodReads.

Danielle also running a contest for those that want to have some fun! There will be four winners, each receiving a $25 gift certificate to iTunes or the bookstore of their choice. For all the information on what to do, head on over to Danielle’s blog.