Megan Frazer

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’s contestant is Laurel from Aprilynne Pike’s Wings.

Character name: Laurel Sewell
Age: 15 . . . or 19. It’s very confusing.
Biography: I am a young faerie who has just discovered what she is. I am still trying to figure out just what my role is in an ages-long feud between the trolls and the faeries but my friends David and Tamani are helping me on my path!

What is your talent? Well, it depends. My inherent talent is making things: potions, elixirs, serums, that kind of thing. But I haven’t really learned how to do it yet. But I love to sing and play my guitar too!

What will you wear for the evening dress competition? I think I’ll wear the same thing I wore to my Halloween party this year, a sky-blue formal with beaded trim and a mini-train.

Who is your escort? Right now? My best friend, David. But Tamani’s trying to edge his way in there. it’s so hard to choose!

And now for the interview portion . . . What color best represents you and why? Blue. Blue is the color of my petals when I blossom each Fall. It represents my faerie heritage and reminds me of who I am and the mission I’ve been sent to complete.

Thank you Laurel and Aprilynne!

To find out more about Aprilynne, please visit her website.

To get yourself a copy of Wings, order it from Amazon. Or, head out to your local independent bookstore. Aprilynne recommends Changing Hands in Tempe, Arizona or Anderson’s in Naperville, Illinois.

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 Teresa from Danielle Joseph’s Shrinking Violet.

Character name: Tere Adams
Age: 18
Biography: I am extremely shy, like I totally clam up when called on in class. I am also a music buff and despise mean people.

What is your talent? Music. My dream is to be a DJ.

What will you wear for the evening dress competition? I’d be reluctant to wear a dress but probably something black and elegant but comfortable.

Who is your escort? Gavin Tam, the cutie in my English class.

And now for the interview portion . . . What’s the biggest challenge facing today’s youth? Trying to live up to the media’s expectations of what a teen is supposed to look like, be like. Trying to find yourself through all of this.

Thank you Danielle and Tere!

To get your hands on Shrinking Violet, order it from Barnes & Noble, or pick it up at your local independent bookstore.

To learn more about Danielle, please visit her website.

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 I am very excited to bring you Fortunata from Deva Fagan’s Fortune’s Folly. Deva is the only Deb — so far! — who I have met real life in person, not just on the interwebs, and she is so cool, down to earth, and fun.

Character name: Fortunata
Age: Teen
Biography:
Fortunata is the daughter of a famed Master Shoemaker who has lately lost his talent. She now supports herself and her father as a traveling fortune-teller. She loves nutcakes, sensible shoes, and white roses.

What is your talent?
*in a resonant voice* I am Fortunata the All-Knowing, Mistress of Magic, Doyenne of Dreams!
*in her normal voice* Sounds impressive doesn’t it? Amazing how many people believe that line…

What will you wear for the evening dress competition?
*she sighs* I suppose it’ll have to be this old thing. *she fiddles with her star-spangled but somewhat threadbare fortune-teller’s costume* All my really nice things got sold after mother died and Father lost his skills. Just please don’t look at my shoes, by the Saints. *her shoes are bright yellow and black and bear a strong resemblance to bumblebees*

Who is your escort?
Prince Leonato of Doma. No, you don’t have to bow, he doesn’t put on airs and all that. *lowers voice* Doesn’t he look just like Saint Marco the Fair? And you know he’s never teased me a bit over these silly bumblebee shoes. *sighs*

And now for the interview portion . . .What’s the biggest challenge facing today’s youth?
Hmm… Well you know, so many people come wanting the All-Knowing Eye to tell them what to do with their lives. You know, they’re sweet on someone their parents don’t approve of, or they aren’t sure whether to dedicate themselves to the Saints or become farmers. And most of the time, they really know what they want, but they haven’t realized it. They want someone else to TELL them what to do (that would be me). It seems like more people ought to be able to think for themselves, and not go around waiting for some sham fortune-teller *coughs* I mean, someone who possesses the All-Knowing Eye to tell them what to do. It’s their own life, and they need to make their own future happen.

Thank you Fortunata and Deva!

Fortune’s Folly is available now — I’ve seen it! I’ve seen Deva holding it! You can order it from Amazon or at your local independent book store. If you’re in Maine, like Deva and I are, try the Maine Coast Book Shop in Damariscotta — they have a great YA section.

To learn more about Deva, please visit her website (it’s purty).

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’s contestant is Ai Ling from Cindy Pon’s Silver Phoenix.

Character name: wen ai ling
Age: 17
Biography: a typical teenager from the ancient kingdom of xia. not so typical that at 17, i’ve failed to become betrothed.

What is your talent? i have the power to connect to other’s spirits. to hear their thoughts, feel their feelings…as my ability grows, i learn i can do even more.

What will you wear for the evening dress competition? a red silk dress with flowing sleeves and embroidered with dragons and phoenixes.

Who is your escort? my crush, chen yong.

And now for the interview portion . . . If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
i would ask that society is not so rigid in their thinking when it comes to marriage and limiting women’s roles to the inner quarters.

Thank you Ai Ling and Cindy!

Silver Phoenix is available now! Order it from Amazon, or pick it up from your local independent bookstore.

To learn more about Cindy, her writing, and her art, visit her website.

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 Sydney Salter, whose debut My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters was released on April 1st.

Character name: Jory Michaels
Age: 17
Biography: I’m slightly disaster-prone and I’m searching for my passion, in the creative–and otherwise–sense of the word. But everything will change for the better once I save enough money for a life-altering nose job!

What is your talent? Well, it’s not driving. Not yoga. Not movie criticism. Definitely not soccer. And I’m not going to like making jewelry because my mom is totally getting into it (can’t the woman find her own stupid hobby?). I’m still kinda trying to find my passion, so can I get back to you on that?

What will you wear for the evening dress competition? A burkha? Or maybe an evening gown with a ski mask?

Who is your escort? Why can’t I enter this pageant after I get the nose job?!? I don’t know. Tyler is just a huge flirt. Wooster Tom acts interested, but he never calls. And Gideon–well, he has his own nose issues. I’ll probably have to take my brother Finn. But then he’ll just win the beauty contest himself. And end up with a dozen new girlfriends.

And now for the interview portion . . .What’s the biggest challenge facing today’s youth?
We’re supposed to be so perfect. We have to look perfect. We have to do well in school. We have to have amazing boyfriends. We have to have interesting hobbies. We’re supposed to be good at absolutely everything. Some of us are just plain ordinary! But that’s like not allowed.

Thank you Jory and Sydney!

My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters is available now from Amazon or from your local independent bookseller.

For more about Sydney, please visit her website.

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 Savannah from Cheryl Renee Herbsman’s Breathing. This book will transport you to a Carolina beach.

Character name: Savannah Georgina Brown
Age: 15
Biography:

I live on the Carolina Coast with my mama and my brother. I do real well in school. I’ve got real bad asthma, but I try not to let it slow me down.

What is your talent? Ooh, now that’s a hard one. I’m not real good at singing or dancing or that type of thing. We don’t have a whole lot of money for lessons or what have you. But when me and my friend Stef were little we wanted to be baton girls. So maybe I could do that.

What will you wear for the evening dress competition?
I’ll have to see if Mama will take me out to buy me something new. Right now the fanciest thing I have is a real pretty blue sundress.

Who is your escort? Jackson, of course!

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, it’d be to make it so that everyone has plenty of money. That way Mama wouldn’t have to worry so about our medical bills and she and Jackson wouldn’t have to work so much. I believe everybody would be a better person if they didn’t have to worry over money.

Thank you Savannah and Cheryl!

To get your hands on a copy of Breathing, go to your local independent book store, or order it from Amazon.

To find out more about Cheryl, please visit her website.

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 Mary from Carrie Ryan’s highly-anticipated, now-in-stores The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

Character name: Mary
Age: around 15
Biography: Mary grew up in a village surrounded by a forest full of zombies. She’s been taught her whole life that they are the only ones left in the world, but she believes there’s more to the world past the Forest of Hands and Teeth.

What is your talent? Making up stories.

What will you wear for the evening dress competition? We don’t have any fancy fabrics and my mother would never let me use anything we do have to make something as impractical as an evening dress, so I’ll end up wearing my usual clothes: long cotton skirt and a shirt.

Who is your escort? I wish it would be Travis, but of course it ends up being my brother Jed (who isn’t particularly pleased about it).

The Forest of Hand and Teeth is available now. Pick up your copy at your local library, Amazon, or your local independent book store. Carrie recommends Park Road Books in Charlotte, NC and The Open Book in Greenville, SC.

For more information about Carrie, visit her website.

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’s contestant comes from Neesha Meminger’s debut Shine, Coconut Moon, which has been receiving rave reviews.

And now, on to the pageant . . .

Character Name: Sam Ahluwahlia
Age: 17
Biography: Sam is an Indian-American “coconut.” She’s an only child and holidays are usually just her and her mom. She loves food that begins with or ends with “cream,” “deep fried,” or “cheese.”

What is your talent?
My talent is getting in deep dung with my mom, apparently. Kidding. Seriously, though, my talent is probably asking a lot of questions and researching the answers.

What will you wear for the evening dress competition?
I’m not really an evening dress kinda gal, but maybe something dark, dark purple, and not long. And not super low cut, either.

Who is your escort?
I think that cute new guy, Ajay.

Now for the interview portion . . .What color best represents you?
Purple . Because it’s a mix of red and blue — passion, fire, heat, speed, mixed with cool, solid, calm, tranquil. Purple. That’s me.

Thank you Sam and Neesha!

Shine, Coconut Moon is available now. You can order it from Amazon, or pick it up from your local independent bookstore.

For more about Neesha, visit her website.

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’s contestant is Jessica from Cynthea Liu’s debut, The Great Call of China. Cynthea is something of a superstar: she has both her YA debut and her first middle grade novel, Paris Pan Takes the Dare, coming out this year. On top of that, she developed AuthorsNow! an online venue for authors and  illustrators of children’s and young adult literature.

And now . . . the pageant!

Name: Jessica Ye
Age: 16
Biography: I’ll admit it. I’m spoiled. I get practically everything I want, except I don’t get to decide where I’ll apply for college. My parents have it all laid out for me.

What is your talent?
I can work a sewing machine like nobody’s business. But my parents think fashion design is just a hobby.

What will you wear for the evening dress competition?
A Jessica Ye original, of course.

Who is your escort?
Will, naturally.

Now for the interview portion . . .If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
There oughta be more Jessica’s in the world. We would band together and eliminate sweatpants from our society.

Thank you Jessica and Cynthea!

To learn more about Cynthea, please visit her website or AuthorsNow!

The Great Call of China is available now. Buy it at your local bookstore, or through Amazon.

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.

In honor of Friday the 13th, we have a contestant from one of scarier Deb books: my awesome agent-mate Saundra Mitchell.

Name: Iris Rhame
Age: 14
Biography: I’ve lived my whole live in Ondine, Louisiana. I live with my daddy, Jack, and next door to a couple of yahoos who think throwing dry ice bombs in the creek is all kinds of hilarious. Me and my best friend Collette are pretty much the only people in Ondine what see magic for what it is.

What is your talent?
Calling the wind and rain.

Who is your escort?
I don’t know. NOT Ben Duvall.