Melissa C. Walker's Blog, page 51

Cover Stories: This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas

[image error] I read an early copy of This Gorgeous Game by Donna Freitas (it comes out tomorrow!) and I highly, highly recommend it (so does Little Willow). It's a disturbing page-turner with so much heart, warmth and depth. You'll be hearing a lot about this book this summer -- read it now so you can join in the conversation. Also, it's got a great cover. Here's Donna with more on that:"Because This Gorgeous Game is both so dark and so personal, at first I was at a complete loss as to what image might re...

Teen Author Carnival 2010!

[image error] From 5:00 - 8:00 PM tomorrow, May 24, 2010, I'll be at the Teen Author Carnival, put on by the amazing Devyn Burton, Mitali Dave & Korianne Wey at Jefferson Market Branch Library, 425 Avenue of the Americas, NYC (see that gorgeous building on the left? That's the library!).Three panels will repeat throughout the three hours, and at the end there will be a mass book signing. There will be candy, love, hugs and awesomeness.Here are the panels and the lineup of authors (I'm bolded, just because...

Photo Fr-Saturday: Massachusetts!

[image error] I didn't get Photo Friday up yesterday, so here it is today. Last weekend Dave and I went to Massachusetts to visit our friends and their new baby. I'm not sure they want me posting baby photos here, so I will just say: baby Eleanor is a BEAUTY!Now here are some photos that don't include her. We went to the amazing deCordova Sculpture Park in Lincoln, MA (if you live near here you must go!). We walked around in the sun and hung out with art (that's me and Dave, above, with hearts).Ruby Slippe...

Cover Details: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Lauren Baratz-Logsted is like a book machine! She's got two new books out, and she's on a huge blog tour. Yesterday, she was at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers talking about altering the ending to a classic! Tomorrow she'll hit NomadReader and discuss the Sisters 8's magic and talents.For her stopover here, I asked Lauren to pick one thing in each of the two new covers that she didn't notice at first after looking at her covers lovingly (as authors tend to do!). Here's Lauren: [image error] "For The...

Win-it Wednesday: If I Stay by Gayle Forman

[image error] I loved hearing all the swooning stories last week -- so. much. fun. I enjoy prying into your personal lives, you know. The winner of the paperback of Swoon by Nina Malkin is... Alison! Send me your address, A. This week, I'm giving away a paperback copy of Gayle Forman's If I Stay. You guys must have heard how beautiful and amazing and incredible this book is. If you haven't read it yet, NOW IS THE TIME. There's a sequel in the works. (YES!) I sometimes hang out with Gayle and dig for infor...

Cover Stories: 3 at Unabashedly Bookish

I had a magazine event last night (I spoke on a panel for ed2010.com -- anyone who wants to work in magazines, you must be on this site and getting their newsletter! Go!), so I didn't get to cook for Dave and show you a new cooking mishap like last week's.But I do have something to share: Three Cover Stories that were posted at the Unabashedly Bookish blog on Barnes and Noble's site. Yay! Here are some excerpts. Click through for full stories: [image error] Scars by Cheryl Rainfield. "Going as far as showin...

Cover Stories: Sea by Heidi R. Kling

[image error] Heidi R. Kling's debut novel, Sea , comes out next month. It's the story of a girl named Sienna (Sea) who travels to Indonesia after the tsunami with her psychiatrist father's relief team. See more about the book in the trailer below. For now, let's get to the story behind that cover. Here's Heidi:"I'm one of the lucky ones and my editor did ask my input on the cover for SEA. I suggested an under water image or a young couple riding a motorcycle or motor, as they say in Indonesia. The under wa...

Photo Friday: Balloons!

Last weekend, I went out for my friend Anne's birthday. I got her a cake: [image error] That was nice, but here's the kicker: There were balloons! Somehow, they turned the evening into a photo shoot... here's Caroline shooting Anne: [image error] And Mariel caught in the flash: [image error] Me, hamming it up: [image error] Erin, almost flying away: [image error] We carried them all around Brooklyn and lots of people noticed us (consider this your how-to-meet-a-guy tip: Carry balloons!). I'm just saying: These helium-filled rainbow orbs can make a party. Get some fo...

Win-It Wednesday: Swoon by Nina Malkin

Last week's winner of The Daughters is... Kayte J! Send me your address, K. (Loved all the video links. I laughed! I cried! I was mildly amused. The gamut.) [image error] Anyway, this week, the lovely Nina Malkin is celebrating the release of Swoon in paperback (remember when I talked to her about that epic cover? Or when I made a vlog about my very first swoon?). Anyway... I like this book. Nina will send a signed copy to the winner of this contest. To enter, just comment below and tell me about your firs...

Tuesday Cooking: Bean Sprout Blunder

[image error] Dave has guitar lessons on Monday nights now, which means that I get to cook dinner once a week. (Usually, he makes something delicious and well presented.)I've taken to this new challenge because, as you may know, I'm obsessed with the Barefoot Contessa and I have a slight crush on Naked Chef Jamie Oliver (I even wrote him into my new book yesterday, but that will probably get cut).Anyway! I've decided to chronicle my (mis)adventures in the kitchen here on Tuesdays. So let's get started:Las...