Melissa C. Walker's Blog, page 59

Photo Friday: Carolyn Mackler Reading!

Last week I got to go to a reading for Carolyn Mackler's newly released TANGLED (see the video of her reading on readergirlz!). The book is really great -- it's from four points of view, and each one intertwines with the others in such a compelling way. At the end, you feel magic and resolution! CM is a master.Also, she had heart-shaped cookies that mirrored her book's cover: [image error] [image error] And she posed with me (no idea why these photos get so fuzzy when I post--sorry!): [image error] You know, Carolyn was the first autho...

Bonus Cover Stories: The Babysitters Club Redesign

New Babysitters Club covers... what do we think?

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vs. the old?

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(I couldn't find the original Stacey cover for some reason--sorry!).

I'm torn. I like the simplicity of the new, but my heart is with the old painting-style covers. Of course, this is for a whole new generation... thoughts?

Bonus Cover Stories: The Babysitter's Club Redesign

New Babysitters Club covers... what do we think?

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vs. the old?

[image error] [image error] [image error]

(I couldn't find the original Stacey cover for some reason--sorry!).

I'm torn. I like the simplicity of the new, but my heart is with the old painting-style covers. Of course, this is for a whole new generation... thoughts?

Win-It Wednesday: Fashion Week Swag + FALLEN by Lauren Kate

The winner of last week's copy of Bad Blood by Mari Mancusi is... Jill of the O.W.L.! Send me your address, J.So maybe you remember that I was in Rio for Fashion Week (gah!). Well, I brought home a ton of SWAG and I just can't keep it all -- I'm not trying to be a hoarder. So... I'm going to box it all up and ship it to one randomly chosen commenter, along with a copy of FALLEN by Lauren Kate (we are book people, after all): [image error] There's some crazy stuff in this mix -- bags, jewelry, Nivea products...

Links! Links! And Contests

[image error] Just a few things to check out today:1. My interview with Girls' Life magazine: "I Wanna Be... An Author!"2. Omnivoracious did an amazing post on The YA Decade (that would be the '00s), and Justine Larbalestier wrote a fascinating response to said post, and noted lots of authors who should also have been included. Both way worth reading! Self-involved bonus: I'm mentioned in Omnivoracious post as someone for whom Meg Cabot paved the way (totally thrilling!).3. Happy Blogiversary to Harmony Bo...

Cover Stories: Captivate by Carrie Jones

[image error] Last year, Carrie Jones shared her awesome Cover for Need right here, and now she's back to talk about the New York Times Bestselling sequel, Captivate (Bloomsbury)! Congratulations on the amazing success of this series, Carrie, and thanks for being here as part of the Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit tour.Take it away, Carrie!"I had no cover ideas -- I am so horrible at that. My publisher didn't ask for input -- and when I first saw the cover, I sort of passed out because it was so awesome."My edi...

Unsung YA: The 17(ish) Best YA Books You Haven't Read

I love this outreach, started by YAnnabe! So here's my list. I loved many more books than these in 2009, of course, but these are 15 I reviewed for I Heart Daily -- and they are favorites. [image error] 1. Everything by Beth Kephart (I guess in 2009, that would be the fabulous Nothing But Ghosts).2. Ten Things I Hate About Me by Randa Abdel-Fattah (Scholastic). Jamie has a double life. At school, she's a bleached-blond Aussie; at home she's Jamilah, a Muslim girl from a traditional family with an ultra-str...

Photo Friday: Rio, One More Time!

I'll stop after this, but I just had to get a few more Rio photos in. Hey, whenever I get my passport stamped, it deserves two Photo Fridays.Here's Erin and me outside at Pier Maua, where the shows were: [image error] Of course, the week wasn't all work... there was some beach reading (btw, how insane is Breaking Dawn? I think it was my favorite of the series for its utterly compelling bizarreness, and that dreamy cottage): [image error] I also got to float in the pool a bit: [image error] And we made some fabulous friends, like Ingrid ...

Chat With Me Tonight?

[image error] I'm doing a LIVE chat with the dekoposh book club tonight, and you're invited to join us!

Just come here at 9pm EST/6pm PST, and we're talking. Ask anything!

Win-It Wednesday: Bad Blood by Mari Mancusi

Last week's winner of Hold Still by Nina LaCour (amazing book!) is... Janessa! For a writing challenge, she suggested, "the 'All Star' label on the back of Converse Chucks, a painting from the Renaissance, a large box filled with empty asthma inhalers and pairs of scissors." Intriguing! If anyone uses this prompt, let me know. I may try a bunch of them myself. Send me your address, J. Thanks to everyone for the great ideas. [image error] This week, I'm giving away a copy of Mari Mancusi's new release, Bad B...