Go Lisa! (or Three Times the Charm!)

Tip of the Day: If you want to meet Lisa in person, come to the Rochester Teen Book Fest in May!

Lisa, Lisa, bo-beesa, banana-nana fo-feesa, fee fi mo meesa, Lisa! GO LISA!

I have a Border's gift card waiting in my pocket for CHASING BROOKLYN to be in my local store and I can't wait to read it! I loved Lisa's first two novels, and her picture book is popular at my library as well.

My fave cover of Lisa's is the hardcover FAR FROM YOU design.

The colors are rich, the profile with snowflakes is telling and beautiful. It is also unique! I HEART YOU reminds me of the cover for THE COMEBACK SEASON:


CHASING BROOKLYN reminds me of THE BLACK BOX:



Not that there's anything wrong with that! But I'm just naturally attracted to fresh images like I am fresh concepts, and the original FAR FROM YOU cover -- and content! -- fit the bill.

Though the new paperback FFY cover is gorgeous as well, isn't it?


Happy release week, Lisa!!!

Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing

CP Score! (or Let Me Tell You 'Bout the Old Days)

Tip of the Day: Don't forget to wish Miss Delighted to Debut a Happy Birthday AND Book Birthday on 10/27!

Ah yes, I knew Tina back in the day...back before she had cutie baby #4, before she had an agent in love with her work, before she had a book sale.... But as soon as I read her second WIP, THE ESPRESSOLOGIST, while sitting in my office at my old job, I knew -- I KNEW -- THAT would be The Book of hers to sell first.

Heck, when Tina and I became crit partners, as soon as she "pitched" her idea for THE ESPRESSOLOGIST, I was like, "YES!" So hooky! So clever! So cute! Then she started sending me pages of the novel and I laughed as I read. I begged for more pages. It was such a smooth read, so well plotted and paced. Such great voice. I couldn't stop reading it and remember waiting for Tina's agent offers to roll in after she finished and polished the manuscript.

Then it was there -- multiple agent offers. Then multiple editor offers! I refreshed my hotmail while sitting in my old office, watching the play-by-play and cheering at every step. This book needed to be published -- a bright piece of fun, romantic-comedy amidst the dark and scary vamps and wolves.

And now I'm patting myself on the back bc I was right! THE ESPRESSOLOGIST hits the shelves for all to read on Tuesday -- and I am so glad I was right. Read the book and you'll agree! :)

Order THE ESPRESSOLOGIST from an indy bookstore here!

CONGRATULATIONS, TINA! Hope on Tuesday you party like it's 1999! ;)

Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing

The Espressologist Launch Celebration!!

Tip of the Day: Did you know Kristina has her own website? Check it out!

Our own Miss Delighted to Debut, Kristina Springer, doesn't have much longer to wait. THE ESPRESSOLOGIST releases early next week on October 27th! We're celebrating her success all week long. If you want to know how it feels to have your first novel hit the shelves (I do! I do!), this is the place to ask her questions and revel in the positive energy.

And put THE ESPRESSOLOGIST on your reading list! Here's a taste of the yummy reading awaiting you:

What’s your drink of choice? Is it a small pumpkin spice latte? Then you’re lots of fun and a bit sassy. Or a medium americano? You prefer simplicity in life. Or perhaps it’s a small decaf soy sugar-free hazelnut caffe latte? Some might call you a yuppie. Seventeen-year-old barista Jane Turner has this theory that you can tell a lot about a person by their regular coffee drink. She scribbles it all down in a notebook and calls it Espressology. So it’s not a totally crazy idea when Jane starts hooking up some of her friends based on their coffee orders. Like her best friend, Em, a medium hot chocolate, and Cam, a toffee nut latte. But when her boss, Derek, gets wind of Jane’s Espressology, he makes it an in-store holiday promotion, promising customers their perfect matches for the price of their favorite coffee. Things are going better than Derek could ever have hoped, so why is Jane so freaked out? Does it have anything to do with Em dating Cam? She’s the one who set them up! She should be happy for them, right?

With overtones of Jane Austen’s Emma and brimming with humor and heart, this sweet, frothy debut will be savored by readers.

So, here's a question I couldn't resist asking Kristina. What happens when you tell your parents you have a novel coming out? Do you give them a signed copy of your book?

Kristina says: "Yep, my parents are so stinkin' proud. My mom tells absolutely everyone and passes out business cards with my book cover on it and bookmarks. And they introduce me to everyone as "This is my daughter, the author." :-) And nope-- they're buying books! I'd give them one of course but they want to buy a bunch just because. I gave my mom an ARC in her Mother's Day basket back in a May and she read the book that day and my Dad read it during the next week. They both loved it! And theirs were completely unbiased opinions, I swear. ;-)"

That is so freaking adorable, isn't it? Tina, I'm so psyched that your parents really get it. Your writing friends get it, too, and we couldn't be more happy that your hard work is paying off. Congratulations on your debut!

-- Kate, Miss Perfecting the Pages

My Cover

Tip of the Day: Facebook is SO much fun! You should sign up. And then friend me.

I don't want to right out say I'm a psychic but I may open up a 900 line in the near future. Remember earlier in the year when I talked about my Cover Dreams? When I said I couldn't really imagine my cover but that maybe it would have a big espresso mug and maybe it would be brown or pink.

I swear I had no input but check it out:


What do you think? It's cute right? And I'm definitely a fan of the pink. Whenever I hit a bookstore or library I pick up the pink books first. (Hopefully I'm not the only one who does this).

Ahhhh. At first I thought the whole publishing process was going so slow. And now it feels like it's picking up speed! Sure, the book still won't be out until next fall but it's almost 2009! Next stop is ARCs. And then reviews (only good reviews please). And the marketing prep. Fun stuff ahead!


Kristina, Miss Soon-to-Pub

Readers Wait (or Sittin' in the Waiting Room*)

*With apologies to Fugazi

Tip of the Day: Step away from the bags of Halloween candy. Step away!

All writers seeking publication are familiar with waiting. Once you are Recently Repped, it doesn't get any easier -- especially when you know you're waiting for EDITORS to get back to your agent about your book. (Can you tell I'm feeling this just a little bit right now? ;))

But guess who else waits? Readers! And those are the best kind of waiters for us writers! How many of you take a book in your bag when you head off to the doctor's office, knowing you'll be a the mercy of the old selection of magazines otherwise? When the appointments get backed up before you, aren't you almost glad when you're immersed in a good novel?

I also take to spying on what other waiters are reading -- it's excellent market research! Personally, I tend to bring whatever book in my TBR pile is a paperback. Better yet if there's a mass market size book in there. Perfect travel size! What books do you see others reading while waiting?

Here's a challenge for all you published writers out there: Bring copies of your book with you everywhere and casually drop them in waiting rooms. Do those waiting for their oil change/dentist appointment/doctor visit/DMV attendant pick it up? Or are they too engrossed in the book they brought with them? Or do they go for the magazines on the coffee table?

How bored will someone have to be to pick up my first published novel off the waiting room table? :)

Waiting's not ALL bad....

Deena, Miss Recently Repped

Happy New Baby, Miss Soon-to-Pub!

Tip of the Day: Buy board books for all the brand new little readers in your life!

For the past nine months, not only has Kristina been waiting for her book to be publish-ready, she's been waiting for her new baby to be ready ready!

And the day has come!

CONGRATULATIONS to Tina and her fam on the birth of her new little baby boy!!!!

Standing in for Tina,
All the other A2A Misses