Lah-Dee-Dah

The Proposal!!!

2011-08-08T17:43:00.000-07:00

So I think it's safe to say that I am having an exceptional summer. First a book deal, then a marriage proposal. What's next--a jumbo-sized Publisher's Clearinghouse check delivered to my front door?

Seriously, though, winning all the money in the world could never top the sheer bliss of my soul mate--Ben Lindvall--asking me to marry him. I'm the luckiest woman in the world to have him as my future husband!

Since I promised some of you a video message about the details of the big moment, I figured I'd just post it on YouTube, so anyone interested could view it. Besides, this way when someone asks me to tell them the story, I can say, "Get thee to my Blog!" (Does that count as shameless self-promotion? Probably, but oh well.)

So feel free to click here and enjoy!

DEAR BULLY: The story behind my story in this remarkable anthology

2011-07-19T12:55:00.000-07:00

Last year on vacation, my boyfriend and I were driving down the open highway, en route to Holland, Michigan, when we got into a long conversation about bullying. I’m not quite sure how it started, but I think it’s safe to guess that one of the countless horrific cases that had been covered in the media—Phoebe Prince, Megan Meier, and Brandon Myers, to name just a mere few—got us on the subject.

My boyfriend admitted to being picked-on as a child, and so did I. My younger brother and I were the only kids in our neighborhood who went to a Catholic grammar school, so rumors were spread about us, like we wouldn’t take a bath in anything except for holy water. Thankfully, that was the worst I'd seen at 10 years old. (God bless the 80s.)

In high school, there'd been a girl who spread some lies about me because a boy she'd liked had shown interest in me instead. We had one small confrontation in the school locker room, where I told her to knock it off, and she apologized to me and backed down. Of course, I consider myself really lucky to have avoided the more serious abuse that come at the hands and from the mouths of people who are supposed to be your friends.

But other people weren’t lucky at all. Some classmates of mine suffered brutal verbal taunting on a daily basis, and nothing was ever done about it really. Or if there was, it wasn’t evident from what I witnessed in the hallways.

It was much harder for me to talk about this stuff with my boyfriend. In fact, I actually started tearing up with I told him about this particular girl who was bullied by a group of boys in our class because they suspected she was gay. I’d watch as they crowded around her and said really mean things that I refuse to repeat here.

Let me say that again, and with feeling: I’d watch.

Back then, I was a bystander, plain and simple. Thinking about it made me wish my boyfriend’s blue pick-up truck would turn into a silver DeLorean so I could go back in time and change things.

Sad to say, that wish didn’t come true. As our conversation winded down, I made another wish—that I’d find the courage to write about this someday.

I kid you not, a week later I found out that two teen authors/activists were compiling a collection of short stories, essays, etc. for an anthology devoted to combating the bullying epidemic. I took it as a sign, and immediately sat down in front of my computer and started typing. I didn’t know if I’d be able to aptly express the guilt I’d felt for not standing up for the kids that needed it, but I hoped that my story would be of help or comfort to today’s young readers who are finding themselves in similar situations, and scared to speak up or act.

The story turned out to be only a few pages, but as I typed the last line, it felt as though I’d written a thousand. Now all I had to do was put it out there.

I was surprised that when I forwarded the story to the editors, a peacefulness began to wash over me the moment I hit the Send button. When I found out that my story was going to be included in the anthology, the peacefulness turned into pride. When I got my hands on a copy of the galley and read all the moving, unforgettable stories from this awesome group of teen authors (seriously, the list of talent here is staggering), the pride turned into hope—the hope that we can fight this crisis and win.

With that said, I hope that you’ll pick up a copy of DEAR BULLY when it hits stores next month, or that you’ll pre-order it soon. The amazing Carrie Jones and incredible Megan Kelley Hall did a fantastic job pulling this memorable collection of writing together. They run a wonderful group on Facebook, too, called Young Adult Authors Against Bullying, which you can join by clicking here. You can also visit the blog here.

The BIG ANNOUNCEMENT I've been hinting at!

2011-06-23T06:13:00.000-07:00

I’m SO EXCITED and THRILLED to finally tell you why I have been missing-in-action on my blog! Complete with a photo-filled re-enactment of the last six months!

But first, here's the fantastic news! From this morning's Publishers Marketplace:

Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam's ELUSION, pitched as an "Inception"-type futuristic thriller series about three teenagers attempting to solve a mystery with serious personal stakes, that leads them inside an alternate reality game which transports users to dangerously seductive Utopian world, and ETHERWORLD, to Katherine Tegen and Sarah Shumway at Katherine Tegen Books, in a significant deal, by Christy Fletcher at Fletcher & Company (for Gabel) and Esther Newberg at ICM (for Klam) (NA). Foreign/UK: Fletcher & Co. Film: Josie Friedman and Nick Harris at ICM.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you believe it? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Isn't that FABULOUS? !!!!!!!!!!!!

I just might faint. Seriously.

While I try to make the room stop spinning, why don't you read the behind-the-scenes story, okay? Great!

At Christmas, my dear friend and fellow teen novelist Cheryl Klam called me up to wish me a happy holiday. We talked about the usual stuff—what her kids were up to; what books we were reading; our favorite bits from Kathy Griffin: Life on the D List; the molecular structure of tannic acid; etc.

Then the conversation turned to writing, which it almost always does. Cheryl and I have worked on a number of projects together—a treatment for a movie, a script for a sitcom pilot, and a one-woman comedy show about aging gracefully, called HEY, YOU--GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY ACTIVIA! (Just kidding about the last one.)

Even though our projects didn’t get picked up, we had such a great time collaborating on them. So Cheryl said, “What's our next move? What do we do now?” And then I replied, “Here’s an idea. What if we work on a BOOK….for TEENS? You know, like we’ve already done on our own?”

There was a contemplative silence. Or maybe it was just the biggest “Duh!” ever experienced on planet Earth. Why hadn’t we thought about that before?!

Then Cheryl said, “It has to be an idea that’s really different than what we’ve already done.” Then I said, “You’re right, but it should also be something that both bucks the current trends and yet embraces the current trends.” (That came from the editor side of my brain, of course. Cheryl is subjected to this voice more often than she’d like, I’m sure!)

So for a few weeks after that, we thought long and hard. We brainstormed on the phone and emailed back and forth with our ideas. We pitched each other until we couldn’t stand it any longer.

And then it happened, a true EUREKA moment! We immediately knew that we had something special, so we spazzed out. HARD. Like so:

Then it was time to get to work. Cheryl and I decided the best thing to do was write an in-depth outline that detailed the story for the book and its sequel. It would cover everything—the concept pitch; how to position the book; character descriptions; backstory; world-building; plot; competitive titles, author bios; you name it. We also needed to compile sample chapters to go along with the outline, preferably 75-100 pages.

The outline was actually the easiest part of the process, even though it took us months to complete. Cheryl and I would set up conference calls, and basically spend hours plotting each act of the story arc on our computers. Then we’d shift the document back and forth, editing it less and less with each pass. Writing the sample chapters was a lot harder, though. After we picked which scenes to write, Cheryl went off and did a rough draft of the pages. Then she’d send them to me and I’d write over her. Getting the voice right was so tough. We couldn’t figure out how the main character should sound, we didn’t like how she was reading on the page. We actually got into our first real spat over it. Not good!

But then we thought we might be having a hard time because the POV we were using wasn’t gelling for us. Perhaps we should switch to 3^rd person from 1^st person? We gave it a shot and it totally worked! Of course we ran into some other problems along the way, but thankfully they were minor and didn’t slow us down very much.

After getting our materials together, we sent the package off to our agents (Christy Fletcher for moi; Esther Newberg for Cheryl), and waited to hear back from them. This was so nerve-wracking! What if they weren’t into our idea? What if they didn’t think it was awesome like we did? I may be an editor at my day job, but that didn’t help calm me down any. So Cheryl and I did A LOT of stress eating. (DON’T JUDGE!)

Luckily, that didn’t last for long! Christy and Esther loved our idea and were so excited about our proposal. They told us they wanted to represent it! Which meant were on our way!

But there was more work to be done. We had to do another round of edits on the proposal and the sample chaptesr. We had to fine tune some characters and weed out some plot points that weren’t sticking. We also had to revisit the rules of our world because they weren’t lining up right. And we had to do it ASAP, which was difficult considering that Cheryl has two daughters and I have a full-time job.

We pulled it off, though, and once the book was sent on exclusive to an editor we LOVED, we pretty much collapsed. Once we recovered, our nerves were in full swing again. We were confident that we had done a great job with our submission materials, but you just never know whom it’s going to connect with.

As an editor with a lot of books to juggle and an intimidating To Read list, I warned Cheryl we might be in for a wait. But I was wrong! We actually got a swift response from a spectactular publisher (I should know!) and received an amazing offer from the wonderful people at Katherine Tegen Books!

EEEEEEK!!!!! I’m soooooo unbelievably psyched to be working with my colleagues at HarperCollins Children's Books, an awesome editor like Sarah Shumway, and with my dear friend Cheryl, on this wicked cool project! I can’t wait to share more details as our journey together progresses, and I promise to keep up with everyone on my blog, Twitter, and Facebook.

I wish I could hug all my friends online and in real life at once, but since I can’t, let’s just celebrate in the comments section, shall we? (If you aren't a follower of my blog, please sign up now--you are in for a fun ride that will include regular contests, giveaways, and other sweet stuff!)

YAAAAAY!!!!!

Proof that I'm still alive

2011-04-22T11:38:00.000-07:00

My Top Ten Favorite American Idol Moments

2011-01-19T09:57:00.000-08:00

Tonight is the premiere of American Idol: Season 10, so I figured I should commemorate the occasion with another "favorite moments" list. I have to admit, my love for AI has waned in recent years--especially when there were four judges and Ellen DeGeneres was hired (Still have love for Miss Ellen though! Just not on a music competition show). I'm curious to see how everything plays out tonight with J-Lo and Steve-Ty. It could be TV gold, or a massive train wreck. Anyway! Let's get to the list, shall we?

10) Lisa Leuschner – Sweet Thing: I'm still very ticked off about Lisa Leuschner not making it to the finals in AI 7. She's beautiful and I love her sexy, R&B voice. I mean, the girl has SKILLZ. Just listen to her sing this Chaka Khan song. It's just as good as the original--how often can you say that? Boo judges, boo.

9) Carly Smithson—Audition: I was bummed that Carly Smithson got booted from AI 7 after singing Jesus Christ Superstar. That's no way to go out! I have to say, when I watch her audition footage, I still get chills listening to her sing the opening from I'm Every Woman. (PS: Chaka Khan rules!)

8) Michael Johns—It’s All Wrong, But It’s All Right: Okay, I am apparently obessed with AI 7, and I think that's okay because I remember so many people from that year, especially Michael Johns, the gorgeous Australian who loved classic rock. Swoon! I thought his best performance was when he covered this Dolly Parton Song. Sooo bluesy and perfect.

7) Paris Bennett – Audition: I'll always remember Paris's audition for AI 5, not only because she sang The Dixie Chicks AND Billie Holiday and OWNED them, but because of the emotional reaction she gets from her family once she gets the golden ticket. Also, I still think it's so strange how different her singing voice and speaking voice are. Crazy!

6) David Cook – Hello: Back to AI 7, the mecca of great performances. I know that David Cook is a little bit smarmy, but I must admit, his electrified version of Lionel Richie's Hello was flat out genius. He managed to make a very dated, but sweet song feel really fresh and angsty. Too bad David all but disappeared after winning this season.

5) Elliott Yamin – Moody’s Mood for Love: Confession time--I actually own Elliott's debut album, and I heart it so much, I can't even begin to tell you. I always thought it was crap that he lost out to that Tucker What's His Face, and Pretty Tall Brunette Girl with the Big Teeth. How could anyone deny Elliott's superior talent, which is proven by his A++ take on Moody's Mood for Love, one of the most difficult songs to sing? This dude is, was, and will always be AWESOME.

4) Kelly Clarkson – Without You: AI 1, where it all began! And who knew how big Kelly Clarkson was going to become? Well, I'd like to think that I did after hearing her belt out this heartbreaking song by Badfinger. Although this performance isn't flawless, it's clear that Kelly has what it takes to be a superstar.

3) Bo Bice – In a Dream: While Carrie Underwood won AI 4 and went on to take a Louisville Slugger to both headlights, the high point of the final showdown this season was Bo Bice's performance of this Badlands track. It was pretty damn ballsy for him sing without a band or backup-singers, and the hush that falls over the crowd in this clip is almost palpable. I won't ever forget how I felt watching this for the first time--completely breathless.

2) Melinda Doolittle – My Funny Valentine: I'm going to go on record and say that Melinda Doolittle was robbed on AI 6. I know that teenagers rule the voting and that's part of the reason Jordin Sparks reigned instead of this classy, uber-talented vocalist (who is also a sweetheart), and I've come to accept that. But come on guys, Melinda is totally where it's at. When I saw this performance, I closed my eyes and just listened to her voice--it was freaking RADIO READY. Just love the judges reaction to it, too.

1) Fantasia – I Believe: Yes. I said it. My number one pick is Fantasia singing the cheesiest, cliche-ridden song in music history. But you know what? I don't care! And the fact that Fantasia could make me NOT care about how lame the song is, is a feat in and of itself. Also, the way her face lights up when the gospel choir starts singing with her is like magic, and the grit of her voice reflects her troubled personal history, which I found so compelling as well. She had one of the longest ovations in AI history, and has over 4 million hits on this video clip, so I'm not the only person to feel this way. I do, however, try not to think about the fact that she turned out to be a homewrecker and a reality TV star. Instead I focus on this brilliant moment of promise, and I think that's what people love about AI in the first place.

Top Ten Memorable MTV Music Award Moments (In my world, of course)

2011-01-12T13:00:00.000-08:00

Don’t know why I had the urge to post about this, but I guess I was in the mood to make a list. So there.

10) Justin Timberlake – Like I Love You (2002)

I was never really an *NSYNC kind of girl, but JT’s performance of his first solo single made me rush out and buy the album Justified. I still listen to it regularly, on a boom box just as big as the one on stage. Seriously. You should come over to my place and see it.

9) Eminem – The Real Slim Shady (2000)

What I liked about this performance was Eminem’s “Don’t F with me!” attitude as he was walking into Radio City with a gazillion guys dressed like him. Still haven’t seen a grand entrance like this since.

8) Michael Jackson Tribute (2009)

I was shocked as hell when I heard the news Michael Jackson died, and then I worried about how this tribute was going to fly. But all the dancing and Janet showing up to kick ass during Scream—yeah, won’t ever forget it.

7) Puff Daddy/Sting/Faith Evans – I’ll Be Missing You (1997)

Speaking of dying, I wasn’t that shocked when I heard the news that Biggie Smalls was killed (especially after what happened to Tupac). However, I was shocked that I was moved to tears by a Puff Daddy performance. Didn’t think that was possible. Perhaps it was Biggie’s wife Faith Evans’ soulful, heartbreaking singing that got me choked up. Yep, that explains it.

6) Britney Spears – Oops, I Did It Again (2000)

I tried to learn the choreography to the Oops video one weekend at my friend Michelle’s apartment in DC. That sh*t was HARD! But Britney makes it all look easy on stage, including wearing flesh tones—not everyone can pull that off.

5) LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out (1991)

I swear to God, LL Cool J has not aged AT ALL since the 90s. Just watch NCIS: Los Angeles and see for yourself. Oh, and more to the point—this was the first time I heard rap music performed with live instruments and I absolutely LOVED it. Still do. I also love back-up dancers dressed like featherweight boxers.

4) The Beastie Boys – Sabotage (1994)

I had no idea the Beastie Boys could clean up like this, but damn, put suits on these guys and some shades and they suddenly become CLASSY. Also another shout out to live instruments in a rap song. What can I say? It works!

3) Nirvana – Lithium (1992)

Kurt Cobain. LIVE. Do I need to say more than that? Oh, wait, I do. The moment when Krist Novoselic throws his bass up in the air and it nails him on the head—PRICELESS.

2) Madonna – Vogue (1990)

Some people prefer Madonna’s Like A Virgin performance, where she rolls around on the stage in a sexy 80s wedding dress. But that’s not enough of a spectacle for me! I want PASSION! I want DRAMA! I want RENASSIANCE-ERA INSPIRED COSTUMES! Done, done, and DONE. Thank you, Madge.

1) Tom Petty – Freefalling (1989)

I was fourteen in 1989, and I remember that for weeks, MTV kept talking about this “special guest” for the finale in their promos. I stayed up extra late to watch it and was bummed when Tom Petty came out. Yeah, I liked Freefalling, thought it was a good song—but really MTV? You’ve been begging us to watch Tom Petty all this time? And then—BOOM—Axl Rose comes strolling out on stage, surprising the hell out of everyone and making our lives meaningful again. I will always remember standing up and punching a clenched, celebratory fist in the air.

G’N’R forever!!!

What I've Been Doing This Fall Instead of Blogging--Told in Pictures!

2010-12-08T13:19:00.000-08:00

Love the kitchen!

1) Putting my apartment together. This is the first time I've had my own place! It's been a wonderful experience so far, especially because it's very quiet and secluded.

My cozy living room

Another view of the living room.

The view as you walk in...

The Loo--I really adore the shower curtain!

Bedroom--this one needs a little bit more work.

2) Eating my face off at holiday parties and Thanksgiving.

Turkey dinner at the Silo in Greene, NY....yum!

The appetizer table at the Gabel holiday party

The Gabels dont' fool around when it comes to dessert

Hot perogies! Right here!

3) Buying my Halloween costume at the hardware store

Me-OW!

4) Dancing my butt off at weddings

Oh yeah!

My moves were killer

5) Spending quality time with loved ones

I am so thankful for Ben...

And my mom, who just turned 60!

In 2011, I need to see more of my sister Luci

I watched my brother run the NYC Marathon in November

We were all really proud of him, especially my dad

I hope to be blogging more once the holidays are over and my schedule becomes a little less full. Hope all of you are enjoying the wonders of the season!

Flashback Friday--January 17, 1987

2010-11-12T08:24:00.000-08:00

On January 17, 1987:

*Shake You Down by Gregory Abbott was the #1 slow jam in America.

*Critical Condition, starring the late and great Richard Pryor, raked in lots of dough at the box office, despite mixed reviews by Siskel and Ebert.

*President Reagan signed a secret order permitting covert sale of arms to Iran. (Oh snap!)

*Mike Ditka threatened to resign as coach of the Chicago Bears, even though he led the team to the Super Bowl championship in 1985.

I also wrote in my diary that day! Let's see what my eleven year old self had to say.

Dear Diary,

Sorry for not writing for a while. I’ve been really busy. I’ve been sick and I still am looking for Mr. Right.*

You know, Matt?* Well I think this girl Heather, she’s on my squad, likes him, or feels sorry for him. He’s got MS. Oh well, I still think he’s cute.* But maybe he’s taken. You never know.

Well, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.

Your friend,

CAG

PS: We had a game and we lost. I didn’t mind. I was watching Matt.*

* Still looking for Mr. Right? I was ELEVEN. How long could I have been actually looking? A couple of weeks, tops. Also, good to know that even at that age, being really "busy" interfered with my journal writing--I continue to use that excuse today!

Don't wake me up 'cuz I'm dreamin'...

*Okay, here's the details on Matt. He was a second-string basketball player on our pathetic middle school team and I don't think I ever spoke to him. All I remember was that he was very tall and resembled the lead singer on that cheesy-but-awesome teen TV show California Dreams (which I watched religiously every Saturday morning, even though it was a blatant rip-off of Saved by the Bell). While I was on the cheerleading squad, Matt clearly didn't know I was alive, mostly because this Heather chick would pretty much pounce on him every chance she got. (No, I'm not bitter!)

*I love how the only thing I cared about when it came to Matt's degenerative illness, was that the disease had not affected his cuteness. I mean, when you're hot, nothing else matters right?

*After reading my post-script, I'm surprised I didn't turn into a stalker.

Flashback Friday (sort of)--Anniversary-inspired Edition

2010-10-29T09:07:00.000-07:00

Ben and me on our first anniversary

Tonight, my boyfriend Ben and I are celebrating our two year anniversary, which is funny because the both of us have said on several occasions that it seems like we've been together much longer than that! Maybe it's because we were crushing on each other for months before our first date, but had no idea the feeling was reciprocal. Or perhaps it's because our personalities are very similar--we're both creative, sensitive, goofy, loyal, affectionate, giving individuals. Or maybe it's because we have found in each other a person who makes us really happy in a multitude of ways--someone supportive, nurturing, and engaging. I could go on and on with theories!

Now let's flashback to 1986. I was eleven-years-old and not quite loving my life. I had a bad, short, done-at-home-by-my-dad haircut. My teeth were as crooked as Lehman Brothers. I wore large glasses and Star Trek t-shirts. Surprisingly, there were no boys interested in me! And this made me feel super self-conscious because all of my other friends were holding hands with boys and sharing their McDonald's French fries with them.

My first name ain't baby, it's Janet:
Miss Jackson if you're nasty!

Then I discovered Janet Jackson's Control album. It was filled with messages of female empowerment and catchy songs that you could dance to--i.e. Pleasure Principle; Nasty Boys; and What Have You Done For Me Lately. Who needed boys when you had a fierce sistah like Janet, with her spiral perm and her shoulder pads? Uh...not me!

But all of my tween feminism evaporated when I witnessed the brilliance of the When I Think of You music video, which was on high rotation on MTV. (In fact, back in the 80s, my friends and I used to argue about who was better--Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson? I would always use the awesomeness of this video to prove my point--Whitney. Houston. CAN'T. DANCE!) Anyway, the choreography was amazing; Janet Jackson looked so young and beautiful; and the lyrics made me hopeful that one day, I would find a love so wonderful that any time the world got crazy, all I'd have to do to calm it, is just think of someone special.

Well, folks, the dream finally came true! And I couldn't feel more blessed. So enjoy this YouTube link to Janet skipping throughout da hood, thinkin' of her lovah man. Oh, and take note of the way the video is shot. It's actually filmed with only one camera and there aren't any edits either.

PS: HAPPY HALLOWEEN! (And yes, there will be a Halloween related blog post after this festivities this weekend, so stay tuned...)

Flashback Friday (Sorta)--Early Wedding-Inspired Edition

2010-10-21T14:04:00.000-07:00

My good friend Anne is getting married on Saturday, to a cute, classy, and clever gentleman named Eric! Anne and I met about ten years ago when we were both assistants at the same publishing house. I believe the first time she noticed my existence is when she walked by my cubicle and overheard another coworker trying to talk me out of going to a Christian rock concert (long story). Since then, it's been nothing but a Manhattan joyride-filled friendship!

I'm really happy for Anne, and looking forward to hopping a plane to "Hotlanta" and seeing her get hitched. I'm sure she and her soon-to-be hubby have already picked out the tune for their first dance, but I urge them to consider the love song I wrote in 7th grade, for my long-time crush Fred. I have the lyrics memorized, so I can sing it LIVE AT THE RECEPTION! Isn't that the best idea EVER? I think so. You will too once you witness my musical genius.

YOU'RE HOT
A love/rap song by Claudia Gabel, age 13

You're hot,
You're hot,
You're hot,
And you know, know what you've got.

When you walk by me, I don't wanna turn my face,
Cuz I know you've got something that's erotically placed.
Maybe it's your style, or your radical walk,
Come pass by me again cuz you know what I'm TALKIN' BOUT.

You're hot,
You're hot,
You're hot,
And you know, know what you've got.

When you sit next to me, I wanna jump into your lap,
And when you leave me alone I always feel LIKE CRAP!
So come on boy sit yourself next me cuz you know that I've been waiting oh so PATIENTLY.

Take me in your arms, that is my desire,
Cuz when you're next to me my heart beats so much...HIGHER!

You're hot,
You're hot,
You're hot,
And you know, know what you've got.

Obviously, I was born a romantic. Peace out, yo!

Flashback Friday--Sort of...

2010-10-15T14:04:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know I haven't been blogging lately. And I'm still going to use the same (lame) excuse--I've been super busy sprucing up my new apartment and working that I haven't had enough time. However, while I have a few minutes, I want to tell you about one of my new favorite things:

The weekday evening TV line-up on the Hub Network!

I can see by your confused faces that you know not of what I speak. Let me enlighten you. The Hub Network replaced the Discovery Kids Network a few days ago. The Hub targets a dual audience, young children in the daytime with original and acquired children's programs, and families at night with reruns of older television sitcoms, dramas and feature films.

That's right Reruns!

No, not those Reruns.

These Reruns!

8-8:30 p.m.

Family Ties

As you all know, I am a HUGE Family Ties fan. When I was twelve, I would have sold both of my kidneys if it meant I could meet Michael J. Fox. I loved all the other characters, too, especially Michael Gross, who played Mr. Keaton. He was really everything you could ever want in a father--caring, smart, and a good baritone singer with a gift for deadpan comedy. Every time I watched the show, I'd get all warm inside. Which is why I have a lot of the seaons on DVD. I pop an episode in when I've had a rough day, and it washes all the blues away. I also love spotting all the famous guest stars, like Tom Hanks (remember drunk Uncle Ned?), Geena Davis, and Courteney Cox. The only thing left to say is, "What would we dooooo, baby, without uuuuuuussss? Sha-la-la-laaaaaah!"

9:00 p.m.

The Wonder Years

OMG, don't even get me started on how much I adored The Wonder Years. In the summertime, my mom had strict orders to call me inside when this show started so that I wouldn't miss it. It was the one show that I could watch with her and feel like I understood what her childhood was like. And how cute was Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold? I mean, I still want to put that kid version of him in my pocket. His on-again, off-again relationship with the super pretty and sweet Winnie Cooper was so true-to-life and compelling--my heart broke every time one of theirs did! There were a lot of great political episodes as well, which I still can't forget. Last but not least, I'm kind of happy that none of the kids on this show grew up to be druggies or strippers or what-have-you. Fred Savage does a great job directing It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia; Danica McKeller is married with a kid and a math genius, who writes fun, educational books for teen girls with titles like Kiss My Math! And Paul wound up being Marilyn Manson. It's a win-win-win, folks!

9:30 p.m.

Doogie Howser M.D.

Remember when you'd get a good grade in school, and your jealous best friend would say stuff like, "Oh, nice job, Doogie." And then you'd be like, "Shut up." And then she'd be like, "WhatEVER!"

That's about all I can remember about this show. That and the fact that Neil Patrick Harris was the first person on TV to write in his digital diary to the thought-provoking sounds of a Yamaha.

Oh and his sidekick was kind of funny, too. Vinny, right? Ah, it's all a blur. But I love NPH big-time and the fact that his childhood is preserved like this.

To all those Doogies out there in the world, I say, Go on with your bad selves.

10-11 p.m.

Happy Days

There was a time that my sister Luci and I would do nothing but talk about Happy Days. Well, actually, all we talked about was Scott Baio, who played Fonzie's nephew Chachi (I think that means something dirty in Chinese....not 100% sure though). You see, Luci had a rule that we could not have a crush on the same TV character simultaneously. Since she was older than me, that meant I could only have a crush on Scott Baio when she was finished having a crush on Scott Baio. Therefore, I had to have a fake crush on Ron Howard/Richie Cunningham, which was obviously not even remotely as cool as crushing on Scott Baio. Now that the show is back on again, I should probably check with Luci to see if she's over Chachi. Better late than never right?

11:30 p.m.

Laverne & Shirley

This show was billed as "the female Odd Couple." Which is true, but somehow totally underselling the hilarity of Cindy Williams and Penny Marshall. Their brand of wackadoo comedy and on-screen chemistry was off-the-charts. I still LMAO when I watch Laverne and Shirl get into mishap after mishap, or when they say a word like "dumb" or "asinine," then Lenny and Squiggy walk in. It's a stupid gag, but it's also a classic. And classics, my friends, will never die. I also think it was one of the first shows to depict single women, living together, drinking milk & Pepsi together, and never apologizing for it. Sing it with me ladies! "Schlemile, Schlemozzle, Hausenfeffer Incorporated!"

Thank you, Hub Network, for making this girl's dreams come true....for me and yooooooouuuuu!

Romeo & Juliet & Vampires SPEAKS!

2010-10-08T11:44:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to share a clip of the audio version of Romeo & Juliet & Vampires with you! Broadway actress Stina Nielsen did a tremendous job reading the book--she makes my prose sound so elegant and sophisticated. Nielsen has also lent her voice to many other audio books, including Sarah Dessen's The Truth About Forever and Meg Cabot's Airhead.

Hope you enjoy listening to this as much as I did, and that you'll share it with your circle of friends.

Have fun!

PS: I know I've been lame in the blogging department lately. Promise to get back into the swing of things next week...

City Girl Part 1

2010-09-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

So I've been MIA the last few couple weeks because I've been busy packing up five years of my life in preparation of moving into my own apartment. EEK! It's all very exciting, and I wish I could write in detail about it all. But honestly, I just don't have the time as of late. However, I promise to fill you all in with all the specifics once things calm down and I get all settled!

Until then, please "enjoy" a poem I wrote when I first moved to NYC (after being on Long Island for grad school), roughly 10 years ago. Looks like I was absolutely shell-shocked and about to go postal, but I'm so glad I gave the city a chance. Because honestly, I would have missed out on so much living if I had left it all behind...

CITY

Eyes down at my feet
Avoiding contact with the streets
of this city--
this state of disillusion
that keeps me penned in
between buses barreling toward
green lights, the heinous honks
of cabbies that cradle commuters
at 9 a.m.
It's too early for this
craziness.
I miss the way I used to saunter slowly
past mom and pop stores,
the dock where I used to ignore
the clock and eat ice cream
out of the carton as the
moon glittered off the water,
his hand in mine.
Now it's just crowded cars,
cursing kids on their way
to school.
Head phones, cell phones,
corporate drones.
Millions and millions of us--
cramped together and
alone
in the city.
Wondering how we all got here
and how the hell we're going to get out.
The noise is louder than
last week's traffic jam.
I am
going to find my way--
and I will breathe in this
smog and exhale
the clean, crisp air
of my youth that's tied
up in willow trees
and bumble bees
and summer breeze.
I will look up in this
city's sky
and find a way
to make it
quiet.

Flashback Friday--3/9/87

2010-09-10T13:06:00.000-07:00

On March 9, 1987:

* Shad Gregory Moss--also known as Lil Bow Wow--was born.

*Irish rock band U2 releases their 5th studio album The Joshua Tree.

*Lethal Weapon debuted at the box office. (Too bad we all missed the crazy look on Mel's face in this poster as a warning sign.)

*Windmills of the Gods by Sidney Sheldon was a New York Times bestselling novel.

I also wrote in my diary that day! Let's see what my 12-year-old self had to say about cheerleading. (I bet you are on the edge of your seat!)

Dear Diary,

LIFE IS GOOD!!!!!!!!

Sorry for that outburst, but I needed that. We got into THE FINALS at cheerleading!* Let me tell you about it. We really messed up on the first cheer. We were totally freaked after that in line. Mary Beth said, "I wicked messed up." And Heather said, "So did I."*

Then I said, "Just concentrate on the next cheer." (We had only spent 4 days practice on the first cheer.)*

St. Mary's sparkled. They did flips and somersaults and they wowed the judges and the audience. (They got into the finals.)*

On our second cheer, called HOT,* we were FABULOUS! NO MESS UPS! But we didn't think we made it. At the last line up, Rachel and I were up front. We stood absolutely STILL with frozen smiles on our faces.

The announcer started calling out the finalists. First he said, "St. Mary's." Rachel and I and the rest of my team frowned. Next he said, "St. Stanislaus!" Rachel and I looked at each other and screamed. We were jumping and shouting and everything was GREAT!* Then my mom took me and my brother Paul for pizza. I had a fun time.

I have to go and I swear I'll write tomorrow.*

Your friend,
CAG

PS: I <3 ???*

*I joined the CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) cheerleading squad in the 6th grade because my older sister Luci was a cheerleader and I wanted to do everything she did, which was 1) be pretty; 2) be popular; and 3) talk with cute boys. (Think Molly Ringwald in The Breakfast Club, only a lot nicer) At first, I thought becoming a cheerleader would transform me into a Luci-clone, but no dice. Luci's fantastic qualities had to do with being Luci, and putting on a short skirt and waving pom-poms around was not going to help dig me out of the geek gutter. I was good at cheerleading, though--good enough to make into THE FINALS.

*I do not remember Mary Beth or Heather. They sort of blend into one skinny, feather-haired girl. Wherever they are, I hope they remember this fateful day in detail.

*I like how I portray myself as some pillar of calm during this "wicked" freak out. And why were we doing a cheer that we only spent 4 days on? That's pretty risky if you ask me. I blame the coaches.

*While I can't remember any of these cheerleaders individually, I do remember them collectively, especially the St. Mary's squad. This team of girls were all wannabe Kristie Phillips--most of them had a gymnastics backgrounds and incorporated handsprings into their routines while the rest of us losers could only do cartwheels and the occasional split. Every year St. Mary's went to THE FINALS and won first place. I kid you not. Except for the year that St. Stanislaus won, when Luci was on the squad, of course!

*Yeah, that's right. Our second cheer was called HOT. Take that, St. Mary's!

*I still remember the amazing feeling of the announcer calling our name and having a huge spaz attack with my teammates. We were literally jumping up and down and squealing like we'd won the actual championship, and not just a chance to compete in THE FINALS. There were two divisions of the CYO--the West and the East (kind of like the hip hop rivalry). Three squads from each division were picked for the big cheer-off, and the competition was fierce. Unfortunately, we didn't even place in THE FINALS, but I do keep that spaz moment in my heart forever, because they just don't make 'em like that anymore.

*I did not write "tomorrow" as promised. My next entry wasn't until June 4. What a slacker!

*This is one of the few entries in my journal where no boys or crushes were mentioned. I am relieved to know I had at least one other interest.

Hope you come back for more flashback shenanigans next Friday!

My biggest critic: My mother

2010-09-08T14:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, first things first: I love my mom. She's a wise lady who has sacrificed a lot to help me get to where I am today. She's the person who encouraged me to follow my passions and taught me the value of a hard-earned education. And she is the smartest woman I know. Seriously. My mother triple majored in college. Yeah, you read that right. Triple. Majored. She received B.A. degrees in English, History, and Drama from Misericordia University. She has also not forgotten a single shred of information she learned there. I kid you not. My brother Paul and I used to call her the Walking Encyclopedia, because she could spout off any historical fact from the top of her head.

A sample conversation normally goes like this:

Me (reading a magazine): "Wow, I had no idea that New York was once the capital of the United States."

Mom: "Of course! New York was U.S. capital from 1789 to 1790, and the state capital until 1797. By 1790, it was the largest U.S. city, and in 1898, a new charter was adopted, making the city Greater New York, a metropolis of five boroughs. God, Claudia, didn't they teach you any of that in school?"

Me: "Yeah, like 20 years ago!"

But I digress. I consider my mom my biggest critic because she's the most direct woman I know. If you ask her whether an outfit makes you look fat (and it actually does) she will say yes without hesitation. She delivers her opinion on most things with conviction, too, which makes her views even more difficult to argue with. For example, she is lover of great classic literature, so if she thinks a book is sub par, she will articulate why with the thoroughness of a skilled orator or lawyer. Oh, and she's a Shakespearean scholar as well. She has studied his work and life from every possible angle and has a bronze bust of him sitting on top of her desk. (I wish I was making that up.)

So can you imagine her reaction when I told her that in my next book, I was taking Shakespeare's most well known play and adding vampires to it? Well, needless to say I've blocked that encounter out of my mind permanently. Can you also imagine how apprehensive I was about giving her a copy of the book this week? My heart was filled with so much glee now that my new novel was on the shelves, and yet when I handed it to my mom, I thought I was going to have a nervous breakdown.

What would she think of it? Um, actually I knew that already. The real question was: what was she going to say to me? Or would she say nothing at all...for once?!

Well, Nostradamus couldn't have predicted her response. The morning after I gave her a copy of Romeo & Juliet & Vampires, I ran into her in the kitchen. She grabbed me by the arms---kind of crazily, I might add--and said, "I was up all night reading your book, and it was incredible!"

I was frozen with disbelief. Had my mom actually liked the book that I was sure she was going to loathe? I was only able to eek out a "Really?"

"It was so good, I could not put it down!" she replied. "I mean it, I was really engrossed in the story. You stayed really close to the original plot, but it felt new and entertaining. I'm really impressed."

I was waiting for her to blurt out, "KIDDING!" but when she didn't, I just hugged her and said, "Thanks, Mom. I'm so happy that you enjoyed it." Then I pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming.

I'm still flying high off my mom's review, and all the positive ones that I've been reading/tweeting online! I'll put all the links at the end of the post, in case you didn't get to see any of them.

I will say this: the common thread in all the blog reviews, and my mom's too--no one expected to like Romeo & Juliet & Vampires as much as they did. So if you have any preconceived notions about mash-up books, I urge you to not judge a book by it's genre and read it for yourself.

Because my mom liked it. So there. :)

* * * *

YA Book Queen - posted on Tuesday, 9/7

Review: http://yabookqueen.blogspot.com/2010/09/romeo-juliet-vampires-by-claudia-gabel.html

The Book Spot - posted on Friday, 9/3

Review: http://book-splot.blogspot.com/2010/09/romeo-juliet-vampires-claudia-gabel.html

The Reading Teen - posted on Friday, 9/3

Review: http://www.readingteen.net/2010/09/review-and-giveaway-romeo-and-juliet.html

The Mundie Moms - Posted on Thursday, 9/2

Review: http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/2010/09/book-review-romeo-juliet-vampires.html

The Book Girl - posted on Wednesday, 9/1

Review: http://thebookgirlreviews.blogspot.com/2010/09/romeo-and-juliet-and-vampires-william.html

YA Bookshelf - posted on Wednesday, 9/1

Review: http://www.yabookshelf.com/2010/09/romeo-juliet-vampires-2/

Tattoo Me Pink

2010-08-31T11:58:00.000-07:00

Behold my love child with Shakespeare

Hey people, have you heard the news? ROMEO & JULIET & VAMPIRES is out in stores TODAY!!! I'm so excited I can barely even breathe. There are a bunch of other great teen novels that share my release date, including Paranormalcy by Kiersten White (also from HarperTeen), so you should get to an online or brick-and-mortar bookstore as soon as you possibly can.

But after you buy a copy of R&J&V, I want you to ponder something for me: what should my commemorative tattoo be? Okay, I can see you're a little confused: a commemorative TATTOO? As in permanent ink on a part of the body? Is this lady serious?

Pisceans rule!

Oh yes, I most certainly am. Back in May 2000, I started this little ritual of getting a tattoo to celebrate big milestones in my life. I got the first one when I graduated from Hofstra University's Master of Arts program with an American and English Literature degree. The tattoo is the medieval sign for Pisces (my astrological sign) and it's located on my lower back, on the right side.

The tattoo that never quits

Then in March 2007, I got the number 607 tattooed on the inside of my left ankle. 607 is my hometown area code (Binghamton in the house!!!) and the month/year that my first book, IN OR OUT, was being published. I never expected it to get the response it has--I'm always stopped in the elevator or on the subway and asked what the number means. It's kind of the perfect promotional tool--I have it on me all the time! Also, I think I should mention that once a construction worker used it to cat-call me. "607? Hey baby, that your address?!" Sadly, I was too flustered to think of a comeback, so I just ignored him.

Anyway, so what's next?! I've been trying to come up with cool ideas for designs and placement, but I'm really stumped. Which is why I am begging for help via cyberspace! Please post your thoughts in the comments section, and let's keep it PG, folks. I do not want to be walking around town with a naked woman on my bicep (not that there's anything wrong with that).

Before I peace out, I just want to thank everyone at HarperTeen for doing such a great job with ROMEO & JULIET & VAMPIRES. I'm so proud of the book and how the packaging turned out. I hope it finds a lot of readers, and that people enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it!!!

TTFN!

Winners of the Romeo & Juliet & Vampires/Blog giveaway

2010-08-30T07:25:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the five lucky winners of a vampire gift bag, courtesy of moi!

Miss Jill
Miss HardyGirl
Miss Cory
Miss Krista
Miss Music Luffler

Contact me with your mailing address and I'll get the prizes out to you asap. Thanks to all who joined my blog in recent weeks, and stay tuned for more chances to win cool stuff!

Flashback Friday! 12/5/88

2010-08-27T13:50:00.000-07:00

Will to Power

On December 5, 1988:

* Shuttle Atlantis launched the world's 1st nuclear-war-fighting satellite
*Baby I Love Your Way/Freebird Medley by Will to Power was on top of the U.S. music charts (seriously, I checked)
*The Naked Gun: From the Files of the Police Squad was playing at theaters everywhere
*Ross Johnson, then CEO of RJR Nabisco, was on the cover of TIME Magazine for spearheading the biggest corporate take over in American history.

I also wrote in my diary that day! Once again, here's a window into my 13-year-old life (for better, or worse).

Dear Diary,

Hello! Yesterday was our first game* and we lost, 52-29. Not that bad, but not that good.
Today I went to a skating party,* It was alright, but the best thing that happened was this 6th grader Donnie* told me he liked me and gave me this real cool bracelet.* He is cute, and nice, but he is two years younger than me and it would be so difficult. I told him I wanted to be his good friend. I hope he isn't upset with me. I guess I do like him. OKAY! I LIKE HIM ALREADY!*
I don't know what to do! Tell ya what happens with him tomorrow.

~CAG
PS: Help me! I want to go out with Donnie but it will ruin EVERYTHING!*

*When I was in 8th grade, I was a cheerleader for our middle school basketball team, who for some reason were called the Knicks--like we had some kind of affiliation with the NBA. I love that even though we lost by nearly 30 points, I considered that a mediocre outing for our team, rather than a miserable failure.

*Oh my God, remember skating parties? The pop rock music blaring, the disco ball twirling above, the moonlight skates for couples! Ah, it was all so magical, wasn't it? Most skating parties in my town were held at this roller rink called Skate Estate. Believe it or not, it's still open, and you can skate as long as you want for 5 freaking dollars!

Michael J. Fox, lookin' fine

*Thinking back, Donnie was a pretty adorable kid. He was short and skinny and had lots of freckles. In fact, he was the spitting image of Michael J. Fox in the first season of Family Ties (which happens to be one of my all-time favorite sit-coms). For someone his size, Donnie had a whole lot of swagger, and I think that's what made me like him. He thought nothing of standing on the outskirts of the rink and grabbing me when I rolled on by so that he could say, "I really like you" and then give me a gift. That boy had mad courage!

Friendships were built on these once.

*So this "real cool bracelet" was actually one of those friendship bracelets that were made out of thin pieces of woven yarn. Every girl in my class was obsessed with making them, and we'd try to sneak in some craft time during our classes to braid as many as we could. If a boy gave you one these bracelets, he meant business, and if you took the bracelet and wore it, that meant you were middle school married. Alas, I took the bracelet from Donnie, but I didn't wear it to school, apparently because a relationship between us would be "so difficult" because we were two years apart. (Please note that my boyfriend Ben is 6 years younger than me--my 13-year-old self would be appalled!)

*"Okay! I like him already!" I really enjoy how I act as though my diary is a person, forcing information out of me. What an imagination!

*But nothing compares to the post-script in this entry. Being with Donnie would ruin EVERYTHING? Let me set the record straight. "Everything" back then was not a whole hell of a lot. Despite being on the cheerleading squad, I wasn't the most popular girl at school, and I had no kind of reputation to protect. In fact, if I was to quantify "everything," as in the most important things to me at the time, it would have amounted to Capri-Sun, Joradache jeans, and NBCs Must-See TV. Sadly, I would give none of those things up for Donnie's love.

Hope you tune in next Friday for another flashback! :)

Pub Day Paranoia

2010-08-24T08:48:00.000-07:00

The last book in the Hunger Games trilogy, MOCKINGJAY, officially released today, and this is all I can think about:

How is Suzanne Collins feeling right now? With the midnight madness parties, media scrutiny, interviews, and Twitter-craze, one would assume that she's thrilled that there is so much excitement for her book and extremely grateful for all the support she has received from her fans.

But is she worried at all? Is she scared of what the reactions and reviews might be? Is she fearful that Mockingjay won't live up to people's expectations? Does a part of her wish she could hide under the covers instead of doing the publicity tour?

I wonder because this is exactly how I feel, one week out from my ROMEO & JULIET & VAMPIRES release date--and I'm not even a big deal!

Sure, it's only natural to be nervous, and I bet all writers--even smash bestsellers like Ms. Collins--must go through a bout of anxiety before their books hit the shelves. But much like I did with my IN OR OUT series launch, I'm in danger of letting my pre-pub day agita color the whole experience, which would be such a shame, because I am proud of what I've accomplished and very happy with how the novel turned out. I mean, I went from writing about teenage girls in Poughkeepsie to classic Shakespearean love stories with a huge supernatural twist. That's quite a leap!

God, I hate to admit it, but I'm probably still as concerned about what people think of me as I was when I was a teenager. Okay, that might be an overstatement, but what I'm trying to get at is: I've never liked the idea of disappointing anyone, and the thought of a reader not liking what I've done can be kind of terrifying. In the case of Ms. Collins, any similar type of angst would be magnified by a billion, because she has a gargantuan following that has been counting down the minutes until Mockingjay arrived.

So in light of that, I should just CHILL THE EFF OUT, and GET OVER MYSELF, right?

Yes, absolutely, I should. And I think the best way to accomplish that is to close my eyes and remember the large chest filled with notebooks that sits in my old bedroom at my mother's house--notebooks filled with stories that I wrote when I was twelve-years-old. Some of them are good, and some of them are horrid.

But regardless of what anyone might say, all of them are a collective preamble to a dream come true.

Courage and Grace

2010-08-23T09:49:00.000-07:00

Grace and me, Pentwater, MI, 2009

Just wanted to give a shout out to my boyfriend's younger sister, Grace, who is about to do something very admirable with her life. For the next year, she will be working in Kenya through the Presbyterian Church's Young Adult Volunteers (YAV) ministry program. As an intern at the Change One Life foundation, Grace will be helping initiate and coordinate health-focused retreats that will promote HIV/AIDS education for adolescent Kenyan girls, as well as revitalizing their Mother’s Milk project at Kikuyu Hospital and assessing the needs of COL's rural clinics in Ndiwa and Lawanda. What a courageous task to take on at the age of 21!

I'm so proud of Grace for making such a selfless commitment to the people of Kenya, and while I'll miss her dearly (as her whole family will!), I can't wait to read her blog and hear all about her journey, which will be life-changing, without a doubt.

To learn more about the YAV program, or to make a donation, click here.

Best of luck, Grace! Have a safe trip, and an amazing time in Africa! XO

Flashback Friday! 9/16/88

2010-08-20T07:57:00.000-07:00

On September 16, 1988:

*The Grateful Dead played a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden (see the set list here)
*Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns N' Roses was the number one song in America
*Moon Over Parador, starring Richard Dreyfuss, Sonia Braga, and Raul Julia, was raking in 11 mil at the box office
*The 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea, were about to begin.

I also wrote in my diary that day! Here's what was going on in my 13-year-old life (with footnotes, of course).

Dear Diary,

(actually written in all caps) FRED* IS A JERK! I WANT TO KICK HIM IN THE ASS! You see, I'm mad at him. He thinks I prank his friends just because I gave Rob's # to Michelle*. I GIVE UP ALREADY! Maybe if Fred's attitude changes, I'll like him again. Until then, he's a jackass. We are NOT speaking to each other, except Hi.* Now, I like my buddy Chris George.* He is soooooooooooooooooooooooooo CUTE! DAMN CUTE!

Today, Chrissy, Michelle and I went to a restaurant called The Carousel.* The roast beef chopper guy was cute. Then we went to the mall. We made a music video at Soundtrax.* It was fun! Well I gotta run.

~CAG

PS: I <3 Chris George

PPS: The roast beef guy was at the mall, too!

PPPS: The song was "Angel" by Madonna

*Fred was one of the boys in my neighborhood, and I was in love with him for like, four years. If I were to compare him to one of today's teen heartthrobs, I'd say he looked like Leonardo Dicaprio circa his Growing Pains days, but a lot more of a jock. Fred and I used to hang out a lot in the summer, and his wardrobe was practically all surfer-wear from OP. He wore a Swatch, and would take it off three times a day to monitor his tan line. He also was a bit of a troublemaker and rode a skateboard. Are you in love with him yet?

*Michelle was Fred's younger cousin, and I was pretty tight with her. She was a little shy, but very sweet, and Fred picked on her relentlessly. For some reason, that never changed my opinion of him. Until this big incident with Rob that is! I guess Rob was Fred's friend, and Michelle liked him a lot, and I had Rob's phone number somehow so I gave it to Michelle. Then Rob told Fred he was getting a lot of crank calls, and this was blamed on me because I gave Rob's number to Michelle. Dah! The travesty!

*I'm really glad that even though I was pissed at Fred, I was still courteous enough to say Hi to him. I was such a classy chick!

*Chris George was another boy from the hood. Instead of a skateboard, he rode a Schwinn. He was really tall and way too old for me, but he was super adorable and very crush-worthy. He didn't have the same edge as Fred did, though. Heart-throb comparison: Chris Klein in Election. Chris George never saw me as anything but a little kid, but watching him ride his Schwinn around was the highlight of my life back then.

*The Carousel was basically Old Country Buffet. The food spun around in circles under these bright heatlamps, and apparently they hired cute teenage boys to cut meat there and flirt with preteen girls. Not a bad idea, I guess. Just look at the dudes from Abercrombie & Fitch!

*Soundtrax was basically this recording studio at the mall where you could either get an audio cassette tape made of you singing a song, or record an actual video of you, pretending to be in a band. My friends and I saved up a lot of allowance money to make a video. I think we chose Angel by Madonna because I was going to be lead singer and the key of the song was in my pathetically small range. Anyway, we dressed up in boas and danced around and laughed hysterically.

God, I wish I still had that tape! I wonder how many YouTube hits it would have recieved. :)

Announcing Flashback Fridays!

2010-08-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

To quote the wise, insightful lyrics of Bon Jovi's monster ballad Never Say Goodbye, "Remember days of skipping school? Racing cars and being cool? With a six pack and a radio, we didn't need no place to go."

Well, now you do have a place to go, my friends, if you want to recall the days of hair bands and scrunchies and broken teenage hearts. On Fridays, I will be sharing selections from my old diaries and adding some funny commentary, along with stats from the past, like what the #1 song was on Casey Kasem's Top 40 Countdown that week. It will be SO MUCH FUN!

One more thing: you can find the inspiration for Flashback Fridays right here. Thank you, Sarah Brown!

L.A. Woman

2010-08-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

I have to say, my four-day trip to LA for the SCBWI Summer Conference was a whirlwind of activity and I truly loved every moment of it. When I sat down to write a nice summary of events, I realized how much happened and that I couldn't squeeze it all into a moderately-sized blog post. So I figured, why not just share the highlights? Here goes!

Top Five SCBWI-L.A. Moments

5) Introducing the faculty--The conference kicked-off the morning of Friday, July 31. There was a gigantic event in the main ballroom of the Hyatt, where everyone in the faculty was led out to the massive stage to introduce themselves. It was kind of nerve-wracking, because literally ALL the attendees were there, watching us intently, and we had to come up with a word that would either sum up our feelings in that moment, our hopes for the conference, or the meaning of life. Talk about pressure! Anyway, it was amazing to watch agents, authors, and other big publishing players, greet the aspiring writers. This is a large industry and oftentimes you'll know someone online, or through a colleague, or through an article in Publishers Weekly, but never had the chance to put a face to the name. Also, it was cool to hear everyone's word--from "hope" to "caffeine" to "dude" (that last one is mine, of course).

Me and Michelle Houts, author of
THE BEEF PRINCESS OF PRACTICAL COUNTY

4) Think Like Packager workshop--regardless of how calm I might appear on the outside, I'm always nervous as hell when I get up in front of people. In fact, my neck usually breaks out into a bright red flush when I get close to a podium. Classy, huh? Well, luckily for me, I was able to work through it and deliver a really solid lecture about how packagers develop book ideas for teens and tweens. For a recap of my presentation, visit Ara Burklund's guest post on the Adventures in Children's Publishing blog.

3) Meeting one of my former authors--I love telling people about how I came to be award-winning Middle-Grade author Michelle Hout's editor! It's one of those rare stories of finding talent in a heap of contest submissions. A few years ago, Michelle entered the Delacorte Press First Middle-Grade Fiction contest, along with hundreds of other people. I just happened to pick up her manuscript, which was tucked in a large pile of other entries, and I could not stop reading this sweet, charming story. It's about a farm girl named Libby Ryan, who is raising her first pair of steers for the Practical County Fair. The novel was a contest finalist, and after revising her manuscript, I eventually bought the book. Since then, The Beef Princess of Practical County has gone on to win the 2010 International Reading Association Children's Book Award for Intermediate Fiction, and is currently a finalist for the 2010 Buckeye Children's Book Award. I couldn't be prouder of Michelle, who I finally met for the first time at the conference. She's every bit as funny, smart, and kind as the characters in her books! I hope I get to work with her again someday...

2) Running into one of my old friends from college/The Heart & Soul Party--How is this for weird? My former colleague and good friend Krista Marino text messaged me on Saturday night, right before SCBWI's infamous annual dance party. I thought she was going to ask me to be her wing woman for the evening, but I could never had expected this: a girl I knew from my study abroad program in college was not only one of Krista's dearest friends, but she was also at the conference, too! Sarah and I went on a 5 month long group trip to London through Binghamton University's English Department. We had the time of our lives, but we also lost track of one another after graduation. I had know idea that Sarah was living in San Diego and used to work with Krista in California. It was soooo great to see her and catch up. And we had an amazing time dancing the night away with the rest of the conference attendees! I'd heard about all the costumes and the boogie-ing down, but seeing it for myself first-hand was incredible. Despite what you may think, children's books writers know how to RAWK!

1) The critiques--Evaluating an aspiring author's writing can be a difficult task, and not just because of the effort that's involved in reading their pages. There's the face-to-face discussion about their WIPs that can feel as awkward and strange as a blind date! However, I find the one-to-one critique process at conferences to be my favorite part of the experience, mostly because I get to talk with people about their story inspirations, writing goals, and the vision they have for their work. When I read the conference submissions, I never forget that there is a person attached to these words, and if anything, I'm usually pretty intrigued about why they decided to tell this particular story. So when it comes time to meet at a small table in a hotel banquet room, I'm really looking forward to hearing all about them. Sometimes you even find a project and author you connect with, and while that doesn't happen as often as I'd like, it's still worth the trip. Here's why--the writers are (most times!) thankful to have feedback from someone in the industry, even if it's the kind of constructive criticism that requires them to perform major alterations on their manuscript. They are in real need of communication and opinions and suggestions. Honestly, I feel so honored and privileged to provide them with whatever two cents I've got.

Case in point: I received this email right after one of my critiques, in which I told the author to pretty much change the entire concept of her book.

Hi Claudia,

I know you had tons of critiques and I don't expect you to remember mine, but I wanted you to know how grateful I am that my pages were assigned to you. I read over your comments and everything you pointed out made me feel a thousand times better about the new direction you suggested I take my story. I LOVE how clear you were, and I appreciate you mentioning the positives. More than anything, talking to you and hearing your true thoughts on leaving out the time travel really blew open my mind--in a great way-- on where this story could BEST go. Like you said in your workshop, you give editorial feedback in the best interest of the BOOK; I feel so privileged to have gotten that editorial experience first-hand.

I'm glad I waited to query this one out to agents. When I do, if it turns out to be "the one," it will be thanks to you. Seriously. I would never ever have known the best place to take this book without your advice.

Thanks again for the amazing feedback!

~An SCBWI writer

'Nuff said! :)

Best. Email. EVER!

2010-08-11T13:52:00.000-07:00

For the past week or so, I've been sifting through the mammoth pile in my email inbox, which accumulated while I was on vacation in Michigan and at the SCBWI-LA writer's conference. Well, I'm almost fully caught up--thank God!--and the task was pretty energy-depleting. That is, until I opened the Best. Email. EVER!

Now, after I attend a conferences, I usually come home to a nice note or two from writers who I've met there. But I've never received one that made me smile as much as this particular gem did, in part because the subject line was, "You are awesome."

Um....duh! ;-)

Anyway, here's the email in full:

Hi Claudia:

Okay, not including the keynoters, you were my favorite presenter at the SCBWI conference last weekend. Why? Because you're such a rock star. Here's what you have and I hope you never forget it: likability beyond all measure. When you stand in front of that podium and do your thing, it's so easy to like you. Some people have it, and some people don't. Then there are those who got it big time. That's you. Your style? Love it. Your humor? Dig it. Your non-use of fancy PowerPoint Presentations? Simply not needed when you're doing the talking.

I haven't read your books yet, but I plan to. I hope down the road we one day get to work with each other. In the meantime, keep brainstorming the next big thing. My money's on you that you'll find it.

All the best,
The Writer

There are no words to describe how thrilled I am to have made such a great impression on this person. Actually, after reading this email, I kind of felt like Corey and D.C. in Say Anything, when they are in awe of Lloyd Dobbler's letter to Diane. Here, I'll break the scene down for you (since I can't find it on YouTube).

COREY: "Dear Diane, I'll always be there for you, all the love in my heart, Lloyd." I've never gotten a letter like this, have you?

D.C.: I dream about it.

Only I no longer have to dream!!!

Seriously, though, this email totally validated the most important reason for editors, agents, and published authors to attend conferences in the first place--to make connections with creative souls and inspire them! Which is why I'll be at the SCBWI-AZ conference in Scottsdale on September 25th. I couldn't be more excited! :)

Well, I must get back to the rest of those pesky emails. I'm planning to post about my wonderful experience in LA on Friday, so until then, don't process anything bought, sold, or processed. (A little Say Anything joke there.)

Question: What Have I Been Up to Lately?

2010-08-09T12:38:00.000-07:00

Here's the answer--pictorially and with one line captions. (I'm in a rush--more deets next time, promise!)

Lindsey's wedding

Blueberry picking

Boyfriend hugging

Beach bumming (in Pentwater, MI)

Pontoon boat partying (with costumes)

Inflatable swan watching

Antiquing

Cat-vest wearing

View ogling (Michigan)

Hamburger grilling

Seafood chowing

Seahorse-shaped leftovers canoodling

Sunset staring (LA)

Romeo & Juliet & Vampires book trailer!

2010-07-19T13:26:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to share the ROMEO & JULIET & VAMPIRES book trailer with all of you! My boyfriend Ben and I worked really hard on it, especially Ben--who composed all of the music. We're both very pleased with how it turned out, and hope you love it as much as we do.

Please stay tuned for a "making of" blog post, and share the trailer with anyone who might be interested in buying the book when it hits stores on August 31, 2010. You can also find the video here on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF5wu8TLOaU

BOOM!

Grease Sing-along!

2010-07-18T18:37:00.000-07:00

The GREASE Sing-along was everything I thought it would be and more. First of all, it was awesome to see the movie on the big screen. John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John were absolutely large-than-life, and looked so young! Secondly, the crowd was fabulous. Everyone did a great job singing the tunes we've all grown up with, loud and with pride! We even got up and started dancing around during the finale, "We Go Together." Yep, it was a total cheese-fest and I LOVED IT!

The best part, though, were all the graphics that were added to the movie. In addition to putting all the lyrics to the songs up where the audience could see them, there were purple heats floating in the air, pictures of Reddiwip cans in place of words they couldn't print on screen (hint: a choice line in the chorus of "Greased Lightning"), and graffiti on the school walls that read "For a good time, call Rizzo." It was very clever and I liked it.

I managed to take some decent screen shots during the movie. Hope y'all like them, and that the GREASE Sing-along comes to your town!

(15) Girls (and three guys) Just Wanna Have Fun!

2010-07-15T08:49:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday night was my friend Lindsey's bachelorette party, and it was filled with good, clean (mostly) American girl (+3 guys) fun. Lindsey had no idea what was in store for her all night, and we even made her a participate in a photo scavenger hunt, where she had to take pictures of certain things, like "You with a Yankees or Mets fan" or "Everybody jumping" or "You wearing a life jacket." It was super fun, and we all had an amazing time. Here are a few pics for your amusement! (But first let me say how much I love the purplish hue in this photo. It's like were Smurfs, sort of.)

6 p.m. -- So the group started off at a Mexican restaurant near Union Square called Los Dos Molinos. In a word: YUMMY. Lindsey had a spicy pork burrito that nearly burned through her tongue while I played it safe with beef tacos. There were some pitchers of ale and prickly pear margaritas, and lots of laughter, of course. I think I also said something lame like, "Whoa, dude. Marriage! Can you believe it? You and Jeff, FOREVER."

8:30 p.m. -- Party Boat, baby! We hopped on the 6 train to South Street Seaport, where we hopped on a Circle Line Downtown tour yacht to experience their Liberty Cruise. For two hours, we sailed along the open seas (a.k.a. the Hudson River) and enjoyed fantastic views of New York's most legendary landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and the Brooklyn Bridge. This voyage was a homage to Jeff and Lindsey, who got engaged on a similar kind of boat tour. Highlights included--dancing to lots of hip-hop songs that none of us knew; pointing to a part of the skyline and asking each other, "What building is that?"; and when Lindsey shouted "Shut up!" at someone in our group who interrupted her during an emotional "thank you for being my friends" speech.

11:30 p.m. -- Karaoke at the MK Lounge in Koreatown! Lindsey LOVES to sing, and she has an awesome voice, too (annoying, if you ask me), so there was no better way to celebrate the end of her life as a single gal. Because, let's face it, her singing days are OVER. (Kidding!) I happen to be known for picking terrible karaoke songs ("Buffalo Soldier", "We Are the World"--not kidding this time), but I didn't want to bring Lindsey down. So just stuck to the feel-good, easy-to-sing basics--"Bad Medicine" by Bon Jovi and "Material Girl" by Madonna. Highlights included--Lindsey's sultry rendition of "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles; Dave's thought-provoking take on "Radio Ga Ga"; and watching the ridiculous nonsense karaoke videos that go along with the music.

1 a.m. -- I got in a cab in went home (because I am weak--I admit it), but the party kept going on and on till the break of dawn. Lindsey and the group wound up meeting Jeff's bachelor party guests at a hotel for more tomfoolery. I am sorry that I missed it, because I hear they formed a human pyramid. What a jip!

Anyway, it was a fabulous night on the town and I look forward to Lindsey and Jeff's wedding on Saturday! Now I will leave you with a couple pics from Lindsey's photo scavenger hunt, which are particularly hilarious.

Lindsey in a life jacket.

Everyone jumping in the air. (Man, I got some good height! Gotta be the blue dress.)

Lindsey wearing some kind of hat (which belonged to the guy on the left).

The group doing what a sign says--in this case, "No Standing."

Author Photo Shoot Outtakes

2010-07-09T09:31:00.000-07:00

Back in May, my college friend Eugene Prahin (and his beautiful wife Emilia) spent the day taking pictures of me near Columbus Circle and in Central Park. It was a lot of fun, yet somewhat exhausting. Euge kept asking me to "look/pose/act different" in every shot, and I just couldn't do anything but smile the same way each time. Tyra Banks is right--modeling IS hard!

Anyway, Euge did an amazing job and I had a ton of really nice photos to choose from. However, there were some pics that were not so flattering, and there were some I just couldn't use for one reason or another. So I thought it might be cool to share a few with you, plus add a teeny bit of commentary, of course. Okay, here we go!

I believe the direction here was "do something flashy." This is all I could come up with. Nice, huh?

I was told to "look like you wrote a sexy vampire book." Hmmmm....not quite.

This was my brilliant idea. I was supposed to be fish balloon. But instead I just appear to be mentally insane.

Okay, Euge actually asked those two breakdancers in the background if I could bust some moves on their dance mat. There was no music. I looked ridiculous and tourists started taking photos of me. Not cool, Euge. Not. Cool.

Euge said, "Pose like you're on the red carpet!" Just look at my natural elegance shining through! Watch out, world! (Seriously though, could my body be any more stiff?)

I look like I should be on a brochure for some community college.

This is dumb.

Even dumber (plus scary, too).

And then the heel of my shoe got caught in the planks on the bridge. Hence, the weird face.

I actually like this one, but it's a little too shadowy.

And this is my favorite! Just love the warm brown hues and the easy smile on my face. :)

Thanks again, Euge, for a job well done!

What do you suppose Clifford the Dog is thinking here?

2010-07-07T14:03:00.000-07:00

My first guess is "Um, get this fangirl off of me."

My second guess is "Hey, somebody better tell this chick that I'm not real."

What's Doin' in July--An Abridged List

2010-07-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

Want a peek at my July calendar? Sure you do! Here's a glimpse of what I'll be up to this month.

Tomorrow, July 7 (and every Wednesday night until August 25) -- Teaching an Intro to YA writing class at Mediabistro! Absolutely love getting neck-deep in the creative process with smart, talented, and dedicated people. I also have the honor and privilege of hosting marvelous guest speakers at my class. The line-up for this season is: Judy Goldschmidt, Chris Krovatin, Mandy Hubbard, Holly Root, Molly O'Neill, and Dan Ehrenhaft. I'll also be teaching another course in the fall, starting on September 16--click here if you're interested in signing up.

July 8 -- Lunch with Krista Marino, former colleague and Executive Editor extraordinaire at Delacorte Press. Krista edits a slew of bestselling YA novelists, including Carrie Ryan, Michael Scott, and James Dashner, and she is a kick-butt friend as well. We'll most likely catch-up over huge summer salads and talk lots of shop and discuss something pop culture related, like whether or not the world should totally give up on LiLo. Can. Not. Wait!

July 10 -- Bachelorette party for my good pal Lindsey Moore, who runs an amazing indie theater company called No Tea Productions. Her and her fiance Jeff (an actor/playwright in the company) are getting married after being together for a few years. I wish I could go into the details more--because they are, in fact, AWESOME--but it's supposed to be a surprise. So I will report back next week and tell you all about it, promise!

July 11 -- Preparing for more promotion of Romeo & Juliet & Vampires, via my blog and new website! I'm so thrilled with the redesign, and excited that in a few short weeks, the book will be OUT THERE. Okay, make that excited and scared. Eep!

July 15 -- Two words: GREASE SING-A-LONG! Mega props to my best bud Priscilla for finding out about this, because if I had missed it, I might never have been able to recover emotionally. Watch out, AMC VILLAGE on 66 3rd Ave--we are going to hand-jive the roof off the place!

July 17 -- Lindsey and Jeff's wedding. Cue the harp strings and flying doves? Actually, more like cue the shadow puppets and interpretive dance. (That just means Lindsey and Jeff have their own unique, nontraditional way of doing things--for instance Lindsey's maid of honor is a man, and Jeff's best man is a woman.)

July 21 -- Vacation in Pentwater, Michigan. Ben's family has a beautiful cottage right off the shore of Lake Michigan. It's nestled on top of a sand dune and you have to take a tram to get up there. The views are spectacular, and the weather is fantastically mild in the summer.

I went there last year and we had an unforgettable trip. We went to a fish boil, held a party on a couple of pontoon boats, sang around a bonfire, and ate our faces off every single day. Counting the days until I get there!

July 29 -- SCBWI Los Angeles conference! This is my first time to the event and I couldn't be more psyched about it. Everyone says what great fun this conference is and FINALLY I'll get to experience it firsthand. You can find the schedule here, and of course I'll give you the skinny when I return. I'm sure I will have lots of inspiring and amusing stories to share!

Summer Lovin'--Rating the Grease soundtrack

2010-07-02T08:12:00.000-07:00

The other day my boyfriend Ben told me a story about a road trip that he'd taken with his mom Terri and younger sister Grace, where he was forced to listen to the entire Grease soundtrack from start to finish. He recollected the sing-along with no small amount of disdain and misery, but all I could think was, "Man, I wish I could have been there!" and "BUT. NOW. There's noooooo-where to hide, 'cept to push my love asiiiiide! I'm out of my head, hopelessly devoted to yoooooouuu."

Grease is the word, and that word never gets old, no matter how many times you hear the songs or see the movie. There are plenty of opportunities to do both, considering VH-1 broadcasts the flick almost every night (I think it's their version of the evening news or something).

Everyone has their favorite scenes (the dance contest, the race at Thunder Road, the montage of Danny learning how to be a jock, the slumber party at Frenchie's house). Everyone has their favorite tunes (There are Worse Things I Could Do; Greased Lightning; You're the One That I Want). A lot of us associate the soundtrack with summer (except for my boyfriend, who associates it with Hell), and since summer is in full bloom, I thought it would be fun to rate the big hits off the Grease soundtrack. Hope you enjoy my commentary--and that you throw on the CD once you're done reading (although I've included several hyperlinks below, so maybe you won't need to)!

1. Grease - Frankie Valli -- Slow-groove disco never sounded so funky! Also, Frankie Valli's voice (and fashion sense in this odd American Bandstand-ish video clip) is as smooth as butter. Favorite lyric: There is a chance that we can make it so far, We start believing now that we can be who we are. Inspiring, right? I thought so. Score: 7

2. Summer Nights - John Travolta/Olivia Newton-John -- How many times have you heard the DJ remix at a club or a wedding? Exactly, around a million. But that never stops anyone from squealing with delight when they hear the unforgettable opening notes, and forming two groups to belt out all of Danny/T-Birds and Sandy/Pink Ladies' parts. The song is like crack in that way. Also, I L-O-V-E the acapella background vocals. Favorite lyric--He got friendly holdin' my hand, Well she got friendly, down in the saaaaand. Added bonus: Rizzo's Cuz he sounds like a drag line. Score: 8

3. Hopelessly Devoted to You - Olivia Newton-John -- I used to hate this song back in the day, but only because I was super jealous of ONJ. I mean, the woman's voice was incredible, she was ridiculously pretty, and she got to kiss John Travolta (which every girl wanted to do in the early 80s, but not so much now). How could I not be green with envy? But now that I'm older, I can see how Hopelessly Devoted is an amazing song. Musically and lyrically, it's like vintage Patsy Cline, and ONJ's vocals are so perfect, I hardly ever sing along because that would just ruin everything. Favorite line: My head is saying fool forget him, my heart is saying don't let go. We've all been there, haven't we? Score: 9

4. You're the One That I Want - John Travolta/Olivia Newton-John -- First things first: I've always wanted to be in a situation where I could say, "Tell me about it, Stud." It has yet to happen, but I will wait patiently until it does. Now, onto the song: gotta love the unforgettable bass line and piano, and all the sassy attitude that Sexy Sandy displays. But I must admit, I've never really dug this tune. It's kind of repetitive and dare I say boring? Okay, I said it: boring. Favorite lyric: If you're filled with affection, you're too shy to convey, meditate in my direction, feel your way. Oh sexy Sandy, you are such a hoot! Score: 6

5. Beauty School Dropout - Frankie Avalon -- I don't want to upset any die-hard Frankie Avalon fans, and yet I don't think there's any way to avoid it. Even though the scene in the movie is really cute--Frenchie with pink hair? Adorable!--IMO, if this song dropped off the face of the earth, I would not miss it at all. That may sound harsh, especially since Frankie Avalon is a 50s icon and deserves all of our utmost respect. Nevertheless, I have to stick to my guns, and my guns want to shoot this song and put it out of it's misery. Favorite lyric: Baby don't sweat it, You're not cut out to hold a job. Better forget it, Who wants their hair done by a slob? Score: 3

6. Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee - Stockard Channing -- Let's just get this out of the way: Stockard Channing stole the show in this movie. All us goody-goody Sandra Dee clones desperately want to be foul-mouth, self-assured, "getting her kicks while she's young enough to get them" Rizzo. To this day, when I'm not feeling daring enough, I think to myself, What would Rizzo do? Then I climb out of my friend's bedroom window and hop into Kenickie's car. But I digress. Love, love, LOVE this song because of the lyrics. There are so many gems, but my favorite has always been Keep your paws off my silky draws! Would you pull that crap with Annette? Score: 8

8. Greased Lightnin' - John Travolta -- I dare you not to fall for Danny Zuko and his sweet, hot car talk. We'll get some overhead lifters, and four barrel quads, oh yeah. Mmmm...keep talkin', whoah keep talkin'. Fuel injection cut off, and chrome plated rods, oh yeah. See what I mean? Totally irresistable. I wish all men were this sensitive and poetic. The only problem with this song is that it's charisma is lost if you don't do the little arm movements when he sings, Greased lightning, go greased lightning! Well, that and the song kind of objectifies women a little. But it takes place in the 50s! Cut the dudes some slack! Score: 5

(I'm going to pause for a moment and pay tribute to Sha Na Na aka Johnny Casino and the Gamblers. The dance contest scenes are some of the most well-loved in movie history and that's a testament to their classic 50s sound. Could you imagine the movie soundtrack without Rock 'N Roll is Here to Stay or Born to Hand Jive or Tears on My Pillow? Yeah, that's impossible. Also, Sha Na Na became so popular after this movie, they were given their own variety show, which my dad used to watch a lot when I was knee high to a grasshopper. Here's a clip of them singing Blue Moon--http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NyK3df0xaw)

9. There Are Worse Things I Could Do - Stockard Channing -- Okay, this song is a perfect 10 and here's why. A) Everything is spectacular when it's done by Rizzo; B) It's the most authentic 50s sounding tune on the entire soundtrack; C) The context--Rizzo is the subject of some terrible high school gossip, and is trying to convince herself that there are worse things she could do. I must admit, when gossip spread about me as a teenager, I wasn't half as strong as Rizzo was. Still, hearing this song makes you feel really empowered and like you can take on the world, despite the BS of mean girls everywhere; D) The song title--awesome; E) The lyrics--double awesome. My favorite: Even though the neighborhood thinks I'm trashy, and no good. I suppose it could be true, but there are worse things I could do. So true, Rizzo. So, so true.

10. Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee - Olivia Newton-John -- Can you think of another movie that touts the message, "Just change who you are to nab the man you love!" Me neither. But who cares! It's Grease, my friends, and the important thing is that ONJ is in tight leather pants at the end. 'Nuff said. Score: 7

11. We Go Together - John Travolta/Olivia Newton-John /Cast -- I think someone will take you away in a flying car if you say that you don't love Grease's big finale. And that someone will be me. The dancing! The prancing! The singing a bunch of nonsense words that don't mean anything! It's all one big flaming ball of magic. Favorite line: Remembered for ever like shoo bop shoo wadda wadda yipitty boom de boom. Don't ever forget that piece of wisdom, okay? Score: 9

Rydell High forever!

Romeo & Juliet & Vampires is a Junior Library Guild pick!

2010-06-30T11:29:00.000-07:00

Great news, everybody! The Junior Library Guild has chosen Romeo & Juliet & Vampires to be a selection for their new paperback originals group for teens. They are also featuring a piece on the book in their magazine, JLG Monthly. I am so thrilled!

The Junior Library Guild is a literary review and selection service for children’s and young adult books serving school and public libraries. JLG is currently used by more than 17,000 librarians nationwide. Of the more than 3,000 manuscripts submitted by publishers to JLG for consideration, only 360 are chosen each year.

What an honor! Thank you so much, JLG!

Before I was hot...

2010-06-28T11:52:00.000-07:00

Okay, people. You need to check out this hilarious new site: www.beforeyouwerehot.com. And not just because yours truly is on it! (Click here to see the post.) The amazing awkward-stage photos are totally awesome in all their feathered-hair, braces, glasses, mullet, floral jams, and acid-washed jeans glory.

I know some of you would rather forget those years when your mom cut your hair or when you dressed like MC Hammer or when your teeth were as crooked at Bernie Madoff. But I'm here to tell you that embracing that version of you--and celebrating it on a website such as this--is a liberating experience.

This photo of me and George Takei (aka Mr. Sulu from the original Star Trek series) has been fan favorite among my family and friends since it was taken waaaaaay back in 1984. People love how ginormous my glasses were (my cheeks were exposed to more lens than my actual eyes) and that lame "Beam me up, Scottie!" t-shirt my mom made me wear (to make matters worse, my NAME was printed on the back of it, so you could pick me out of a Trekkie convention crowd, no problem). Other people just love George Takei and his unforgettable laugh (heard most often on Howard Stern's radio show).

Here's what I love most about it--that smile on my face seems pretty authentic, even though I didn't like being dragged to any ST convention within a five hundred mile radius of Binghamton, or having a boy's hairstyle. That's kind of what's incredible about being a kid: you have the ability to find joy in simple things. In this case, it was getting my picture taken with some dude who helmed a starship on TV. The smile on George's face feels very real to me, too. Not only did he greet me by name (like I said, it was printed on THE BACK OF MY SHIRT), but he talked to me for a few minutes and never treated me like a child. I think that genuineness comes through in the picture for sure.

This is precisely why I've posted this photo on various social networking sites, and made a holiday card out of it a couple years ago. It captures me at my most awkward and innocent and hopeful of times. And let it be known that while my mom stopped dragging me to conventions when I turned 15 (she would have to had done so with me in a body bag), I actually developed a true fondness for the entire Star Trek franchise, including the J.J. Abrams movie (sheer genius).

Delving into my love for ST would take a whole other blog post. However, I will illustrate it with this Halloween picture from last year, when I was all about getting back to my convention roots.

Live long and prosper, give that awkward kid inside of you a hug, and don't forget to check out Before You Were Hot!

You had me at "Does this train go to Christopher Street?"

2010-06-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

I love hearing about how couples met, don't you? Even when someone says, "Oh, we met Match.com," I want to hear all the nitty-gritty details: Who "winked" at who first? Where was your first date? Did he look anything like his picture?

Well, my boyfriend Ben's best friend Dru and his new bride Robin have an amazing "how we met" story. Apparently, Dru noticed Robin on the PATH train as he was headed into Manhattan one night. He tried to think of a way to approach her and wound up pretending like he didn't know where he was going so he could ask Robin for directions. The dude is smart.

Robin was reading, I think, and when she heard a male voice inquire if this train went to Christopher Street, she heaved a heavy sigh. Like a lot of us on the subway, she didn't really feel like talking to a stranger. But then she looked up, and there was Dru, all smiles and beaming. Robin was supposed to get off at the 14th Street stop, but she decided to stay on the train so that she could talk with Dru more. They both got off at Christopher street and before parting ways, Dru asked Robin if they could meet up sometime. Robin said yes and took his number.

Whaddya know? His little plan worked!

Two years later, Dru proposed to Robin at the place where they first met--the PATH train! As they were boarding, Dru sneakily asked a fellow commuter to take their picture when he went down on one knee. Then he popped the question right there, in front of a subway car full of witnesses, as they crossed the New Jersey/New York state line.

Last weekend, Dru and Robin got married in Mount Olive, NJ, on this beautiful, green hilltop. Ben played the music for the ceremony, and Ben's father, who's the head minister at the Brick Church on Park Avenue, performed the ceremony. It was such a lovely, sunny day, and Dru and Robin couldn't have looked happier.

If any of you folks have a great "how we/they met" story, please feel free to share it in the comments section. Like I said, I can't get enough of them.

Happy Friday!

Please don't go, NKOTB!

2010-06-24T06:50:00.000-07:00

In 2008, New Kids on the Block released a new album, aptly titled The Block, and went on a reunion tour. A bunch of friends and I went to see them at Madison Square Garden. It was undoubtedly one of the most fun nights of our lives. Which is why we went to see them again last week at Radio City Music Hall. Was the NKOTB magic still alive? To quote Sarah Palin (something I never do)--You betcha!

Before you roll your eyes or snicker or something, let me explain what happens when you are in a room with thousands of women and Jordan, Joey, Donnie, Jon, and Danny come running on stage. In a word: PANDEMONIUM! The kind that can only be caused by a large swarm of crazed 13-year-old girls. The sweet, sweet mob mentality takes hold of you and won't let go. Check out the demented look here in my eyes? Thankfully, my friend Michelle was impervious to the NKOTB madness (probably because she had seen them five times when she was a tween) or else I would have fainted and been dragged out of the balcony.

In all seriousness, though, the reason why thirty-something women like me are still going to NKOTB concerts is because it's the closest thing to a time warp that we'll ever experience. We step inside the venue, the band comes out, the screaming starts, and it's 1988 all over again. I could almost feel my hair transform into a spiral perm and my jeans morph into stirrup pants. And the same thing was happening to everyone around me, too. There was this uniform feeling amongst us all, that we'd travelled to a simpler time, when crushes on Joey McIyntre and Jordan Knight were the most fulfilling romantic relationships in our lives. Who wouldn't want to re-experience that youthful innocence, if given the chance?

This must have been the thinking of the NKOTB management team, because their shows have been selling out all across the country for the last couple years. Not only that, there was a NKOTB cruise--as in an actual cruise ship where the band performed for three nights. Yep, that sold out, too. I suppose there are some women out there who think that being on ship with NKOTB increases their chances of meeting them. Considering how well the guys have aged, I can't say that I blame them.

Just for the record, when I was a kid, my favorite NKOTB member was Joey Mac. As the youngest, smallest kid on the block, he just seemed so cute and adorable, especially when he sang Please Don't Go, Girl, wearing his smiley-face jacket and his signature hat with the top cut out. Now, he's wearing eye-liner and a tuxedo jacket minus the shirt and singing the Eurythmics' Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) while a spotlight shines on his abs.

Well, I guess being a grown-up ain't so bad. :0)

(To see more pictures of the concert, click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24746374@N06/sets/72157624347261256/)

A childhood dream come true--I met Nellie Oleson!

2010-06-16T10:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was shaping up to be a typical Tuesday. I was at the office, filling out forms for upcoming cover meetings, reading writing samples, etc. Then came the news I had been waiting for ever since my favorite TV show went off the air, waaaaay back in 1983. I got a company wide email, promoting the book tour for Alison Arngrim (AKA Nellie Oleson from Little House on the Prairie). She was going to be at the Time Warner Center Borders signing copies of her new memoir, Confessions of a Prairie Bitch. My reaction went something like this: there was a long silent scream, followed by me jumping out of my chair and performing multiple fist pumps (with both arms!) into the air. Then I took several deep breaths and quietly sat back down, reminding myself that I was at work and if anyone saw me freaking out, people might think I was a lunatic.

The truth is, I am crazy--crazy for that wholesome heartland drama, Charles Ingalls's smoothly waxed chest, Nellie's bad wig, and Laura Ingalls's big buck teeth. But I am surely not alone. LHOTP-fanaticism is out there, folks--a packed special events area at Borders does not lie!

Now, let me clarify one thing before I tell you how awesome it was to chill with Nellie Oleson for an hour. I read all the Little House books when I was a kid, but the TV show had much more of an impact on me. It was one of the only things on TV I was allowed to watch without parental supervision, and one of the only things that made me feel like part of a close knit family. My mom and dad had a rocky relationship that ended in divorce, and LHOTP gave me the opportunity to leave that reality for a while and become a daughter to Charles and Caroline, and a sister to Mary, Laura, Carrie, and Grace. Michael Landon did an incredible job of portraying this family unit who could face any hardship and pull through it together.

I'm sure a lot of other girls my age saw themselves in Laura, too. She was spunky and a tomboy and a smart ass (sometimes) and had to work hard for her good grades and every other accomplishment she'd made. One of my close friends admitted to wearing her hair in braids and instructing her family to refer to her as Laura, which I would have done if my mom had let my hair grow past my ears.

As for Nellie, she was the girl that everyone loved to hate, and Alison Arngrim has totally embraced that, which I think is fabulous. In each episode when she appeared, I always waited in sheer delight for the moment when Laura would level her with a punch to the face. Arngrim played Nellie to utter perfection and the show would have been really boring without her (and of course, Mrs. Oleson, embodied by the fantastic Katherine MacGregor--who is still alive and well and driving her own car, much to the dismay of Arngrim).

With that said, I was not surprised that everyone and their brother came out to see Nellie Live! There wasn't an empty seat at Borders, and the crowd was really mixed--men and women of all ages and backgrounds, who brought along their kids and in some cases, their parents. When Arngrim came out to greet us all, she pulled out her iPhone and started filming the group, telling us all that this was her first book reading and she wanted to commemorate the moment. It was so endearing and un-Nellie like! I wanted to hug her more than slug her.

Then Arngrim read from her memoir, which is actually an adaptation of her one-woman show, and took questions from the audience. What was it like to work with Michael Landon? What is your favorite LHOTP episode? Are you and Melissa Gilbert really friends? Arngrim answers all these in the book so I won't go into it here. (If you're a fan, you should go out and get a copy now!) But I will say that she was extremely charming and funny and approachable. I was smiling the entire time, especially when I raised my hand to ask her a question and she said, "Yes, the girl in the pretty dress." (I just happened to be wearing the most prairie-inspired floral dress that I own. Coincidence? I think not!)

In case you are curious, here was my question:

"Did you keep any mementos from the LHOTP set? Because I would kill for that jacket you wore in The Cheaters episode in Season Five."

Okay, yeah, I own the entire TV show on DVD. SO WHAT?!

Anyway, Arngrim did not get to keep anything from the show, but fans make her stuff all the time, like paintings of Nellie and scale models of Oleson's Mercantile. God, I'm so jealous of her.

Then came the signing. I was twitching in line, that's how nervous I was. I had to plan out what I was going to say, and I had to be funny and smart and awesome so Nellie wouldn't think I was a loser and make fun of me. So when I finally met her, I told her that I knew all the church songs from the show by heart. And then we launched into a rousing rendition of Onward Christian Soldiers. I KID YOU NOT!

Afterward, I ran down the escalator like Melissa Gilbert runs down the hill during the closing credits of every episode, complete with the big skip at the end. I wish I had the power to freeze frame my glee, because it truly made the child inside me happy.

In with the new...

2010-06-15T13:26:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, my lovely editor Catherine moved to Hyperion, where she's now a Senior Editor. Honestly, I couldn't be happier for her. She is super talented and bright and has a keen sense for what's selling in the market. That's not all--she's a top-notch editor who supported me through every draft of ROMEO & JULIET & VAMPIRES. I couldn't have made it to the finish line without her.

Also, she and the design team at HarperTeen get a million bonus points for nailing the book cover. I mean, come on, have you seen anything cooler than this lately? I know I haven't! :)

Still, I gotta admit that it was hard to see Catherine go. Of course, I wish nothing but the best for her and her career, but I can't deny that I felt a little scared about what would happen to our project. As an editor, I've seen books fall through the cracks when there is a changing of the guard. It's unfortunate, and no one's fault, really, but nevertheless, it can happen. So I wrote up a little list of what I needed to do in the next coming months and made a lunch appointment with my editor in the interim, Erica. I wanted to do everything possible to keep the book on track, and for some reason, putting my ideas down on paper made it feel all official, even though it was written in red pencil on a subscription card from Glamour magazine.

I have to say, I was a bit nervous meeting with Erica. Although I know her from the office (when I'm wearing my editor hat), I had the same concerns every author has when their editor has been replaced. Are we going to click? Is she going to be invested in the book as much as my former editor? Will she even like the book at all?

Thankfully, there was no need to be nervous. Erica and I had a great lunch! Not only was she excited about my book, she was excited to get to know me, which felt fabulous. We have a lot in common--an obsession with the TV show Friday Night Lights and a deep love of Sushiden on 49th and Madison, to name a few. I didn't even need to pull out that Glamour subscription card! The conversation came so easily to us.

So Catherine was absolutely right--I am in good hands. Now I can exhale and start doing some of the stuff on that list, like creating a book trailer!

To be continued...

Back in blog-ness!

2010-06-13T09:08:00.000-07:00

I really can't remember the I last time I blogged. Maybe it was almost a year ago, and if I'm not mistaken, the post was about how bad I felt about not blogging more often.

I do have some good reasons for being MIA. First of all, I was pretty burnt out from writing the IN OR OUT series. I don't know if you're aware of this, but I wrote those four books in 18 months. I went to my day job at Delacorte Press from 9 to 5, worked on my writing from 7 to 11, and on the weekends, I would spend almost all my time with Nola James and Marnie Fitzpatrick in Poughkeepsie. The amount of energy I had left over after the books were all finished went toward sleeping and TV watching. Oh and eating my face off.

And then something amazing happened at my day job--I fell in love! Believe it or not, my Mr. Right was sitting in a cubicle on the other side of the 9th floor. I remember the day I first saw Ben so vividly. I was at my desk emailing someone, when out of the corner of my eye I saw a gorgeous guy passing by my office--blond hair, hazel eyes, tall, incredible smile. I think I may have even got up out of my chair and watched him walk down the hall! Anyway, Ben wound up asking me out at our company Halloween party and we've been together for a year and a half. I must admit, I've invested all my heart in the relationship and a lot of my time, too. So blogging about my life didn't seem as important to me as actually living it, know what I mean?

And then something horrible happened at my day job--I got laid off! It was sudden, it was unexpected, and it was heartbreaking. I loved working at Delacorte and had built many friendships there. I also had to leave behind projects and authors that I adored. I was so disappointed and hurt that I kind of dropped off the face of the earth for a while. I guess I was feeling rejected and doubting myself, wondering if I hadn't been meeting people's expectations or if I wasn't any good at being an editor. Needless to say, I wasn't feeling up to writing about my life, because I was kind of seeing myself as a failure. Who wants to read about that?!

I eventually realized that there's a blessing in every life lesson, though. For six months, I lived as a freelance editor and writer, supporting myself just as well as I did when I was at Delacorte. I edited mystery novels, I wrote sitcom pilots, I did temp work, I ghostwrote a book in a long-running series for tweens, and I taught a course on how to write a YA novel. Basically, I never turned down a job opportunity, and boy, did it pay off. I really got my self-confidence back and showed myself that not only was I good at what I do, but I had the skills to pay the bills! I didn't need a full-time job to validate me, I could do that all on my own.

And then serendipity struck in November 09--the moment I realized that I could work independently and continue to thrive, two huge opportunities came my way, both of them through HarperCollins. I was offered a book deal with HarperTeen AND a Senior Editor position at Katherine Tegen Books--within two weeks of each other! I spent the next few months writing the novel and developing new teen series for KT Books, so blogging wasn't something I could fit into my life.

And now here I am, settled into the new job, finished with the new novel, still deliriously in love, and ready to chronicle my adventures again online! Not only do I have more time, but I have more drive, inspiration, and energy than ever before.

I'm so excited to give you all a glimpse of my little nook in the world, now that I'm exactly where I want to be. Stay tuned...