Megan Frazer

Today is Operation Teen Book Drop day! Yay! Last year I participated as a librarian, hiding books around my school. This year I did it again, as a librarian, but also as an author! That was super cool. I did not actually get to hide the books at my school, because I was at Reading Roundup, a conference for Maine librarians about books and reading. My plan had been to hide Secrets at the conference, but then I forgot about it, and then when I remembered, it was almost too late. So then I went home, and was thinking, “Man, I totally messed up my first TBD. Also, I need some spinach and tomatoes.” Which led me to the perfect solution: I would go to the brand new natural food store in my town and drop it there. With all the emphasis on local, organic food in the book, it was actually the perfect spot. So I put it on top of some natural peanut butters. Mmmm. And of course forgot to take a picture.

I also forgot to take pictures at the conference. I did a panel with Ellen Booraem, Deva Fagan, Carrie Jones (who apparently almost died on the way there), and Kelly McClymer. Kevin Hawkes was the keynote speaker. He was funny, charming, and really insightful. I loved seeing his work step by step. He also said something that I wrote down in paraphrase: in illustration, everything needs to add to the emotion of the picture; otherwise it should be cut out. And I kind of want to write it out and frame it as a reminder to myself, because the same could be said of writing, of course. Sometimes it’s good to be reminded of it.

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One of the cool things about being an author and a librarian is that when ALA has conventions, I get to see my library peeps and my author peeps. And my current peeps introduce me to new peeps. (All this talk of peeps and libraries reminds me of one of my favorite sites.)

On Friday, I did a workshop about standards for school library media programs that was awesome. It was led by Pam Berger, who was just fantastic. Then I went to the author panel with Eric Van Lustbader, Chuck Hogan, Tracy Chevalier, and Julie Powell. Ostensibly it was about books into movies, but they talked about all sorts of things. As a new author, I found it fascinating and reassuring when they talked about reviews. Except for Lustbader, who insisted he didn’t read his I should have taken notes and written down quotes because they were interesting. Chevalier talked about how the reviews balanced her, since most people who write to her or come to her events like the books. Both she and Hogan mentioned that they wished they could learn something from them, which is one of the fallacies of book reviewing, I think, that the author will read it, incorporate it, and somehow improve their work.

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I really, really wanted a Google wave invite. Then when I finally got one, I didn’t know what to do with it. Some of the folks at the school where I work and I are going to try to think of something. In the meantime, though, the awesome and talented Kurtis Scaletta used it to do a group interview of a bunch of authors (specifically, Josh Berk, Steve Brezenoff, Jon Skovron, Sarah MacLean, Saundra Mitchell, Deva Fagan, and Laurel Snyder). I think most of them were there in real time, but I came late. And Kurtis was very nice to not point out that I put my answers in all the wrong places and what not.

One question I couldn’t answer was what book made me want to become a writer. I loved the other author’s answers, and some of those definitely inspired me, too (esp. A Prayer for Owen Meaney). I can’t point to one book, though, that was like a switch of a light. It was more the cumulative effect of reading wonderful books, and going to those worlds, and living through the author’s worlds. I wanted to create world’s and people like that, too, first for myself, and eventually for other people.

But I’m curious, writers, is there a book or author that made you want to write?

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I love Erin Dionne’s debut Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies, and not just because it, like Secrets, has overweight girls and pageants. It is laugh-out-loud funny, touching, and honest. The only downside is the cover makes you crave Oreos like there is no tomorrow and I don’t even really like Oreos. (I do however like chocolate covered peppermint Joes O’s from Trader Joes.)

Recently, Erin was interviewed in a great article about “positive characters of size.”  I need to get reading some of the other books mentioned in the article. I would also like to add Wrenn from Leigh Brescia’s One Wish. I’ve only just begun this book, and I am finding it tremendously powerful — and a bit like Leigh read my middle and high school years’ diary.

It just so happens that Erin and I, along with fellow Deb Deva Fagan, will be doing a panel at the Bar Harbor Book Festival about positive, unconventional female characters in YA and MG lit. We’d love to see you there!

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).