Sarah Ockler's Blog, page 5

Help a Good Cause & Get Cool Stuff

Announcing Brenda Novak's Annual Auction for the Cure of Diabetes 2011!

Each year, author Brenda Novak hosts a massive online fundraiser for diabetes research in honor of her young son Thad and everyone who suffers from this fifth deadliest killer. This year's money will be donated to The Diabetes Research Institute at the University of Miami.

Brenda's goal is to raise a cool $500,000, topping last year's record of $303,000. Those are some serious stakes, and serious stakes require serious goodies. Goodies like signed books, concert tickets, jewelry, sports memorabilia, lessons, trips, gift baskets, VIP packages to VIP events, services, dinner with famous people… all of that and more, Brenda's auction delivers!

This is my first year participating, and I'm excited to offer two items for writers and readers (and people who like to give gifts to writers and readers, which should be everyone, because who doesn't have a writer or reader on her list?):

1. An in-depth critique by yours truly of the first 50 pages of a YA or MG novel in progress. I might make you laugh, I might make you cry, but I promise I'll help you make that story shine.

2. An autographed set of Fixing Delilah and Twenty Boy Summer. A great gift for you or your favorite YA readers, libraries, or schools.

You can check out these and other auction items — and learn more about Brenda, Thad, and The Diabetes Research Institute — at brendanovak.auctionanything.com. Even if you're not able to bid, you can help spread the word about the auction and this important fundraiser by posting about it on your blog, Facebook, Twitter. You can even go super old school and tell people about it on the phone!

See you at the auction, now through May 31!

Filed under: events, health Tagged: Brenda Novak, diabetes

Monster Cookie Malfunction: Tales from the 3rd Grade Archives

What do you remember most about third grade? Kate Messner, author of the newly released MARTY MCGUIRE, wants to know!

First, let's meet Marty:

Marty would rather spend recess catching frogs in the pond than playing dress-up with the other girls in third grade. So when her teacher casts Marty as the princess in the class play, Marty's absolutely, positively sure that there's been a huge mistake! But after a special lesson in the art of improvisation, Marty comes up with her own plan to improve the play. Why use a stuffed-animal frog onstage when a live one would be so much better?

In the end, Marty's one-of-a-kind performance makes for an unforgettable show. Maybe Marty can live happily ever after, after all!

I loved Kate's THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z and SUGAR & ICE, so MARTY MCGUIRE is going to the top of my list.

In celebration of Marty's debut, Kate asks: "So… isn't that at the heart of third grade? Improvising? Trying out new things (and winging it when something unexpected happens)?" In response, she's encouraging us to dust off the archives and share a third grade memory of our own.

I'm sure I had a right colorful time of it (and Mom probably has the pictures to prove it), but only one event stands out in my mind as quintessential third grade moment…

Monster Cookie Malfunction

Eight years old. Feathered bangs. Future bride of Michael Jackson. Yep, it was the eighties, and I was ready to take on the world. Or at least the classroom. My teacher, Mr. Vuich (pronounced vyoo-itch), had a full beard but a gentle manner and an endless collection of pink ties, pink shirts, and yes, even pink pants. You could call him a trailblazer and you wouldn't be wrong. I thought he was super old, like fifty, but he was probably only marginally old, like thirty.

Mr. Vuich was always planning clever little non-lame school activities for us which, as a creative person-in-training, I totally appreciated. One morning during Halloween season (yeah, it's a whole season when you're that age), Mr. V. surprised us with a new twist on the craft closet:

"Class, today we're going to make…" he said, pausing for dramatic effect, at least that's how I remember it, so, wait for it, "…monster cookies! Yeah!"

Yeah is right. Monster cookies? Yeah, yeah, hella-yeah!

Our wily brood spent the entire morning making sugar cookie cutouts in the likeness of our favorite scary monsters. And of course by scary I mean deformed, but you know, we were only eight. We put them on trays and then picked out our planned decorations from the sugary buffet before us. There was frosting — white, pink, yellow, and blue, but I swiped some additional red and blue food coloring to hand-tint my own special shade of screaming purple. There were black and red licorice ropes for hair, M&Ms and gum drops for eyes, candy corn which nobody liked but made the best pointy noses, and raisins which no one touched because Brian Sours (real name) told us they were dead flies with the wings pulled off, which unleashed a slew of "Hey Brian Sours, can we use your face as a scary monster mold?" jokes.

All in all, it was a great idea. Score one for Mr. V.!

He loaded trays of our raw cookies on an AV cart and shipped them to some mysterious place for baking — probably the school cafeteria which was filthy and smelled like Spaghettios — and then sent us out to the playground with another class for fifteen to eighteen minutes.

Sadly, during those precious few minutes, all of our monstrous hopes and dreams were dashed on the sad rocks of reality.

We returned from the playground, rosy cheeked and eager to decorate or creations. But as we filed into our seats, we noticed the classroom did not smell of fresh baked monster.

Mr. Vuich perched his pink-panted little bottom on his desk and sighed.

"I have good news and bad news," he said. "The bad news is… our monster cookies burnt."

Nearly thirty years later, I haven't forgotten those four little words, the utter defeat in his voice, the guilt in his eyes, the despair on his shoulders like a yoke. The class gave a collective gasp. Mr. Vuich slumped further. And then he rose, crossing to the back of the room where a row of Super Duper (real name) grocery bags glistened on a windowsill in the high afternoon sun. Well, they more likely just stood there not doing anything because they were still brown paper back then, which doesn't glisten. But in my mind they glisten.

"The good news is that we can improvise." Mr. V. fanned his arms out over the stash, a smile finding its way home to his face. "I picked up some graham crackers and marshmallows, and even though we can't cook them, we can still decorate and eat them. Yeah!"

Yeah is right. Yeah, yeah, hella-yeah! We spent the rest of the afternoon decorating and eating. Trading and eating some more. And laughing, because monster grahams? Win!

I still remember my square-headed, purple-faced monster grahams. And I still remember Mr. Vuich and how he saved the day with a little improvisation and quick thinking. That was probably one of the best lessons he ever taught us. So Mr. Vuich, if you're still out there, I hope you know that I never forgot that. And I hope you're still rockin' those pink pants.

And readers? I hope you'll check out more third grade antics, improvisation, and of course, charm in Kate's new release, MARTY MCGUIRE! If you have your own third grade story to share, head on over to Kate's blog for more details on how you can enter to win a signed copy of her latest book.

By the way, does anyone else want a monster graham now? I totally want to make them…

Filed under: books, contests, eats, memories

Haley Reinhart & The Problem with American Idol

We interrupt this blog hiatus to bring you an important rant about the mediocritizing of America and the squishing of dreams.

So, Haley Reinhart. Yeah, I got sucked into another season of American Idol. A partial season. I've been watching since about the top 10. And to be perfectly honest, none of the contestants really did it for me. Not like, chills-inducing, tears-in-my eyes, make-me-want-to-write-a-story-to-match, which is how I like my music to do it, and how Idol hardly ever does.

Until tonight. This performance, specifically (Haley's second song of the night):

It's a combination of the fact that I love that song, and her voice is just so scratchy and sultry and perfect for it, and she totally rocked that joint. I dare you to say otherwise. The judges gave her a standing ovation and called it the best performance of the night, and for once, and even though Haley never really stood out to me before, I totally agree with them tonight. So much so that I'm actually voting for a contestant on American Idol, something I've only ever done once in my life, like five seasons ago.

But House of the Rising Sun is not the performance I'm ranting about tonight. It's this one, Haley's first song, Lady Gaga's unreleased You and I:

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Okay. It's not technically the most awesome, flawless, chills-inducing performance ever. But… seriously judges? Are you all passing around the same head cold, and sharing a bottle of NyQuil, and the pressure in your sinus cavity, when combined with the coma-inducing effects of just one swill from that green bottle, has completely janked your thought processes?

They told her she should've picked a song everyone knew.

Steven doesn't count because he mostly loves everyone, especially the cute girls. But WTF, Jennifer and Randy? This girl takes a chance and does something different within the limited parameters of a show like yours — an unreleased song on which she puts her own cool spin — and you tell her she probably should've chosen a song everyone knew? That she lost out on connecting with the audience because no one had ever heard that song before?

So you basically want everyone to do the same old cookie cutter songs they always do, season after season, karaoke style after karaoke style, over and over and over again? Is that what makes an "American Idol?" Is that what sells records these days?

No, don't answer that. I should know better than to watch this show. I know. But still.

Look. I'm not trash-talking any of the other contestants. I think they all have their own talents and strengths, and whatever your views on Idol, I think it's cool that they're working so hard to get something they want. And normally I don't really care what the judges say, because I make my own opinions, and it's not like I'm so invested in the outcome of this show anyway.

But tonight's reaction to Haley's performance really bothered me, because it wasn't like they were just giving her some constructive feedback on how to be a better singer and performer. They were totally squishing her dreams. Telling her not that she did something technically wrong, not that she under- or over-performed, not that she was pitchy or flat or any of the other tired adjectives Randy likes to fling onto the stage, but that she just shouldn't follow her own creative heart and soul. That instead, she should strive to be… just like everyone else. You know, so people can "connect."

*Yawn.*

I don't like when people squish dreams and try to cram other people's creative ideas into a McDonald's Happy Meal. Whether it's music, books, art, food, dance, movies, or any form of creative expression, I think this world needs more new, fresh, unrecognizable stuff. More of the unknown. More people who are willing to stand against the mediocritizing of everything and take a chance to follow their dreams, even if it's not the most popular or expected or predictable choice. Especially then.

So I'm voting for you tonight, Haley.

And um, yeah, hi everyone! Sorry I've been in hiding for two months. I promise you I wasn't practicing for an Idol audition. I was doing something else just as exciting, though, and I'll tell you more about it very soon!

Filed under: grab bag, music

Holly Schindler on Censorship, Missouri, & Stereotypes

Holly Schindler is the author of novels A BLUE SO DARK and the soon-to-be released PLAYING HURT. As a lifelong resident of Springfield, Missouri (she's totally legit because she pronounces it like "Ma-zur-ah" instead of "Misery"), she had quite a lot to say during that whole Wesley Crazypants Filthy Book Banning thing last fall (considering Mr. Crazypants was sooo inaccurately representing the good people of her homeland) (which crazypants people often do) (because they are crazy).

I'm not sure whatever happened to Mr. Scroggins, but Holly's gearing up for the launch of her second YA novel, PLAYING HURT, which hits the shelves on March 8 (and is definitely not something Mr. Scroggins will enjoy, because there's smoochin' in it and stuff!). She stopped by on her virtual tour this week to share her thoughts on book banning in the Show-Me State and to tell us a bit about her latest book.

She's also giving away a signed copy of PLAYING HURT — read on to find out how!

Barefoot in the Bible Belt

By Holly Schindler

Wull, gaaaw-lee, shore is a might cold 'round these here parts. It's Feb'rary, after all. Where'm I gon' get a little heat? Think I'll jes' burn these here books. Ain't nothin' but a bunch 'a smut in 'em, anyhowse.

Come on—that's the picture you get, isn't it? All I have to say is "Midwest" or "Ozarks," and you get that image: a barefoot hillbilly who's never used a be-verb correctly in his entire life.

And as soon as I think of that stereotype, I get a full-body cringe.

I'm a lifer myself—born and raised in Springfield, Missouri. And when the Scroggins debacle ensued in the fall of 2010, and the works of Sarah Ockler and Laurie Halse Anderson were unfairly targeted in one man's narrow-minded banning attempt, all I could think was, "Here we go again."

But I'm not talking about banning—not entirely. I'm also talking about that ridiculous, awful, barefoot hillbilly stereotype. Because in addition to attacking the work of two incredible young adult authors, I feared Scroggins's complaint was also about to add to the unfair stereotyping of Missouri .

In the months since the story broke, the headline continues to pop up here and there in the blogosphere. And just as I feared, instead of identifying Scroggins as the source of the banning attempt… Yep, you guessed it—the headlines or quotes or discussions that pop up indicate MISSOURI wants to ban books. MISSOURI stands for censorship.

Actually, the majority of us don't.

I could go blue in the face pointing to a myriad of dry facts proving my point. I could talk about the slew of local bloggers who put up posts expressing disdain for Scroggins' attempt. I could talk about the fact that MSU students convened to protest book banning.

But more important than these overt, published examples of fellow Ozarkers' disgust over book banning is that which can't be quoted or measured or recorded. It's the open-mindedness that has lived in the blood of so many Ozarkers for generations. A traits that stands in direct opposition to the goals of Wesley Scroggins.

Just as much as I feel the work of my fellow YA authors was completely miscategorized, I also feel that much of my own Missouri's opinions have been unfairly categorized. And just as an author's work can't be judged by lifting a stray line out of context, neither should an entire region be judged by one man—or even one school district—that attempts to pull a book from library shelves.

To me, Missouri has always been a place of strength—and, yes, of open-mindedness. A place that I'm proud to call my home—and to showcase in my writing.

–Holly Schindler

About Playing Hurt

Star basketball player Chelsea "Nitro" Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college—and everyone's admiration in her hometown. But everything changed senior year, when she took a horrible fall during a game. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.

As a graduation present, Chelsea 's dad springs for a three-week summer "boot camp" program at a northern Minnesota lake resort. There, she's immediately drawn to her trainer, Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player who's haunted by his own traumatic past. As they grow close, Chelsea is torn between her feelings for Clint and her loyalty to her devoted boyfriend back home. Will an unexpected romance just end up causing Chelsea and Clint more pain—or finally heal their heartbreak?

Holly's giving away a signed copy of PLAYING HURT to one lucky reader! Check out all the details here!

Holly Schindler dove headfirst into her writing pursuits after obtaining her MA from Missouri ("Ma-zur-AH") State University in 2001. Having penned a pile of drafts that literally stretches to the ceiling of her office, she was thrilled to release her debut novel, A Blue So Dark, with Flux in 2010. A Blue So Dark received a starred review in Booklist, and was named one of Booklist's Top 10 First Novels for Youth. Her second novel, Playing Hurt, will be released March 8, 2011. Visit her online at www.HollySchindler.com.

Filed under: author interviews, books, reading Tagged: book banning, censorship, contests, Holly Schindler, Playing Hurt, Wesley Scroggins, YA fiction, young adult books, young adult fiction

You're Not a Thing: 10 Anti-Insanity Tips for Writers

In my limited, biased, ever-changing experience, the hardest part about being a published author is enduring the external, perceived transition from a person to a thing. I say external and perceived because even though it feels real, it's not. But after publication, the reading and publishing world may start treating us like it is, and if we're not wholly conscious of it, we may start believing it. Evaluating ourselves against other perceived things. Behaving, writing, and speaking as if we are things. And then… our heads explode (really! That part's in the manual and everything)!

How exactly do writers become things?

I blame capitalism.

(Ha! I always wanted to say that.)

Before publication, writing is deeply personal; it's art, soul, dreams, creation, sweat, blood, and fairy dust. After publication, writing is deeply personal; it's art, soul, and all that other stuff… but it's also a commodity. A thing that can be branded, packaged, categorized, shelved, and stickered with a price based on fancy economic principals. A thing that can be copied and distributed via virtually limitless media and channels. A thing that can be loved, hated, analyzed, dissected, favorited, cheered, booed, challenged, spat upon, lovingly dog-eared, passed reverently among friends, used as kitty litter liner, awarded, or altogether forgotten—and done so exponentially, thanks to the internet.

Our tendency under this model is to arbitrarily define "success" in sales numbers, awards, and dollars, and then to measure against this limited definition with the only scraps of information we have: advance amounts, delayed sales numbers, marketing campaign details, print runs, lists, stars, buzz, and all the other stuff that can be counted, taken out of context, and overanalyzed until it sucks the write right out of us.

It's quite crazy-making, because from a practical perspective, authors who make their living writing books need to sell books, and to sell books in our capitalist society, we kind of have to accept this thing-ness stuff. It's part of the deal, just as it is in any for-profit business endeavor.

The important thing to remember, though, is that we're not the things—our books are. So if you're feeling a bit thingy these days, read on!

How to Not Be a Thing: 10 Anti-Insanity Tips for Writers

Turn off Google alerts. Google alerts is like being in high school, and every single time someone utters your name, the principal comes over the loudspeaker. Bzzzz! Sarah Ockler, Jeff Johnson doesn't know you're alive, so stop practicing your signature with his last name. Bzzzz! Sarah Ockler, your brother found your diary. Why do you write about Jeff Johnson so much? See announcement number one. Bzzzz! Sarah Ockler, you have a huge butt, and also, there's toilet paper stuck to your shoe. Bzzzz! Sarah Ockler, um, your hair looks nice today. But bzzzz! Not nice enough for Jeff to notice. Yeah, Google Alerts is like that, personalized insults delivered right to your inbox. Trust me—nothing said about you online is worth risking your emotional sanity, because if there's something being said about you that you really need to know, such as… you've been nominated for a National Book Award! or Johnny Depp loves your book so much he wants to pay you a personal visit to get a signed copy! …someone will contact you directly.
Stop comparing. Unless you're self-published, it's unlikely that you'll have accurate, up-to-date sales data at any given point. And what's a good number, anyway? 1,000 or 10,000 or 100,000 copies sold might be phenomenal for one book, abysmal for another. This author got on a 10-city tour, that one got a dedicated Web site, this one got an ad in the NYT, that one is visiting every school in the country, this one got a 6-figure advance, that one got less… well? Every book is different and requires different marketing. You don't always know what's going on behind the scenes at your publisher, but even that doesn't matter. Maybe you got the platinum edition marketing campaign or maybe you got utterly forgotten, but comparing anything to other authors doesn't make the next book happen. I'll tell you what it does make happen: crazy! Now stop looking at so-and-so's Amazon rank and go work on your manuscript!
Think like a reader. If you walk into a book store with 3 friends and ask each to point out her favorite book, what are the chances you'll pick the same book? Your best friend might've based her entire life's dream on a book you thought was utter drivel. Your neighbor can't stop ranting about a book that you love so much you've read it a dozen times. And your cousin Louise was all mehhhh about a book that's just been turned into a blockbuster movie netting a gazillion dollars. So it makes sense that readers will have widely differing opinions on your work, too. This is a good thing. If we all liked the same stuff, how lame would this joint be? Sure, no one wants to be on the receiving end of a crappy review, but it's all subjective. I don't take sugar in my coffee, you hate coffee but love tea, someone else only drinks the chemically-laden General Foods International powdered stuff, which I personally think is nasty (even though I secretly used to love it), but you don't see the General crying about it, right? I know, I'm a lot braver writing about this than I am in real life, but I'm working on thinking more like a reader when it comes to other readers evaluating my stuff. Better yet…
Don't read reviews. I'm still not 100% off the review pipe, but I'm getting there. Reviewers do not take the place of a good critique group, and readers aren't there to give us constructive editorial feedback. They're there to be entertained, informed, inspired, and educated. All the reasons we read books ourselves. And if your book doesn't do it for them, that's okay. It really, truly is. The question is, do you really need to know about that? Unless it's going to help you improve your next project without killing your spirit, skip it.
Don't take it personally. Maybe you haven't turned off Google Alerts, or you're still analyzing every review, or someone actually emailed to let you know how much he hates you. I know it feels personal–it should feel personal, because it's our art, right? But you have to know (and believe) that it's not personal. That reader doesn't like your book–he doesn't even know you as a person. That reader may even say he doesn't like you, but he means your book. It's all part of that external perception thing–lots of times, readers don't separate the book from the writer. Guess what? That's sooo not your problem.
Don't chase trends. For one thing, it's totally impractical. From initial sale to shelves, the book publishing process can take several months to 2 or even 3 years. By the time "the next big thing" hits the shelves, the rest of the industry is on to the next next big thing, or maybe even the big thing after that. More importantly, if you're writing something just because you think it's going to be a hit, and you don't really care about the story or the subject, welcome to flopsville. Teen readers have highly attuned B.S. detectors, and they'll see right through it. Plus, you won't be happy.
Write what you love. Notice I didn't say the oft-spouted "write what you know." You don't have to know anything. You just have to care about it enough to find out, to imagine, to create.
Remember the joy of writing. What brought you to the page in the first place? Do you remember? If you're losing it—if writing feels like a chore instead of a joy (even a hard-won joy), take a break. Recharge. Come back when you're feeling more excited about it again. If you're slogging through the work, readers will slog through the book, and that isn't good for any of us.
Write. Period. Talking about writing, reading blogs about writing, thinking about writing, dreaming about writing… all of this may be important and intellectually stimulating, but it's not actual writing. To be a person who writes, you have to be—wait for it—a person who writes.
Don't give up. Keep writing. Write another story. Write the next story. Write the story that's keeping you up at night. If you're getting rejections or negative feedback, try again. Again and again and again. Writing is not easy. Publication of one book doesn't guarantee future success of another. All you can do is keep writing. Don't. Give. Up. Ever.

Say it with me now: I am not a thing. I am not a thing. I am not a thing.

For all my writing friends, wherever you are on the journey, here's to a new year filled with joy, inspiration, and of course… writing! Lots and lots of writing. In fact… get back to work!

Filed under: publishing, writing

Tweeting Delilah Winners!

More than 100 twitter friends participated in the Tweeting Delilah twitter launch party for Fixing Delilah last week, answering book trivia, asking questions, and Tweeting about some of their own mother/daughter secrets and wishes.

Now that I've cleaned up the party mess and paid my penance to the Twitter police who kept booting me for too much tweeting, I'm excited to announce the door prize winners!

A $10 giftcard from any online or IndieBound bookstore goes to:

@flamingo1325

@Nikkayme

@TabithaMichelle

A box of maple sugar candy (in honor of Patrick and Delilah's "maple drizzlers" from the book!) and signed goodies goes to:

@Kquimbyjohnson

@trishuhhhr

And finally, the grand prize pack including a $20 iTunes giftcard, a box of maple sugar candy, a signed copy of Fixing Delilah, and the blog that will host the premier of the upcoming Fixing Delilah Behind the Book video later this month goes to…

@KelleyVitollo

Congrats to the winners, and thanks again to everyone who stopped by. You showed those Twitter cops what's up, and you truly made the Tweeting Delilah party a smashing success!

Filed under: books, contests, Fixing Delilah

Twitter Book Parties: Tweeting Delilah 11/30 & 12/1!

Tweeting Delilah Part 1

Date: Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Time: 8:00-11:00 PM EST (5PM for you west coasters!)

Location: http://tweetchat.com/room/FixingDelilah

Join us for an online book party featuring behind the scenes book trivia, prizes and giveaways, spontaneous author Q&A, and lots of tweety, chaotic fun as we celebrate the launch of Sarah Ockler's latest novel, FIXING DELILAH!

Prizes will be awarded throughout the night! Answer trivia and ask questions to win fun stuff like bookstore giftcards, maple sugar treats inspired by Fixing Delilah, signed bookmarks, and for bloggers — a signed hardcover and a chance to host the premier of the Fixing Delilah Behind the Book video in December!

Party Pointers

You'll need a Twitter account (free) to join the party. If you don't have an account, you can sign up now.
Be sure to follow Sarah at @sarahockler before the party. Only twitter followers will be eligible for prizes!
The easiest way to participate is through TweetChat, a service that allows you to follow a Twitter chat through your Twitter account. The night of the party, just sign into Twitter, then go here: http://tweetchat.com/room/FixingDelilah
When you get to the party, say hi, introduce yourself, ask a question, or jump right in on the conversation! Just use the tag #FixingDelilah in all of your party tweets. If you're participating through the TweetChat link, the tag will automatically be added to your tweets.
Watch for book and author trivia questions from @sarahockler throughout the night. Answer correctly to win more prizes!
If you've already read the book, don't post any spoilers! No comments or questions that give away the good stuff!
Stop by any time during party hours.
Party times are listed in EST.

Tweeting Delilah Part 2

The morning after Tweeting Delilah, on December 1, we'll keep the party going… with a twist. This one is for the moms and daughters.

Date: Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Time: All day!

Location: Twitter

Throughout the story of Fixing Delilah, sixteen-year-old Delilah and her mother Claire are keeping secrets. Old family fights, little white lies, good-intentioned coverups, life-altering deceptions. But as Delilah uncovers the painful truths about her family history, she's forced to see her mother as a real person — one who is flawed and imperfect and pretty messed up, just like she is. One who had an entire life before Delilah was born, filled with heartache and joy and all sorts of things Delilah never imagined about her mother. Claire also must challenge her assumptions about her daughter, their relationship, and what the events of this summer mean for their future as a family.

Lots of mothers and daughters — even those who are extremely close — struggle with similar issues throughout their lives. No matter what stage of life, no matter whether our mothers are still living or have passed on, it's hard to see each other as real people, outside of being "my mom" or "my daughter." So for the Tweeting Delilah party part 2, I'm asking Twitter to share. Mothers, what do you wish your daughter(s) knew about you? Daughters, what do you wish your mother knew about you?

Party Pointers

Beginning on December 1, tweet your responses using the #FixingDelilah hashtag. Respond as many times as you'd like. Participants will be entered for additional prize drawings, so if you can't make the party on 11/30, be sure to tweet your thoughts on 12/1.

Hope to see you next week for Tweeting Delilah!

Filed under: contests, events, Fixing Delilah

Brandi Carlile & The Story Behind The Story

In late 2007, I was driving home from work thinking obsessively about the story of Fixing Delilah, which I'd recently started. All I had was a rough picture of a family of women, a bunch of long-buried secrets, and a teen girl who couldn't seem to keep herself together anymore. I had no idea how to bring these random bits together on one page, let alone for an entire novel, and I was starting to question whether my publisher made a grave mistake in taking two-book chance on me.

Knowing my melodramatic self, I was crying in the car, alternately downshifting and wiping my nose and cursing the absentee muse, wondering if I'd have to give back my advance once my publisher discovered I couldn't actually write books. Maybe. But at some point, I stopped sniffling long enough to click on the radio, and a song I'd never heard before filled up the gray space of my car.

All of these lines across my face

Tell you the story of who I am

So many stories of where I've been

And how I got to where I am

But these stories don't mean anything

When you've got no one to tell them to

It's true

I was made for you

It gave me shivers. Her voice, her passion, the words, everything I could feel from her heart. It's hard to explain, but when this woman sang, I believed her, that's the best way to put it. And behind those words, I suddenly saw in my mind Claire Hannaford, Delilah's mother, looking at her daughter, thinking about all of the difficulties of their relationship, all of the said and unsaid things, the history and secrets and mistakes, and how despite everything, there was still so much love. I thought about Delilah's Aunt Rachel and her Aunt Stephanie that died young. I thought of Delilah's grandmother, Elizabeth, who left her legacy unresolved when she died after an eight-year estrangement. And I knew it then — no matter how things turned out, the Hannaford women of Red Falls Vermont were made for each other, just like the song said. They would always be connected, blood and history, secrets and promises, good and bad. It sounds crazy, but for me, that one song brought the Hannafords to life in a way that no amount of plotting, brainstorming, character interviews, and crying (and drinking, if we're being honest) could.

The song? "The Story," by Brandi Carlile.

Last week, we had the privilege of seeing Brandi Carlile live in Denver. She performed with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, which made her songs even more powerful and dramatic. I loved the arrangements and loved seeing her live — I totally got choked up when she walked on stage, and though I'm a car-crier, I don't usually cry over singers1. But I'd just received my finished copies of Fixing Delilah, and now I was sitting just a few dozen feet from the woman whose music helped bring the characters to life and became like the theme song of the book. It just felt right to see Brandi here in Denver. It was like things in the universe colliding and coming together, like they always seem to do (Aunt Rachel would definitely agree, with or without her Tarot cards).

I refrained from public fangirling2 at the concert, but I would really love to send Brandi a signed copy of the book she inspired. Is that nuts? Maybe. I sent an email to her PR people hoping to track down a fan mail address, but they probably think (*cough* know) I'm a stalker. I guess the only chance I have of delivering Brandi her signed copy is if singers are as neurotic and insecure as authors (*fingers crossed*), because a little self-Googling on Brandi's part might lead her right… here! OMG! Brandi, is it really you? Can I send you my book? Please? I… I think I love you. But not in a creepy way. In that totally non-creepy way that strangers fall in love with singers all the time. Anyway, if you're reading this, you rock. Maybe we could hang out some time? You can sing to me, and I'll read to you? See? I'm not just in this for the fame and glory. This is totally mutually beneficial. Think about it and get back to me. Love, your stalker. I mean, me. Right. Anyway.

On a serious note (pun intended), if you've never listened to Brandi before, go YouTube and Pandora and iTunes her and get to listening.

Aaaand if you like "The Story" and want to see how it inspired the book… Fixing Delilah is already shipping from online retailers right NOW and is starting to make appearances in stores this week. Yes! Now is zee time on Sprockets ven vee3… freak out! Brandi, take me away!

1. Well, other than that time Michael Jackson got in the Pepsi commercial accident. But that was just sad, okay! Everyone cried!

2. We were after all in the orchestra hall, not some collectively drunk concert stadium with popcorn and vomit on the floor, and the usher had already "encouraged" us to use the "complimentary guest coat check" when she saw us try to drape our coats over the rail before us, so I figured any bra-flinging or crowd-surfing would be highly frowned upon, not to mention it's pretty difficult to play the violin with someone's bra dangling off your bow. Ahem.

3. Sprockets. I hope you got that reference. If not, I'm older than I thought.

Filed under: Fixing Delilah, music, writing

Sad Songs Say So Much

I was just tweeting about this and decided to turn it into a blog post.

So, we all have a secret mental cache of those sad songs from high school, right? The ones that we can hear now, five, ten, or *cough* almost twenty *cough* years later and be right back in that moment, that raw craziness, as though no time has passed. I'm talking about the ballads and sad songs that got us through the breakups, sang us to sleep as we sobbed over an unrequited love, and reminded us that yeah, sometimes you've just gotta cry it out. I don't know what it is about songs and smells that can trigger memory so powerfully, but man. Whenever I hear the opening chords to some of these, my heart squeezes up and I'm lying in my bed in my teen room, pouring my heart into my journal, listening over and over and looking for someone to tell me things are gonna be all right. Music is poetry and understanding, and it got me through a lot.

So here's my list, for your late 80s/early 90s retro enjoyment, and at the end, please share yours!

When I See You Smile, by Bad English (aka Bad Hair)

I Remember You, by Skid Row

Love Hurts, by Nazareth

It's So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday, by Boyz II Men

Good Feeling, by the Violent Femmes

One, by U2

Without You, by Motley Crue

I'll Be There For You, by Bon Jovi

Pictures of You, by The Cure

There it is, the video diary of many a sad and lonely night. *sniffle*

Now it's your turn. Post yours in the comments or do a post with videos and link back.

Filed under: grab bag, memories

Wesley Scroggins Filthy Books Prize Pack Winners

236 people entered the Wesley Scroggins Filthy Books Prize Pack giveaway, each sharing their thoughts on censorship, each taking a stand for intellectual freedom. Wow. As you've all shown us, one man certainly does not speak for everyone.

The winners of the prize packs that include a copy of Speak, Slaughterhouse Five, and Twenty Boy Summer — along with some naughty dark chocolate to go with those oh-so-filthy books — are:

Katiebabs and mar g!

I've emailed the winners to request mailing addresses. Thanks to everyone who entered and helped promote the contest. Keep reading and keep speaking loudly against censorship!

Filed under: books, contests Tagged: book banning, censorship, SpeakLoudly, Wesley Scroggins