Monday Meanderings

Monday Monday. La la. La la la la. Meeko shows her thoughts on Monday..

So, in time for Monday the snow it came. Boo. I think November was the mildest in memory. Loved loved loved it. Since I've grown up with snow and LOTS of it, I don't miss it at all when it's not around...would help if I could ski or snowboard, but well. I have klutz issues.

I discovered Glee thanks to iTunes. Watched the pilot and the first couple of shows and now I'm hooked.

Saw New Moon and liked it better than I thought I would. I also really liked Jacob in the movie better- much than Jacob in the book. Shark Boy did good.

Working in the toy industry is busy. But not as busy as working in the liquor industry. However. People at liquor stores seem happier than people in toy sections looking for presents. Hmm. Take a moment to ponder that one. The liquor industry in December is the polar opposite of the publishing industry. Hmm. Another moment to ponder.

I need a good book to read. I've been taking a reading/writing break again, mostly because of being busy with work and trying to catch up on my house work. Making slow progress on the novel, but slow is the key word. Hope to get time to write over the holidays. Work shouldn't be as crazy either. What with the toy primo buying season being right now.

That's the meandering for now. Hope all is well with you.

Flash Burnout

I had the pleasure of reading FLASH BURNOUT and loved it! An intriguing premise with great characters. Go out an get a copy already!!

ABOUT FLASH BURNOUT
Fifteen-year-old Blake has a girlfriend and a friend who's a girl. One of them loves him, the other one needs him.

When he snapped a picture of a street person for his photography homework, Blake never dreamed that the woman in the photo was his friend Marissa's long-lost meth addicted mom.

In a tangle of life, death, and love, Blake will emerge with a more sharply defined snapshot of loyalty.


How did you come up with the fab idea for FLASH BURNOUT and how long did it take you to write it?

The character of Blake was hanging around in my head, waiting for me to come up with a story for him. The book took about 9 – 10 months to write, like growing a human.

Characters that hang out in our heads. Get it. So. Writing for teens must bring back a lot of memories... tell us about something traumatizing and/or embarrassing that happened to you when you were a teen?

I’ve gotta say, just thinking about some of the traumatizing times from my teen years is making me anxious!

Here’s one: I failed Algebra II.

I was a really good student … in everything except math. I remember that semester my report card had five A’s and an F.

And look. Now you're a writer, with no need for Algebra. So....what would be the worst thing that could happen to Blake in FLASH BURNOUT?

Being forced to hang out with his girlfriend’s parents for a whole evening.

What do you think Blake will do for a living when he's "grown up"?

Blake will end up doing something that brings comfort or enjoyment to people.

Yes. Love Blake.

ABOUT LK MADIGAN

L.K. Madigan is a writer living in Portland, Oregon, who finds it odd to speak in the third person. Therefore:

Hi. I am married with one son, two big black dogs, hundreds of books, and a couple of beaters, I mean vintage cars.

Five on a Friday

This could be a brain stretch this morning. Ever have one of those mornings where you wake up so tired you feel like you could sleep the day away? Yeah? Today is like that. But must hop off to work in a while....so let's see what I can yank out of the cobwebs in the back of my head.

1. New Moon Craziness. I know I'll go and see it eventually. I love movies so much. I did find Twilight really funny in a not supposed to be funny way and I read one review online that said New Moon is similar.

It is nice to see Kristin Stewart more confident in her media frenzy promotional mode. What a crazy place to be for Rob P and her. Crazy.

2. I really want to see Blind Side with Sandra Bullock. How much do I love her? Lots. She is such a great actor and so funny and so fun to watch. She's a girl's girl. Well. Without being overly girly.

3. I went on an extreme reading binge recently and read some great YA books including Hate List, Audrey Wait and Jumping off Swings. I have digested and am ready for a new binge. Want to read Sara Zarr's new book and more DEBS books. (Interviews to come- late of course)

4. I have decided on my New Year's Resolution early. I am horrible, just horrible at acknowledging friends and families birthdays. I don't know why. I always remember them and think about the person whose birthday it is but neglect to call, send a card on time or do something about it. It's stupid and makes me feel bad and it's time to change that. How hard is it to call or send a card on time, right?? Right.

5. Water. That is the theme of my week. Up my intake. It is a small step. But it is a step....off to working the day job.

4.

Two(ish) Things on Tuesday

Christmas is getting closer. Now that I'm working as a Rep for a Toy Company I can see people are starting to shop. I'm busy putting out Bacugan and Tech Deck and trying to make sure stores bring in lots of product for their shelves and don't have out of stocks for Christmas. Fun and busy.

On the writing front I had a good time at the Children's Writing Festival in Calgary. I met a few really cool writers so it was a good day for me. I gave a talk on working with an agent and it was great except for the one guy who kept closing his eyes. I'm going with the I was inspiring him so much he had to close his eyes to contemplate my brilliance rather than I was boring him with my babbling...
I got the gift of a story idea from a man I spoke with at the festival and started a new story when I got home. Since it's Tuesday, which is often Teaser Tuesday in writer's land....here's a teaser.

THE URN

Chapter One- June 2011

Three weeks until the holiday we’d been planning for years. Three major cities in Europe. The three mouseketeers.

We’d considered every detail. We’d figured out how much money we needed and worked hard to raise it. Babysitting, waitressing and teaching little kids to swim.

We just hadn’t accounted for the one thing that could stop the trip from happening.

Win With The Debs!!

Click and win!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful that phones still do not come with live video feed. Well. Except Skype. But you don't have to Skype if you don't want to. Kind of like when it's your party and you can cry if you want to. Only way different.

Anyhow. I would hate to have to make sure my hair was combed and my face looked human for phone calls. I can pretend I look polished and glamourous when really my face is bright red from running and I am a pile of sweaty goo. Er not that it's like that this very minute...just sayin.

I am thankful for my little dog Meeko who is so cute and loves me so much without me having to do anything. Well. Except feed her. Walk/run her. Give her treats. Groom her on rare occasion. Clean up her poop. Well. So little for so much back. She really is a cutie with the most fun and loving personality of any dog I've ever known. I love having a little dog I can scoop up when I want to and who will come and crawl on my lap when she's in the mood for it. And she looks like a stuffie.

Boys will be boys.

He's totally checking out her butt...


Sorry not much happening in my blogging world while I get used to the "other" job.
Posts to come soon.

Aaron Stone

He rocks. That is all.

Funny If You Like Bridget

Waiting to Score Voya Review

VOYA
Living in the shadow of Zach's famous hockey- playing father is tough. Especially since his father is dead after a car crash involving groupies with whom his father may or may not have been having an affair. And his mother? That she loves him is never in question, but is she pushing him to become his father or a better version of himself? This year Zach questions his own motives for playing hockey and takes some time evaluating what he really wants to do with his life. Moving to a new town, Zach is instantly immersed in a power struggle with the captain of the hockey team. Between that friction and falling for a girl who seems to hate hockey, Zach has his hands full for the school year. The topics presented—questioning life choices, teen relationships, drinking, sex and suicide—are real issues faced by many teens. Readers will enjoy being privy to Zach's thoughts and struggles when making some of these moral decisions. A good solid choice to offer readers who enjoy sports fiction or light romance, the conversational tone makes for easy reading, but McLeod does not shy away from tough issues and keeps the plot moving along evenly. Reviewer: Angie Hammond

TEASER TUESDAY- FREE RUNNER

Lori stared at her notebook for a moment but didn’t jot anything down. Then she looked at me. “You know this is rape, right, Ryan? It’s not okay what that woman did to your brother.”

Mom began to sob louder.

I shook my head. “No. I mean, you can’t really rape a guy. I mean, it’s not possible. Physically.” I didn’t look at Trey.

Lori flicked her pen up and down on the notepad. It sounded like a snare drum. “Just because his body responded doesn’t mean he wanted to do it. It doesn’t make it okay.”

Mom sniffled and groaned, grabbing more Kleenex.

Lori seemed a little dazed, too. I guess she hadn’t studied this scenario in psych school. She turned to Trey.

“How are you doing, Trey?”

He laughed bitterly, but it quickly turned into a choking sound. “How am I doing? I have a rash on my penis. It hurts when I pee and I have a broken leg. And on top of that I’m now sitting in a room with my mom and my brother talking about sex. With a psychologist.”

Green Olympics!

Cool show on TV as I check through my morning mail. Olympic Medals for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver are being partially made with gold, silver and copper extracted from discarded computer chips from a recyling plant. Green Medals!

Plus the Olympic Oval roof is being made with Pine wood infested by Pine Beetles. Perfectly good wod but not useable in all circumstances. But perfect for an Olympic Oval roof!

CANDOR

ABOUT CANDOR

Oscar Banks has everything under control. In a town where his father brainwashes everyone, he’s found a way to secretly fight the subliminal Messages. He’s got them all fooled: Oscar’s the top student and the best-behaved teen in town. Nobody knows he’s made his own Messages to deprogram his brain. But then Nia Silva moves to Candor, and Oscar falls in love. He must choose whether to let Nia be lost to brainwashing—or to sacrifice himself.


Now...let's talk to the author behind the book! Pam Bachorz.

How did you come up with the fab idea for Candor and how long did it take you to write it?

I was living in a planned community in central Florida, and out walking the dog late one night. The mosquito truck drove by, coating me and the dog in the fine white mist that the town assured people was harmless. What if, I thought, that mist had Prozac in it? That would explain why everyone is so friendly and happy in our town. From there, I came up with the idea of a town where everyone pays a premium to be brainwashed--and they don't tell their kids what's going on.

Love it!! So...writing for teens must bring back alot of memories... tell us about something traumatizing and/or embarrassing that happened to you when you were a teen?

I seriously have one of the least reliable and detailed memories around. This strikes me as a bad attribute for a writer, since I should probably be mining my childhood and teen years. Maybe I'm just blocking the really bad stuff! Actually, seventh grade was the worst year for me, though technically that's just before I hit my teen years. There was a pack of boys who seemed to zero in on me as their chosen victim for the year. When I wore lipstick they'd walk by my desk and hiss, "so you think you're sexy, dog?" Sometimes I still hear them when I put lipstick on. Maybe it sounds small now, but I remember the daily harassment and sly, sneaky methods that totally shook my confidence. One of them recently tried to friend me on Facebook. I was like, really? Ignored that request.

Nasty boys. Good for you not friending him. So...what would be the worst thing that could happen to Oscar in CANDOR?

Well, at the start of the book he'd say the worst thing that could happen would be to get caught: he's hiding the fact that he's escaped the brainwashing Messages that his father has established in the town. But after he falls in love, he's even more afraid of losing Nia to the brainwashing.

What do you think Oscar will do for a living when he's "grown up"?

Well, that all depends: is he going to escape Candor, Florida? Or not? If he doesn't break out, he'll be his father's successor, I think, running the show and feeding Messages to people. And if he does escape? Something cunning, under the radar, and probably not entirely on the up-and-up.

That settles it...I need to read this book now!! Thanks Pam!

ABOUT PAM BACHORZ

Pam Bachorz grew up in a small town in the Adirondack foothills, where she participated in every possible performance group and assiduously avoided any threat of athletic activity. Pam attended college in Boston and finally decided she was finished after earning four degrees. Her mother is not happy that Pam’s degrees are stored under her bed.

Pam lives just outside Washington, DC with her husband and their son. She likes to read books not aimed at her age group, go to museums and theater performances, and watch far too much television. She even goes jogging. Reluctantly.

As far as she knows, Pam has never been brainwashed. Or maybe that’s just what she’s supposed to say.