Corrine Jackson's Blog, page 17

Bookanista Review: THE CATASTROPHIC HISTORY OF YOU & ME

Full disclosure: I picked up this ARC at the Northern California Bookseller's Association Trade Show.

Here is the official blurb from the publisher:

THE CATASTROPHIC HISTORY OF YOU & ME

 

Dying of a broken heart is just the beginning…. Welcome to forever.

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces?

****

At the outset, the premise didn't grab me. There, I said it. I know this book has a ton of buzz, but honestly, a girl dies of heartbreak? It didn't snag me. But on a Sunday afternoon, I needed something different to read and I picked it up.

There is a lot to recommend about the book. First, the voice. Brie is fifteen and she dies at the start of the story when her boyfriend breaks up with her. We follow her on a journey through the five stages of grieving. She haunts her boyfriend, parents, little brother, and best friends, watching them grieve for her. This could all feel very maudlin, but Jess Rothenberg manages to steer clear of that. The voice is so exactly that of a fifteen year old girl, full of sass and sadness and naiveté and the odd moment of wisdom. That voice hooked me right away.

I also loved how we are carried through the five stages of grieving. There's a lot of meat there for anyone to relate to, whether you've broken up with someone or lost someone close. Brie's emotions bounce all over the place, but they almost always feel real. She's not always a nice character, but she's a believable one. In fact, she's probably more believable because of her faults.

There were some things – fairly big things for me – that bothered me about the story. A few scenes felt unnecessary or repetitive. Brie's love of 80's music didn't ring true for a contemporary teen – I felt like it was author intrusion into the story every time they were mentioned. And, I hate to say it, but the love interest plotline fell flat for me, especially at the big dramatic moment at the end.

What saved the book for me, though, aside from the wonderful, engaging voice and interesting format, were the relationships Brie had with her friends and family and even her dog, Hamloaf. Before she dies, Brie has a kind of simplistic view of her world. After her death, when she gets peeks into the private lives of those she haunts, she learns that the world is not what she thought it would be. That people are more complex. That sometimes they are weak and fail you, but that doesn't mean they don't love you. I thought Rothenberg did a fantastic job illustrating this, and despite the problems I noted, I think a lot of readers will love this book.

***

Check out the links below to see what the other Bookanistas are talking about!

Elana Johnson roars for FURY

Shannon Whitney Messenger  marvels at A MILLION SUNS plus a preorder giveaway

Carolina Valdez Miller is all about HERE with giveaway

Gretchen McNeil twirls for AUDITION

Stasia Ward Kehoe is wild for DON'T BREATHE A WORD

Katy Upperman gets in the spirit with ELF ON A SHELF

Nikki Katz dishes on WHY WE BROKE UP

The "Change Write Now" Game

First, a confession.

Warning: this may be TMI. Since I started taking my writing seriously, I've developed some very unhealthy habits. I have a day job and school and my writing and lots of other commitments. To fit all of those things into my life, something had to go. Unfortunately, it was my health. I am currently the heaviest I've ever been, and I'm none too happy about it. Aside from the weight gain, I'm dehydrated (unless you count all the coffee I drink), tired (who needs more than 4 hours of sleep?), and sorely lacking in energy (if I see another San Francisco hill, I'm going to throw a rock at it).

In other areas of my life, dreams are coming true, rainbows are popping up, and birds sing as I pass by. As far as my health is concerned, I'm failing. I know it. My body knows it. I'm sick often. My asthma acts up with more frequency. And I can feel the medical history of my family members bearing down on me. Not good.

Second, a realization.

I need to make a change. What I'm doing isn't working. (Ice cream for dinner? Seriously?) All that time I spend on my rear end at work and while writing isn't doing me any favors. I need to learn some healthy habits. Even better, I need to stick to them once I've learned them. They say it takes 66 days to make something a habit. So, beginning January 1, I'm going to commit to two months of being better to myself, kinder to my body, and hopefully, gaining more energy.

Third, an invitation.

Writers, editors, agents, bloggers – many of us are in the same boat. We work hard. We play hard. We don't always pay attention to our needs. Here's what I'm suggesting. Join me in a "Change Write Now" Challenge for the next 66 days. This challenge is inspired by the "Game On" challenge developed by Krista Vernoff (Grey's Anatomy writer) and Az Ferguson, but is less work. Basically, we will divide into teams to support each other to make some healthy changes. And there is a points system and prizes for the winners if you are inspired by competition. Really, this is about helping each other.

How it works.

Simple. Sign up if you want to join in, and I'll help to assign people into teams. Each day you get points for adopting healthy habits. Eating good meals, exercising for twenty minutes, giving up one bad habit (like smoking , swearing, or putting yourself down), adopting one healthy habit (like cooking at home or flossing when you'd rather skip it), drinking water, and getting enough sleep. For more info on the rules and how to tally points, see below.

The scoring is done on an honor system and works like this. Each day you tally points for:

Eating Healthy –25 points
Exercising for at least 20 minutes – 25 points
Sleeping at least 6 hours – 10 points
Consuming 64 oz of Water – 10 points
Checking in with your teammates – 10 points
Adopting One Good Habit – 10 points
Tossing Out One Bad Habit – 10 points

Each week, everyone will send their score sheets to me (to be provided to participants). I will tally them to determine which team is in the lead. You will NEVER share what your weight is, and I would NEVER, EVER ask you to. Because I won't ever freaking share my own weight.

What does eating healthy mean?  The original game suggests (and gives points for) eating five small meals a day. They do suggest giving up things that might be hard to give up for some of us. Like fried foods, refined sugars, white flour, butter, whole-fat cheese, or things made with these items. (OMG, cheese! No!) The recommended foods are more along the lines of beans, whole grains, veggies/fruits, low-fat versions of cheese/dairy, and lean meats. If you want to follow these eating guidelines, I suggest buying the book. However, some of you may already have healthy eating guidelines that work for you. This is going to vary by person, since some of you may not want to lose weight. Some people may just be looking to exchange the Doritos and soda for more healthy options. Either way, this works for our version of the game. You know what is best for your body. Did you live on coffee and M&Ms for the day? If the answer is yes, don't give yourself points.

What constitutes good habits or bad habits?  That will also vary person to person. The Game On book is full of suggestions, or maybe you have your own ideas. For instance, smoking may be a bad habit. Or maybe it's playing on Twitter when you're supposed to be writing. Again, ask yourself honestly what you could work on to be more healthy.

What this is not.

I'm not a dietician or a nutritionist or anyone who should be giving out diet/fitness advice. I'm a writer who wants to be healthy. I think doing this challenge with others will help me. BUT this is not about being fat or skinny. It's not about who will lose the most pounds. That doesn't interest me. If it did, I'd go join Weight Watchers and you'd never know the difference. No, this is about health. MY health. If I get points for sleeping 6 hours and my team is depending on me, I'm going to try harder to get those 6 hours in. And maybe I'll have some better habits at the end of the two months. If for any reason you think this may trigger an unhealthy reaction for you, please skip the game or check with a doctor.

Who can play.

Anyone at any weight. There's no skinny or fat here. I hate those words and nobody should define themselves by either category here. Like I said, this is about health. Getting some exercise, drinking more water, eating better meals, and getting more sleep – these are the goals. You may lose weight, especially if you're like me and think exercise is a 4-letter word. If you're already in good shape, you may just find you have more energy when challenged to get the proper amount of sleep. That's it.

If you are excited and want to blog/tweet/vlog/post about it to get your friends to play along, go for it!

Finally, how do I play?

If after all of that, you want to play, sign up here by December 29. I will assign teams and you will be asked to exchange emails with your teammates to offer each other encouragement. Once we have the teams in place, I'll provide easy score sheets.

Beginning January 1, 2012, the game is on and will last through the beginning of March. There will be prizes for the winning team members, though I'm still working those kinks out. Some of you may want to share your progress with the world. Some of you won't. Either way is okay, though I will post each team's overall score once a week on my blog, so we all know who's leading the scoreboard.

Here's to a healthier us!

Corrine

Bookanista Review: UNDER THE NEVER SKY

I love Veronica. Seriously, she's one of the loveliest people you will ever meet. From the first time I met here, I could see that she was a thoughtful, intelligent person, and I couldn't wait to see how that translated into her debut novel. Read below to see what I thought!  Full disclosure: Veronica Rossi is a friend and fellow Bookanista.

Here is the official blurb from the publisher:

UNDER THE NEVER SKY

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers abarbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew's abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love – one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY

The first book in a captivating trilogy, Veronica Rossi's enthralling debut sweeps you into an unforgettable adventure.

****

Wow.

No, seriously. Wow.

When I get too much of a good thing, sometimes it makes me a little sick. Like how the Kardashians are EVERYWHERE, and I would really be happy if they disappeared from the media. Or how there are currently a 1,001+ dystopians out there right now. After the Hunger Games series and Veronica Roth's Divergent, I wasn't sure there was room for me to like another dystopian yet, even though I love Veronica Rossi to death.

But I picked it up anyway because the cover is stunning and the back cover copy intrigued me. I was a chapter in before I knew I would not be putting the book down until I'd finished it. Some novels have great pacing. Some have fantastic characterization. Others have a lot of heart. UNDER THE NEVER SKY had all three. The two main characters, Aria and Perry, start out with enemies with a very certain outlook on life. When they meet, they don't like each other. It's not even a "this hate is the flipside of love" thing. No, these characters misunderstand each other and judge each other quite harshly. It's only through circumstance that they begin to show their true selves to one another, and the shift in their attitudes happens so gradually that it feels completely authentic.

One of the things I like least about dystopians are the long and/or frequent passages about how stark and bleak everything is. Again, Veronica managed to surprise me here because her world is so creative that I was never bored or hopeless. I wanted to know more, see more, understand more.

And then there are the relationships. I don't mean just the romance, which is hot. I mean, the relationships between family and friends. A pure emotionality tugged me along through the story. These characters want so much to belong and to be safe. They are not merely hardened survivalists. Their desires are blatant and so very relatable, and the dangers the characters face are imminent and terrifying.

Normally, I strive to balance my reviews with of the things that I didn't love about a book. The things that I wished had been a little different so a reader knows what they are getting into. I honestly can't do that here. I truly loved UNDER THE NEVER SKY and thought about it in the days after I read it – something that happens less often lately. Five stars all around, and lots of air clapping for Veronica Rossi's debut.

***

Check out the links below to see what the other Bookanistas are talking about!

Lisa and Laura Roecker gush about HOW TO SAVE A LIFE

Shannon Messenger raves about CINDER–with an ARC Giveaway!
Megan Miranda spreads the love for UNTRACEABLE
Stasia Ward Kehoe celebrates MY VERY UNFAIRY TALE LIFE
Debra Driza sings the praises of EVERYBODY SEES THE ANTS
Katy Upperman gets swept away by THE SCORPIO RACES

 

YA Rebels: Tuesday Loves Up Scrivener

I thought I would share today's YA Rebels vlog in which I walk you through how I'm using Scrivener. Feel free to ask me any questions you have! I'm not an expert, but I'll do my best to answer. For those who don't know, Scrivener is an amazing application for writers that takes you far beyond Word or other word processing apps.

 

A Desk I'm Thankful For

I have this inability to write at home. My desk is perfectly lovely. I might loathe my desk chair.

My Lovely Desk

The thing is, I hate sitting at that perfectly lovely desk to write. Most days, I've sat at another desk at the day job in another chair. I think my body simply protests the whole set up because it can't stand more hours in the same position.

So when I do write at home, I'm usually on my bed or on my couch. The problem is that these don't offer up a ton of comfort either. And then yesterday I traipsed off to IKEA to get a dresser, and I came across this.

Alve Laptop Table

It was love at first sight. I put this baby together today. It's adjustable height makes it perfect for me to use from my bed or the couch. And it's lightweight so I can move it about easily. I'm so happy I found this desk. I really hope it helps me to be more productive at home.

PS. Have a happy turkey day!!

TOUCHED German Cover Reveal

I realize you're all going to skip over this message and jump right to the art. I would too. This cover is insanely beautiful and makes me wish that I could read German. For those of you who do, this edition of TOUCHED will be on sale – in Germany – in March 2012. Thienemann, my German publisher, has been hugely supportive.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for an amazing cover!! Without further ado…

THE COVER

 

 

Event: Speaking at CSU, Fullerton

I received my master's in English at CSU, Fullerton. While there I had some amazing opportunities and learned from some great faculty. I'm really pleased to say they've asked me back to do a reading, followed by a publishing panel with other professionals. And you are all invited. Here are the details.

Time: Friday, November 4 – 7:00 PM (snacks start at 6:00 PM)
Location: CSU Fullerton, 800 N. State College, Fullerton, CA (Room UH252)
Cost: FREE

Other readers include Chris Ryall, Ben Loory, Matty Byloos, and Qingyun Wu.

Here's the flyer.

And here's a map.

What is the editing process really like?

Sharpie Gel Highlighters - They will change your world.

A few people have noticed that I've been conspicuously absent from both this blog and Twitter. For the last few months, I've been busy writing the sequel to TOUCHED. And intermittently, I've gone through two rounds of line edits and a round of copy edits on IF I LIE. Before I went through this process, I'd often heard of authors complaining about edits. From my position of (a) having not sold a book yet or (b) waiting, waiting, waiting on tenterhooks for my edits, I wanted to kick those whiners to Siberia. Now that I'm on the other side, my perspective has changed somewhat. I thought I would share what the process is like. Just know this differs for every author.

The Editorial Letter

Even though, I love my editor fiercely, as I waited on my letter, I was secretly waiting for the other shoe to drop. I was pretty sure my editor, Annette Pollert, would ask me to cut a character, or to do something I hated. At which point, I would be faced with the dilemma of going with the flow and caving to the desire to be published or making a brilliant stand for my story with guns blazing (like I own a gun that doesn't use water as ammo). I got antsy every time I thought about this and died inside a little more each time I contemplated how much my editor must want to renovate my book like it was the Extreme Makeover: Novel Edition. As you can see, I worked myself into quite a state, while barely managing to keep the crazy under wraps from Annette.

So the letter arrived in May. I held my breath and clicked on the email, expecting to find the ten-page, single-spaced letter I'd heard so much about from my Apocalypsie friends. I started reading. And then I started crying because Annette opened the letter by saying my novel had made her cry six separate times when she should have been immune from tears by then. Of course, with that opening, any criticism that followed felt like glowing praise. (Well done on you, Annette, you brilliant mastermind.)

Quite frankly, the letter felt completely manageable. Also, I'm ashamed to admit I felt a smidge smug. After all, my editorial letter was ONLY THREE PAGES. Holla. My changes mostly consisted of adding new scenes. I don't mean to say this was a breeze. I had to reorder the beginning of the book, not an easy thing to do with the structure this novel chose. In the end, though, I had Scrivener and four weeks to make the changes. The scenes really made the book better. A thousand times better. I finally confronted my trust issues and decided I was stupid to doubt Annette. She has my best interests and those of the book's best interests at heart. We're a team, damn it.

Line Edits

I go to Italy for school for a couple of weeks in July and some traumatic crap happens back at home, turning my life upside down. I'm basically a wreck when I return. I can't write. It makes me cry, and I'm tired of crying. I take some time off. I actually look forward to my line edits to ease me back into my work. But my trust issues have raised their bastard head again. A niggling doubt insists that here – in the line edits – is where Annette will have me sacrifice a character on the altar of my writerly ambition. Here is where I will be forced to take a stand with my water gun. I tell the doubt to shut up and stop overreacting. It sticks its tongue out at me.

In August, Annette emails me the marked-up manuscript. I have a little under a month to make the edits and return them. I open the document. And pretty nearly faint. Holy *bleep*! Scrawled notes are on EVERY SINGLE PAGE. I suddenly remember when Annette said that she LOVED line edits more than the edit letter. How could I have forgotten that? So much for my smugness at my short letter. I'm not even sure how to begin to tackle the beast.

So I do what I do best. I get organized. I buy some bitchin' highlighters, and I take my butt to Starbucks. One page at a time, I tell myself. Except, I look up four hours later and I've only conquered 13 pages. And my ego feels battered into the ground and I wonder if my editor really liked my book after all. But, hey, my highlighters got a helluva workout. The pages are practically bleeding pink.

I don't know what this process is like for others, but I felt a bit bruised. It's not a reflection on Annette. Dude, the woman worked her pencil to a nub with those edits. She put so much time and heart into them, and I will ever be grateful. But as I was making the changes, my emotions were all over the place. One moment, I was angry that a line I loved had been suggested for deletion or alteration in a way I disliked. The next, I was abashed at things I'd missed. Then, I was euphoric as a change that felt so right. For the mont, I worked on those edits, I was all jagged edges and bitten fingernails (plus jacked up on caffeine).

I'm baring myself here to tell you I did not have the best attitude at all times. It's really hard to let go of your ego, and see the bigger picture. When your book sells, it is no longer yours alone. When you start working with an editor, your book becomes a collaborative project. You may have final say, but another person is making decisions and directing you in ways that you may not want to go at first. That seems like an obvious statement, but day-um, it's a difficult realization.

But when the light bulb went off, I wondered why I'd been fighting it. My freaking trust issues had raised their heads again. I tackled my chaotic emotions the best way I could – WITH A HIGHLIGHTING SYSTEM and a SENSE OF HUMOR. My code: pink for changes I'd made; orange for compliments (because Annette did make loads of fun comments, thereby keeping me from falling apart); and yellow, for things I might not want to change. I even sent a picture of one of my pages, bleeding in pink, to Annette for a laugh and we shared our deep and abiding love for office supplies.

To salve my ego, I allowed myself to save favorite lines in brilliant yellow. Except, I decided that when I finished the edits, when I felt less battered by all the changes, I would look at those yellow lines again. I wanted to ensure I wasn't being too precious about things, but I needed to be in a mental/emotional space where I could accept the change a bit more graciously.

In the end, my wondrous editor, asked to see my edits before they were finished. I sent over the draft and had to explain my highlighting system. And do you know what she did? She helped me work on those yellowed lines, to fine tune them so that I didn't have to sacrifice them. She really did get it.

In my defense, I will say I hid my skyrocketing emotions during this time, except from close friends and family. I want so bad to be one of those authors who works for the best of the book and doesn't let ego get in the way. I believe I accomplished this. I think Annette would agree. But I'd be lying if I said it felt good all the time. Oh, but how wondrous it feels to be on the other side! When I read my book, I'm blown away by how tight it is now. Annette challenged me, I stretched myself, and I've grown as a writer.

Growth hurts so good.

Copy Edits

On Friday I received my copy edits, and last night I finished them. A whole week early. I intend to do another read through because this is my last chance to make any big changes. This is the version that will become the galley. And now is the time when I have to turn in the dedication and acknowledgments. Compared to line edits, copy edits are like chewing gum – a total snap. I'm still learning. I have some tics that I'm aware of now and will work on.

There were two big surprises in this pass, though. First, I saw my copyright page. I wasn't prepared for how it filled me with pride. I did it. I worked hard and created something from nothing. Awesome. Even better, though, is that I'm perfectly content with the story. I don't have that anxious need to keep perfecting, to edit one more thing. Annette really is amazing. It may have felt overwhelming at the time, but those line edits tightened the story up so much, that it feels whole and complete to me.

See, I'm still learning to trust, but I made a huge leap in this round. I am in great hands at Simon Pulse. This is the best version of the book that it could be, and I can't wait for you all to read it. For you writers, I hope you are lucky enough to work with an editor like Annette and the team at Pulse. I will forever bleed pink for them. The editing process can be completely brutal. It may break you a little, but only to build you back up as a better writer.

Bookanista Review: EPIC FAIL

Claire LaZebnik's EPIC FAIL is a recent release from Harper Teen.  Full disclosure: Harper Teen provided a copy of the book for review purposes.

Here is the official blurb from the publisher:

EPIC FAIL

 

Will Elise's love life be an epic win or an epic fail?

At Coral Tree Prep in Los Angeles, who your parents are can make or break you. Case in point:

As the son of Hollywood royalty, Derek Edwards is pretty much prince of the school—not that he deigns to acknowledge many of his loyal subjects.

As the daughter of the new principal, Elise Benton isn't exactly on everyone's must-sit-next-to-at-lunch list.

When Elise's beautiful sister catches the eye of the prince's best friend, Elise gets to spend a lot of time with Derek, making her the envy of every girl on campus. Except she refuses to fall for any of his rare smiles and instead warms up to his enemy, the surprisingly charming social outcast Webster Grant. But in this hilarious tale of fitting in and flirting, not all snubs are undeserved, not all celebrity brats are bratty, and pride and prejudice can get in the way of true love for only so long.

****

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is one of my favorite books. I'm pretty open to reading Austen adaptations. But this particular Austen book is bound by the social mores and customs of Austen's times. I wondered how LaZebnik would translate the themes into a modern book with teenagers.

What I found was a fun retelling. What makes Elizabeth Bennett so fantastic is how normal she is. She's not pretty like Jane or musically gifted or any of the things her society values. I felt like LaZebnik did a great job of catching the spirit of this character with Elise. While frustrated by her sisters and parents, she obviously loves them and is loyal to them.

Then we meet Derek. He seems dismissive and arrogant much like Darcy does in P&P. But we get the sense that there are more layers to him. He's a great foil for Elise. Interestingly enough, the society the author chose to use is Hollywood royalty. Derek's parents, like Darcy's relations, are wealthy and have reason to be guarded.

Here's what I was missing in this retelling, though. The heavy handed disapproval of Elizabeth and her relations by Lady Catherine, Darcy's aunt, which comes at a pivotal point in P&P, is missing. And, I hate to admit it, but the stakes were missing for me. Elizabeth and Jane have their reputations at stake, plus the entire weight of their family's fortunes. It would be hard to make this come across in a high school equivalent.

Overall, though, I enjoyed the characters and had fun reading the book. I would definitely recommend EPIC FAIL to Austen fans and those seeking a lighthearted romance.

***

Check out the links below to see what the other Bookanistas are talking about!

Elana Johnson offers a preview of upcoming awesome!

LiLa Roecker dances for Audition

Christine Fonseca  is wowed by Witch Eyes

Beth Revis  features a guest post by Darkfall author Janice Hardy

Carolina Valdez Miller steps up to Audition – with giveaway

Shana Silver contemplates The Future of Us

Carrie Harris is dazzled by Don't Stop Now

Shelli Johannes-Wells is psyched for some swell book launches!

BIG NEWS!  Gretchen McNeil, Stasia Kehoe, Sara Bennett Wealer, Jessica Martinez, Rosanne Parry and some other folks you probably know, are embarking on a LIVE BOOK TOUR!!!  It's called, STAGES ON PAGES.  Click here to see a list of dates/times.

 

Class of 2k12 Site Launches!

The Class of 2k12 is a group of debut middle grade and young adult authors working in concert to promote our books and reading. As our novels drop throughout 2012, this website will keep you tuned into our activities and bring you along on what's sure to be a wild ride.

In honor of our friends debuting this year,we're giving away a huge prize pack of all seventeen Class of 2k11 titles for a deserving class, school, or public library. If you'd like to nominate your favorite library, stop by our Facebook page and tell us about it. The winner will be announced November 12.

Be sure to visit our links to find out about 2k12 books, authors, and events:

our website

our blog 

our Facebook page

our Twitter link

our newsletter (Click to sign up — simply write ADD ME in the comment line)