GCC Tours Jennifer Banash's SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE

I am so excited to tour one of my FAVORITE authors of the hot NY teen society, Jennifer Banash, who doesn't fail to deliver on her third and final book in The Elite series. You simply cannot help but fall in love with SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE--it's the perfect summer read. Don't waste your time watching the overpriviliged and uber-annoying kids on Bravo's NYC Prep (P.C., seriously? do you really think you're God's gift to the world?), and instead dive into the world of Casey McCloy, Madison Macallister, Meadowlark Academy, The Bramsford and the rest of NY's Upper East Side as deftly described by Banash. Coincidentally, reality television is exactly what comes into Casey and Madison's lives, creating even more delicious drama, tensions, and scandal! So much more fun than "real" reality shows, SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE takes the reader into a world that cannot be captured more accurately than by someone who's been there.

What writers do you consider your “sisters”? Are there any published writers that you hang out or tour with a lot? Call? Email? IM?

Yes! I just had lunch with Robin Benway, who is an amazingly awesome writer, and a great girl to boot, and I talk to Alexa Young quite a bit. And, of course, I like to think that you and I are virtual buddies as well (MKH NOTE: OF COURSE!! XOXO) ! I've exchanged emails with Alyson Noel, and we've talked about meeting for lunch, but haven't had time to set something up a of yet.

Who do you find yourself being compared to or are often put together with in reading lists or book clubs?

Gossip Girl. The Luxe. Anyone who writes about the rich and privileged set or anyone who writes about NYC.

What writers do you wish would be in your “clique”? (It doesn’t have to be in your genre….doesn’t even have to be living! For example, I’d pick Alice Hoffman, Jodi Picoult, Sarah Dessen, Oscar Wilde, Stephenie Meyer, Meg Cabot, Stephen King and Joan Didion).

Oscar Wilde, because every girl needs a fabulously witty, gay best friend, Roberto Bolano, Joan Didion, Bret Easton Ellis, Sarah Dessen, and JD Salinger (MKH NOTE: Just don't suggest a sequel to Catcher in the Rye!).

If someone was going to join your book club, what would be a “must read” in order to join?

Lolita. It is a modern masterpiece.

What was your “initiation” to writing?

I started writing poems when I was around 12, and wanted to be a serious poet for a long time. I still read poetry, I just don't write it anymore.

When did you first feel that you’d officially joined the “published writers’ club”?

Er . . . I still don't feel like I'm there! (MKH: Of course you're there!! You're one of the coolest!)

What was your best/worst memory of high school?

I was a club kid, so I went to school pretty sporadically. Suffice to say, I don't have many clear memories of that time, or none I can really talk about here!

In SISTERS OF MISERY, the last place new members want to go to is Misery Island. But if you had the choice, what island would you go to and what would you take with you?

Anywhere with a white sand beach, clear blue water, and copious amounts of frothy blender drinks. I'd take an enormous stack of paperbacks, my Trina Turk bikini, and my boyfriend!

Finally, what can you tell me about your book? Give me a quick run-down about why I’d want to pick it for my own book club.

Third and last in The Elite book series – brings more adventures from the spoiled, rich teens in Manhattan who nearly ate Casey McCloy alive when she first arrived in the Big Apple from her small town of Normal, Illinois. Casey learned very quickly after she moved in with her grandmother at The Bramford, the most exclusive luxury apartment building on New York’s Upper East Side and got into the prestigious Meadowlark Academy on a full scholarship, that it’s not who you are but who you know!


More about SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE:

Simply Irresistible (Penguin) brings us a whole new set of adventures now that Casey has had a big city-haute makeover, courtesy of her classmate and neighbor Madison Macallister – part teen icon and part queen diva-bitch. Wearing the right clothes, saying the right things, and meeting the right people, has given Casey the look and the attitude – she’s “in” and loving it!

Much to Madison’s dismay, her rival is climbing up the social ladder in a big way and could end up just as popular as Madison now that the two are set to star in their own TV reality show, “De-Luxe.” Yes, showbiz came knocking on two of The Bramford’s most illustrious doors and, as much as Madison thrives on the attention the show brings, she’s not thrilled about having every bit of her life of privilege caught on tape. However, fame comes at a price and Madison is one chick who is willing to pay anything…especially if it means becoming the next reality “it girl.” Casey, on the other hand, is realizing that Reality TV can sometimes beunreal, causing her to wonder if she even knows who she is anymore.

With her relationship with Drew, Madison’s ex, currently more off than on, she can’t help wondering if everything in her life is really just an illusion – and how much longer the illusion can last….

Although The Elite series is obsessed with fashion and glamour, Branash does an impressive job of examining real issues that teens face, such as cutting, divorce, infidelity, and drug addiction. Having personally attended high school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan provided the author with the background for her ample insight and imagination portrayed in The Elite Series.

Praise for The Elite Series:

"If you love all the drama, scandal, and high-end fashion of Gossip

Girl...you'll want to check out...The Elite!"--Seventeen.com

"The Elite is Pretty in Pink for the millennium generation."--Romance

Reviews Today

"An awesome tale of friendship and betrayal with just the right amount

of humor and heart. Seriously irresistible, and impossible to put

down."-Alexa Young, author of Frenemies and Faketastic


About the Author: Jennifer Banash
Jennifer Banash attended high school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and currently divides her time between Paris and the Midwest—where she lives with her Beagle, Sigmund, and her vast designer shoe collection. She is the co-founder and co-publisher of Impetus Press, an independent publishing house that champions serious literary fiction with a pop edge.
For more info, check out her website at http://www.theelitebooks.com/

SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE
by Jennifer Banash
Publisher: Berkley Trade (July 7, 2009
ISBN-10: 0425227839
ISBN-13: 978-042522783

Meg Cabot and me!! (Well, not exactly)

Recently I attended Book Expo America in New York City. This is the fifth year that I've gone (third time in NYC). As always, it was lots of fun. Got to meet up with friends, editors, agents, publishers that I hadn't seen in awhile. And I also got to meet up with writers that I've corresponded with online for awhile, but never met in person (Hi Maureen Johnson! It was great to finally meet you!) Ran into some writer friends from home that I don't get to see while I'm in Boston (Hank Phillipi Ryan and Laurie Stolarz), which is kind of funny to go all the way to New York to meet up with people who live right around the corner from you at home.

Anyway, I brought my daughter, Piper (as I always do) and this year she was excited to see Olivia the pig, Clifford the dog and check out all the new kids books. Chester by Melanie Watts is her new favorite. (Melanie is also the author of Piper's favorite series, Scaredy Squirrel. Definitely check them out!)

Okay, so some of you may or may not know this about Piper, but she has a *collection* of tiaras that she absolutely must, must, must (I'm channeling Eloise here) wear when she's on vacation. We usually bring about two or three, depending on her mood. Now these aren't like hundred dollar, kid pageant tiaras here. They are typically plastic, some have sparkles on them, some have feathers, some have ruffles. It really just depends on her mood.






















So, of course, when we heard that Meg Cabot-- the author of The Princess Diaries -- the woman who brought tiaras back into style -- was signing her new series Allie Finkles Rules for Girls, we knew we had to meet her. My sister, Jocelyn, who is a HUGE Meg Cabot fan waited in line with Piper, while I got to carry all of Piper's loot that she'd acquired throughout the day: a gigantic balloon dog courtesy of the Guinness Book of World Records balloon guy, lots of books, stuffed animals, bags, snacks, you name it. Meg's assistant told me that I looked like Piper's sherpa, which I basically was.

Anyway, Piper got to meet Meg and it was worth the wait! Meg was so sweet and wonderful with Piper and they took this picture together, which ended up on Meg's Website! So, in all the years that I've been going to BEA, I've never gotten as much publicity or notice as my six-year-old daughter, who got to meet "the most famous writer in the world" (that's what she told her fellow kindergartners when we got back from NYC).




Maybe I should start wearing a tiara.



In any case Piper is smitten and she now wants to be a famous illustrator when she grows up (not a writer, because that's what her mommy does and it's boring, according to her). Perhaps she'll illustrate a series about a little girl who always wears tiaras and goes to New York to meet a famous writer...and a slightly more famous (at least in Piper's eyes) pig named Olivia.

Reasons Why You Should Read SISTERS OF MISERY

Hey Everyone,

I'm not one to usually toot my own horn, but the reviews for THE LOST SISTER are just starting to come in and I realized that I never shared all the wonderful reviews and things said about SISTERS OF MISERY. (At least not all in one post.) So before I start posting new and wonderful reviews (thanks to those who have them up so early!) of THE LOST SISTER, here are some of the amazingly kind and wonderful things said about SISTERS OF MISERY. (These are the things that I read when I'm on the verge of giving up being a writer--and believe me, those days are not few.)

Spell-binding, suspenseful, and shocking…will chill you to the bone.
--Alice Berger

There’s no doubt Hall knows how to write one heck of a creepy gothic novel. She pushes the limits with disturbing plot points in this scary, fast-paced story. Romantic Times Book Reviews

The story is good, the plot intriguing, and the suspense nail-biting. --Armchair Interviews
This modern gothic has everything. --Bookloons.com

Hall maintains suspense until the very end. This story's dark, sinister edge, coupled with the clever use of runes to frame each chapter, will satisfy those fascinated by witchcraft and premonitions. Setting up a sequel, Hall will leave readers eager to know what happens next in her standout addition to a popular YA genre. --Publishers Weekly Review

Quite a read. It is full of mystery, and magic, secrets and unanswered questions that only loom larger as you continue on with the story. Sisters of Misery definitely stirs your soul… Sisters of Misery is a story that will grab you and not let go. – Midwest Book Review

Perhaps the best Gothic novel that I have ever read. Hall knows how to create suspense like nobody else. – TeenReadsToo.com

If you like creepy and spooky mysteries, Sisters of Misery by Megan Kelley Hall is perfect for you. Sisters of Misery is a deep, dark, complex and sinister mystery with spectacular supernatural elements. – Michellez Minionz blog

Sisters of Misery gave me the chills…a frightfully great read. It’ll leave you feeling as if a cold, dead hand were crawling all over your body. Ms. Hall has definitely renewed my love of the Gothic novel. –NightsandWeekends.com

The character driven tale contains a gothic tone and atmosphere as the main characters are interesting people who have kept secrets for decades. -- Harriet Klausner

More than a fantasy, as gripping as a thriller, Sisters of Misery is superb YA suspense, that delivers on its promise to keep the reader turning pages into the wee small hours of the morning.--Bookworm Reviews

Sisters of Misery was a truly chilling and suspenseful read. – The Book Muncher

This is possibly the darkest book I've ever read. I knew it would be sinister, but not that sinister. – Arya, The California Writer Book Reviews

Sisters of Misery is fantasically written. As the story goes on, it only gets more creepy, haunting, and suspenseful. There's loads of mystery packed in only a few hundred pages.
--Frenetic Reader

A gothic story with hints of witchcraft, and a mysterious disappearance, that kept me guessing right to the end. – In Spring It Is Dawn Book Blog

Well-written, highly suspenseful and slightly creepy.--Beyond Books Blog

This eerie tale kept me up late… The unraveling of the mystery itself produced some nail-biting scenes.--Damian Daily

Megan Kelley Hall excels at creating the perfect atmosphere for the story – it’s dark and threatening, with a palpable sense of dread. --In bed with Books

It was so well written and the plot was amazing. There were a lot of twist and turns. It sent chills down my body. –BookLuver Carol

The plot was electrifying, mystifying, and terrifying. The hairs on my arms were constantly on edge.---Fallen Angel Reviews

Sisters of Misery sent shivers down my spine…. It's sure to grab you tight, and keep you guessing until the very last page.-Liv’s Book Reviews

Sisters of Misery was undoubtedly a chilling read. Well written and suspenseful, Sisters of Misery keeps you guessing…With old superstitions woven in extremely well, Sisters of Misery makes for a haunting tale like no other. The Book Vault Blog

Hall had me craving for more. This is the realism of mainstream fiction, but the intensity of a thriller. -J Kaye Oldner Book Blog

This was an excellent book. Megan Kelley Hall twisted a modern town with age-old legends and nonfictional lore into a completely mystical setting. What seems like a struggle between friendships suddenly turns around in an intense plot-twisting scene less than midway through the book. And it's all mystery and suspense from there. I especially loved the originality of Sisters of Misery. I haven't read a single book like it. There was always this creepy, mysterious feel to the story.--The Page Flipper

Praise from Authors

"Spooky, compulsively readable, and thrilling, SISTERS OF MISERY views cliques and persecution through a realistic supernatural lens, and the result is as thought-provoking as it is sinister. A heart-stopping read.” -Jennifer Lynn Barnes, author of Golden, Platinum, and Tattoo

“What more could you want? Evil. Cliques. Mystery. Witches.”
--E. Lockhart, author of The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, The Boyfriend List, The Boy Book, Dramarama, Fly on the Wall, How to be Bad.

"Shivery...Megan Kelley Hall hits one over the fence with her debut novel -- a true Gothic that skillfully combines the dangerous mischief of a modern clique with the bad girls whose prank-gone-mad ignited the Salem witch trials."
-Jacquelyn Mitchard, bestselling author of The Deep End of the Ocean and The Midnight Twins

"Original, insightful, and scary. Megan Kelley Hall writes with an intense, frightening grace that will have you turning pages long into the night. She has immediately established herself as a first novelist to be reckoned with in the future."
--Michael Palmer, New York Times bestselling author of The First Patient and Extreme Measures

"An exciting, dangerous, and mysterious world! Megan Kelley Hall has crafted a story that'll keep you guessing until the last page."
--Richelle Mead, author, Vampire Academy series

"A dazzling and dishy portrait of magic, mystery, and coming of age. Readers will eat this up and come begging for more."
--Laurie Faria Stolarz, author of the bestselling Blue is for Nightmares series, Bleed, and Project 17

“One of the very best things in life is discovering an author you want to read more of. Sisters of Misery makes me want to read a whole lot more of Megan Kelley Hall.”
-Ellen Hopkins, author of Crank and Impulse

"Just finished SISTERS OF MISERY and . . .WOW!!!! Best YA title I've read all year!"
--Jennifer Banash, author of The Elite

LOVESTRUCK SUMMER (HarperTeen; May 5, 2009; $5.99) is the story of Quinn, an indie rock girl who came out to Austin, Texas for a music internship. She also plans to spend long, lazy days in the sun at outdoor concerts--and to meet a hot musician or two. Instead, she’s stuck rooming with her sorority brainwashed cousin, who now willingly goes by the name “Party Penny.” Their personalities clash, big time.

But Sebastian, a gorgeous DJ, definitely makes up for it. Sebastian has it all: looks, charm, and great taste in music. So why can’t Quinn keep her mind off Penny’s friend cute, All-American Russ and his Texas twang?

Sebastian is the kind of guy Quinn wants, but is Russ the guy Quinn needs? One thing’s certain: Quinn’s in for a summer she’ll never forget!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A former editor at ELLEgirl and Seventeen magazines, Melissa Walker knows her indie rock. She hails from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. She loves talking about books, fashion, magazines and all kinds of pop culture. Visit her at melissacwalker.com or on iheartdaily.com.

LOVESTRUCK SUMMER

ISBN: 9780061715860

Ages 14 up

$5.99

On sale May 2009

In my debut novel, SISTERS OF MISERY, the main group of mean girls call themselves the Sisters of Misery since they take part in orientation rituals on Misery Island. Here are some questions for you about your own cliques (hopefully they aren’t as mean as the ones in my story!) .

Do you (or did you ever) have a writing group? Who are the first people to read your book once it’s completed?

I haven't ever had one! For Lovestruck Summer, my boyfriend read it first, along with my agent. They both made me feel good about it, which I appreciated. I was way scared about writing something that was not a Violet book (my earlier series).

What writers do you consider your “sisters”? Are there any published writers that you hang out or tour with a lot? Call? Email? IM?

I've met a lot of writers, and when I need good advice I know I can always turn to Elizabeth Scott, Carolyn Mackler, Kristen Kemp, Michael Northrop, Sarah Grace McCandless, Jolene Siana, the ladies at teenfictioncafe.blogspot.com, the divas at readergirlz.com... wow, I think I could keep going on and on! Writers are so COOL. Seriously, 99% of people who write YA books totally rule.

Who do you find yourself being compared to or are often put together with in reading lists or book clubs?

With Lovestruck Summer, I'm expecting to share space with Catherine Clark and Rachel Hawthorne who've written a ton of amazing Beach Reads for HarperTeen. So much fun.

Finally, what can you tell me about your book? Give me a quick run-down about why I’d want to pick it for my own book club.

Let's see: Indie Rock Girl meets Texas Cowboy. Is not impressed. Falls hard for hipster DJ. But when Texas Cowboy makes her a mix, she can't stop humming his tunes. Get ready for a hot summer in Austin.

PS-For a chance to win Lovestruck Summer, plus 3 other great beach reads, your readers can go to iheartdaily.com/Harper2009.html

From Good Kid to Gunman...What Happened to Stephen Morgan?

Just like many people across the country, I was shocked when I heard about the recent tragedy at Wesleyan University when a 21-year-old girl was shot at point blank range seven times by a 29-year-old man. What shocked me even more was that I knew the man, Stephen Morgan, and I know his family very well. I grew up in the same town of Marblehead and graduated in Steve's older sister's class at Marblehead High. We also belonged to the same beach club. Our families are friendly and we share many mutual acquaintances. I see Stephen's mother--even though I'm in my thirties, I still call her Mrs. Morgan-- at the local grocery story, the health club, walking on the beach. She always has a huge smile on her face and has a kind word for everyone she greets. The family is strong, loving and supportive. The Morgans are friends to all people in Marblehead, Swampscott and the surrounding towns--to people from all backgrounds and all religions.

So, it was with great shock that we all learned about the tragic events that took place on the Wesleyan campus this past week. Not only because it was a heartbreaking story--to discover that the life of a beautiful, intelligent and vivacious girl was tragically taken. But to learn that the shooter was the same little boy that I saw summer after summer, playing with my siblings, dressing up as a cowboy for the Fourth of July parade, having cookouts by the beach. What lead this boy, little Steve Morgan, to write hateful things about the Jewish community, to allegedly plan a "Colombine-type" shooting on a well-respected college campus and and to kill a beautiful girl on a bright, spring day in Connecticut?

It begs the question, how well do you know anyone? Would I have ever imagined that someone that I grew up with, a child who shared many of the same friends, acquaintances and childhood memories could commit such a crime? I never knew Steve on a personal level. He was just the little brother of a high school friend. He was Mrs. Morgan's son. One of the Morgan boys. I'm sure everyone has a kid from their past that they knew, that they remember, that they would trust if they ran into them again. Your parents' friends' kid. The younger brother of a high school chum. A nice boy who comes from a good, strong family who grew up a few streets over.

But then one day, you turn on the television and you see that the same little boy, the one that you watched chasing the ice cream truck with your little brother and sister, the one playing in the sandbox with his little sister, Diana, the one running around the pool in diapers, has been arrested for a heinous murder. And you can't understand what went wrong. How did he get from point A to point B?

Obviously, all of the facts haven't come out in this case, and the small town that I grew up in is anxiously awaiting the rest of the story. Did something happen when he went off to the Navy or when he moved to Colorado? These things will all be revealed eventually, and perhaps will explain how a good kid next door can turn into a gunman. But until then, we need to pray for the poor, defenseless Johanna Justin-Jinich whose life was cut short in a senseless crime. For her family who believed that she was safe at school in Connecticut--probably felt that she was safer there than when she was living in New York City a few summers ago. For the Jewish community that felt that they needed to protection during a nationwide manhunt.

But we also need to pray and have sympathy for the family of the shooter--the Morgans. A wonderful family--strong, supportive and well-liked-- a family who, for as long as I've known them, have never been filled with hatred or dislike for any person or groups of people, never raised their children to hate, never spoken a bad or hurtful thing about anyone. A family who did nothing wrong, but who must now pay for the devastating actions of their son.

As a suspense writer, I have to make up killers and madmen to put into my stories. I've been speaking to kids about bullying and about accepting others and not hurting each other--physically or mentally--especially in the formative school years. Was Steve Morgan harassed at school? I don't know. He was called a loner by his own family, but that doesn't automatically make someone a bad person. Perhaps he was shy. I only have memories of him as a cute, little boy--harmless, sweet, unassuming. Perhaps he had anger issues. Obviously he needed help.

Now, as I come up with new characters for my books, I need to understand (and I need to explain to my daughter) that the bad man isn't always the scary-looking man. He isn't always the "other." Often times they don't look or act that much different from you and me. And that's the scariest thing of all. You can't tell from looking at them. You can't even be sure about them if you know their family and friends. You just never know who the "bad guy" is:

He's the clean-cut medical student who goes onto Craigslist to find his victims all while planning his wedding to his college sweetheart. (Philip Markoff)

He's the father who guns down his wife and baby while they're asleep in the home that he can no longer afford. (Neil Entwistle)

She's the young mother who decides it's more important to party than it is to take care of her little girl, so she stuffs her in the trunk of a car with duct tape over her mouth. (Caylee Anthony)

He's the friendly and attractive college student who you meet on spring break on an island who invites you to take a walk on the beach. (Joran van der Sloot)

She's the mother of your daughter's playmate (a Sunday school teacher, no less). (Melissa Huckaby)

And now he's the boy you grew up a few streets away from, the kid brother of a high school friend, the one whose mom you see and who always has a big smile on her face and is just the nicest woman you'll ever meet. The boy who shot a girl at point blank range and seemed completely confused about the tragedy that he had caused--the lives he has forever, irrevocably changed.

Stephen Morgan, what happened?

If you can't trust the boy next door, who can you trust?

GCC Tours Lucienne Diver

Again, I'm super late touring one of my GCC members and I am so sorry. But I encourage everyone to go out and buy multiple copies of VAMPED, a fun, fast read from Lucienne Diver--it's sure to suck you in! :) (pun fully intended!)

From “Valley Vamp Rules for Surviving Your Senior Prom” by fashionista Gina Covello

1) Do not get so loaded at the after prom party that you accidentally-on-purpose end up in the broom closet with the surprise hottie of the evening, say the class chess champ who’s somewhere lost his bottle-cap lenses and undergone an extreme makeover, especially if that makeover has anything to do with becoming one of the undead.

Gina Covello has a problem. Waking up a dead is just the beginning.

There's very little she can't put up with for the sake of eternal youth and beauty. Blood-sucking and pointy stick phobias seem a small price to pay. But she draws the line when local vampire vixen Mellisande gets designs on her hot new boyfriend with his prophecied powers and hatches a plot to turn all of Gina’s fellow students into an undead army to be used to overthrow the vampire council.

Hey, if anyone's going to create an undead entourage, it should be Gina! Now she must unselfishly save her classmates from fashion disaster and her own fanged fate.

Do you (or did you ever) have a writing group? Who are the first people to read your book once it’s completed?

I had a wonderful writers group in NY, made up of authors, editors and former editors – talk about tough! When I moved, we tried for awhile to do virtual meetings, but it didn’t work out so well. I now have a critique partner and a few first readers I trust to tell me whether or not something sucks and to cheer me on if it doesn’t. When I go through those periods of self-doubt all authors experience, my cheerleaders are vitally important!

What writers do you consider your “sisters”? Are there any published writers that you hang out or tour with a lot? Call? Email? IM?

I started and stopped typing on this question at least three times because it’s a tough one. I’ve been writing for years but have only just recently started doing it under my own name. Before that I had a pseudonym because I’m also a literary agent and very dedicated to my job. I didn’t want anyone to think that I might leave to become a full time writer or worry that I’d spend my business hours on my own career. The latter is why I have an agent who isn’t me…so that during business hours, I’m focused on my authors and leave my career management up to her. Also, she has a great editorial eye and makes me a better writer. All this is to say that until recently, I kept that whole creative side of myself hidden, and it was very hard for me, almost as though I were living a double life. I’m so glad that with Vamped I’ve decided to write under my own name. I feel that I can be more myself, though, oddly, I’m more comfortable in my agent roll – less exposed. I’m so pleased now to be able to talk shop with so many fabulous writers.

Who do you find yourself being compared to or are often put together with in reading lists or book clubs?

Well, let’s see, my heroine has been compared to Cordelia from Buffy and to Betsy Taylor from Mary Janice Davidson’s wonderful Undead and Unwed series, which tickles me! When I look at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com, they put my books together with those of Rachel Caine, Nancy Collins, P.C. and Kristin Cast, Richelle Mead, Chloe Neill. Good company!

What writers do you wish would be in your “clique”? (It doesn’t have to be in your genre….doesn’t even have to be living! For example, I’d pick Alice Hoffman, Jodi Picoult, Sarah Dessen, Oscar Wilde, Stephenie Meyer, Meg Cabot, Stephen King and Joan Didion).

Christopher Moore, Janet Evanovich, Sarah Strohmeyer, Meg Cabot, Sharyn McCrumb, Joshilyn Jackson.

If someone was going to join your book club, what would be a “must read” in order to join?

I’m a huge fan of voice. Joshilyn Jackson, who I mentioned above, is a fantastic example, her Gods of Alabama, particularly. In that novel, she alternates fun chapters from the present with darker chapters from the past and manages to make it all work amazingly well. Sharyn McCrumb is amazing because she writes such wonderfully literary novels with her Ballad series and such laugh-out-loud funny books with her Elizabeth MacPherson mysteries…I’m just in awe of anything she does.

What was your “initiation” to writing?

My fifth grade teacher, Mr. Hart was awesome. I think that English was where his heart really lay, because he divided the whole class into writing groups that we sat in full time. Every day he gave us a free writing assignment, and for fifteen minutes our pens were not allowed to stop moving, even if all we had to say was, “Nothing at all.” Then he’d often randomly chose stories to be read aloud or break us into our groups to read and critique. It was fascinating to see how differently each of us would spin off from the first line or topic he’d given us. It was also really good training for a future writer, because you learned how to both take and offer advice and how to revise.

When did you first feel that you’d officially joined the “published writers’ club”?

I worked on our high school literary magazine and had some pieces published in there, but that never felt truly real to me. It wasn’t until I sold my first short story and actually held a check in my hand (only $25, but still) that I felt like an official, published writer.

What was your best/worst memory of high school?

You know, junior high was way worse for me. I think that by high school I kind of had the hang of things. Oh, wait…moment of self-delusion has passed. There was the time that my Shakespeare class was doing a performance and despite the fact that I had a big role I forgot to show up because I was too busy mooning over a guy who didn’t like me nearly as much as I liked him. The teacher ended up reading my lines straight out of the book. She wasn’t amused. The aftermath was way worse than those running after the bus in your skivvies dreams.

In SISTERS OF MISERY, the last place new members want to go to is Misery Island. But if you had the choice, what island would you go to and what would you take with you?

The Galapagos Islands with environmentally safe insect repellent, my husband, my son, a huge sack of books. Oh yeah, and we’d probably need a tent and food and all that, but I’d let my guys (boy scouts both) take care of the packing!

Why should we pick this as a book club read?

I’ll admit right off the bat that this is a popcorn read. I was aiming for fun, though the book does, I hope, have hidden depths. Mainly, I hope that it will make people laugh and fall deeply in love with the characters, as I did. I’m not sure there will be any scholarly discussion over Vamped, but that’s okay. Sometimes, girls just want to have fun.

About Lucienne Diver

Lucienne Diver is a long-time book addict who went to work for NYC’s Spectrum Literary Agency fifteen years ago to feed her habit. Recently, she traded in her high-rise for a lake view. She now lives in Florida and works for The Knight Agency (www.knightagency.net). Through various play-dates and in various coffee bars, on the backs of envelopes, carry-out bags and anything else within reach, including, sometimes, her checkbook, she's penned the serio-comic tale of what happens when a young fashionista goes from chic to eek.

What people are saying:

"VAMPED is a total delight! Diver delivers a delightful cast of undead characters and a fresh, fast take on the vampire mythos. Next installment, please!" — Rachel Caine, New York Times bestselling author of the Morganville Vampires series

"I really sunk my teeth into Lucienne Diver's VAMPED. A fun, frothy, teenage romp with lots of action, a little shopping, and a cute vampire guy. Who could ask for more?" — Marley Gibson, author of GHOST HUNTRESS: The Awakening

“This book rollicked along, full of humor, romance, and action. Gina is a smart-aleck heroine worth reading about, a sort of teenage Besty Taylor (Undead and Unwed) with a lot of Cher Horowitz (Clueless) thrown in. Fans of Katie Maxwell will devour "Vamped." — Rosemary Clement-Moore, author of the Maggie Quinn: Girl vs. Evil series

"Move over Buffy! Lucienne Diver transfuses some fresh blood into the vampire genre. Feisty, fashionable and fun--Vamped is a story readers will sink their teeth into and finish thirsty for more." —Mari Mancusi, author of The Blood Coven Vampires series

Websites:

Publisher: www.fluxnow.com

Author: www.luciennediver.com

Author blog: http://varkat.livejournal.com

GCC Tours Linda Gerber's Death by Denim

I am so late touring Linda Gerber this week and I'm so very, very sorry because Linda is an extremely talented writer and an all-around great girl. I've been dealing with my own publishing problems (namely, no ARCs for my latest book, THE LOST SISTER). But, I'll get into that in a later post. Right now, I want everyone to go out and get the third book in the "Death by" series by Linda Gerber. This third book, Death by Denim, is sure to be a hit. Plus, don't forget to stop by Linda's website for her blog launch party on May 14th thru 16th.

Aphra Connolly is being chased by some very dangerous people. She knows her survival depends upon staying far away from love interest Seth, and listening to her mom’s lectures on the finer points of anonymity and survival. But how is a girl supposed to live under the radar and not think about her boyfriend when she’s in Paris—the most romantic city in the world? When her mom’s contact in Paris is found floating in the Seine with a deadly message stuffed in his mouth, Aphra realizes that she will never be able to stop running unless she confronts the situation head-on. Sneaking away from her mom, Aphra tracks down the criminal mastermind in Italy, only to unwittingly reveal Seth’s location. And her mistake has just put them both in mortal danger. . . .


Early praise for DEATH BY DENIM:

“Starting with a heart-pounding chase scene… Gerber weaves in some major cultural landmarks as Aphra races through Paris and then Italy on a mission to expose the would-be assassin and rescue her love interest, Seth. Taut suspense… along with interesting tips of the espionage trade, will propel readers to the neat ending.” - Booklist

“Death by Denim, the third book in Linda Gerber's fun, action-packed, and suspenseful series, is just as riveting as its prequels. Gerber's style is not only modern and down to earth, but cunning and intelligent as well… Aphra is an engaging and lively narrator whose bravery and smarts readers will admire. Equal parts action, romance, and mystery, Death by Denim is a fun-filled and engrossing read that will appeal to fans of Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series.” – The Compulsive Reader

“Gerber does not disappoint with this exciting novel from her Death by… series. Gerber’s strength is by far in creating such a thrilling and fast paced plot that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. …Death by Denim is a wholly enjoyable read, full of action, romance, and international flair. Fans of Death by Bikini and Death by Latte, the earlier installments in this series, won’t want to miss Death by Denim. Teen girls in particular looking for a fast and fun mystery to devour will enjoy Gerber’s Death by… series.” - The Book Muncher

“Nancy Drew meets "Alias" in the latest fast-paced, murder-mystery romance.”
- Paddyfield

*** Top Choice Award - Flamingnet Book Reviews ***

Praise for the series:

“Will capture mystery fans.” – Booklist

“Strong writing and plenty of plot twists.” -The Providence Journal

“Fast-paced, fun, and maybe just a little scary.”-YA New York

Just “the right amount of intrigue, suspense, humor and romance.”-Flamingnet Book Reviews

“Five enchantments.”-Enchanting Reviews

“Refreshing read.”-Simply Books


Linda Gerber recently returned to life in the Midwest after four years in Japan, where she served as the Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Her books include SASS: NOW AND ZEN, SASS: THE FINNISH LINE and the YA mysteries DEATH BY BIKINI, DEATH BY LATTE and DEATH BY DENIM. She currently lives and writes in Dublin, OH, blissfully ignoring her husband, kids, and one very naughty puppy.

You can find Linda online here:
http://lindagerber.com
http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=518643863
http://lindagerber.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/gerbsan


DEATH BY DENIM
by Linda Gerber
Penguin Books for Young Readers
May 14, 2009
ISBN 978-0142411193