And what better way to go out and celebrate our planet than by buying a book? Hey, how about DRAMA! Show, Don’t Tell? I mean, they’ve already gone and used all that paper to print up the darn thing. Don’t think of it as just buying a book. You’ll be saving the planet!

Why yes, I do have no shame.

Speaking of Earth Day, one little thing that I do to help out is, whenever possible, I’ll walk somewhere instead of taking my car. I walk around town a lot. Just ask my neighbor who always sees me out and about. Aside from being great exercise, walking gives me time to think and to work. I’d say that the most important part of the writing process happens for me while I walk and listen to my iPod. I have particular playlists for particular moods and especially for particular books. Here’s what I listen to when I’m developing new ideas or scenes or whatever for DRAMA! (It’s a rather eclectic mix, though it should be no surprise that it’s rather heavy on showtunes.)

DRAMA! Playlist
“Who Am I Anyway?” from A Chorus Line
“Cabaret” from Cabaret (Duh)
“The Grease Megamix”
“Bubble Pop Electric” by Gwen Stefani
“Friends” by Bette Midler
“You’re my Best Friend” by Queen
“Rent” from Rent (Duh again)
“Lose Yourself” by Eminem (Surprising, I know.)
“The Entertainer” by Billy Joel
“Gone Going” by Black Eyed Peas (featuring Jack Johnson)
“The Rose” by Bette Midler
“Brush Up Your Shakespeare” from Kiss Me Kate
“I Have Confidence” from The Sound of Music
“Wind it Up” by Gwen Stefani
“Hey Old Friends” from Merrily We Roll Along (performed by Barry Manilow)
“Linus and Lucy” by Vince Guaraldi
“You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” from the play of the same name
“My New Philosophy” also from You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown
“Popular” from Wicked
A Medley of songs from The Wizard of Oz in concert.
“The Show Must Go On” by Queen

Doesn’t it seem a little unfair that Gossip Girl, Greek, Bones, and How I Met Your Mother are all on the same night at the SAME TIME!?! I mean, seriously … we have months with hardly any original television programming and then it all comes back at once? Where’s the logic in that? Good thing I took a break from Dancing with the Stars this season or I think my head would explode.

Seeing how those are some of my favorite shows, it got me thinking about my characters’ favorites (also because asking certain people about their “favorite things” is a tiny component of the super secret project I mentioned earlier). So, in honor of the release of Show, Don’t Tell tomorrow, I thought it would be fun to ask Bryan, Sam, and Hope what some of their favorites are. It turns out that they like some of the same stuff I do. What an amazing coincidence.

Favorite Movie
Bryan: There are so many. Let’s see. For classic movies, it’s got to be The Philadelphia Story, Stage Door, and His Girl Friday. But for movies that came out since I was born, I’d have to say, Mean Girls, Finding Neverland, and Hairspray.
Sam: Gone with the Wind and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Hope: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Sorry. I love Johnny Depp and all, but nothing beats the original.

Favorite TV Show
Bryan: Buffy, The Vampire Slayer, Veronica Mars, Ugly Betty, Gossip Girl … and because this list is a little short on testosterone … Battlestar Galactica (not that it doesn’t star some kick ass women, but at least it doesn’t have a girl in the title.)
Sam: Buffy, Lost, and Friday Night Lights
Hope: Television rots the mind … except for Buffy and Lost.

Favorite Singer/Band
Bryan: Sam
Sam: Aw, thanks Bryan. That’s sweet. You must want something. Okay, my favorite singers are Norah Jones and Heather Headley.
Hope: The Pierces

Favorite Musical
Bryan: Wicked
Sam: Wicked
Hope: Sweeney Todd and The Sound of Music.

Favorite Halloween Costume
Bryan: I was once a tube of toothpaste. Crest, I think.
Sam: Maleficent (the Disney character, not Blaine’s dog.)
Hope: Death.

Favorite Food
Bryan: All of them. I’m not picky. Well, except mushrooms. Not a big fan of eating fungus.
Sam: Pizza
Hope: My dad’s huevos rancheros.

Favorite Book
Bryan: Interview with the Vampire and Boy Meets Boy
Sam: Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings (and The Hobbit) and the Dragonriders of Pern
Hope: Where the Sidewalk Ends, A Light in the Attic, and The Bell Jar

The television writers’ strike is over and we’re about to get four whole weeks of new television … before everything disappears for the summer. Not that original TV totally disappears anymore. There were some really great shows airing during the drought of the past few months—like Jericho and Eli Stone—and some truly awesome ones the will be starting up for the summer soon … Oh, how I have missed you, So You Think You Can Dance?

But television isn’t the only thing coming back. Bryan and his Orion Academy friends return on Tuesday with the release of DRAMA! book 3: Show, Don’t Tell. This time, they’re taking the show on the road and visiting a traveling Renaissance Faire, which is about as fun for Bryan as you’d expect it to be. But Sam and Hope are way stoked to get their Huzzah on. In honor of the release of Show, Don’t Tell, I promise to blog every day for the next seven to make up for my long absence. (I figure with a promise like that, I can probably make it three out of the seven days. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.)

First off, why have I been so scarce around here lately? Well, the thing about being a writer is, sometimes people expect you to write. And meet deadlines. Incredibly tight deadlines in some cases. And I had two biggies in the past two months.

The first was for DRAMA! book 4: Entrances and Exits. Not only did I turn that manuscript in, but my amazing editor turned it around so fast that it’s already been through edits, copyedits, and I just looked over the first pass pages (that’s when I get to see the book laid out in its almost final form). I am incredibly happy with how these next two books in the series came out and can’t wait for everyone to read them.

The other reason I’ve been MIA is that in the past couple months I accepted a book offer, researched the book, interviewed people for it, wrote it, turned it in, got my edits, and am finalizing the second draft right now. It’s a super fun, super exciting book project for a very popular TV show unlike any other I’ve written books on before. This new book is taking me to someplace I never though I’d go and I’m getting to meet people I never dreamed I’d meet. (Don’t get too excited. I haven’t left the L.A. area). Can’t say anything more since the book hasn’t been announced yet, but considering it’ll be out this fall, I should be able to share some more soon. And maybe I’ll drop a hint or two as my week of blogging continues. Who knows?

While you wait for my seven day blog-a-thon to continue, you can check out my friend, Randi Reisfeld’s new web site.

Be back soon!

I promise!

(I hope.)

I know, it’s been a while. So much has been going on this past month(s) that I’ve hardly had a moment to stop by here. But I promise an update soon to fill you in on all the fun stuff that’s been going on in my life. Until then, I’ll leave you with this…

One of the reasons I’ve been MIA is because I’ve been busy blogging elsewhere. Yes. I’m cheating on my own blog. And I am properly shamed. BUT … Pulse Blogfest is an unprecedented marathon blogging event taking place over the next two weeks. Over 100 of Simon & Schuster’s young adult authors—including Judy Blume, Scott Westerfeld, Holly Black, and a whole lot of other names I could drop—will be sharing their thoughts on a wide range of topics in response to reader questions. And, I’m sorry, but would you pass up a chance to electronically rub shoulders with Judy Blume? Thought not. So come visit me over here (or here) through the 27th.

But keep checking back here as I’m planning an update soon(er or later).

TTFN!

My old high school made NATIONAL NEWS today because a group of (presumably) students let loose dozens of chickens throughout the school. Considering the school once held the Guiness World Record for Largest Simultaneous Whoopee Sit (yes, that’s the entire student body–and FACULTY–all sitting on Whoopee Cushions at once), it should not be much of a surprise.

If you head on over to the Simon Pulse Ro Com Blog (and scroll to February 8th, if necessary) you’ll find another exciting tale from my time working as a tour guide as a motion picture and TV studio.

Enjoy!

Okay. Actually, the winning began five days ago. I would have mentioned it sooner, but I was once again visiting a black hole of dial-up connection where trying to put up a post is a Herculean task. (Actually, it’s not that bad. I just like the word “Herculean.”)

This month at TeensReadToo.com, you can enter to win “(Nearly) 30 Books a Day in (Almost) 30 Days!” My publisher has partnered with the website to give away FIVE copies of the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies EVERY SINGLE DAY during the month of February. That’s 145 free books just there for the taking!! If you haven’t picked up your copy of Love, Hollywood Style now’s your chance to win it for free. Well, not now now, but tomorrow. My book is the prize for February 7 and February 28, but you only have to be entered once for the entire month of winning. So go now! No wait. Go later. Now, I have one more thing to talk about…

First Kiss, Then Tell—the collection of first kiss stories I have a piece in—has had some very nice things said about it in the reviews. My piece, “Improvisation,” has been mentioned or briefly referenced in several of them. Here’s a chopped up excerpt from one of the most … interesting?

From School Library Journal:
In this entertaining collection, the contributors’ experiences range from the sublime to the hilarious, and they are related through essays, poems, a play, a his-and-her version of events, and two comic strips. Cecil Castelucci’s story of secret kisses with a “bad boy” is one of the most intriguing, while Amy Kim Ganter’s artistic rendering of her “third first kiss” with her future husband is romantic … David Levithan writes touchingly of a kiss between boys rehearsing a Shakespeare scene, while Jon Scieszka amusingly relates how his first kiss finally came about…

Now, I have been called many names in my life. Some nice. Some not-so-nice. But I can honestly say that I have never been called David Levithan before. Then again, if I’m going to be mistaken for another author, that’s a darn good one to choose. Mr. Levithan also has a story in the collection. It’s told as a graphic novel with drawings by Nick Eliopulos. The story is also quite touching, but there’s nary a Shakespeare scene to be found.

Oh, well. Honest mistake. Still, the review doesn’t hold a candle to what Booklist said about Everyone’s a Critic and how my writing “…go[es] down as easily as a Starbucks latte.” That’s going to be my favorite soundbite for a while. Get used to reading it around here.

If you’ll excuse me, I have to go to Starbucks to get some work done.

Okay. Now, you can go enter the contest.

Who needs the Golden Globes when you have the American Library Association Mid-Winter Meeting? Last weekend (I know, I know. I’m a bit behind on this post), while Hollywoodites were huddled around their TV sets to watch a press conference announcing the winners of the Globes, librarians from across the country were gathering in my hometown (Yo, Philly!) for a considerably more glamorous affair. You know … Considering … Press Conference.

During the ALA Meeting, The Young Adult Library Services Association chose Rainbow Party as one of the titles on the 2008 list of Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults. (Yes, the book came out in 2005. The themes on the list change annually. Just go with it.) And the best, best, BEST part is it puts me on a list alongside some of my faves: Meg Cabot, Bret Hartinger, David Levithan, Rachel Cohn, and the one, the only Judy Blume.

Did I mention JUDY BLUME!?!

For the full list go here!

But wait! Those wacky librarians didn’t stop there. In this month’s issue of Booklist (the magazine of the American Library Association) they’ve included a nice review of Everyone’s a Critic. Here’s an excerpt:

…Wry, sensitive, and sitting comfortably in the closet, Bryan makes an engaging narrator, whose takes on privileged classmates, the la-la-land setting, the craft of acting, and his own emotional highs and lows go down as easily as a Starbucks latte. By the final scene he and his circle have played hard, worked hard, done their best, and developed a bit more self-awareness…

This the first time my writing has ever been compared to a coffee drink. Well, the first time that I know of. Personally, I would have preferred if the critic had said it was like a White Chocolate Mocha with extra whip, but I’ll take what I can get.

Thanks, librarians!

That’s “Publication” Day. I’m not going on any pub crawls or anything like that.

Today is the official release day for Love, Hollywood Style, my first (and, hopefully, not last) entry in the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies book line. Although the book is in no way autobiographical, it was inspired by the job that led me to the job that ultimately led me to my writing career. After college, I moved to Hollywood and got work as a tour guide at a major motion picture and TV studio. Can’t you just picture me stepping off the bus with bags in my hands, a naive expression on my face, and a dream in my heart? (Except, I took a plane to get here.) To read one of my favorite tales from my days as a tour guide, check out my latest post on the Simon Pulse Ro Com blog.

But while you’re still here, I’d like to take a moment to share some thanks. A couple months back, I found myself with some extra copies of my final Charmed book, Leo Rising. Since the Charmed fan site, TheCharmedOnes.com, has always been very kind to me, I offered the books to them to give away. And thus, the contest mentioned previously in this blog, was born. Little did I know that they would ask the fans to write in with their thoughts on the Charmed books and my books in particular. There was no need to have read any of my books to enter the contest, but if they had read the books and wanted to share their thoughts, it was encouraged. And they did. And then the site shared those words with me. It was some of the nicest and most thoughtful messages I’ve ever received. Such a nice way to start off the new year! (In addition to the fun first weekend of 2008 I spent watching all of Veronica Mars season 1 on DVD.) So, thanks, Charmed Ones and Charmed fans. And congratulations to all the contest winners.

Like the wise and wondrous TV Gal from Zap2it.com, I too am spending the holidays in a House That Technology Forgot, which is why I’m a day late with this post. But, December 26th was the official release date of First Kiss (Then Tell): A Collection of True Lip-Locked Moments, a book of anecdotes, comics, poems, and more (like my short, short play) about the first kisses of many of my favorite authors … and me. Not that I’m implying that I’m my own favorite author. Quite honestly, I don’t always like myself that much. But seriously, the book has contributions from Niki Burnham, Deb Caletti, Cecil Castelluci, Shannon and Dean Hale, David Levithan, Scott Westerfeld, and my pal, Micol Ostow (and many, many, more!).

There’s a little something for everyone in this collection, from sweetly memorable moments to tragic parting kisses to embarrassing busses. (That’s an old fashioned word for kissing. It’s not a book about public transportation.) And the best part is that a portion of the proceeds will go to NPR Youth Radio. ‘Tis the season of giving and what better way to give than by getting something for yourself in the process. (See, this kind of selfishness is one of the reasons I don’t always like myself. Actually, no. It’s one of the reasons I love myself.)

While we’re on the subject of the giving season, seeing as how Christmas is my favorite time of the year, I couldn’t let the holiday go by without some comment on all that the season has taught me. For a lesson on the true meaning of Christmas, you should search out some kid with a blue blanket to explain it to you. Here are the things I’VE learned over the years…

-Changing from bad to good is as easy as taking your first step.

-It’s a difficult responsibility to be first toymaker to the king. (And it’s even harder to work for the Burgermeister Meisterburger.)

-Christmas is a commercial racket run by a big eastern syndicate.

-A traditional holiday feast is still possible even without the roast beast.

-If things don’t turn out the way you want them the first time, you’ve still got to believe.

-There is a train that goes to the North Pole. (But a refrigerated boxcar—though perfect for a snowman or a fur-covered rabbit—is not appropriate travel accommodation for a young girl.)

-Bumbles bounce.

-No man is a failure who has friends.

-Santa Claus isn’t always a jolly fellow. At times her can be a surly boss who berates his elf employees or ignores them completely. He has also been known to react with a disproportionate amount of anger when faced with the birth of a reindeer that possesses unique attributes. (Of course, this attitude could be a result of his having to live with Mrs. Claus constantly harping on him to “Eat, Papa, eat!”)

Happy Holidays!