Sarah Ockler's Blog, page 9

Look Out, Beyonce!

I love Beyonce, but I've got to hand it to these kids from HOPE Christian Schools in Milwaukee. Check out their hit single, "Scholar Ladies," which is even better than the Justin Timberlake SNL version of the Beyonce hit. Go, HOPE!

She deserves an award just for getting that principal to rock out!

Filed under: music

Josh Berk's Release Day: The Musical

I'd like to send a big ol' congratulatory shout-out to my good friend and agent brother-from-another-mother, Josh Berk, on the official release of his debut novel, THE DARK DAYS OF HAMBURGER HALPIN!

This isn't Josh's first appearance at SarahOckler.com. You might recognize him from such well-publicized scandals as the animal cruelty thing, the NCTE big fat lying liar thing, and the highly un-Kosher pig-Frenching thing.

Video evidence aside, Josh's days as a cow-killing, name-dropping...

fLiP iT fRiDaY: Lenore @ Presenting Lenore

We're back with a new guest today on today's fLiP iT fRiDaY — first one of the new year! Please welcome Lenore from Presenting Lenore, aka @lenoreva on Twitter.

Describe a typical day in your life.

My day always begins with my cat Emmy waking me up earlier than I want to be awake. You should hear her meow. Wow. I pet her until she runs off, make sure she has food and water and then I shuffle over to check my e-mail and google reader. If I have a freelance writing project with an urgent...

Making Space Online & Offline, Inside & Out

I'm not big into resolutions. For me, there's nothing like jumping on a trend to set myself up for utter failure. If I'm going to make significant changes, the need and desire has to come from within, not from a prescribed date on the calender. So this post isn't about resolutions, but the realizations I've come to after reflecting on 2009. After spending my second full year as a full time writer. After launching one book, writing another, and starting two more. And here's what I've figured...

Rhonda Stapleton's Character Debut Party

A big congrats to Rhonda Stapleton on her debut, STUPID CUPID, the first in a planned trilogy that hit the shelves last week. I'm super excited about this one because I'll be signing books with Rhonda this Saturday, January 9, at Indigo at the Eaton Centre in Toronto! Check out more details and the full attending author list on the Facebook event page. In the mean time, please join me in celebrating Rhonda's official book debut!

About STUPID CUPID

Felicity Walker believes in true love. That's...

Thank You For An Incredible 2009!

Happy New Year, friends and fellow book lovers!

I'm back from my little unplanned blog/social network/online communication hiatus (unplanned hiatus sounds better than procrastination, forgetfulness, laziness, and too-busy-eating-holiday-chocolate-ness which is closer to the truth of it) and ready to make a whole bunch of promises (which may or may not hold up) about being a better blogger this year.

But instead of documenting all my lofty and unlikely resolutions, I'd rather use my slightly...

Christmas Pajama Breakfast: The Birth of Embarrassing Traditions

In my family, you're never too old for matching pajamas on Christmas morning (and you're never safe from Mom's carefully planned pajama theme, no matter how new you are to the Ockler family scene).

It started quite accidentally, way back in the eighties…

Read the whole tale at Reading is Bliss, complete with photographic evidence and a contest to win a hardcover copy of Twenty Boy Summer!

Posted in friends and family, home, memories

Holiday Love for Booksellers

Since the launch of Twenty Boy Summer this past June, I've gotten tons of support and encouragement from booksellers here in Buffalo and all across the states. I've done readings and signings, I've been selected for bookstore book clubs, I've walked in off the street to sign copies. But the best part? I've met some amazing people who are as passionate about books and stories as the authors who write them.

As we approach the hectic, crazified, whirlwind final days of holiday shopping, I want...

Taste of Summer for a Winter's Night Winner

Congratulations to Elie N of Ellz Readz! From over 100 entries, Elie won the YA summer prize pack featuring hardcover editions of Twenty Boy Summer, Shadowed Summer, The Season, and a whole bunch of other summer goodies to help take the chill out of winter.

Thanks to all who participated. May your winter holidays be full of happy reading and warm, snugly blankets!

Posted in contests

fLiP iT fRiDaY: Katie @ Katie's Bookshelf

We're braving the frigid Buffalo cold to chat with Katie from Katie's Bookshelf, which on a day like today comes out more like K-K-Katie's B-b-b-b-bookshelf. So pull up a chair, wrap your hands around a mug of hot chai, and join me in welcoming Katie to today's fLiP iT fRiDaY!

Describe a typical day in your life.

On a weekday, I would usually wake up at 8:00 and pry myself out of bed after hitting the snooze button at least twice. Then I drive to school and enjoy the heavenly palace that is...