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 Celebration Continues

Tip of the Day: I'm so excited for Tina's book release next week. Not really a tip, but celebration doesn't have boundaries :)

As a person who reads all of her favorite author's books, I'm constantly on the lookout for books like my favorite authors or favorite books. I love to look at "if you liked [this book] then you'd love [this book]" comparisons and lists. So today, I'm bringing you a list featuring our very own Kristina Springer's The Espressologist.

If you loved these books:











You'll love The Espressologist


If you love books by these authors: Meg Cabot, Lauren Myracle, Kate Brian, Niki Burnham, Louise Rennison, Melissa De La Cruz, Lauren Barnholdt, or anyone else that writes humorous teen fiction for girls.

You'll love The Espressologist


If you love books that make you laugh out-loud (which is exactly what happened when I first got the chance to read Tina's book).

You'll love The Espressologist


And if that's not enough to convince you, I went to the author and asked her this important question: Do you remember where you were when you thought up the idea for The Espressologist? And when you wrote it, did you know it was the One?

I was in a coffee shop. I know, I know, completely shocking! :-) But yes, I was sitting at the local Starbucks with my husband having drinks. We were just chatting and watching people come in and out and a particular person caught my eye and I remember thinking, I know what that person is going to order. So I sorta eavesdropped on her order and it turned out I was right. I told my husband I should write a book about what type of people drink what type of coffee drinks and call it Espressology. He thought this was clever and wonderful of course (he says that when I write the grocery list too mind you). Then I was watching the barista dealing with a customer and I thought no wait, I should have a barista who is an espressologist and matchmakes people based on their favorite drinks! That became my lucky spot and I wrote the whole book from the same table at that Starbucks. As far as knowing if it was the One, when I first started writing it I thought wow, this book is really fun to write and I'm really loving it. About halfway through though I did have the thought, Oh my God, I'm totally going to sell this book!

Now doesn't that book sound awesome! Who doesn't love a good matchmaking book. Especially one featuring coffee!

I loved The Espressologist when I first read it a few years ago. I had meet Tina online in a writing class. A few months later we decided to become critique partners. When we first exchanged work, I had joked with her that I was a good-luck charm as a critique parnter, since right before that I'd just joined an online critique group and two people sold right after I joined...even before I could read their work. Tina was probably, "yeah, whatever, Emily!"

But I had barely made it through three chapters of her book, before she quickly made the sale for The Espressologist. I'd like to think it was my good luck, but I really know it's because it's an awesome book. I knew from the moment I heard the concept it would sell. And Tina's love of writing really shines through. Within the first page, I was hooked. Tina has a wonderful ability of comedic timing. Something I'm sure we all want, but very few of us our blessed with. She just has it, and it makes her books all the better for it. Plus, her characters are sweet, but strong at the same time and completely relatable.

So run, don't walk, to the store next week to pick up your own copy of The Espressologist.

Trust me, you won't regret it.

--Emily, Miss Querylicious

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

The choice is mine, all mine!

Tip of the Day: FLASH BURNOUT by my friend L.K. Madigan is officially released Monday, October 19th and I HIGHLY recommend it!

Been a busy week so here it is 7 a.m. and I'm just now doing this post - ack! TGIF indeed!

So, I spent the last 6+ months writing and rewriting a YA story that I have now decided needs to be totally reworked as a mid-grade novel. It is pretty depressing if I let myself dwell on it for too long. I just don't have the energy to do the rewrite now, and who knows if I ever will. I think, sometimes, the longer you spend on a story, working and reworking, the more you start to doubt the story. At least I do. I've decided the best thing for now is to put it away, and maybe next spring, revisit it and see how I feel about it.

Last winter, I ran a story idea past the Author2Author gals and they all said they thought it sounded good. Maybe they just said that because they are very nice gals, but since then, that story has been simmering in the back of my brain and last weekend, when I realized I needed something new to work on, to bring me out of my depression, I sat down and wrote a synopsis, and then started in on the manuscript.

The thing I like about this story, more than anything, is that it ultimately is about a choice the main character must make. And it's not an easy one. It's another novel in verse, and it's something new, I think, that we haven't seen in the verse format before.

Anyway - I LOVE stories where the main character is forced to choose between two things and the choice is hard. Have you seen the preview for that new Carmen Diaz film The Box? Push the button for a million dollars, but when you do, someone somewhere in the world dies. I'm SO going to see that movie!

As for me, I had to choose between letting a story go that I spent a LOT of time on and moving on. Who knows if I made the right choice, but, like most things in this business, you have to follow your instincts and cross your fingers it all works out in the end.

Have a great weekend! I'll be writing. Again!

~Lisa, Miss Crafting a Career

Tina’s Top Ten Tips to Author Interviews

Tip of the Day: The National Book Award Finalists were announced. Congrats to the finalists!

In getting ready for my release in less than two weeks (Eeeek!), I’ve been doing lots of author interviews—mostly online with book bloggers and also with the 2009 Debs Blog tour. But some have been over the phone for papers too. Today I’m going to share some tips (DL countdown style) for doing author interviews.

10. If you’re on the phone, speak slowly and clearly and make sure the reporter is hearing you correctly. Not every reporter tapes the phone conversation so it’s easy for details to get mixed up.

9. If you conducted the interview over the phone, consider asking the reporter to see the article first so that you can check your quotes (Thanks Lisa for this tip!).

8. If you’re e-mailing the interview, proofread your answers several times.

7. There will be standard questions multiple interviewers will ask so be prepared. Typically you’ll get questions like: How did you get the idea for your book? How did you sell your book? What is your writing process? What are you working on now?

6. Being that you will get similar questions from different interviewers, resist the urge to just copy/paste the same answer again and again. Answer it freshly each time.

5. If there is a question that you really don’t want to answer, don’t. The interviewer will understand.

4. Send pics of your book cover and/or yourself to go with the interview.

3. Everyone loves giveaways. Considering giving away a signed copy of your book or some signed bookmarks or other swag.

2. Be yourself during your interview. Don’t throw around a lot of big stuffy words in an attempt to sound ultra cool. Unless of course, that’s how you always talk.

1. Remember that other people will read your answers. Think to yourself: Is it ok if my mom or grandma reads this? Don’t write anything that will make you cringe later!

Kristina, Miss Delighted to Debut

Teen Takes on Twilight (or The Velocity of Vampires)

Tip of the Day: Pop some echinacea if you feel a cold coming on. It might be a placebo, but who cares as long as it works!

I've had the pleasure of working with some teen volunteers lately, ages 13-15, and a great book conversation starter is always, "So did you read TWLIGHT?"

Some responses (all from girls -- and they are smart!):

--The first book in the series is the best. It showed the most of Bella and Edward as individuals. It had the most/best plot.
--I read the series many times. I read TWILIGHT 7 times. I bought all 4 books. I was sad when I finished the series. I stopped reading book #4 halfway through bc I didn't want it to be over.
--TWLIGHT was about what it is to be human and what Bella would have to give up
--THE HOST was about our souls and how they are a powerful connection between ppl
--THE HOST was better than the TWLIGHT series. I can't wait to see who plays Wanda in the movie version
--BREAKING DAWN spent too much time on Bella's gross pregnancy. I felt sorry for Victoria. The ending was sad. The ending was perfect.

Number of copies of TWLIGHT currently on my YA shelf at the library: 1 out of 10 available. Yep, Ms. Meyer is still going strong! Go YA lit!

Other vampire books are also popular, but I have copies of VAMPIRE ACADMEY on my shelves and only own two copies of each of those books. Overall, it seems no matter how hot vamp books are, TWILIGHT is still tops on teens' lists -- and adults, too, in the TBR piles!

Me, I liked Amanda Marrone's UNINVITED for a YA vamp book.

Just some observations from the crowd for which I write -- and love to work with!

Any other vamp books that are different and worth checking out, preferably YA?

Deena, Miss Subbing for Pubbing

Nobody wants stereotypes (or do they?)

Tip of the Day: there's lots of amazing new shows on this season. Some of my favs so far: Flash Forward, Modern Family, The Vampire Diaries, and Glee.

When listening to complaints about the new show Glee, I've heard many TV critics point out it has stereotypical characters. The overly feminine gay character who enjoys dancing to Beyonce's Single Ladies. The overweight black female that likes to "riff" her music and is slightly violent in her behavior. The pretty cheerleader that's part of the Mean Girls trio and tries to break up Glee club, and her jock boyfriend.

Alot of people have stopped watching the show because of these stereotypes, despite the fact I think to some extend the show's purpose is going to try to break these down in future episodes and you'll ultimately get to see very different sides of these character that are hopefully less stereotypical. Including a previous episode in which we find out Kurt's character is good at football. And much of the appeal of this show lies in the music and uniqueness of the show, instead of it's characters.

But is there a fine line with stereotypes that you don't want to cross? And how do you avoid this in your writing?

In one of my current books many of the characters are from diverse cultures, and it gets tough to constantly push my own boundaries in trying to make these characters realistic without coming across as stereotypical Japanese, Italian, American, etc. One of the easiest ways to avoid this is to focus on developing the character fully and separate the character from the culture they come from. I'm an American and proud of it, but many of my traits don't fit typical views foreigners have of U.S. citizens. And the same goes for most cultures.

At the same time it's important for me to celebrate cultural differences in this book, because in real life I think it's important to recognize different cultures and appreciate them. So for that reason stereotypes have to come up, even if they come up because the characters are "shocked" by one of the other characters not fitting their own idea of a certain cultural trait, such as shy, flirtatious, good at dancing, always late, money-hungry, or any other stereotype you want to choose. Plus, I think it makes it more realistic if some stereotypes are in the book and are broken. Because as much as we don't like to admit it, that happens in real life to. So why try to hide that fact?

What do you guys think? And how do you deal with stereotypes in your own work?

--Emily, Miss Querylicious