GCC Tours (my friend!) Laurie Stolarz

This week I get to tour one of my closest writer friends, Laurie Stolarz. Laurie and I live super close to each other and when we first met through the GCC, we discovered this fun fact. So we've done a bunch of signings and school visits together and we always have a blast. We are kind of the yin and yang of the writing community, or for those of you who are familiar with the old Highlights comic strip, Goofus and Gallant. I am most definitely Goofus and Laurie is Gallant. We typically discuss our different methods of writing and working during our store and school visits. Laurie explains her writing process, her detailed outlining, strict word/page count deadlines each week and how she organizes and streamlines the entire process. Then I go on to say how I procrastinate, am totally disorganized, never outline, and go on binge writing sessions after struggling with major writer's block. This may be why Laurie has a thousand books out (or on their way out) and I have two (almost three).

Go figure.

Anyway, I love Laurie to death and I think she's an awesome writer and she's so completely dedicated to her readers and fans. I'm so blown away by how far people come to meet her, and if they have been to more than one of her signings, she almost always remembers them.

Here we are at one of our super fun and spooky signings (I think it was on a Friday the 13th).

So without further ado, here's my interview with Laurie and the information on her latest book in her Touch series, Deadly Little Games.

DEADLY LITTLE GAMES

ISBN-13: 9781423131601

Disney/Hyperion Books for Children

Synopsis: High school juniors Camelia and Ben have discovered a powerful bond: they both possess the power of psychometry, the ability to see the future through touch. For Ben, the gift is a frightening liability. When he senses a strong threat or betrayal, he risks losing control. Camelia’s gift is more mysterious. When she works with clay, her hands sculpt messages her mind doesn’t yet comprehend. Before either one has a chance to fully grasp their abilities, a new danger surfaces, but this time, Camelia is not the target. Adam, a familiar face from Ben’s past, is drawn into a puzzle he can’t solve. . . and his life is on the line. As the clues pile up, Camelia must decide whether to help him and risk losing Ben or do nothing and suffer the consequences. But in these games,who can be trusted?

From DEADLY LITTLE GAMES:

With only a few minutes of class remaining, I close my eyes again, still picturing Adam’s mouth. I try to imagine what he would say if he knew what I was doing. Would he suspect that I was interested in him? Would he think it was weird that I remember so much detail about the moment that night inside his car? Would he tell Ben what I was up to? I take a deep breath and try my best to focus on the answers. But the only words that flash across my mind, the ones I can’t seem to shake, don’t even address the questions at all. “You deserve to die,” I whisper, suddenly realizing that I’ve said the words aloud.

Check out the book trailers:

DEADLY LITTLE SECRET: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fzMpVMy2fQ

DEADLY LITTLE LIES: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9Qk0VG2Nz0

TOUCH SERIES CONTEST

From the author: “In celebration of the release of DEADLY LITTLE GAMES, I’ve launched a very exciting contest. You will need to read a copy of DEADLY LITTLE GAMES to enter. Prizes include having a minor character in DEADLY LITTLE VOICES, the fourth book in the TOUCH series, named after him or her, or a phone call from me. OFFICIAL RULES for this contest are on my website, under NEWS. ALL ENTRANTS MUST SIGN A RELEASE FORM, DOWNLOADABLE FROM WWW.LAURIESTOLARZ.COM/NEWS.html. Sign up for my e-Newsletter for updates on contest, book, and appearance info: http://www.lauriestolarz.com/newsletter.html.”

Praise for the TOUCH series:

DEADLY LITTLE SECRET
Texas Tayshas List, 2010

Reluctant Reader Quick Pick Nominee, 2010, American Library Association

Teens@Random, Favorite Book of 2009

"...lively first-person narrative.... CW-worthy dialogue, quirky secondary characters, romance and suspense: a winning combination" - Kirkus Reviews

"An engaging, eerie tale about the darker side of relationships - when it becomes a matter of life and death to know who your friends are." - KLIATT

“The book was full of shocking surprises and revelations, earning the book five stars. This is a must-read for fans of romance, suspense, and mystery because it won't disappoint.” – Teens Read Too

DEADLY LITTLE LIES
Reluctant Reader Quick Pick Nominee, 2011, American Library Association

Gold Star Award, TeensReadToo.com, 2009

Children’s Book Council’s 2010 Teen Choice Book of the Year Nominee

"Laurie Faria Stolarz is a master creator of suspense and romance. Her words cause the heart to pound, the palms to sweat, the spine to shiver, and the stomach to flutter. The trepidation born from the anonymous threats will make the pages fly, and the palpable tension between Camelia and Ben as they attempt to ignore their hearts causes the fire to burn hotter. Stolarz brings back the colorful characters who provided the mood-lightening bits of humor in DEADLY LITTLE SECRET...She also emphasizes the importance of solid friendships to help teens deal with the gut-wrenching experience of witnessing parents fight and tear their lives apart." - TeenReads.com

"...the perfect book for readers who enjoy series, who like a mystery with a splash of romance, and who live for books that send a shiver down their spines. Stolarz does an excellent job of creating likeable and multifaceted characters: Camelia has a girl-next-door quality and her friends are vibrant. The elements of psychometry will most likely drive readers to investigate more on this unusual ability." - ALAN's Picks

Author Bio: Laurie Faria Stolarz is the author of Deadly Little Secret, Deadly Little Lies, Deadly Little Games, Deadly Little Voices, Project 17, and Bleed, as well as the bestselling Blue is for Nightmares series, which has sold nearly 750,000 copies worldwide. Born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts, Stolarz attended Merrimack College and received an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College in Boston. For more information, please visit her Web site at www.lauriestolarz.com.

Laurie’s Guilty Pleasures

Favorite snack: Popcorn with soy butter, salt, and garlic powder.
Touristy Trip: Paris (lived there), the south of France (been there), Stockholm (almost went there and want to go), Maui (really want to go).
Fashion addiction (at the moment): Gap Long & Lean jeans, Ugg crochet boots (not Cardy, just the regular knit), Michael Stars tops.

Dessert: Dark chocolate in almost any form - the darker the better.
Fast food: French fries at least once every couple of months (even better when dipped in vegan tartar sauce).
Beauty Binge: Aveda haircare products, which includes indulging in high-and/or-low-lights every eight weeks. Also, Caudalie skincare, Ineke perfume (Field Notes from Paris), Revitalash mascara, and Buxom Lips from Bare Escentuals.
Late-Night TV: The Hills (so sad it's over), The City, Real Housewives of (wherever), and The Real World.
Chick Flick: Never Been Kissed, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Juno, Green Card, Once, The Devil Wears Prada, Bridget Jones Diary, Thelma & Louise, Mean Girls, Moonstruck, Clueless, Under the Tuscan Sun, and anything with John Cusack.
Nightlife: Pilates in front of the TV (a regular occurrence), answering e-mail (also regular), and dinner and/or a movie out with friends (happens far too rarely).
Cheap Thrill: Window-shopping, tabloid magazines, buying a new lip gloss, a tall cup of coffee from Peet's or Starbucks.
Ultimate Splurge: Giuliano’s Day Spa for a massage and soft-pack wrap treatment, oxygen facials, and spray-tanning (in summer only).

Other Random Info

Favorite Quote: Perseverance is key.
Favorite cuisine: Indian food – onion chutney, curried vegetables, and kashmir bread. I also love cheeseless pizza from Bertucci's.
Interests: Vegetarian cooking, holistic nutrition, aromatherapy.
Favorite Music: Fergie, James Blunt, Gavin Rossdale, Tori Amos, Sting, Sarah MacLachlin, Gwen Stefani, Black-eyed Peas.
Hobbies: Walking, napping, cooking, shopping, interior decorating.

My interview with Ms. Laurie Stolarz:

My second novel, THE LOST SISTER, deals with revenge and the repercussions of what happens when a hazing incident goes too far.
1. First topic: Revenge. What is your experience with it? Have you ever sought revenge? As the old adage goes, do you think that living well is the best revenge? I don’t believe in seeking revenge. I believe in karma. If you throw negative energy out there, it’ll come back to you.

2. Cliques and mean girls are everywhere. At book signings I've had everyone from 12 year old girls to 45 year old women tell me they still encounter them. Do you? How has it changed since you were a teen? I’m not sure it has changed. Mean girls are still out there and thriving. They prey on people’s insecurities, including their own, and, yes, I agree they come in all ages.

3. I have a "Writing Music" playlist on my iPod. What would be on yours? What one song or artist captures the essence of your book? I actually had a contest going last year that involved this very question. You can see the winning playlists here:

DEADLY LITTLE SECRET and DEADLY LITTLE LIES: http://www.lauriestolarz.com/novels/the_touch_series.html

4. What do you tell people is your favorite book/author? Now what is your "real" favorite book/author. (i.e. I tell people Pale Fire by Nabokov is my fave, but right now I'm really into Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea.) I tell people it’s The Awakening by Kate Chopin, but I just finished Still Missing by Chevy Stevens and loved it.

5. If you could swap lives with anyone for a day, who would it be and why? Someone who just spent an obscene amount of money on a fully loaded spa day at Canyon Ranch.

6. As a publicist, I know that it's important for every novel to have journalistic hook. For The Lost Sister, it's mean girls, bullies, and hazing. What's yours? Forbidden love, supernatural powers, and the fine line between sanity and insanity.

7. Just because it hasn't been asked yet, favorite 1980's movie? Pretty in Pink. Seriously, that last scene where Ducky shows up at the prom…it still gets me every time.

8. Why should I choose your book for my book club? Because it’s got it all: suspense, drama, forbidden love, character growth, and humor.

9. I'm a huge and fabulously powerful movie producer and you have 30 seconds (an elevator pitch) to sell me on why your book is great and should be made into a movie. Go!

Camelia and Ben both possess the power of psychometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. For Ben, the gift is a liability. When he senses a threat, he risks losing control and hurting people. Camelia's gift is more mysterious. When she works with clay, her hands sculpt messages her mind doesn't comprehend. Before either teen has a chance to grasp these abilities, Camelia’s drawn into a puzzle that she can’t solve. And in games like these, who can be trusted?

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GCC Tours Eileen Cook

Happy Holidays! Happy New Year!! Happy, Happy!!

Now that I'm back from an EXHAUSTING holiday season, I'm kicking off the new year with a GCC Tour of Eileen Cook's new book,

The Education of Hailey Kendrick

Here's some info about the book:

Hailey Kendrick always does exactly what's expected of her. She has the right friends, dates the perfect boy, gets good grades, and follows all the rules. But one night, Hailey risks everything by breaking a very big rule in a very public way...and with a very unexpected partner in crime. Hailey gets caught, but her accomplice does not, and Hailey takes the fall for both of them.

Suddenly, Hailey's perfect life--and her reputation--are blowing up in her face. Her friends are all avoiding her. Her teachers don't trust her. Her boyfriend won't even speak to her for long enough to tell her that she's been dumped.

They say honesty is the best policy--but some secrets are worth keeping, no matter the cost. Or are they?

Reviews:

"Hailey may be an A student headed to the Ivy League, but when it comes to taking a chance on life, she’s clueless. She’s also enormously appealing and great company throughout this breezy read. Yes, it’s chick lit, but of the highest quality—like a gourmet truffle. Cook has whipped up a real treat.” --Kirkus starred review

"Cook effectively builds both Hailey's (justified) feelings of rebellion and the social dynamics of her ostracism, especially in her growing friendship with a challenging townie, Drew, who supervises her punishment working with the janitorial staff....Cook coaxes considerable empathy for the otherwise privileged Hailey as she abandons the achievement treadmill to explore her independence." --Publishers Weekly

About the Author:

Eileen Cook is a multi-published author with her novels appearing in six different languages. She spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer.

You can read more about Eileen, her books, and the things that strike her as funny at www.eileencook.com. Eileen lives in Vancouver with her husband and two dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.

Now, for my interview with Eileen. Here goes:

1. First topic: Revenge. What is your experience with it? Have you ever sought revenge? As the old adage goes, do you think that living well is the best revenge?

I’ve certainly spent time plotting all sorts of evil revenge plans, but I’ve never put them into action. I do believe the adage the best revenge is living well and not letting your energy get focused on someone else.

2. Cliques and mean girls are everywhere. At book signings I've had everyone from 12 year old girls to 45 year old women tell me they still encounter them. Do you? How has it changed since you were a teen?

I think that unfortunately mean girls will always exist. There are people who measure their value by comparing themselves to everyone else. I think where it has become worse since I was a teen is with the focus on social media. It is much easier to say something cruel on the internet than it is to say it to someone’s face. Not to mention it has a life of it’s own and can be spread everywhere with a click of a button.

3. I have a "Writing Music" playlist on my iPod. What would be on yours? What one song or artist captures the essence of your book?

Defying Gravity from the musical Wicked.

4. What do you tell people is your favorite book/author? Now what is your "real" favorite book/author. (i.e. I tell people Pale Fire by Nabokov is my fave, but right now I'm really into Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea.)

How do you ever pick a favorite? John Irving’s A Prayer for Owen Meany has been a long term favorite, but recently I loved the quirky mystery- Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie.

5. If you could swap lives with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?

I wouldn’t mind being my dogs. They have a pretty good life. They sleep in, they have dinner delivered, they run around in the backyard, lay in the sun, take a nap and have their bellies rubbed. They seem very low stress.

6. Who would be in your dream cast if your book was made into a movie or television series? (And multimillion dollar salaries were no issue--they'd all do it for free!)

I’m terrible about picking a cast. This is why I’ll never be a director. I have such a clear vision in my mind of the characters that they never tend to match with the real world. If I had to pick I would find a way to give Nathan Fillion a role just so I could meet him.

7. As a publicist, I know that it's important for every novel to have journalistic hook. For The Lost Sister, it's mean girls, bullies and hazing. What's yours?

How much will you risk to get what you really want?

8. Just because it hasn't been asked yet, favorite 1980's movie?

I love 80’s movies. Breakfast Club, 16 Candles, Pretty in Pink and the ever famous Red Dawn.

9. Why should I choose your book for my book club?

I suppose saying because I asked nicely isn’t a good answer. I think readers will have fun debating what they think Hailey should do in order to get her life back on track- and if it was ever on track to start with.

10. I'm a huge and fabulously powerful movie producer and you have 30 seconds (an elevator pitch) to sell me on why your book is great and should be made into a movie. Go!

This is where I would stare vacantly at you in the elevator and try not to swallow my own tongue. It is perhaps a good thing that I don’t bump into powerful movie producers very often (or at all.) If I managed to spit anything out I would tell you it has humor, a love triangle (complete with a bad boy), popularity, pranks and the ultimate question of how do you define yourself.

Thanks for stopping by, Eileen. Now everyone, make a New Year's Resolution to go out and buy and read some books from the Girlfriend's Cyber Circuit writers this year. Thanks!! And Happy 2011!!

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DEAR BULLY has a cover!

Yay, we have a cover! Let me know your thoughts on our new cover for our anthology on bullying. The book doesn't come out until next fall, so we have some time to play around with it.

Also, our anthology finally made news in Publisher's Weekly! Check out the story here. Also, Publisher's Marketplace ran the news of our deal this week:

PUBLISHERS MARKETPLACE DEALS for November 16, 2010

Children's:Young Adult

NYT bestselling author of Need and Captivate Carrie Jones and author of Sisters of Misery Megan Kelley Hall's DEAR BULLY: Writers Tell Their Stories, an anthology featuring more than 70 essays between the print version and the online component, to Tara Weikum and Sarah Barley at Harper, by Edward Necarsulmer IV of McIntosh & Otis for Jones, and Elisabeth Weed of Weed Literary, for Hall, with proceeds being donated to an anti-bullying charity.

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Stop the bullying!

Stop the Madness!
When you get a chance, check out the Facebook pages/groups I created to put a stop to bullying. I have a lot of news, as well as what you can do to end the cycle of bullying, but this is a great place to start. Much more to come!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=105581906147904

http://www.facebook.com/DearBully

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GCC Tours Linda Gerber and TRANCE

I'm very excited to tour Linda Gerber and her exciting new novel, TRANCE. I cannot wait to read this one! Linda is the author of the very popular "DEATH BY" series. She was nice enough to stop by here and give us a little peek at her new book.

Almost everyone has wished that they could take a glimpse into the future—but what if such visions came unbidden, and they only foretold danger? Linda Gerber weaves this idea into a chilling and satisfying young adult novel with TRANCE (Speak; 9780142414156; October 14, 2010; Ages 12 up; $7.99). Perfect for fans of Wake, Gerber’s latest paranormal thriller is a dark but addictive tale of one girl’s curse to unwillingly foresee future tragedies, and the debilitating toll that it takes on her present life—until she realizes that her unwanted power may be more of a gift than a curse.

Ashlyn Greenfield has always known when bad things are going to happen. Each time that familiar tingling at the back of her neck begins, she knows what’s to come—a trance. She’s pulled in, blindsided, an unwilling witness to a horrible upcoming event. But she’s never been able to stop the event from actually occurring—not even when the vision was of her mother’s fatal car accident. When soulful Jake enters Ashlyn’s life, she begins having trances about another car accident. And as her trances escalate, one thing becomes clear: it’s up to her to save Jake from a near-certain death.

Combining romance and suspense, Linda Gerber delivers a paranormal thriller that is unique in its ability to appeal to sci-fi and chick lit fans alike.

About the Author

Linda Gerber (www.lindagerber.com) is the author of the popular Death by Bikini, Death by Latte, and Death by Denim as well as two books in the S.A.S.S. series. She lives with her family in Dublin, Ohio.

My second novel, THE LOST SISTER, deals with revenge and the repercussions of what happens when a hazing incident goes too far.

1. First topic: Revenge. What is your experience with it? Have you ever sought revenge?

I haven’t tried to get revenge on anyone that I remember. I'm sure I thought about it before, but it isn’t worth the negative energy.

As the old adage goes, do you think that living well is the best revenge?

Probably. As long as you don’t mar the living well with worrying about whether the hated party is noticing or not.

2. Cliques and mean girls are everywhere. At book signings I've had everyone from 12 year old girls to 45 year old women tell me they still encounter them. Do you? How has it changed since you were a teen?

I haven’t encountered it myself, but my daughter has had some experience with girls who act superior and pick on others they think will be easy prey.

When I was a teen, we didn’t have the electronic media to make this kind of ostracism public they way they do now. If one of these mean girls humiliated you, it might be in front of a group of friends, but the moment would pass and people would forget about it. Now these girls post pictures and write nasty things on their victims’ walls. The online stuff is there forever. I think the whole mean girl/revenge thing is more vicious now than it was when I was in high school.

3. I have a "Writing Music" playlist on my iPod. What would be on yours? What one song or artist captures the essence of your book?

I can't write with music. What ends up happening is I sing along and get lost in the lyrics and stop writing. So I don't have a writing playlist. Yes, I'm boring.

4. What do you tell people is your favorite book/author? Now what is your "real" favorite book/author. (i.e. I tell people Pale Fire by Nabokov is my fave, but right now I'm really into Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea.)

Ha. No. I tell them I couldn’t possibly choose a favorite (especially since so many of my friends are authors). I will tell them about the best books I’ve read recently, but my favorites are legion and always changing, so I avoid that one altogether.

5. If you could swap lives with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?

I dunno. Someone rich and pampered who wouldn't make me thing too much.

Seriously, I would start naming some of the authors I admire because it would be fascinating to get inside their heads for a day, but if we’re swapping, that would mean they’d get inside my head, too, and… it’s a mess in there.

6. Who would be in your dream cast if your book was made into a movie or television series? (And multimillion dollar salaries were no issue--they'd all do it for free!)

I’d probably want to go with relative unknowns because I’d want them to be relatable, “regular” teens.

7. As a publicist, I know that it's important for every novel to have journalistic hook. For The Lost Sister, it's mean girls, bullies and hazing. What's yours?

Trust in the face of hardship, prescription drug abuse, and the grieving process.

8. Just because it hasn't been asked yet, favorite 1980's movie?

That’s hard. There were some really good movies in that decade. But if I have to choose, I’ll go with the one my kids and I quote from the most: The Princess Bride.

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Thoughts on Bullying by Kate Harding

'Nuff said.

http://kateharding.info/2010/10/06/on-good-kids-and-total-fucking-assholes/

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GCC Tours new member Lauren Strasnick and Her and Me and You.

Welcome back, GCC-ers. It's that time again! Let's welcome Lauren Strasnick, author of Her and Me and You

About the Book:

Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster, October 2010

First love, broken friendships, and heartache all play a part in this evocative, voice-driven novel about Alex, a girl whose world is ripped apart when her father’s affair splits her family in two.

Alex moves with her mess of a mother to a new town, where she is befriended by hot, enigmatic Fred–and alternately flirted with and cold-shouldered by Fred’s twin sister, Adina. Others warn Alex to steer clear of the twins, whose sibling relationship is considered abnormal at best, but there’s just something about Fred–and something about Adina–that draws Alex to them and makes her want to be part of their crazy world, no matter the consequences.

“Strasnick’s slim second offering packs a lot into its short chapters: divorce, broken friendships, crushes, the lines between love and sex and more. Characterization, scenes, dialogue and setting are seamlessly distilled into so few sharp, image-rich phrases that the novel reads almost as if it were written in verse. Less is definitely more here, and readers are plunged into Alex’s physical and emotional world within three to four words. Although the plot moves swiftly, the author’s ability to capture Alex’s inner world in so few words give the novel depth and balance. Complex and thought-provoking.” –Kirkus

Now, I'm going to take time away from my TOP SECRET project (which is almost ready to announce - phew!) and post my GCC interview with Lauren:

My second novel, THE LOST SISTER, deals with revenge and the repercussions of what happens when a hazing incident goes too far.

1. First topic: Revenge. What is your experience with it? Have you ever sought revenge? As the old adage goes, do you think that living well is the best revenge?

Oh, gosh! I don’t think I’m really all that vengeful. Not that I don’t ever get pissy or mad – but my head never really goes to that place of wanting to enact revenge… And if I’ve ever been on the receiving end of some vengeful scheme (!) – I’m oblivious.

2. Cliques and mean girls are everywhere. At book signings I've had everyone from 12 year old girls to 45 year old women tell me they still encounter them. Do you? How has it changed since you were a teen?

I don’t know if I’ve ever been victim to any serious mean girl activity. There was a girl a girl at my high school who would occasionally threaten to beat me up (yikes!), but otherwise, I’ve been really fortunate -- I know a ton of spectacular women.

3. I have a "Writing Music" playlist on my iPod. What would be on yours? What one song or artist captures the essence of your book?

I am a huge music person and make playlists for all my projects, but for some reason this book went without! I’m not sure why! It was a hard book to write – so perhaps that has something to with it?! Poor, neglected book.

4. What do you tell people is your favorite book/author? Now what is your "real" favorite book/author. (i.e. I tell people Pale Fire by Nabokov is my fave, but right now I'm really into Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea.)

Some favorites: The Mysteries of Pittsburgh by Michael Chabon, The Basic Eight by Daniel Handler, The Secret History by Donna Tartt (MKH Note: The Secret History is my all-time FAVORITE book too!!)– these really are my true favorites. I could play this game better with TV: I adore Mad Men, Friday Night Lights, 30 Rock – but I’m also a massive Real Housewives fan and will watch any incarnation of the series.

5. Who would be in your dream cast if your book was made into a movie or television series? (And multimillion dollar salaries were no issue--they'd all do it for free!)

Such a tough question, because I’m not totally up on young Hollywood – but I like Kat Dennings a lot, and there’s this actress from the Brit series SKINS that I think is adorable – Hannah Murray.

6. As a publicist, I know that it's important for every novel to have a journalistic hook. For The Lost Sister, it's mean girls, bullies and hazing. What's yours?

Um. Twincest? No, no. ah… co-dependant, claustrophobic relationships? I think I’m bad with journalistic hooks.

7. Just because it hasn't been asked yet, favorite 1980's movie?

Too many! Just a few: St. Elmo’s Fire, Sixteen Candles, Heathers.

8. Why should I choose your book for my book club?

Creepy twins! Who doesn’t like a good ol’ fashioned story about rich, unsupervised, teen twins who may or may not be in love with each other?! Kidding! Kind of.

9. I'm a huge and fabulously powerful movie producer and you have 30 seconds (an elevator pitch) to sell me on why your book is great and should be made into a movie. Go!

H&M&Y has infidelity! Divorce! Anorexia! Binge-drinking! A crazy, possessive twin! Girl-on-girl kissing! Boy-on-girl kissing! Ta-da! Make my book a movie, please. J

For more about Lauren, visit her website & blog: www.laurenstrasnick.com

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GCC Tours Lucienne Diver and ReVamped!

Please forgive me! I've been working on a top secret project (not that top-secret, as most of you probably know already, but I haven't officially announced it yet) and on top of that, trying to wind down the summer and endure the whole "Back-To-School" craziness. (Piper is in second grade!?!? Can you believe it?) Plus, Sisters of Misery and The Lost Sister have both been rereleased back to back in mass market paperback. Whoohoo!

Anyway, our Girlfriend Cyber Circuit has been pretty quiet this summer. Lots of things happening. Lots of people coming and going. (I will officially announce our new members and say a sad goodbye to our Girlfriends that are leaving us).

In any case, in honor of this new school year, Labor Day weekend, official end of the summer, I give you the first GCC tour of the school season. While you are cracking the books this fall, make sure to save some room for the awesome stories from the members of the GCC. First off, Lucienne Diver and Revamped (sequel to the incredibly successful, Vamped):

ReVamped…because fangs are always in fashion!

In Vamped, Gina and her minions defeated a vampire vixen, a psycho-psychic and the vampire council of Mozulla, Ohio. Gina was all ready to expose vampires to the world in all their fanged fabulosity…until the Feds arrived to sweep everything under the rug and make them an offer they couldn’t refuse.

In ReVamped, Gina and her boyfriend Bobby are sent undercover to infiltrate a New York high school where some seriously weird stuff is going down. Worse than that, Gina’s new super-secret identity is as goth-girl Geneva Belfry. No color palette to speak of. More chains than a bike rack. And don't even get her started on the shoes. At least she won’t be too worried about blood spatter when kicking the butt of her newest nemesis, who’s decided that the high school makes a perfect playground.

Rave Reviews:

“This is a witty vampire romance/adventure with plenty of heart and action. Diver has written a supernatural sequel to Vamped (Flux, 2009/VOYA August 2009) that will attract even reluctant readers. It is filled with wry twists, such as the difficulties of trying to apply mascara when, as vampire, you don’t have any reflection in the mirror, as well as the typical agonies of being young and trying to fit in.” —VOYA

“Gina, the 17-year-old fashionista of the undead, is back and as sassy as ever (Vamped, 2009). Thoroughly enjoyable, this sequel is a light, fizzy read… listening in on Gina’s thoughts and quick-witted dialogue is what makes this such a treat.” —Kirkus Reviews

Websites:

Publisher: www.fluxnow.com Author: www.luciennediver.com

Author blog: http://varkat.livejournal.com Gina’s blog: http://ginasgems.livejournal.com

ReVamped

by Lucienne Diver

September 2010

Trade Paperback from Flux

ISBN: 9780738721293

My second novel, THE LOST SISTER, deals with revenge and the repercussions of what happens when a hazing incident goes too far.

1. First topic: Revenge. What is your experience with it? Have you ever sought revenge? As the old adage goes, do you think that living well is the best revenge?

I’ve never actively set out to seek revenge. I think that sort of thing consumes a person and tends to backfire. I sort of believe in karma, though, and I’ve seen instances of poetic justice that give me hope that the universe will come through and balance the scales.

2. Cliques and mean girls are everywhere. At book signings I've had everyone from 12 year old girls to 45 year old women tell me they still encounter them. Do you? How has it changed since you were a teen?

Oh yes, the mean girls and guys are everywhere. The only way it’s changed is that it’s become harder to avoid them…with Facebook and other social media, there’s less chance to just escape into your own world, unless you become totally disconnected, and more chance for mean girls to spread their venom. I so wish I had a solution to offer.

3. I have a "Writing Music" playlist on my iPod. What would be on yours? What one song or artist captures the essence of your book?

I love music too much to listen to it while I write…I’d find it too distracting, but if I were to make a soundtrack for this book, it would probably feature Pink prominently, since she’s such a strong figure and the basis for Su Surrus, the made-up singer that my heroine idolizes. Of course, Gina does go goth in this book, so that might change the soundtrack significantly.

4. What do you tell people is your favorite book/author? Now what is your "real" favorite book/author. (i.e. I tell people Pale Fire by Nabokov is my fave, but right now I'm really into Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea.)

My favorite author of all-times is probably Mary Stewart, which I admit freely and constantly. I love the old gothic romances, particularly her My Brother Michael, Airs Above Ground, andTouch Not the Cat…. I could go on and on. My favorite book of all time, though, that’s tougher. Probably The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare, since I chose my pseudonym when I first started writing based on her heroine and wanted to name my son after her hero, though my husband begged to differ (and I let him).

5. If you could swap lives with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?

Amazingly, I don’t think I’d swap my life for anything. I really love it. If I had to choose, though, I think I might swap with one of the actresses singing on Glee…Lea Michele or Amber Riley. I love the show, and I’ve always wanted to be able to belt out a song like that.

6. Who would be in your dream cast if your book was made into a movie or television series? (And multimillion dollar salaries were no issue--they'd all do it for free!)

Oh, this one I know! I’ve been thinking a lot about this actually, for reasons known only to me. As Gina, I’d probably cast Selena Gomez (with green contacts, since my heroine’s aventurine eyes are pretty important to me). Her boy toy Bobby…originally I’d envisioned Zac Efron, who I continue to love, but since he’s probably beyond playing teenagers, I think Logan Lerman, who played Percy Jackson in the recent film.

7. As a publicist, I know that it's important for every novel to have journalistic hook. For The Lost Sister, it's mean girls, bullies and hazing. What's yours?

A fanged fashionista forced to go undercover as goth girl Geneva Belfry to investigate very strange goings-on at a New York high school. Gina didn’t think anything could be worse than waking up dead in Vamped to face an eternity without tanning options…until her first mission forces her to get ReVamped.

8. Just because it hasn't been asked yet, favorite 1980's movie?

Hands down, it’s Real Genius staring Val Kilmer. Just check out these clips! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5qtU-tO3Jk and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvJNpImHIRQ&feature=related . How can you resist?

9. Why should I choose your book for my book club?

Maybe because of something VOYA said in their review, which was probably the greatest compliment I could receive, “This is a witty vampire romance/adventure with plenty of heart and action. Diver has written a supernatural sequel to Vamped (Flux, 2009/VOYA August 2009) that will attract even reluctant readers.” It’s that last part that really gets me. I love the idea that reluctant readers might be attracted to my work. I know it’s popcorn, but, hopefully, it’s the really fun caramel kind!

10. I'm a huge and fabulously powerful movie producer and you have 30 seconds (an elevator pitch) to sell me on why your book is great and should be made into a movie. Go!

Um, love your ascot. I’ve got a great young adult series full of fanged fabulosity in which a teen fashionista wakes to her version of true horror as one of the undead. While she likes the eternal youth and beauty, the all-liquid diet leaves something to be desired. And after defeating a vixen vampiress with visions of world domination in book one, my fashionista and her faction are recruited by the Feds to spy for their country…or else.

Thanks so much for stopping by to answer my questions, Lucienne!

And to all the blog readers and fans of the GCC: Happy Beginning of the School Year! (ssshhh...stop boo-ing me. It's not my fault that the summer's over!)

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