2009 - A Year in Review

While I was going through my Google Reader (which is a life saver), I came across a lot of posts looking back on 2009. So I decided to do my own post about 2009.

Let me just start by saying that 2009 was awesome! I really began connecting with the blogging and YA author community more this year and my blog changed so much.

Favorite Reviews:

The Good - I'm going to have to go with Brightly Woven. I had a lot of fun writing the review. My reviews for Beautiful Creatures and The Dark Divine were also a lot of fun to write.

The Bad - For a bad review, I sure had fun writing it. My review of The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a prime example of my ranting abilities. Like I said in the review, I really don't know what went wrong. Everyone seems to love the book and I still want to, I just can't seem to get into it.

Favorite Interviews:

Maggie Stiefvater & Cayla Kluver

Favorite Covers:

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Sea by Heidi R Kling

Authors I met:

Jen Calonita (Secrets of my Hollywood Life)

Jen was super sweet and funny. I'm so glad I was able to meet her - I love her books.

Sarah Dessen

Yeah, I was totally freaking out when they took this picture. So awesome!

Ally Carter (Gallagher Girls)

This was my second time meeting Ally Carter. She was so sweet and I learned many great tips from her about writing.

General Awesomeness:

• I hit (and broke) 200 followers! I never would've thought there'd be that many people interested in reading my blog. You guys are seriously awesome.
• I was quoted in the paperback version of Beautiful Americans by Lucy Silag.
• This isn't really blog related, but I finished writing the first draft of my novel today. :-)

New Year's Resolutions:

• Read more
• Review more
• Write more
• Twitter less

Happy New Year!

10 in '10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge List

Here's my list for the 10 17 18 20 in '10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge:

1. Wanderlust by Lucy Silag
2. Scones and Sensibility by Lindsay Eland
3. The Real Real by Emma Mclaughlin and Nicola Kraus
4. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
5. It's Not Summer Without You by Jenny Han
6. Runaway by Meg Cabot
7. You Wish by Mandy Hubbard
8. Broadway Lights by Jen Calonita
9. A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker
10. So Many Boys by Suzanne Young
11. A Good Boy is Hard to Find by Suzanne Young
12. Forgive my Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
13. The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein by Libby Schmais
14. She's So Dead To Us by Kieran Scott
15. Tourist Trap by Emma Harrison
16. Scandal by Kate Brian
17. Vanished by Kate Brian
18. Breathing by Cheryl Renee Herbsman
19. Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter
20. Heist Society by Ally Carter
21. The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
22. Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupula

Um, ya, so that's more than ten books. I'll probably be adding more throughout the course of the year, but for now I'll stick with those. What can I say? I just love teen chick lit!

10 in '10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge!

Today I'm cross-posting with Kay Cassidy about a very exciting new challenge we've put together. Enjoy!

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Do you love chick lit? That fun, snappy voice that begs to be read and enjoyed? Then join us for:

The 10 in '10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge!

Co-hosted by teen book blogger Jessica (www.chicklitteens.com) and YA author Kay Cassidy (www.kaycassidy.com), the 10 in '10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge is your chance to read some fabulous teen chick lit books with other chick lit fans. The challenge runs from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010. Here's how to participate:

1) Grab the official 10 in '10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge logo above and put it on your site with a link back to this page to let people know you're playing.

2) Choose 10 teen chick lit books to read in 2010. Or select the ones you know you want to read and leave the rest of your list open to see what comes your way in 2010. (We'll be talking about the great teen chick lit books we've read each month, so you may find some new ones that catch your eye!)

3) Click on the Mr. Linky button below to share your list if you've posted it on your blog. If you don't have a blog, simply comment below with your choice of books and let us know you're in like Flynn.

4) Each month, Jessica and Kay will alternate hosting the official check-in post where you can share the books you've read for the challenge. And be sure to let us know what you thought of them!

Oh, and did we mention PRIZES???

We know you've got a ton of books in your TBR pile. To make it even more fun to read the teen chick lit ones, we'll be doing fun, impromptu giveaways throughout the year for participating challengers who check in with their progress!

And, of course, we need to have an awesome grand prize you can drool over, right? For challengers who read 10+ teen chick lit books during 2010 and let us know on our monthly check-in posts, we'll be putting them in a drawing for a fabulous prize basket filled with great chick lit books, cool swag, and even some DVDs! Watch the monthly check-in posts for super secret peeks at the grand prize package.

And even more cool chick lit stuff...

We love all things chick lit, so we want this to be more than just a reading challenge. We want it to be a challenge where readers can come to talk about the chick lit books they're reading and loving and get to know some terrific chick lit authors too. So...

In addition to the monthly check-ins, we'll also be featuring exclusive chats throughout the year with some of your favorite chick lit authors! Stay tuned to the monthly check-ins for more details about how to get involved in the chats and to see who's coming on board.

And now it's your turn!

Are you ready to join the fun? Excellent! Then grab the logo, share your 10 in '10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge reading list, and gear up for a fabulous 2010!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I know if a book is "chick lit"?

A: If you think it is, it is! There's no standard definition for chick lit, and we definitely don't want to be the chick lit police. So we're leaving it up to each challenger to decide if a book qualifies for the challenge. If you're looking for examples to guide you, books like Meg Cabot's The Princess Diaries series, Jen Calonita's Secrets of My Hollywood Life series, and Tera Lynn Childs' Oh. My. Gods. series are all great examples of teen chick lit.

Q: What if I don't have a book blog?

A: No worries at all. Simply share your progress in the comments on the monthly check-in posts on Jessica and Kay's blogs. Better yet, share your thoughts in places like Goodreads, Shelfari, Amazon, and BarnesandNoble.com too. Let your voice be heard!

Q: What's the deal with the chats? Are these real-time chats or interviews on the blog?

A: Real-time chats. Our guest authors will be joining us on Chatzy at a scheduled time to chat about all things chick lit (including their books). It's a fun, informal chat that will be open to all. We'll be sharing the schedules in the monthly check-in posts, so keep your eye on them for more details coming soon.

Q: I LOVE teen chick lit. Can I read more than 10?

A: Absolutely! 10 is the minimum number of books needed to be eligible for the grand prize drawing, but you can read as many teen chick lit books as your heart desires and check in with them all. The more, the merrier!

Happy reading!

Jessica and Kay

Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt

When a flawlessly dressed woman steps out of an iridescent bubble and wants to know, like, now if you’d like to become a substitute princess, do you

a) run

b) faint

c) say Yes!

For Desi Bascomb, who’s been longing for a bit of glamour in her Idaho life, the choice is a definite C–that is, once she can stop pinching herself. As her new agent Meredith explains, Desi has a rare magical ability: when she applies the ancient Egyptian formula “Royal Rouge,” she can transform temporarily into the exact lookalike of any princess who needs her subbing services. Dream come true, right?

Well, Desi soon discovers that subbing involves a lot more than wearing a tiara and waving at cameras. Like, what do you do when a bullying older sister puts you on a heinous crash diet? Or when the tribal villagers gather to watch you perform a ceremonial dance you don’t know? Or when a princess’s conflicted sweetheart shows up to break things off–and you know she would want you to change his mind?

In this hilarious, winning debut, one girl’s dream of glamour transforms into something bigger: the desire to make a positive impact. And an impact Desi makes, one royal fiasco at a time.

In this witty debut Lindsey Leavitt creates a strong young voice straight from the scenes of Casablanca and Roman Holiday, punctuating the novel with strong female role models like Audrey Hepburn and Katherine Hepburn.

Desi’s wisdom and insight stretch far beyond her fourteen years. She has the strength, courage and impact of all of her great role models. She’s the type of girl that any girl – be it child, teen or adult – can relate to. Her voice is wonderfully depicted, but it’s her character that is her crowning glory. For any young girl, Desi is the perfect role model.

One of the best things about this book, in my opinion, is the many stories that are enwrapped into Desi’s. Throughout her adventures as a sub she encounters a whole host of characters. With each new assignment the reader, like Desi, is given the chance to transform into that princess and see everything from their eyes. This not only provides better insight into Desi’s character, but it also allows readers to experience the different lives of many very different princesses. It’s a unique look at vastly different cultures, yet always showing the universal similarities between the girls. Every one of them is looking for acceptance, confidence and the power to reach their dreams. Through Desi’s experiences as a sub, she not only helps the girls along that path, but also gains that for herself.

What amplified this already wonderful story was the way that Leavitt crafted Façade agency and the process of subbing. Ever since hearing about Princess for Hire I’d been curious as to how she was going to work it. The bubble idea seemed a bit far fetched and my biggest fear going into it was that that feel may resonate through the entirety of the novel. Only, it didn’t. In fact, by the end of the book I was honestly mystified by the whole arrangement. The way in which Leavitt has created the agency completely overrode what could have been a somewhat cheesy idea, making it unbelievably awesome and flawlessly made. In fact, by the end I wanted my own bubble!

Princess for Hire is a fabulous debut novel filled with romance, princesses and magic. The ideal book for fans of fantasy, chick lit and anyone who’s ever dreamed of being a princess.

5 Stars!

Release: March 2010

Received from: Publisher via author request

Cover Judge

In looking at the results from my survey last week I noticed that one thing is apparent: Cover Judge is overwhelmingly everyone's favorite feature. Let me just say that I'm so glad to hear that! I really love covers and get so excited when I see new covers revealed. I'm very happy to know that you all enjoy my posts (and the covers) as much as I do and don't find my analysis boring or repetitive.

Therefore, without further ado, I present you with the final Cover Judge of the year! This cover is for the newest book in one of my favorite series by one of my favorite authors. I've featured two of her covers already this year and, once again, I've fallen in love.

Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

(How much do you love that title?!)

Release: June 15, 2010

Synopsis (courtesy of GoodReads.com): When Cammie Morgan enrolled at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, she knew she was preparing for the dangerous life of a spy. She just didn’t know that life would start during her junior year of high school. But that’s exactly what happened two months ago when Cammie faced off against a mysterious organization called the Circle of Cavan. Now, even Cammie “The Chameleon” can’t hide. Danger has followed her to London where she discovers a trusted ally has been labeled a rogue operative. The Gallagher Girls quickly realize that the Circle’s agents are closer than they’d ever feared—maybe even within Gallagher Academy’s own walls. History of Espionage takes on an entirely new meaning as Cammie and her friends go looking for answers, recognizing that the key to Cammie’s future may lie deep in the past.

Cover: These covers are probably some of my favorites. I'm a huge fan of the continued use of the preppy uniforms. Not only does it tie into the general idea and heart of the books, but it also is very eye catching. The color scheme on this cover is yet again gorgeous. The pink and brown are a perfect combination. Also, once again the picture cuts off the upper portion of the model's head, which plays into the mystery and secrecy of the books.

My one, and only, complaint about this cover is that it feels a bit young. It looks to me like they may have used a different model. She looks a tad younger than the previous model and her stance is not as strong and powerful as that of the previous covers. I'd say it's a bit more whimsical than its predecessors, which is not bad, just different.

Even so, I really like this cover. It has that sophisticated, sassy flair like the rest and definitely will catch people's attention.

P.S. One final thought: I especially like the addition of the umbrella when everything in Cammie's life is crumbling - or shall we say "raining down" - around her.

Book Trailers

I didn't plan on posting another book trailers instalment today, but I just saw this and had to share!

For those of you who aren't familiar with The Tenners, they are a group of debut novelists whose novels will be debuting in 2010. I've read a few of there titles and, thus far, they've been fabulous. If you're like me, this video will make your TBR list grow a bit longer.

Merry Christmas!

Behind the Binding (2)

This time on Behind the Binding I'm going to tell a little story about how I found Lament by Maggie Stiefvater.

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About two summers ago I was just starting to branch out with my blog and come into contact more with the online community of authors and book bloggers. As I've mentioned before, some of the first authors I began talking with where Mandy Hubbard and Lindsey Leavitt.

While commenting on Mandy's blog one day I found a link to another new author's blog. There was a contest going on for an ARC but I didn't know much about the book so I didn't enter. I did, however, take a look at her book. It looked interesting enough and I mentally filed it away to look for it later. All I remembered though was the title - Lament - and the cover - a rather artsy cover with a brooding, frightened girl.

I didn't take note of the author's name or the release of the book. I figured that I'd see the cover soon enough and buy it. However, I never saw the cover again - not in stores or online. I did, however, see the title a few more times. But since the cover wasn't the same I just figured it was another book with the same title.

Then, over the summer I read Shiver. When I was putting together my review I went onto Maggie's website to get the cover photo and synopsis. Under "novels" I saw that there was another title listed there in addition to Shiver. Since I enjoyed Shiver so much I thought "why not?" and clicked on the link.

I recognized the title and new cover at first, but it didn't really click. As I scrolled down the page, however, I saw the picture of the old cover. Turns out that the cover, with the girl looking a bit suicidal, hadn't received a lot of

interest from booksellers, so they'd decided to recover it.

Funny how after all that time I ended up finding the book and author, who just happened to be the author of one of my new favorites. Can you say coincidence?

I need your help!

As this year draws to a close I'd like to start turning my sights towards next year and working to improve Chick Lit Teens. I'd greatly appreciate it if you be willing to take the time to take this survey and share with me your opinions of my blog.

Take the survey!

Thank you for your help and continued support of Chick Lit Teens!

Chick Chat: Kitty Keswick

Today I have an interview with debut author Kitty Keswick, author of Freaksville. For more information on Kitty and Freaksville check out her website at http://kittykeswick.com/.

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Why did you decide to write YA?

I started writing in high school, and the genre just felt natural as I continued to write. I’ve tried a few different genres, but I like YA best. It fits my voice and style.

What inspired you to write Freaksville?

It started from a dream I had and just grew. When I sat down to write it, the words just flowed. I had never had a book come that easily before. The story did go through a few revisions, and I doubled the word count.

How did you decide on your characters’ names?

One of the underlining themes in Freaksville is Names have power. So the names of the characters needed to be important. I chose (Kasey) Maxwell and (Josh) Johnstone for a special reason. Freaksville has a little Romeo-Juliet vibe throughout, although there’s a paranormal twist. The Maxwells and the Johnstones were two real families who lived on the borders of Scotland and England around the 1200–1600. The two families constantly battled over land rights. I’ve twisted history a wee bit to suit my needs; they weren’t warring Lycan clans…or maybe they were? Freaksville also has a magical thread lacing the story arc together—knowing a person’s full name wields a certain amount of power.

Whenever I’m creating a character, I always start with the name first. This helps me shape the person’s character and flesh out his or her quirks. So to me, names do have power.

Would you rather see your book turned into a TV show or a movie?

Oh. tough one. Can I have both? A TV show if it has a long run and syndication would be cool. All the secondary characters could have their subplots told. But to see my books on the silver screen, that’s a dream I think many writers have. Movies generally have bigger budgets so the special effects would be really cool to see. So I’d say a TV show with a movie deal.

Who would be your dream cast?

Maybe Emma Roberts or Jenna Boyd for Kasey. Anna Sophia Robb or Dakota Fanning for Gillie. The guys are tougher. The actors for both male leads would have to be incredible drool worthy. Josh needs jet black hair and bright blue eyes and speaks with a British accent, and Günter is tall, blond, and from Germany. It’s a hard call, because chemistry is so important in a story, and without seeing the actors in action…well, I’m glad I’m not a casting director. It’s a tough job.

If you could bring any character from any book to life, who would it be?

Robin Hood. I’ve had a crush on him since I was four.

What is your favorite adjective? Why?

Gingerly. I like the feeling of tenderness it conveys.

Josh gingerly traced his fingertips against my face.

Beside writing and reading, what are you passionate about?

Movies, England, Scotland…a little bit of everything.

What’s next for you?

I’m the co-president of the Class of 2K10, a group of debut MG and YA authors. That keeps me pretty busy (www.classof2k10.com). Also, at present I’m up to my eyebrows in edits on book two: Furry and Freaked (due out Fall 2010—I actually like editing, and my editor Kat’s eye for the story is wonderful.). And I’m slaving away on the rough draft for book three, which currently is titled Freaked No More (Fall 2011), but that might change.

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Thanks for stopping by Kitty!

In My Mailbox

I received some fantastic books this week:

In addition to those mention above, I spent the day at the used bookstore (first visit ever) and bought a ton of wonderful classics:

• The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (2000s)
• Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1960s)
• The Last Tycoon by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1960s)
• Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1960s)
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (1930s)
• To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee (1990s)

Let's just say I've found my new favorite place for treasure hunting. Next time I'm looking for Wuthering Heights and Swann's Way which they were unfortunately out of today.

Best Books of 2009

Today I'd like to share a few of my favorite books with you. 2009 was a great year full of even greater books. As hard at it was, I was able to narrow it down to my top ten favorites of 2009. Believe me, there are many more great great books, but these are just my personal favorites. Also, there are some books that I've read this year that I honestly believe should be in the running. However, since they're technically 2010 books, I've included them below in a separate category.

So, without further ado, here are my top picks for 2009:

Best Published:

1. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

This book was wonderfully written and the main characters were developed beautifully. It is by far my top pick for 2009.

2. The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

This one may have just come out on Tuesday, but I was lucky enough to get an ARC. As soon as I finished reading I knew that it was automatically on the list. I'd highly suggest reading this, you won't be sorry.

3. Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia

This was another book that I was lucky enough to read in advance. A fellow blogger let me borrow her ARC. Like #2 this one far exceeded my expectations. 600 pages and I still wanted more. I think that says it all.

4. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

For a sequel this one was shockingly good. After everything that had happened in The Hunger Games I wouldn't have thought the second book could be that good, and yet it was. A bit rocky at times, but all together a wonderful sequel with great promise for book three.

5. The Season by Sarah MacLean

Mystery, murder and romance all rolled up into the London season during the Regency Era. This book was just too perfect for words. Everything I love in one fantastic book.

6. Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover by Ally Carter

The third book in one of my favorite series. Not only did it contain everything that made the first two Gallagher Girl books great, it also set a whole new bar for the rest of the series. With the set up Carter created (and what she's alluded to about book four), there's no question that the coming books will be brilliant.

7. Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

It's Sarah Dessen, need I say more?

8. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

I enjoyed this book when I first read it. It was right on the cusps of 4.5 and 5 stars. Being nice, I decided to round it up. When I was flipping through the final copy, however, I really fell in love with the story and saw just how great it was. It's chock full of dark romance, mystery and intrigue. A wonderful debut.

9. Forest Born by Shannon Hale

As the fourth book in the Books of Bayern series I knew that this book would be on the list. I'm a huge fan of Shannon Hale and the Books of Bayern. What I liked especially about this one was how it wasn't like the other three. The main character and her powers were so different than the other three characters. I greatly enjoyed getting to see Rin grow and gain confidence.

10. Prada and Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard

This book was great. It was fun and cute and a great change from most of the fantasy/paranormal and dark romance I read a lot of this year. I loved the mix of modern high school politics and Regency Era, especially how the two crossed over and related. Another great debut and fun read.

Best Read (But Not Yet Published):

1. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

I just could not imagine making this list without somehow including this book. It would most likely be one of my top four books. I absolutely loved the story and the characters. As soon as this one comes out in March I'm buying a copy and rereading it. Wonderful!

2. The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

This is another cute, fun read. In addition to that, however, it was also very empowering and had a great message. The entire book is empowering and fun, a great read for girls - both young and old.

What were your favorites?

Candor by Pam Bachorz

Oscar Banks has everything under control. In a town where his father brainwashes everyone, he's found a way to secretly fight the subliminal Messages. He's got them all fooled: Oscar's the top student and the best-behaved teen in town. Nobody knows he's made his own Messages to deprogram his brain. Oscar has even found a way to get rich. For a hefty price, he helps new kids escape Candor, Florida before they're transformed into cookie-cutter teens. But then Nia Silva moves to Candor, and Oscar's carefully-controlled world crumbles.

The premise of this story is rather unique. The idea of a town devoted to mass brainwashing is both frightening and intriguing. I especially liked how Bachorz made the town focused on fixing problems teens. It not only provided the perfect business for Oscar, but it also created some rather interesting characters – both before and after the Messages took hold.

For me, the best part of the novel was the family dynamics between Oscar and his father – the way that their family operated and the history behind Candor. It was rather ironic that the son of Candor’s founder was working to undo all that he had built. However, there were still a few flaws that retracted from what would’ve otherwise been a wonderful book.

It was an impossible situation that Oscar, Nia and the other Candor teens were placed in. And while I recognize that, I cannot help but feel a bit unsatisfied with how things turned out. The majority of the characters were static and remained that way throughout the book. I would’ve liked to see some change in them. Oscar’s father, for example was one character that I would’ve appreciated to see some crack, some measly flaw in. However, he remained the same throughout the entire course of the book. Yes, they’re brainwashed, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they are immune to all human emotion and change, as highlighted by Oscar and Nia.

The ending was also a bit of a let down. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll be concise. I didn’t feel like anything had changed. Oscar’s choices still seemed as selfish as they were at the start and the story just seemed to flop close, nothing resolved, nothing changed, just an ending. For the first book in a series, it would be okay. But for a single book it was a disappointment.

Even with all of these minor problems, it’s undeniable that I enjoyed Candor. I wouldn’t say that these things were necessarily bad, but they definitely left me disappointed at the end. I enjoyed the book, I found the town of Candor interesting and Oscar’s voice and adventures were a great read. I just would’ve liked to see a bit more of an impact on the characters.

If you’re looking for a fun, quick read this is a great choice for both guys and girls. It may not blow you away, but it’ll keep you interested and smiling all the way through.

3.5 Stars

My-Life-Is-Merde-but-Have-a-Bonnes-Fêtes-Anyway Blog Tourapalooza!

Today I have the pleasure of hosting Libby Schmais, author of the recently released The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstien. To celebrate its release Libby is hosting a blog tour and contest. For more information on the My-Life-Is-Merde-but-Have-a-Bonnes-Fêtes-Anyway Blog Tourapalooza see the last question of the interview, where you can find out how you can take part in the giveaway.

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Describe The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein in five words or less.

Wow, that’s tough – five words. I guess I’d say it’s a novel about “existential dread, l’amour and cupcakes.”

What was your road to publishing like?

Well, putting yourself out there is always very stressful and involves a certain amount of rejection, so I would say slightly rocky, but ultimately rewarding, because I’m really happy with the way the book came out.

What inspired you to write The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein?

I wanted to write about a character I wished I could be more like, someone fearless and confident, although at times a little clueless. I was also inspired by all things French, Brooklyn, Jean Paul Sartre and The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon.

What kind of research did you do prior to writing?

The research for this book mostly involved wandering around Park Slope eating cupcakes and drinking lattes and pondering

the meaninglessness of life. Wait, that is my life! Seriously, this book was not a heavily researched one.

Would you rather see your book turned into a TV show or a movie?

Wow, either one of those would be incredible, but if I had to pick, I’d love the book to be made into a movie, because it would be so cool to go into a theatre and eat popcorn and observe other people watching it.

If you could cast anyone to play your characters who would your dream cast be?

Let’s see, I think Lotus would have to be played by an undiscovered actress so there would be no preconceptions about her. I’d love for Ms. G to be played by Winona Ryder and Wolf by Peter Sarsgaard, who I think could do the whole German thing. I wasn’t sure about Sean and Joni, so I consulted with Aurelia, a tween daughter of a good friend of mine, and she suggested Lucas Till for Sean (he did say recently in Teen Vogue that he wanted to play more serious roles) and Dakota Fanning for Joni. For the rest of the casting, I’m liking Jon Cusack for the father, Jennifer Jason Leigh for the mom, Owen Kline for the brother (he played the younger brother in The Squid and The Whale).

Which character from The Pillow Book of Lotus Lowenstein do you feel you relate to most? Why?

I relate to Lotus most, because I share her independent streak, not wanting to be like anyone else, although she has much more confidence than I do.

What’s next for you?

Hopefully, lots more books of all different kinds – Right now, I’m working on another young adult novel, but I also have a middle grade book in the works and some ideas for adult novels.

What is the French Word du Jour?

Today’s French Word du Jour is ennui. If you collect all the French words du jour on the Blog Tourapalooza, you can enter a contest to win fabulous prizes (a $25 Sephora gift card and a personally autographed Pillow Book!). Once you’ve visited all the blog tour stops and collected all the words, email the complete list of words to lotuslowenstein@gmail.com with the subject line “French Word du Jour Contest.” All e-mail entries must be received by midnight (EST) on December 21, 2009. The winner will be selected at random on December 22, 2009. Be sure to include your name, e-mail address, and daytime phone number with your entry (If you're under age 13, give your parent's contact info). The complete My-Life-Is-Merde-but-Have-a-Bonnes-Fêtes-Anyway Blog Tourapalooza schedule can be found at lotuslowenstein.com. Our next and final tour stop is Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf on December 18. See you on the road, mes amis!

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Thanks for stopping by Libby and good luck to everyone!

200 Follower Swag Giveaway Winners - Take Two

Unfortunately, neither of the 200 Follow Swag Giveaway winners claimed there prizes. Therefore, here are the two new winners of the giveaway:

First prize - Jean

Second Prize - J Lee

Congratulations! You have 72 hours (Tuesday, December 15 by 9:00 pm PST) to claim your prizes by emailing chicklitteens@gmail.com.

Chick Chat: Bonnie Doerr

Bonnie Doerr is the author of Island Sting, in stores January 6, 2010. For more information about Bonnie and/or Island Sting visit her website.

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What was your road to publication like?

Long. Very, very long. Then lucky. Very, very lucky. After years of studying the craft and submitting (when my ego was strong enough to withstand rejection) the fates took pity on me. An editor for a regional publisher found my first manuscript on a table in the conference room of a college where I taught. She loved it and thus began the crawl forward to Island Sting and international publication.

What inspired you to write Island Sting?

Passionate, caring teens who desire a better world together with my love of nature, wildlife, and the stunning, fragile environment of the Florida Keys.

Many teens dream of becoming authors.

What advice would you give to aspiring teen authors?

You know, I always hesitate to answer this question. I’ve been out of the advice-giving business for a few years. But if I must, I advise all aspiring teen authors to apply for a Hogwarts scholarship. Upon winning said prize, an award as likely for one as another to win, they must aspire to excellent wandmanship, and ace both Charms and Potions. Truthfully, study the craft of writing relentlessly. Be brave and develop other interests and many friends. Do not isolate yourself. Writing can be a lonely business.

Which one of your characters do you relate to most? Why?

I would like to be like Kenzie Ryan, an impetuous, fearless champion of the environment who is also a little bit sneaky. But I am far too chicken to jump into danger. Perhaps that’s why I choose to write about it instead. But I also admire the independent, quirky character Fisher. He lives life by his own rules quietly watching over his island home and asking for nothing in return.

Would you rather see your book turned into a TV show or a movie?

A TV show. I imagine endless adventures with the same intrepid teens. Oh, and I love reruns! And Tivo. If you could cast anyone to play your characters what would your dream cast be? I would love for a casting agent to find brand new talent—provide two hard-working teens (a dashingly responsible boy and athletically feminine girl) a springboard for their skills.

Besides writing and reading what else are you passionate about?

You can probably guess by my subject matter that I am passionate about the environment and my love of gardening is a manifestation of that zeal. I can’t fix the world, but I can improve my little part of it. I would shrivel and die if I had to go more than two days without being outdoors.

What’s next for you?

A second green teen adventure, Stakeout, will be released in January of 2011. Stakeout follows Kenzie and Angelo as they track a vicious gang that threatens to wipe out the sea turtle population on their island home.

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