Books Make Great Gifts

Posted on November 30, 2009 by Megan

Really. They do. Although I must admit that sometimes I have a hard time picking the right book for the right person. This year I took a Salvation Army ticket — you agree to buy the presents on the ticket for the child. In my case it was a teenager and she wanted book. I’ll give her a copy of mine, but I wanted to give her a few. So, not knowing anything about her except her other requests (art supplies and a dog or cat), I chose Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle. I figured it’s a fun, seasonally-appropriate title. And then since maybe she likes more sci fi type of stuff, I also got her Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. I’ve found that people like this series whether they are die-hard sci fi fans, or never touch the stuff.

I still need to get the art supplies. No dog or cat, though. Sorry, my dear, but I don’t want your parents on my doorstep about that one.

Anyway, if you, too, are planning to give books for gifts, and are planning to shop at Barnes & Noble, then please print out a voucher and take it with you. You can use it at any B&N in the United States, and, if you do, a portion of the sales will go to Seacoast Academy, an independent school in New Hampshire. They will use the money raised for classroom and library books.

If you yourself happen to be in New Hampshire, please drop by the book fair at the Newington Barnes & Noble. It’s this Sunday, December 6th, from 1:00-4:00. I’ll be there signing books, and there will be student performers, and gift-wrapping, and other fun stuff. Hope to see you there!

P.S. If you are planning to buy books — what’s on your gift giving list?

Debs Pageant: Jon Skovron

Posted on November 21, 2009 by Megan

struts_frets Today we have our penultimate contestant. I love that word — penultimate, that is, not contestant. I have no problem with the word contestant, just no particular love. Anyway, today is Sammy for Jon Skovron’s Struts and Frets.

Character name: Sammy Bojar
Age: 17
Biography: Born in Cleveland, OH to a single mother working her way through grad school. Moved to Columbus when he was a small child with his mother, who became a therapist, and his grandfather, a jazz musician. Really wants to become a famous indie rock musician.

What is your talent?
I play guitar and write songs.

What will you wear for the evening dress competition?
Uh, what? Jeans and t-shirt?

Who is your escort?
My friend, Jen5

And now for the interview portion . . . What’s the biggest challenge facing today’s youth?
Grownups.

Struts and Frets is available now. If you’re in NYC, you can pick it up at Jon’s favorite indie book store, The Strand. And if you ever are in New York, you really should go to this store. It’s amazing. Eighteen miles of books!

Not everyone can get to New York, though, so you can also get it at your local indie book store or Amazon. To find out more about Jon, visit his website.

Music Monday: Mike & Ruthy

Posted on November 16, 2009 by Megan

Lo these many years ago, as a junior in high school, I took a creative writing class. There was a senior in the class named Mikey Merenda and everything he wrote was in iambic pentameter. Everything. He wrote and directed an entire one-act play in iambic pentameter.

He was also a member of the hottest ska band ever to come out of New Hampshire.

Plus he was a hockey star.

Given this range of talents, it’s perhaps not surprising that he’s gone on to craft a career in music for himself. He’s recorded with his band the mammals, solo, and now is touring and recording with his wife Ruthy Ungar. I’ve mentioned Mike before, and how cool I think he is. Ruthy is super cool, too. See for yourself:

I’m always impressed with people who take the risk to make their art their life. Mike & Ruthy tour as a family, and are making it work, and for that as much as their musical talent, I am in awe.

Debsness & Debs Library

Posted on November 15, 2009 by Megan

It’s Debsness time again! This is your penultimate chance to win silly goodies from all of the Debs.

If you are a librarian, don’t forget to enter our contest to win 46 brand new books!

Debs Pageant: L.K. Madigan

Posted on November 11, 2009 by Megan

In Secrets of Truth & Beauty, Dara is a former child pageant star. So, in order to introduce you to the wonderful authors and characters of the 2009 Debutantes, I am hosting a Debs Pageant on my blog. Today we have a boy! I love when boys are in the pageant. His name is Blake, and he’s from L.K. Madigan’s Flash Burnout.

Character name: Blake
Age: 15
Biography: Hi, I’m Blake. I’m in the tenth grade at West Park High. I live with my parents, one shaved-headed jock brother named Garrett, and The Dog Formerly Known as Prince. My best friend is Riley, and my girlfriend is Shannon. She is sweet and funny and hot.

What is your talent?
I am the funniest 15-year-old in Portland, and my wit will be on display tonight!

What will you wear for the evening dress competition?
I know most dudes would go the safe route and wear, you know, slacks and a shirt. But I’m gonna go with a Utili-kilt, which shows off my sexy legs, so I can win this pageant-apalooza!

Who is your escort?
My girl, Shannon.

And now for the interview portion . . . What’s the biggest challenge facing today’s youth?
The biggest challenge facing today’s youth is getting a little private time, you know what I mean? My parents and the horrifying DeWinters (Shannon’s parents) are way too interested in where we’re going, what we’re doing, what time we’re going to be home, etc. Focus on your own lives, olds!

Thank you Blake and L.K.!

If you want to get to know Blake better, get your hands on a copy of Flash Burnout. I recommend indies, and L.K. recommends Annie Bloom’s Books in the other Portland (Oregon, that is). You can, of course, also order it from Amazon. I know you want to know more about L.K. Madigan, so visit her site, too.

And finally, if you want a Utili-kilt like Blake, check out their website. It’s an education.

Deleted Scenes: The F-Word

Posted on November 9, 2009 by Megan

I am an unabashed feminist. Many women and girls, for reasons I have never been able to understand, are afraid to identify themselves in this way. I suppose that they have what I would call a misunderstanding of the word. If you are feminist, it does not mean that you think women are better than men, or that men are worthless, or that the world would be better off if women were in charge. It means that you think that everyone, male or female, deserves an equal shot. That the choices we make should in fact be choices and not dictated by our gender.

When you hold a belief so centrally and firmly, it’s bound to reveal itself in your writing. Feminism does make its way into Secrets of Truth & Beauty. Most centrally, I believe that weight bias is a feminist issue. However, sometimes an issue can overtake the writing, as it did in the following deleted scene. While I agree with Dara’s sentiment that feminism does not mean replacing one set of rules for another, in the end, this exchange came off a bit forced. I believed in it philosophically, but creatively, it never quite worked for me. So I cut it out. Only to resurrect it after the break. Enjoy!

(P.S. The town of Hollis was originally called October Grove)

Continue reading →

Music Monday: Obsessions

Posted on November 2, 2009 by Megan

I get totally obsessed with songs. I want to hear them over and over and over again. Eventually I move on to something else, but once I am obsessed with a song, it always brings me joy.

Now here’s the weird part. Often, I am true to my New England roots (that is to say, cheap frugal) and I don’t actually buy the song. It probably stems from being burned one two many times by really loving a song, buying the CD, and realizing that all the other songs are pale imitations of the one I loved. Now that we’ve entered the brave new world of being able to buy just one song for only 99 cents, you’d think my habits would have changed. And I do tend to buy my obsession songs more often; I couldn’t resist “Single Ladies” earlier this year.

But I also love turning on the radio and hearing one of those songs I just love. Since I can’t go and play it when I want, it’s this wonderful happenstance. It’s like an indication that everything is fine, good even.

I am very much obsessed with “Say Hey” by Michael Franti and Spearhead. It makes me want to dance, and I love to dance.

Finally, in keeping with Music Monday, Jordyn and Ten Cent Notes is having a really fun contest for playlists of songs key to 09 Debs’ books. Bet you can guess which one I picked!

Debs Pageant: Kristina Springer

Posted on November 1, 2009 by Megan

I hope everyone had a good Halloween! Any fun costumes? At the school where I work the faculty did literary characters and I was Harriet the Spy.

Today it’s back to the Debs Pageant, with Jane from Kristina Springer’s debut The Espressologist. What’s the Debs Pageant? In Secrets of Truth & Beauty, Dara is a former child pageant star. So, in order to introduce you to the wonderful authors and characters of the 2009 Debutantes, I am hosting a Debs Pageant on my blog. So here we go with Jane!

Character name: Jane Turner
Age: 17
Biography: I’m a Chicago girl, senior in high school (when I show up), and a barista at a chain coffee shop. I’m not so great with guys but I’m a really good friend!

What is your talent? I’m an Espressologist! I can hook people up based on their favorite coffee drinks.

What will you wear for the evening dress competition? How about I bedazzle my work smock? Could be cute.

Who is your escort? My number one frat boy regular, Will. He’s so dreamy.

And now for the interview portion . . . If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
If I could change one thing about the world I would make good coffee affordable for all people. No more would citizens have to drink day old coffee from questionable looking gas stations just because it’s 99 cents for the big gulp size. No more would your average caffeine addict need to get a second mortgage just to afford his six extra shots of espresso in his daily Joe. If I had my way, coffee mugs would be bottomless, syrup would flow freely, and whipped cream or no whipped cream on that would never even be a question– there would ALWAYS be whipped cream. We would all live in harmony, with caffeine buzzes from sun up to sun down.

Thank you Jane and Kristina!

To find out more about Kristina and her book, please visit her website.

You can purchase The Espressologist through Amazon, or visit your local bookstore. Kristina recommends Anderson’s in Naperville, IL. Aprilynne Pike also recommended Anderson’s, so it must be an extra super fantastic Indie.

Megan Frazer Blakemore

Monthly Archives: November 2009