In Town for ALA? Don't Miss Crystal Cove, the Real-Life Setting of MOONGLASS!

I am BEYOND excited that ALA is coming to Orange County this year!  Anaheim is, for all intents and purposes, right in my backyard, so the fact that so many amazing authors will be there is seriously giddy-making for me.  And all of the librarians and book lovers who will be attending? Even more exciting!

I feel a definite pride in welcoming you all to Southern California, and as a local, want to share the place I am most proud of.  Crystal Cove is not only one of the best kept secrets around here, it is also the place that inspired my debut novel, MOONGLASS, and a must on your list of things to see while in SoCal.  Not only can you check out the real-life setting of the story, but you can grab a shake at the legendary Shake Shack, comb the beach for sea glass, and watch the most beautiful sunset you've ever seen.

And, if you're a fan of the book, you can get a firsthand peek at the real-life place!

One of the most special things for me about writing MOONGLASS was being able to set in a real place, and one that I love at that. It's actually a State Park, and if you haven't come for a visit yet, you must. It's a place made of magic. Really. There is something so poignantly beautiful about Crystal Cove that I can’t define it in any other way. I grew up in the mountains, but I love this place like I’ve been here my whole life. Being here is like falling through a crack in history and going back in time to a place that captures the beauty of simplicity. From the crash of waves over the rocks to the tumbling-down cottages and serene sunsets, this place inspired MOONGLASS in every sense of the word. Below are a few pictures I snapped while I was writing it.  I dare you to look and not want to come for a visit.

The "Beaches Cottage," where the movie was filmed.  Also the inspiration for Anna's mother's cottage.

The iconic sign in front of the artist's studio.

One of the tumbling down cottages and the boat that inspired the Crystal Crawler's story.

 The tidepools where Anna and Tyler meet...

Sunset at the Cove. My favorite time of day!

 

Sea glass found on one of my many beach "runs".

There are so many AMAZING events going on at ALA this year, and I know many people won't have a chance to slip off to the beach, but if you do, you know where you should go.  In the meantime, if you'd like to know more about Crystal Cove, you can visit www.crystalcovebeachcottages.org.

Hope to see you all at ALA!!!

Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit Presents Amanda Ashby

The Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit is a web ring of YA authors which I've recently had the great honor to join. Check these posts for the latest releases!

This week I'm so happy to introduce to you Amanda Ashby and her middle-grade series, SOPHIE'S MIXED-UP MAGIC.  Books one and two of the series are both out this week, and you'll definitely want to check them out!

Be careful what you wish for…

After eleven year old Sophie accidentally gets herself turned into a djinn, she starts to think that it might not be so bad after all. (Of course, that’s after she gets the whole orange skin problem sorted out.) Who wouldn’t enjoy having the power to grant wishes! But when Sophie develops RWD (Random Wish Disorder) and can’t STOP granting wishes, things get more than a little mixed-up!

And that spells T-R-O-U-B-L-E…

As Sophie gets used to her magic, her relationship with the adorable Jonathan Tait is blossoming. There’s only one problem: Jonathan’s twin sister, Melissa. She’s a total mean girl who seems intent on making Sophie’s life miserable. On top of that, Melissa somehow seems to sense that Sophie has powers–and manages to bind Sophie to her in a totally self-serving way. Can Sophie figure out a way out of this–without ruining her chances with Jonathan?

About Amanda:

Amanda Ashby was born in Australia and after spending the last sixteen years dividing her time between England and New Zealand, she’s finally moved back and now lives on the Sunshine Coast. When she’s not moving country, she likes to write books (okay, she also likes to eat chocolate, watch television and sit around doing not much, but let’s just keep that amongst ourselves, shall we?)

She has a degree in English and Journalism from the University of Queensland and is married with two children. Her debut book, You Had Me at Halo was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice award, and her first young adult book Zombie Queen of Newbury High was listed by the New York Public Library’s Stuff for the Teen Age 2010. Her latest release, Fairy Bad Day, has been selected by Voya as one of their Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers 2012 and is a SCBWI Crystal Kite Award finalist for the Australia/NZ region. To find out more, please go to www.amandaashby.com

And now, for a peek into her writing world...

Do you have a pre-game writing warm-up? Something you do before you write to help get you in the right frame of mind?

I used to play solitaire on the computer before I started writing but that was a bit disastrous and could go on for ages so I had to stop it. These days I just need some Diet Coke and my playlist!

Is there a time of day you like to write best?

During the day, though my first few books were written at night after my kids had gone to bed, but now that they are in school I can finally work when the sun is out!

Where do you write most often? 

I tend to pick up my laptop and follow the sun around the house. I do have a study desk but it tends to be covered in bills and junk so I don’t tend to use it very often!

What things do you always have on hand when writing? Special pens, notepads, snacks…

Diet Coke, snacks and often a pad full of scribbled down ideas that I’ve made the previous night (and which I can never read because my writing is so messy!)

 How do you stay focused when writing?

I don’t! In fact most of the time I have no idea how I ever manage to finish a book since I’m pretty erratic. My only saving grace is that when the story is flowing I can write a lot in a short period of time (followed by long periods of laziness!!)

 What is your worst writing distraction/procrastination tool?

The Internet, definitely!

 Describe your perfect writing day:

Getting 3-4k written while the kids are at school as well as squeezing in a walk!

Amanda, thank you so much for stopping by! I will definitely be ordering the Sophie series for my middle school library.

Want more Amanda? Visit her at:

www.amandaashby.com

Bookanista Thursday!

It's been SO long since I've done a Bookanista post. Too long.  I miss recommending amazing books, and the good news is that I'll be back at it soon!  In the meantime, I hope you'll check out all of the Bookanista goodness and recommendations going on this week around the blogs:

Stasia Ward Kehoe is blown away by DINOSOARING

Jessica Love celebrates SECOND CHANCE SUMMER

Nikki Katz is crazy about Holly Black’s Curse Workers series

Shelli Johannes-Wells shares a guest post by SURRENDER author Elana Johnson

Shannon Messenger champions ALL THESE LIVES--with a GIVEAWAY!

Gennifer Albin swoons for A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE.

Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit Presents: Elana Johnson and SURRENDER!

The Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit is a web ring of YA authors which I've recently had the great honor to join. Check these posts for the latest releases!

I'm SO excited today to be featuring one of the most awesome people in the writing community, Elana Johnson.  Elana's second novel, SURRENDER is out today, and you don't want to miss it.  Check it out:

SURRENDER

Forbidden love, intoxicating power, and the terror of control…

Raine has always been a good girl. She lives by the rules in Freedom. After all, they are her father’s rules: He’s the Director. It’s because of him that Raine is willing to use her talent—a power so dangerous, no one else is allowed to know about it. Not even her roommate, Vi.

All of that changes when Raine falls for Gunner. Raine’s got every reason in the world to stay away from Gunn, but she just can’t. Especially when she discovers his connection to Vi’s boyfriend, Zenn. Raine has never known anyone as heavily brainwashed as Vi. Raine’s father expects her to spy on Vi and report back to him. But Raine is beginning to wonder what Vi knows that her father is so anxious to keep hidden, and what might happen if she helps Vi remember it. She’s even starting to suspect Vi’s secrets might involve Freedom’s newest prisoner, the rebel Jag Barque...

You can Purchase your copy here.

AND, because she's so awesome, she's also hosting an awesome Spectacular Seconds GIVEAWAY   giveaway this week! You can enter to win one of five signed sophomore books by Beth Revis, Ally Condie, Veronica Roth, Kristi Cook, and Kim Harrington. CLICK HERE for all the details and to enter.

About Elana: Elana's work including POSSESSION, REGRET, and SURRENDER is available from Simon & Schuster wherever books are sold. She is the author of From the Query to the Call, an ebook that every writer needs to read before they query, which can be downloaded for free on her website. She runs a personal blog on publishing and is a founding author of the QueryTracker blog. She blogs regularly at The League of Extraordinary Writers, co-organizes WriteOnCon, and can be found on Twitter and Facebook.

She wishes she could experience her first kiss again, tell the mean girl where to shove it, and have cool superpowers like reading minds and controlling fire. To fulfill her desires, she writes young adult science fiction and fantasy.

And now for my favorite part--a little peek into Elana's writing world...


1. Do you have a pre-game writing warm-up? Something you do before you write to help get you in the right frame of mind?

I like to go back 5-10 pages and read what I wrote during my last session. This helps re-immerse me in the world and the voice. Dude – the voice! I also like to draft really fast, so I don’t forget where I am and what’s happened.

 2. Is there a time of day you like to write best?

Between 9 pm – midnight. I love being awake when everyone else is sleeping. There’s something peaceful about it. Freeing.

 3. Where do you write most often? Do you have a picture you wouldn’t mind sharing of your writing space?

I write in the “cockpit.” It’s this table shoved against a wall in my kitchen, well, here. Just look at it. And that’s clean!

 4. What things do you always have on hand when writing? Special pens, notepads, snacks…

Headphones and iTunes. I need to block things out sometimes. I do like to have sour patch kids or Swedish fish nearby, but that doesn’t always happen.

 5. How do you stay focused when writing?

Self-imposed deadlines. Otherwise, I’d languish on twitter and blogs. On top of the deadlines I make for myself, I email other people and tell them about my plans. They hold me accountable and that helps me to stay focused on what I need to get done.

6. What is your worst writing distraction/procrastination tool?

Words with Friends. Once I found out it was on Facebook, I was a goner.

7. Describe your perfect writing day:

The husband and kids are gone for the day. I sleep late. Pour myself a big bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios. Open the computer and turn on iTunes. Check email. Open document. Write in 1-2 hour spurts, with breaks for lunch and social media (Words with Friends!). Repeat all day. Stay up late. Ah, bliss.

That does sound like bliss...and you deserve nothing less!  Thank you so much for stopping by and congrats on your Spectacular Second!

GFCC Presents: Melissa Walker and UNBREAK MY HEART

The Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit is a web ring of YA authors which I've recently had the great honor to join. Check these posts for the latest releases!

Today I am so excited to be featuring Melissa Walker and her newest contemp, UNBREAK MY HEART!  I had the chance to meet Melissa in Texas a few months back, and she was amazing, just as I'm sure this book will be!

The year that broke her heart. The summer that healed it. A dual love story.Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams’ heart. She fell for her best friend’s boyfriend and long story short: he’s excused, but Clem is vilified and she heads into summer with zero social life. Enter her parents’ plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but floating away sounds pretty good right now. Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer and he’s just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem’s walls and heal her broken heart? Told in alternating chapters that chronicle the year that broke Clem’s heart and the summer that healed it, Unbreak My Heart is a wonderful dual love story that fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Susane Colasanti will flock to.

♥ “A super cute love story! Melissa Walker will inspire readers to never stop believing in true love.” —SUSANE COLASANTI, author of When It Happens and Keep Holding On

♥ “A raw, real, and ultimately heartwarming discovery of what it means to be a true friend. Walker gets it exactly right.” —JENNIFER ECHOLS, author of Love Story and The One That I Want

Melissa Walker is a writer who has worked as ELLEgirl Features Editor and Seventeen Prom Editor. All in the name of journalism, she has spent 24 hours with male models and attended an elite finishing school for girls in New Zealand, among other hardships.

She co-founded I Heart Daily with fellow ex-ELLEgirl Anne Ichikawa in 2009. It’s a daily newsletter about likable stuff.
Melissa lives in Brooklyn and has a BA in English from Vassar College. She would tell you her SAT scores too, but, you know, the math part was hard.

 She loves meeting teenagers, and is game to speak at your library or school about writing, books, fashion, magazines or pop culture (but, you know, in a smart way).


And now for a few hard-hitting questions...

1. Do you have a pre-game writing warm-up? Something you do before you write to help get you in the right frame of mind?

I love to have a large iced coffee with cream and sugar, so that it basically tastes like melted ice cream. With that by my side, I'm good to go.

2. Is there a time of day you like to write best?

In the morning. If I don't do it early, the day gets away from me, sacrificed to the gods of reality TV, snacking and twitter-feed-reading.

3. Where do you write most often? Do you have a picture you wouldn’t mind sharing of your writing space?

I write in various coffee shops all over Brooklyn these days. I'll attach a pic of one of my favorite windows in Manhattan, though, Housing Works!

4. What things do you always have on hand when writing?

Special pens, notepads, snacks…The above mentioned iced coffee and my laptop area all I need!


5. How do you stay focused when writing?

I don't. I find that if I look up, eavesdrop on a conversation, stare out a window, talk to someone next to me... that helps. What doesn't help is getting online and checking fb/twitter/email. I try to avoid that (unsuccessfully, usually).

6. What is your worst writing distraction/procrastination tool?

The internets. Totally. Sometimes I even go to a spot with no wifi to help me focus.

7. Describe your perfect writing day:

Coffee and a sit-down by 9:15am. Done writing 1000 words by 11am and ready to play with my 10-month-old daughter! (This very, very rarely happens... usually I'm plunking along until at least 2pm to get 1000 good words.)

Well congrats on your new release, Melissa!  UNBREAK MY HEART looks like the perfect summer read, and I can't wait to dive in!


For more about Melissa and her books, visit her website at www.melissawalker.com or follow her on Twitter here.

On the Road with YA Authors, featuring Katy Upperman!

 This month, IN HONOR is out in the world!It’s a story of a letter, a mistaken last request, and the road trip those things lead to.  I'm a fan of all things road trip related, and to celebrate, I’m hosting a Road Trip Interview Series featuring all of my favorite author friends! Stop by daily for dream cars, playlists, and tales from the road!

Today I'm so happy to have with me Katy Upperman, fellow Bookanista and YA author represented by Vickie Motter of Andrea Hurst Literary Management.  I met Katy on Twitter, where we bonded over our love of country music and Taylor Swift. 

So Katy, All road trips begin with a set of wheels. Close your eyes. Imagine your ideal road-trippin’ vehicle. What do you see?

I can't help but see a Jeep Wrangler. New. Red and shiny. With its top off, of course. Slightly impractical, perhaps, but can't you just feel the wind whipping through your hair?

Next up: travel companions. The right ones can make or break the whole thing. Who would you hit the road with? You can choose anyone—alive or dead, real or fictional. As many or few as you like.

Of course I'd choose my hubby. He's a blast and we've done MANY road trips together so I know his musical taste would be mostly awesome and, at the very least, tolerable. Also, I have a tendency to sleep a lot when on long car trips and he'd never give me a hard time about my car-induced narcolepsy. I'd take my four-year-old daughter too. She's delightful, if slightly high-maintenance.

It’s true that road trips are about the journey, but what’s your ideal destination?

We live in the Pacific Northwest, so I think it'd be fun to drive all the way down the west coast into Baja California. Once there, we'd obviously spend tons of time soaking up the sun on the beach.

Is your style more ‘map it out’ or ‘meandering route’?

I like meandering and exploring throughout the day, but I also like to have a scheduled hotel room and warm bed to sleep in each night.

What 5 songs are absolutely necessary on your perfect road trip playlist?

Oh my... Could not pick just five!

Alan Jackson's Drive, Sugarland's Already Gone, Brooks and Dunn's Red Dirt Road, Willie Nelson's On the Road Again, Tim McGraw's Something Like That, Kenny Chesney's Summertime, Jason Aldean's Big Green Tractor, Jo Dee Messina's Heads Carolina, Tails California, Brad Paisley's All I Wanted Was a Car, and The Highwaymen's Highwayman.

We all know that food consumed while on the road never counts against you. That being said, what are your favorite road snacks and/or eating establishments?

All terribly unhealthy, of course: Chili Cheese Fritos, Gummy Bears, Chunky Chips Ahoy Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Cheez-Its. And when we actually stop to eat, we always like to hit up the local Mexican restaurants and pizza joints. I like to gain *at least* ten pounds on my road trips. :)

Problems sometimes happen and inquiring minds want to know: Can you change a tire?

God no.

Best road trip memory:

My husband, daughter, and I spent ten days driving from Seattle to Phoenix. We hit up Portland, the Redwood forest, Disneyland, Seaworld, and the San Diego Zoo, among many other fantastic places. It was, in a word, AWESOME.

Worst road trip memory:

Thankfully, our road trips have been pleasant, for the most part. There was one trip that took place shortly after my husband and I were married where we hadn't scheduled hotel rooms ahead of time (we were trying that whole "meandering" thing on for size) and ended up in a very sketchy neighborhood outside San Francisco in a hotel that was ten shades of undesirable. Eek.

Eek is right!  Happy it turned out okay, and that you were able to stop by!  Thank you so much Katy!

 

On the Road With YA Authors

Featuring MORGAN MATSON!

This month IN HONOR is out in the world!  It’s a story of a letter, a mistaken last request, and the road trip those things lead to.  I love a good road trip, but I love a good road trip story even more, so this month I’m hosting a Road Trip Interview Series featuring all of my favorite author friends!  Stop by daily for dream cars, playlists, and tales from the road!

Today I'm so happy to have Morgan Matson here with me--especially since we're on the road together this week for the Summer Lovin' Tour!  Morgan is the author of SECOND CHANCE SUMMER, which just came out two days ago, and AMY & ROGER'S EPIC DETOUR--a fantastic road trip story, if I may say so myself!

Morgan, thank you so much for stopping by!  Let's get down to it!

All road trips begin with a set of wheels. Close your eyes. Imagine your ideal road-trippin’ vehicle.  What do you see?  Why? 

As a road trip veteran, I’m going to have to go with practicality over flash.  And while it’s awesome to imagine road-tripping with the top down in a sweet convertible, I’d have to pick what Amy & Roger crossed the country in – a Jeep Liberty.  I have to say, sometimes an SUV comes in handy, as I’ve found while driving cross country – like snow when you don’t expect it.  I also love the idea that you could go off the beaten path, if need be. 

Next up: travel companions.  The right ones can make or break the whole thing. Who would you hit the road with? You can choose anyone—alive or dead, real or fictional. As many or few as you like.

I’d have to say my boyfriend. We’ve taken many road trips together, and we’ve got the routine down.  Also, he’s much better with navigation than I am, which really comes in handy when you’re as directionally impaired as I am.

But I’d also like to make a case for the solo road trip.  It’s a little more daunting, and you need to prepare a little more.  But sometimes it’s great to have some alone time on the road.  Also, this way there’s no negotiating about stops or food!

It’s true that road trips are about the journey, but what’s your ideal destination?

This changes very frequently, but right now it’s Sayulita, Mexico.  I’ve been dying to go.  And it’s a 1500 mile drive from Los Angeles…which sounds just about right.

Is your style more ‘map it out’ or ‘meandering route’?

My favorite style is a combination of these.  I like having an ultimate destination, maybe some friends or sights that I plan to see.  But then I like to toss all the plans away and see where the road takes me.  But I find that have a few anchor destinations really helps – you almost enjoy the freewheeling aspect more when you have a loose structure to the whole trip.

We all know that food consumed while on the road never counts against you.  That being said, what are your favorite road snacks and/or eating establishments?

Eating establishments vary by region, but I always always make it a priority to eat the local fast food and to stop at local diners.  Mostly because diners = pie.

In terms of mini-mart food, I always like to have a variety of things to get me through to the next rest stop. Diet coke, always.  Almonds or trail mix…for energy.  And then something sweet – my last few road trips, I’ve been partial to Spree. And then something salty to round out the mix! My go-to is always BBQ potato chips.  Oh no, now I’m hungry….

Problems sometimes happen and inquiring minds want to know:  Can you change a tire?

No! And I really think that I should learn, because I’ve been in quite a few road trip situations where I’ve been in the middle of nowhere, with nothing around for miles.  Scary!

Best road trip memory:

Oh, there are so many! But recently, I took my first international road trip and loved it. My boyfriend and I flew down to Mexico and rented a Jeep and drove down the coast.  When we crossed the border into Belize, I remember thinking that this was really the only way to travel.

Worst road trip memory:

Several years ago, I was driving from LA to Arizona.  I was pretty much in the middle of the desert, and my engine light went on.  I didn’t have any cell service, and I’d just passed a sign that said “Prison area – do not pick up passengers.”  I made it through, but it was really scary there for a while!

Any road trip pictures you want to share?

I document my trips on this tumblr – feel free to check them out! J

http://morgansroadtrips.tumblr.com/

That's so awesome Morgan!  Thanks again for stopping by!

Want more Morgan? Visit her on her website or Twitter!