Happy Cinco de Mayo!

In the US, Cinco de Mayo is most commonly known as a day to eat fajitas and drink Coronas and margaritas. Many Americans mistake Cinco de Mayo as Mexican Independence Day.

It's not. It's a day commemorating the victory of 4000 Mexican soliders over a French army of 8000 in 1862 at the Battle of Puebla. It's not even really considered that big of a holiday in Mexico. It's us crazy Gringos north of the border that feel the need to celebrate it.

But that's not the only thing that ever happened on May 5.

Napoleon Bonaparte died in exile on the island of St. Helena in 1821.

Bob Fosse's baseball musical "Damn Yankees" opened on Broadway in 1955.

Astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr because the first American space traveler in a 15-minute suborbital flight in a capsule launched from Cape Canaveral on this day in 1961.

My brother felt the need to point out that political theorist and author of "Communist Manifesto" Karl Marx would be 192 today.

Of more interest to me is that Nellie Bly, groundbreaking female newspaper writer who challenged herself in an around-the-world race, was born on this day in 1864. (She would be 146.)

Today is also the birthday of R&B singer Chris Brown (21), 2009 Grammy-winning Best New Artist Adele (22), rap, R&B, and pop star Craig David (29), former Family Ties actress Tina Yothers (37), NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams (51), First Lady of County Music Tammy Wynette (68), Brady Bunch housekeeper (Alice) Ann B. Davis (84).

Oh yeah. And me. :) I turned 33 this morning.

Bully for Us

My home state of Massachusetts recently passed anti-bullying legislation. A lot of people I know were surprised I wasn't thrilled with this, but I wasn't. Frankly I don't see that it solves much. For it to be active somebody has to have already been bullied. I'd prefer we work from the other end.

There have actually been a lot of studies on bullying, which surprised me when I looked into it. None have come up with solutions that work. In my experience with young people, most of the psycho-babble stuff really doesn't do much good. Sit two kids down to talk it out and they give lip service, walk to opposite sides of the room, and go right back to picking sides and planning revenge.

The ONLY thing I ever found that worked when I was teaching? I was as hyper-aware as I could be of kids who tended to be targets, and I targeted them myself... from the other side. If a pimply kid was getting hammered and had no confidence, I would play him up, give him opportunities to be clever, and talk him up with the cooler kids. I'm still, to this day, surprised that kids like and look up to me. But I tried to live by the adage I stole from Dr. Charles Robinson, "they don't care what you know til they know that you care" and practiced it every day. Thank god it worked. If the cool kids hadn't trusted and liked me pointing out how talented Suzy was, or how funny Sammy was, never would have come to much.

I didn't fix everything, but I think by making it my business to pay attention and care... maybe I fixed a few things.

I do remember a woman coming to a school where I taught Psychology, English, and Journalism. She was there to speak about peer support. The kids hated her. They snickered through her presentation, made fun of her demeanor, and giggled a lot.

They dismissed her as a preachy dork. To be honest, she kinda was.

So how do we solve this issue? My only gut response is to watch, pay attention, and support the kids struggling socially while playing to the crowd at the same time. Don't alienate the leaders, but pick up the stragglers. Try to shove them onto common ground and show them how one can lead with humor, energy, and kindness all at the same time.

Other than that I got nothin... but I'm also certain legislating bullying is a pretty flimsy bandaid. And honestly? I would rather we avoid the wound to begin with.

A Friday Funny

The cuteness! It hurts my eyes!



Happy Friday!

Rockin out, yo

So today is kind of a fun Wednesday for me. My work friends and I are exchanging music videos and jammin to some great music--Justin Timberlake, Nelly, Ludacris, Fergie, etc. I'm shaking what my momma gave me in my cube LOL. Here's one I'm listening to right now:

What are you listening to right now? Let's get a good list of music going here!

at the movies

I heart going to the movies...and I'm one of those people who wants to get to the movie in time for the previews. (BTW, we went to see Kick-Ass the movie and it was actually pretty darn kick ass! And it's rated R for language and violence but if you're a mature 15 you should totally go see it...with parental permission of course)

I'm really looking forward to the following movies:

MaGruber!

MACGRUBER: Movie Trailer. Watch more top selected videos about: MacGruber, Jorma_Taccone, Will_Forte, Kristen_Wiig, Val_Kilmer

You know I'm a huge fan of the SNL skit...and I've heard from a good authority (someone who's already seen a sneak preview) that this movie is AWESOME. So on May 21...I'll be enjoying the awesome with other like minded individuals...

Killers

KILLERS: Movie Trailer - Watch more top selected videos about: Movie_Trailers, Killers_(2010_film), Catherine_O'Hara, Tom_Selleck, Katherine_Heigl, Ashton_Kutcher, Katheryn_Winnick, Rob_Riggle, KILLERS, Robert_Luketic

Ashton Kutcher (looking yummy and ripped)and Katherine Heigel. This has the potential of being LOL funny. I hope it's not disappointing.

The Expendables:

THE EXPENDABLES: Movie Trailer - Watch more top selected videos about: The_Expendables_(2010_film), Jason_Statham, Sylvester_Stallone, Jet_Li, Arnold_Schwarzenegger, Bruce_Willis, Danny_Trejo, Dolph_Lundgren, The_Expendables

Holy cow! With this cast this movie is either going to be made of awesome, or a train wreck that you can't look away from. Either way, I'm there!

What movies are you looking forward to?

Falling Under

I spent a weekend making a book trailer and found it to be not only fun--but helpful. It was like connecting a different part of my brain to the writing process. Searching the web for pictures that made me "feel" my setting, characters, and mood has been good for my revisions I think. And the MUSIC--I love this song so much.

So, as a reader--do you ever look for book trailers? I confess, I never have. I've seen some really bad ones though, and they turned me off. I'm going to start checking youtube for more now--if nothing else than to give me ideas.

As a writer--have you ever made book trailers and what was your experience with them?

Library fines

What do George Washington and Jerry Seinfeld have in common? They both owed big fines to libraries in NYC for overdue books.

Whereas Jerry checking out "Tropic of Cancer" in 1971 and failing to return it was actually just a plot of a classic episode, it appears that our nation's first president actually did check out two library books on October 5, 1789 and fail to return them on November 2.

According to the New York Society Library's informal estimate, President Washington owes approximately $4,577 for the lost copies of "Law of Nations" and the 12th volume of "Common Debates." The fine at the time was 2 pence per day, but now it's fifteen cents.

Anyone else intrigued by how little the overdue fine has gone up in 221 years? I know the fine for overdue books at my local library is quite a bit steeper, at $1 per day. It give you a lot more incentive to return the book on time that way.

Anyway, I don't think the NYSL is going to get their $4577 anytime soon. A better question is whatever happened to those two books?

Have you ever gotten a really big library fine? Do you always return your books on time?

Patriots, Running Men, and Hitler

Today is a day off in Massachusetts. It's Patriot's Day, which actually has nothing to do with football, but around here I don't think anyone would be surprised. Boston is known for fake holidays. About ten years ago they started getting a little stricter about it, but yeah-- we'll take a day off for a wind change.

When people who aren't from around here ask, I always tell the tale of a brash young Minute-Man who was chased from Hopkinton all the way to Copley Square, and captured by RedCoats at the Boston Public Library's location on Boylston street, where he was boiled alive, and thus was the street named.



Which is a pretty cool lie, I like to think. Actually that's the route of the Marathon, which is the real reason for the holiday, even though nobody ever wants to admit it. Maine, our big brother to the north, also celebrates the day, while everyone else is scratching their heads wondering what the heck is going on. Look... we made up Evacuation Day and Bunker Hill Day, too. It's not our fault you guys can't get together and lie to your governors.

So what was the line we gave to get the day off? The first battle of the American Revolutionary War was fought on April 19, 1775. So we celebrate the Monday closest to that day by getting drunk, watching people run, and wandering around Fenway because there's always a game. Plus, tomorrow is Hitler's birthday... we could always lift a pint to celebrate him being dead.

Evacuation Day may be my favorite local holiday. It celebrates the leaving of troops from our shores, only it doesn't. It's just a made up holiday so we can have a Saint Patrick's Day parade. Once again, traditions involve drinking. I don't drink, really, but I love watching other idiots do it.

So yeah, anyway... gotta run. It's Patriot's Day. Plus it's an extra long weekend, too, and I have to get ready for Dead Hitler Day tomorrow. I was happy to blog on a holiday... cuz I lurves ya!

You complete me

Finishing something is one of the greatest feelings in the world. The sense of accomplishment rocks. I know this first hand because yesterday I finished the first draft of something I've been calling my sooper seekrit project.

Now the real fun begins.

See, I'm not one of those writers who loves the blank page, the fresh creation, the discovery of the characters. I'm the type who loves to take what's been created and mold it and shape it into something better.

And the feeling when that editing and polishing is done? Nothing like it, baby!

When's the last time you finished something? What was it?

Book themes

When I read, I find I'm drawn to certain kinds of themes in books. For example, I looooove stories about redemption...seeing someone who makes things right just fills me with a happy glow. I also love books where people have to learn how to trust and let go in order to grow as a character.

I think that because both of these are issues with me in my life, it's good to see how people overcome them, even if in a fictional setting. Real life doesn't always get resolved as nicely, but it doesn't mean we shouldn't try to keep improving ourselves and getting past our road blocks.

What about you? What book themes do you find yourself particularly drawn to, and why?

very very literary

This weekend was the Arkansas Literary Festival and I was on a panel with two other authors: fellow Arkansan, YA Author and friend Stacey Jay, and a new-to-me adult paranormal author Deborah LeBlanc.

The program said we were to talk about undead lore that we discovered during our research, but we let the crowd dictate the topic of conversation.

It was fun, relaxed and varied of opinion. And I enjoyed it very much.

I have pictures, but since I'm in the middle of a move, the camera is with me and the camera cable is at the new place... so photos will have to wait.

Since I've started doing these panels, I've noticed one of the big questions has been a variation of "What is your writing process?" And yesterday, each of us had very different answers. Deborah is the "write 16 hours a day just to get the story on the page" type. Stacey has little kids so she's the very disciplined "must write X words a day while the kids are asleep" type. I'm the more laissez-faire of the group, "write when I can or if I'm in the mood unless I'm on deadline" type.

Now, the problem with taking such a laid back approach is that it can take a while to write a book. And it's difficult to get back into a story if you don't actually write on it everyday. So when I'm writing, I do open the manuscript daily and add to it...even if it's only a sentence.

I'm going to try to adopt a more disciplined approach. I'm not like Stacey who writes umpteen million multiple books a year. But if I want this to be my career, I'm going to have to write more--and write more often. No matter what my personal circumstances are.

Once I'm officially in the new house, I think I'll make a plan!

Amazing

I just love this video. It makes me happy, like the Susan Boyle video. I wish I could sing. Really, I can't--ask anyone. But I wish I could.

Q&A with Elizabeth Scott at Romance Divas!

Acclaimed YA author Elizabeth Scott is the Author of the Month at Romance Divas. she's doing an "anything goes" Q&A on the forum, so go check it out!



Elizabeth's newest novel, "The Unwritten Rule" was released last month. I just bought it and can't wait to dive right in, because I'm a huge Elizabeth Scott fangirl!

If you've never checked out any of her books, be warned that "Living Dead Girl" (and her upcoming "Grace", which will be out this fall) are VERY different from her sweet teen romances, like "Bloom" or "Something, Maybe." But anything she writes is fabulous.

Go check out the Q&A and ask your questions!!

http://forums.romancedivas.com/index.php?showtopic=63924&pid=942447&st=0&#entry942447

Interview with Matthew Quick

Today we are pleased to introduce our readers to Matthew Quick, who was a high school English teacher before becoming a full time novelist. Matthew, or "Q," as he is sometimes called, took the bold and brave step of walking away from a rewarding career to pursue writing full time, something many of us dream of, but few of us ever get the chance-- or guts-- to do! His first novel, The Silver Linings Playbook, received critical acclaim. Having tasted success as a writer for adults, he has recently switched gears.

F: Hi, Matthew, and welcome to Fictionistas. Your young adult novel, Sorta Like a Rock Star, is coming out in May. Congratulations!

Q: Thanks!

F: Your friends call you "Q." Are you a Trek nerd like me, or is that just some crazy-cool top secret?

Q: My students began calling me Q ten years ago. I believe I was christened ‘Q’ by the first freshman girls soccer team I coached. I wasn’t sure about Q at first, but one doesn’t get to choose one’s own nickname. Over the years I began to feel as though I grew into the moniker—and that Q was like my super teacher name. Mr. Quick was the person students met on the first day of school and Q was the person they knew when they officially passed my class. Somehow the nickname found its way into my personal life and now even my agent and editors in NYC call me Q.

F: You took a really big, scary step when you decided to quit your job, sell your house, and write full time. Regrets?

Q: Giving up tenure at one of the best high schools in South Jersey—let alone health insurance and a pension—to write full-time didn’t initially win me many fans. Most people thought I had gone insane. Some told me so. But there was something deep inside of me that knew I was doing what I had to do. I have absolutely no regrets. But I will say that when you move in a certain direction, you move away from things and people too. Pursuing my dream was often lonely, and sometimes I still feel lonely. While most of my friends were advancing in their careers, having children, and buying bigger houses, I was in my in-laws’ basement working on a manuscript in which few people believed. Even now, I’m often surprised by who supports me and who doesn’t.

F: Cautionary tales? Best move you ever made?

Q: Cautionary tale: If you write about something personal, something that has the potential to upset friends or family members, be prepared for the consequences.

Q: Best move made: When my in-laws offered us free room and board so that Alicia and I could pursue our dream of becoming full-time fiction writers, my pride almost kept me from accepting. I talked to my Uncle Pete about it and he told me this: you have to take advantage of whatever comes your way. Humbly living with my in-laws while I completed my MFA in Creative Writing and wrote The Silver Linings Playbook was definitely my best move, and I almost didn’t make it. So take what comes your way. I’ve also heard people say, go where you are wanted, or, shake the hand that is extended. Not every opportunity is wrapped in a pretty bow. (Although living with my in-laws turned out to be a sweet experience.)

F: Your wife is a writer, as well. Any tips on living with another writer that don't involve homicide?

Q: Sleep with one eye open! Just kidding. Alicia and I have a very healthy relationship. We both understand that success for one of us can definitely help the other. It’s good to have two sets of contacts in the writing world, and it can be great fun to share the same passion. Alicia is my first reader always because she is the only person able to answer these two questions: Is this (meaning my latest manuscript) me? And should I put it into the world? Alicia knows me better than anyone else. She knows all of my most intimate truths. And I trust her to be both nurturing and honest with me. Having Alicia in the next room at all times is a beautiful thing.



F: What prompted the switch to young adult?

Q: Publishing is really slow. More than a year before The Silver Linings Playbook was released, I had already finished my follow-up. Sarah Crichton, my adult-market editor, was swamped and therefore couldn’t read it right away. During this period, I asked my agent what I should write while we waited. He said YA, especially since I had taught high school English. I hadn’t read much current YA. (I’ve read a lot since.) When I expressed reluctance, Doug said, “Just do exactly what you do, but this time write from the point of view of a teenager.” I thought, I can do that. And I did.

F: Tell us about Sorta Like A Rock Star.

Q: SORTA LIKE A ROCK STAR is about a teenager named Amber Appleton. She’s been kicked in the teeth by life again and again, but she tries to stay hopeful. Amber spends most of her time doing very interesting (and often hilarious) community service projects, even though she is homeless and therefore needs help herself. When a fatal tragedy strikes, Amber falls into a depression and must learn to accept help as her community rallies in a beautiful and life-altering way. I’ll also say that if I had a daughter, I’d want her to be just like Amber Appleton. She’s the best of my friends and family, the best of all my former students, and the best of all I have experienced thus far.

F: Your protagonist, Amber, deals with some very heavy issues. Is the tone dark?

Q: The book does deal with some weighty issues, but, ironically, the tone is mostly upbeat. It’s first person and extremely voice-driven. Since Amber is such a quirky and hopeful character, she manages to buoy the reader. Fellow YA writer Dana Reinhardt describes Amber Appleton as “a teen heroine who makes you laugh when you want to cry and cry when you want to laugh.” Justina Chen said, “Amber Appleton … is the ambassador of sassy optimism. This is a must-read, must-quote, must-hug kind of book, the best kind of book there is.” Sara Zarr called Amber her “hero.” Early readers have told me that they laughed and cried all the way through Sorta Like A Rock Star. So I’d say, it’s sort of a simultaneously light and heavy read.

F: How was writing YA different for you? Or was it?

Q: My first published novel, The Silver Linings Playbook, was written from the point of view of a man who has suffered brain trauma. At the end of the book he wonders if the blow knocked him back into the mindset of a teenager. Throughout the novel he reads the books on his English-teacher ex-wife’s syllabus—novels all teenagers read in high school—and Pat writes hilarious reviews bemoaning the fact that American literature is so depressing. Pat Peoples’ voice is unfiltered, honest, and therefore teen-like. So finding Amber’s voice wasn’t such a stretch for me.

F: You taught high school English after college, and I also noted on your website that one of your first mentors was a teacher. We have a few English teachers here at Fictionistas, too! How do you think the job informed your work?

Q: First, teachers are some of the hardest working people on the planet. And the good ones are worth ten times what they are paid. Whenever I speak to high school students I always tell them that they have no idea how hard their teachers are working. Only after I had taught a full school year did I realize what saints my best teachers were and are. I love teachers. They are my sort of people.

Q: Of course, having worked closely with teenagers for many years informs my work. Also, as an English teacher, I listened endlessly to teenagers complain about the books they didn’t like. I remember their complaints and those inform my writing. I will always remain true to my stories and my vision, but I definitely want teenagers to read and love my books. I’m not afraid to entertain my readers.

F: OK, this is the scary bit... a few standard questions... it shouldn't hurt a bit.

We ask all our guests to provide us with a prom picture from their high school days. Feel free to attach. No really, I'm serious. If you don't have one, that's fine, but if you do... fork it over.

Q: Delivering my senior photo required a trip to my mother’s. (She thanks you!) As you can see, I used to have a lot more hair. Why am I wearing a tuxedo? I do not know. We did not wear tuxedos to school in 1992.



AWWWWWWWW!!!!

F: If you went back in time to visit your teen self, what random piece of advice would you give to that young Q?

Q: I’d tell the eighteen-year-old Q this: You know in your heart that you want to be a writer and that bit of beating info will be your one constant truth. But you will have to grow up and do a bunch of other stuff before you will be able to write anything good. These things take time. If you keep working hard and moving toward your goal, you will be okay. But, in the meantime, try to enjoy the ride.

F: What's always in your pockets/wallet/book-bag?

Q: Droid phone. Swanky money clip slash credit card holder. Keys.

F: If you were stranded on a deserted island and your iPod had only three songs on it, which would you hope they were?

This is an extremely hard question. Today I will say: Stretch Out And Wait by The Smiths, If You Want To Sing Out, Sing Out by Cat Stevens, and Us by Regina Spektor. Tomorrow could be a different story. (Tomorrow by Morrissey is also a good song.)

Thanks for interviewing me.
Thanks for reading along.
Please visit me @ www.matthewquickwriter.com.

Matthew's head-shot was provided by Dave Tavani. Learn morea bout Dave @ www.davetavani.com.

It's Good Friday!

Since today is Good Friday, I thought it would be nice to have a post all about good news and everyone could share some of the good things in their life. With so much nonsense going on in the world, sometimes we need a reminder that the light still shines.

For me to list all the good things in my life would take forever. I live a very blessed life - I have great friends, like the girls here on Fictionistas. I have an incredible husband, wonderful parents, a kid brother I actually get along with (and love), an editor who occasionally compares me to Anne Rice, an agent that rocks and of course, there are my furry babies - my kittens!

Those are just a few of the good things in my life. What are yours?

Time for a rousing game of Tug of Fun!

I was listening to the radio this morning, and a person wrote in about some of the PC actions being taken in her kids' elementary school gym classes:

--"tug of war" has been renamed to "tug of fun." Having war in the name is too negative of a connotation.

--dodge ball now constitutes throwing the ball at cones instead of at other kids.

--no more playing tag, because being chosen as "it" may damage the kids' self-esteem and needlessly single them out.

Okay, I am officially declaring that this PC movement has gone too far. Tug of fun--REALLY?!?! That's lame. LAAAAAME. Come on--having "war" in the game's name isn't going to make the kids pick up a grenade and start hurling them at each other.

And throwing the dodge ball at cones. Oooooooh now that's a hearty fun time! No wonder kids hate school. I'd be forced to start punching people if I had to do that kind of stupid stuff for gym class.

Oh, and tag is apparently too damaging for a child's self-esteem. Because being called "it" must make them need years of therapy.

Guess what? I played dodge ball and had the crap hit out of me. I came out with bruises all the time because I wasn't smart enough to dodge. I also gave it like I got it and flung the ball at kids. I loved tug of war. "Tug of Fun" sounds absolutely heinous, and I'd rather chew my arm off than play that. And I never minded being "it" in tag, because being "it" rotates between people, not just making it me all the time.

I believe we are doing our kids a SERIOUS disadvantage by sterilizing their environment in school and starting this crap so early. What's next--no failing grades for anyone now? Everyone gets an "E" for trying and passes, even if they never get it (oh, wait--hello, "no child left behind" act...how could I forget about you)? What's going to happen when that child is in a competitive environment as an adult and can't cut it? Is he/she going to run to mommy or a therapist and whine about how unfair life is and how his/her self-esteem is crushed?

Don't get me wrong--in sports, I was never the first one chosen. That sucked and embarrassed me. LOL. But it also taught me I needed to work harder to be better. This whole notion of removing the competitive edge from sports and gym is flat-out WRONG. Because the real world IS competitive. You aren't going to get a job just by applying. In the real world, you don't get a raise just because everyone else gets one. In the real world, you have to do more than show up to work and breathe through your nose every once in a while to hold on to a job.

As you can tell, this is a topic I'm VERY passionate about. But now that I've ranted on and on, I'd love to hear what you think...do you feel the same way I do? Or do you think it's about time they started looking at how gym classes are for kids? Lay it on me!

why I don't like Duke...(but I still love Amanda)

I played basketball in high school. I wasn't great, but I was on a great team and I developed a huge love for the game. It was the one sport my mom would watch with me on TV (I was on my own with football. Nobody in my house watched but me and my bro...) March Madness was/is always a favorite time of the year...not only because it happens during THE MONTH OF MEL but because it was a bonding time for my me and my momma.

The year was 1992 and Christian Laettner was playing for Duke in the finals against Kentucky. It was a heated game. A close game. A very physical game...

I watched Duke a lot during the season. I never liked Laettner, I had seen some very poor sportsman-like behavior over the year--and I thought Coach K (who I'd always admired) should've been doing more to unswell Laettner's head and his attitude. But (as is with a lot of programs) if the player is great, then he can often get by with being an ugly sport.

Anyway, back to the finals. Laettner stomps on a Kentucky player that fell. It wasn't a rib-breaking stomp...it was more of a tap, BUT it was an intentional move that showed Laettner's true colors. Initially, Laettner denied it was an intentional move, but later he admitted he was getting Timberlake back for pushing him earlier in the game.



Now, I could've lived with the childish behavior if he had been dealt with properly. (he got a Technical foul in the game, as he should have, but honestly, Coach K should have punished him for being such a tool. He didn't.) And that's when I lost respect for Coach K and in the end, the entire Duke athletic program.

You wanna know why I think Laettner was never punished for his actions? Because in the last seconds of the game, he scored the winning shot. And we all know that nothing is more important than winning, right?



So yeah, I hate Duke. (but I still love all my friends who love them...)

Where's My Hovercraft?

When I was a kid we would speculate about "the future" and wonder how far technology might take us. My memory of grade school predictions generally involved everyone having a hovercraft in stead of a car. That would be cool. It would be like THE JETSONS. And for some reason everyone thought we'd stop eating food and start taking supplements. I'm going on record as saying that's never going to happen. Frankly, humans like food way too much to go for the pill-only thing.

They have, in fact, invented hovercrafts but most of us can neither afford one nor could we manage with that as our primary mode of transportation. But in another 20 years, who knows? That might be the green solution currently evading us.

I do get a little nuts every time I hear people running down technology. Know what? We have some pretty amazing crap. Like, last week I was reading an article about scientists in Berlin who have-- hold onto your wands, Hogwarts students-- invented an invisibility cloak. I'm not making it up-- click here. They found a way to bend light around a tiny object using a special cloak... and under infrared it vanishes. How freaking COOL is that????

Plus, I remember everyone's astonishment at this thing called a "WALKMAN." It was TINY-- the size of a cassette... which is something with yucky brown tape that unravels when least convenient... then later there were discs. Now my MP3 player is the size of a credit card, no thicker than a pinky finger, and it plays videos as well as music. And since we were talking about modes of transportation-- the newer vehicles will copy any CD you pop into the player, save all the songs to the car's internal MP3 player, and you can edit them-- or transfer them to your personal player. Plus I have GPS. I can't get lost.

Frankly-- that's more cool than hovering.

We didn't have the internet when I was a kid, either. Al Gore was busy doing something else, I suppose. But I DO remember, probably around high school, the news announcing that you could get information on something called PRODIGY. Later COMPUSERVE. There were vague references to email and websites soon to follow... and none of us knew the difference between the two for a while. I was among the first nerds to get interested, and before long everyone was on AOL... or Earthlink... and that godawful ping-ping-ping-blaaaaaaaaaaaaarchhhhhhccccghhhhhhaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkk noise was the sound of the future!! We could hear the modem dial back then.

Today I post this from an internet cafe with Wifi... while listening to music on a tiny MP3 player and my connection was automatic, silent, and free. Honestly? I may not be doing it under an invisibility cloak in a hovercraft... but gimme a few years.

Congrats to the RITA and Golden Heart Finalists

Some of our Young Adult writer friends are up for a couple prestigious awards this year. Fictionistas would like to congratulate them and wish them well in at the award ceremony in July.

For the RITA--an award given for excellence in the romance genre--YA Category--the nominees for books published in 2009 are:

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog
Random House Group, Delacorte Press
Editor:
ISBN: 978-0-385-738494

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter
Hyperion Books for Children
Editor: Jennifer Besser
ISBN: 978-1-423-11638-7

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
Walker Books for Young Readers
Editor: Emily Easton
ISBN: 978-0-8027-9823-7

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books, MTV Books
Editor: Jennifer Heddle
ISBN: 978-1-416-57173-5

The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro
Random House Group, Delacorte Press
Editor: Krista Marino
ISBN: 978-0-385-73582-7

Nothing Like You by Lauren Strasnick
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Editor: Anica Rissi
ISBN: 978-1-416-98264-7

The Golden Heart award is for unpublished manuscripts. This year's nominees in the YA category are:

Ghost-Ridden by Vanessa Barneveld

Shattered by Shea Berkley

bloom by Shelley Coriell

Welcome Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell

The Halo Chronicles: The Guardian by Carey Corp

Squeeze Three Times by Kimberly Eve MacCarron

Spelling and Glamour by Jennifer McAndrews

Unchosen by Erica Daniel O'Rourke

Gimme those cheesy love songs!

I'm listening to cheesy love songs right now. I mean, supa-extra cheesy with a dash of cheese thrown in for good measure. Yanno, those songs you listen to at your office and start tearing up over because deep down you want a guy to hold a radio over his head and play a song like that for you...uhhh, anyway, I thought I'd list my top cheese-tacular songs.

1--All Out of Love by Air Supply. Really, any Air Supply songs could be on this list. I have a not-so-secret passion for this band. I am fully aware this opens me to ridicule. So be it. I'll stand by my men. Don't judge me!

2--I Go Crazy by Paul Davis. Oh man, this one always gets me...I mean, how awesome is it for a guy to say he goes crazy when he looks in your eyes? I mean romantic crazy, not I-want-to-murder-you-when-our-eyes-connect crazy.

3--I Wanna Know What Love Is by Foreigner. This one has to be on my list. I love the chorus part at the end of the song...it always makes me want to stand up and throw my hands in the air. Except last time I did that, my boss caught me.

4--Ah, Leah by Donnie Iris. I love this song. He's all, "you're sooooo bad for me, but I want you anyway." Yeah, baby! I love that whole element of him not being able to resist her...I'm sure other women out there would also like feeling they were irresistable to a person!

5--Please Forgive Me by Bryan Adams. Okay, I've listened to this song about a hundred billion times. I can't help it. Because the one thing he's sure of is the way we made love...the one thing he depends on is for us to stay strong. Dude, he's totally singing to me. I can't turn him away when he's most vulnerable.

6--Next Time I Fall in Love by Peter Cetera and Amy Grant. I don't know why, but this song always gets me. Plus, I have a super-soft spot toward duos. Plus plus, he flat-out says the next time he falls in love, it's gonna be with me. So I should be ready for it, yanno.

7--Lady in Red by Chris de Burgh. Srsly, I'd stab someone in the face to have a song like this written about me. He just thinks she's beautiful and he's thrilled to be with her and just dancing. How sweet is that? I always get goosebumps, because I'm uber-sappy. That's how I roll.

8--Faithfully by Journey. Every time I hear this one start up, I totally crank it and let my awkward inner teen get swept away by the lyrics. Awwwwwwwww he totally misses his woman!

9--How Deep is Your Love by the Bee Gees. I have an extra-special tender spot for the Bee Gees. And this song always gets me, every time. *sniffle* I just love how they say, "we belong to you and me."

10--Endless Love by Lionel Richie and Diana Ross. Come on...this was a gimme. Totally the ultimate cheese. "Two hearts...two hearts that beat as one..." and yet, I gobble it up every time and ask for more.

Okay, seriously, I could go on all day, but now I wanna hear from you. What songs are your fav cheesy love songs? Dish it!

So here's the thing...

I felt like today was a good day for a feel good video. And if a baby lamb running through the house playing hide and seek doesn't make you feel good, you're whackadoo.

monday already?

Sorry about last week. I was almost on my death bed. Okay, not really, but I felt like crap...so much so that I couldn't muster up the energy to find my laptop, open it, and try to type. So lots of big thanks to Gwenny for posting for me!

My 41st birthday was last Sunday (March 14). I remember a time when I thought 30 was old, so imagine my surprise to discover that being 41 isn't old at all! (my rotten kids totally disagree. Their problem, not mine)

Age really is a state of mind. I never believed that until my 40th birthday. I felt better (and looked better) than I had in years. I was happy, healthy, and feeling great. No way was 40 old...and no way would I dread this decade. So I've embraced it. I have fun telling people my age and watching their eyes go wide. I'm doing my best to live this decade (and every decade henceforth) to the fullest.

I wish I had done that a little earlier... so why don't you get started now. It's never too late (or too early) to embrace life.

Happy Eostara

Eostara, or Ostara, is one of my favorite holidays. It straddles March 20th and 21st, the Vernal Equinox. I usually begin the celebration with Saint Patrick's Day on the 17th, follow through with the beginning of the month of Alder on the 18th, and follow through til after the Equinox. If Easter falls in that range, too, so much the better!

Old Irish traditions call this time of year Cutios, or "wind time." The Equinox brings us a wonderful time of balance-- day and night in equal portion and harmony. We get cold and warm days, soft and harsh days, and the bitter blanket of winter is stripped away to reveal a quilt of flowers. Crocuses and snowdrops come first. Birds start kicking up a ruckus. Tides go mental and everyone else seems to follow along.

For me it's a time to revitalize, renew, and resurrect. I like to air out my heart, give my spirit a serious brushing, and open every window to clean stale air away. I always find myself refreshed and filled with ambition in this season.

So Happy Eostara, or Joyous Equinox, or Welcome Alder Season! Now gimme some of those mini Cadbury Eggs!!

Winner of FLIRTING WITH DISASTER

I'm so sorry. Looking at the post now, I see that I was supposed to have announced on Monday. For some reason I thought I was announcing today.

Iheartmonster please email me at gwen @ gwenhayes dot com so we can exchange deets. And thanks for referencing the bend and snap, too.

In other news---I'm having my website redone (again) trying to go for an edgy look. I like to pretend I'm edgy. Nobody buys it, but I still put myself out there.

So,as readers--what are your favorite author sites and why do you like them? What annoys you about author websites. What do wish to see more of?

March Madness

If you've been reading this blog since the start (March 2008), then you know that I'm a diehard duke basketball fan and that March is my favorite month of the year. I live and breathe basketball at this time of year, and for a good reason.

The Big Dance!

Bosses, get prepared for a slowdown in the office, because the Men's NCAA Tournament begins today. My work finally wised up and blocked access to the streaming video of the games last year.

It's traditional to fill out brackets and pick the winners of each of the games, all the way up to the championship game. Even our nation's most famous basketball fan, President Barack Obama (whose brother-in-law, Craig Robinson, is the head coach at Oregon State) has released his bracket. Despite a personal assistant (Reggie Love) who played at Duke, the President has failed to choose my boys as a Final Four team again, even though they're a 1 seed.

Obama's picks for the Final four are Kentucky, Kansas, Kansas State, and Villanova. But if his education secretary had his way, his pick to win it all -- Kentucky -- wouldn't even be there. (As a Duke fan, that cracks me up.)

Arne Duncan has made headlines for calling for the the NCAA to ban post-season play for all schools that fail to graduate at least 40% of their student athletes. Under his plan, 12 teams with poor four-year average graduation rates would miss this year’s men’s basketball tournament:

Baylor University (36 percent)
Clemson University (37 percent)
Georgia Institute of Technology (38 percent)
New Mexico State University (36 percent)
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (29 percent)
University of California at Berkeley (20 percent)
University of Kentucky (31 percent)
University of Louisville (38 percent)
University of Maryland at College Park (8 percent)
University of Missouri at Columbia (36 percent)
University of Tennessee at Knoxville (30 percent)
University of Washington (29 percent)

As a girl who bleeds Duke Blue, the idea of Kentucky or Maryland not making it because of piss-poor graduation rates makes me chuckle. (We have long-standing rivalries with both those teams...not as long as our rivalry with UNC, but let's just say that I told my baby that she can go wherever she wants for college, as long as it's not UNC, UCONN, Kentucky, or Maryland.)

I'm proud to point out that Duke's four-year graduation rate is 97%. :) Go Devils!

Obviously Arne Duncan has no power to force the NCAA to adopt it, but it's clear he wants to put more of an emphasis on the "student" part of "student-athlete."

So what do you think of this plan? Who are your rooting for in the tourney? Have you finished your bracket yet?

(I should point out that my 3-month-old has even picked her own bracket. I read the names of the matchups out loud to her and whichever team she smiled or giggled at -- or at least didn't cry at -- was the one she chose to win that game.)

Chat with me and enter to win an Amazon gift card!

Hi, guys! I'm being a promo ho today--you know you love it! :D

Fellow YA author Erin Lynn (author of Demon Envy and Speed Demon) and I will be chatting at Bitten By Books tomorrow, in part to celebrate the release of the second book in my trilogy, Flirting With Disaster. RSVP for a chance to win a $75 Amazon gift certificate (This link is for RSVP'ing, not the actual event link--that will be provided on the day of the event): http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=20687

Everybody who comes to the event and RSVP's before the event will get an additional 25 entries into the contest!!

So please, RSVP and pop by tomorrow. I'll see you there! :D Hooray!

What's your personal shark?

The phrase "jumped the shark" is used to talk about tv shows that have gone past the point of interest and it refers to the episode of Happy Days when Fonzie jumped the shark. At that moment, Happy Days was a shell of it's former self, lost in ridiculous, gimicky plots.

Having said that, I think House is about to jump my personal shark. I tried to watch it last night, but found that for the most part, I just don't care. House is cranky, Wilson continues to pacify him, Cuddy sighs a lot, patients get cured in the last five minutes thanks to some amazing revelation. It's just a little boring and predictable.

I stopped watching Grey's Anatomy about the time Katherine Heigl's character was having visions of her dead fiance. I stopped watching Heroes around the end of season two when you couldn't tell who was good, who was bad, or what year you were in. Ugly Betty lost me when the writers seemed to be pulling plotlines from bad '80's soap operas.

Book series are like that for me too. After a certain point, some series just lose me. I've stopped reading at least three that just got so bloated and convoluted, I couldn't keep from rolling my eyes.

How about you? How long do you stick with a book or tv series? Any shows you've given up on recently?

Taylor Swift and Zombies

Melly isn't feeling well today, so I get to post something to make her happy.

Expect Great Things

We really don't treat full figured women very well. I, of course, have lived with the prejudice most of my life. But my heart is aching for Gabourey Sidibe, who should be on top of the world in the wake of her amazing launch into show business as Precious in the independent movie of the same title.

Yet her own director, Lee Daniels, made an embarrassing gaff about her weight at the NAACP awards. And Howard Stern opined that she would "never work again," as reported in the Huffington Post.

Sadly, this speculation has NOT been limited to accidental gaffs or crass comments from hacks like Stern. Fox News speculated about the size of her red carpet dress. The E! channel fashion police team tip-toed around her carefully, clearly terrified of saying something socially incorrect. And many Hollywood rags have been defiantly addressing the "secret truth," that she is unlikely to get work again. (Just a few articles that came immediately following her Oscar nom: HERE, HERE, AND HERE)

Funny... Ms Sidibe has already landed a gig... or two. She will be appearing in a feature for Showtime with Laura Linney and Oliver Platt, The C Word. She will also got a role in Yelling to the Sky, an independent film also featuring Don Cheadle. She is going to be guesting on a few tv series, as well.

The thing that makes my heart fill with pride and admiration is that this young woman ( she's only 26) rises above it. In an interview with IndiWire she said “I think people look at me and don’t expect much. Even though, I expect a whole lot.”

I expect magic from you, Ms. Sidibe. And I am quite confident in your ability to deliver.

Win a free copy of FLIRTING WITH DISASTER

Rhonda Stapleton's newest release came out this week. Do you have yours? Do you want one? Details below on how to win your own.

Felicity is a total romantic. That's why she follows her heart—not the rules—in her job as a cupid. But when Felicity turns her matchmaking magic on her best friend, Andy, it's Andy who breaks their golden rule: friends always come first. Andy is so wrapped up in her new guy that she's ditching everyone else. How can Felicity stop her BFF from letting a BF come between them?


Meanwhile, Felicity decides to get over her crush on Derek by setting him up with someone else—but in her impulsive haste, she accidentally matches him with the whole school, and now everyone is in love with him. The entire student body is headed toward heartbreak, just weeks before prom. Does Felicity have what it takes to make everyone's heart happy...including her own?


BUY THE BOOK

IndieBound


Amazon

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Borders

Powell's

Books-A-Million

Tell us your best flirty move in the comments below. You have through Sunday the 14th, winner announced Monday. Good luck!

Reading at a Young Age

If you follow this blog, it's a pretty safe bet you love books. i mean, I know we're hilarious and awesome and all, but you probably wouldn't have found us unless you're a YA fan. Unless you're related to us, of course.

But those of you who aren't our actual family are probably all YA readers. and not just readers, but big readers. And you've probably always had a love of reading.

I've been reading to my 3-month-old since she was a teeny tiny baby in the NICU. It's really fun to see the change in her during storytime.

In the NICU, she just slept while I read. Then when she was a few weeks old, she would be awake, but looking at me, not the pictures. At about 1 month, she started attentively staring at the pictures.

Around a month and a half, she started to seem to recognize the story if it was one we'd read several times before. She particularly loves "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" by Bill Martin and Eric Carle and "Shampoodle" by Joan Holub (shout out to Joan, who follows this blog! She actually giggles when we read this one!!!!). About that same time, she started tracking. When I would read her a story with both words and pictures on both pages of a two-page spread, she would look at the correct page at the right time. I know it's because she could see which page I was looking at, but still, that's kinda cool, you know?

Then around 2 1/2 months, she started grabbing the pages and trying her best to turn them for mommy. :)

A couple of weeks ago, we started going to "Babytime" at the library. It's baby storytime for babies under 12 months old. We sing songs, do lap bounces, finger play, and listen to stories. Let me tell you...30 babies, mommies, daddies, and nannies in a room is cuteness overload!

I love that she's already so interested in books, because that's such a huge part of who I am.



So what about you? Did you love books at an early age? What age did you learn how to read? What were some of your favorite books when you were little?

Go Ahead, Ask Me

Okay, my brain is a pile of mush today. haha. My book FLIRTING WITH DISASTER released yesterday, and I'm still floating on cloud 9. So, I decided to discuss a cool book I read recently, and throw out a few Qs from it for you guys to answer.

The book is called GO AHEAD, ASK ME. by Nico Medina and Billy Merrell (that's the cover above). Some of you may remember that we had an interview with Nico a couple of years ago about his hilarious book FAT HOOCHIE PROM QUEEN. Anyway, he and his partner wrote this super-funny and often squirm-inducing Q and A book -- it came out in October 2009 with Simon Pulse.

Basically, the point is to get a group of friends together and ask each other questions. Some of them are very innocent and sweet. Others are really edgy and may make you feel uncomfortable. But there are a bounty of 500 questions to choose from, so you're bound to have hours of fun getting to know your friends better. I definitely recommend this book for older teens and adults--some of the questions are not appropriate for younger kids. LOL trust me.

Okay, I'm going to ask you guys a few Qs from the book, and I'll answer them in the comments. Looking forward to hearing you dish it!

1--Hot or not: cigars.

2--What was the worst book assigned by your English teacher? What was the best?

3--Who would you most like to punch in the face?

4--Would you rather give up your cell phone or your computer?

5--What's worse--too much makeup or too much perfume?

Anyway, there are a TON more questions in the book, but right now, I'm interested in hearing your answers. So, take it away, and run out to buy this book!

The cog in the machine

Unless you've had your iPod cranked and you've been living in a crack in the earth, you've probably heard at least the slightest noise about the rise of the steampunk genre. New books are cropping up every day and even movies seem to be giving it a nod lately.

What do you think? Are you reading it? Recommending it? Do you love it, hate it or does it leave you indifferent? Would you like to see more of it? If you like it, what do you like about it? If you hate it, why does it evoke that emotion in you?

Personally, I think it's pretty stinking cool. I love the gritty, shiny, brassy feel of it. The barely restrained technology, the fashion, the manners, the daredevilness. It feels both brand new and deliciously antique at the same time.

What about you? Talk steamy to me!

d00d! Where's my head?

I blog on Mondays here at Ficitonistas and usually I get up first thing int he morning and hammer it out. I rarely post my blog after 9 a.m.

Notice the time now? Um 3:19 p.m. CST. Yeah. That's right. I'm a little late.

Sorry. I blame the weather. Because it's finally gorgeous here and I was so caught up with spring fever that I forgot all about my blogging duties.

I love spring. The daffodils and crocuses are blooming. Leaf buds are forming on the trees. The sky is that beautiful blue that you only see this time of year. Yes, it's wonderful.

My favorite part of the spring is waking up and having coffee on my back porch or sipping a glass of wine in the same spot just before I go to bed. It's cool, but not too cold. And the air has that crisp new spring smell in it that makes me happy.

What's your favorite thing about spring?

Spoiling for a Fight

I suppose knowing you are in a bad mood is half the battle, so to speak. But I have to say, I have been spoiling for a fight almost all week. I know myself well enough to recognize that it's me, and my circumstances. But I also can't seem to resist the urge to throw down a gauntlet... again and again, in fact.

See the problem is my man knows me. He's been deliberately, belligerently cheerful all week. He knows I had a hellish end to February, plowed head-first into March with a chip on my shoulder, and would dearly love to bait him into a big blow up. So he has been really nice.

Big jerk.

I suppose I could fall back on my old habit of finding a rock at the very end of the Green Harbor jetty, where it's too deep for anyone to be swimming, and break glass. I like the sound it makes when it smashes on the rocks, know it won't be hurting anyone, and kind of like looking for the soft-focus, smooth-edged seaglass it will become later on. Sometimes I see an unusual shade (mauve, lilac) and even recognize it. AH! How pretty! I think that was the wine bottle of our big blow up in May of 2003.

So I have been scarce on the interwebs because let's face it, there has never been primer real estate for fight picking. And since I know it's ME, not the easy targets of weblandia... well, it's just not healthy to give in.

But man... I would dearly love to slug somebody right now. Anyone feeling very... victimy? No? K.

Interview with Daniel Victor from Neverending White Lights

A very important part of my writing creative process is finding the right mood music to go along with my book. One Canadian band, Neverending White Lights seems to magically appear on all my playlists--no matter what kind of story I'm writing. There is a universal quality to the music that seems to always fit.

I recently sat down with Daniel Victor, the man behind the music. And by sat down with, I mean, I'm assuming he was sitting down when he emailed me back the answers to my questions.

I was, of course, calm, cool, and collected as I always am when I interview rockstars.

Gwen: Your Wikipedia page, because you are cool enough to have one, states that you started your musical education very early in life and taught yourself many instruments by ear. Did you always know that you were going to pursue music as a career or was there an epiphany at some point that led you there?

Daniel: Yes, I knew since my furtherest memory back to childhood that I was going to pursue music as a career. My father played an integral role in exposing me to a lot of great music as a child, and I've always had a natural feeling that I would end up doing something music-related. I never doubted it or questioned it. I followed my heart and my vision the whole way, and it felt right to be where I was when I released my first album and began my career.

G: How do you feel about college/university? Did your experiences there shape your music even though you didn't study music?

D:

I think every experience in life shapes you someway. We are the sum of all our experiences, one way or another. For me, University was a very fun time. It was actually more about the social aspect for me, and the experience of being somewhere new I'd never been in my life. It represented a coming of age, maturity, and independence. Gone were the days of old friends and the safe haven of high school, and in came new faces, a new type of educations system, and the next chapter of my life. Though I did well in my program, I knew I wasn't going to use much of the actual education I got in my musical career, instead it was more about the exercise of learning how to learn different, and tying in all the new experiences together. I made some great friends those years, and also spent a lot of time performing at the local pubs playing acoustic shows. Those times were some of the best I ever had.

Towards the later part of my University career, I focused my studies on world views/religions and spirituality, a series of topics I've always felt very compelled to learn more about. These subjects eventually opened my mind up to new concept about life and existence. I continued reading and studying further in the years after and much of what I learned inspired the lyrics to my first album, and set my mind in a more focused direction. Rather than writing albums of love and every day experiences, I was writing more about the bigger picture, more existential, about existence and spirits and death. I still read and study those concept today.

G:

The first album by Neverending White Lights was quite an undertaking for a debut producer. That it was also your debut album as a writer--and the fact that you did all the mixing and played all the instruments on every track--seems like one of the following: a) you have no fear--at all. Of anything. Ever. b) you are a might bit of a control freak c) you just knew the project was magic d) you actually have a factory full of Oompa Loompas that you're not telling anyone about

D:

The idea to take on so much on my own certainly speaks of my character. I am a bit of a control freak maybe when I feel the need to have to do things myself. I think initially, I wanted to prove to myself that I didn't need to rely on anyone to make my vision possible. I was under the impression that working with someone else on something that I had mapped out so specifically would actually counter-act the final product. We all have ways that we want to prove things to ourselves, and this was one of mine.

Was it worth all the stress? Yes and no. People probably don't care or realize that it was a one-man operation, or that when they listen to a song like "The Grace" there's no "band" working with a producer and mixing engineer, that it's just one dude with a singer. It would be nice to know that more people understood that. On my second album, I continued the process even more so, and by the third (current) album I'm still at it. But I've recently grown a bit burnt out by doing too much on my own, and I hope to work with a band, or at least a producer on the next album.

It just comes down to drive and motivation. You can build a house on your own, but it will take some time and a lot of planning. Is it better to get help? Probably. But, to each his own. That debut album had to be just right, and I wanted to make sure it had the influence of on man's brain only.

G: What was happening in your mind and soul when you decided that not only were you taking on this challenge, but that failure wasn't an option? Did people take you seriously right away?

D: Failure has never been an option for me. And I always envisioned great accomplishments, much like the ones I achieved. People did in fact take me seriously off the bat. I had contacted a lot of the singers and guests without having ever released a single piece of music, so no one knew who I was. The music and project had to speak for itself, and it spoke volumes to get these fantastic performers on board. It just got bigger from there.

G: I write paranormal fiction and your spiritually charged music taps something inside that helps me get to "that place" in my head. How do you get to "that place" in your head? Where does your inspiration come from?

D: I'm always in that place in my head. Sometimes I wish I could get out. It's the default position for me. I'm always inspired and always carrying ideas around. When I live my everyday life, I always feel detached from society and "inside my head". It makes me seem off or quiet to people at times, and means that a good solid drink will certainly help me to try to be more like those around me. I always felt like that, and my music and writing is the channel to get it out of my brain.

G: You've been pretty open on your own blog about the struggles of producing the third NWL album. What is different about Act III from the first two? Is the pressure you're feeling more internal or external? Do you feel that sharing the ups and downs through social media has enhanced a symbiotic relationship with your fans and is that a good thing for your music--do their reactions feed your creativity to or take away from it?

D: This record is different because of the point I'm at in my career. I've had success, but the music industry is changing and as an artist there's a lot of pressure to maintain a certain status. Of course that comes from external sources, but it's always very important for me to succeed out there in order to make a living. However, on the other side, I put pressure on myself to evolve musically, and to make something better than my last album.

I think I became too obsessed with trying to outdo myself that most of the music actually ended up collapsing on itself. Sharing the ups and downs with my fans is a part of therapy for me. The way I see it it, is that it feels good to share these moments in time with people who want to know. As a fan of music and bands myself, I love learning about the process of my favourite groups, it makes those albums mean so much more. I want to allow people who love my music to have the same opportunity. There reactions usually keep me going. Knowing that people still care about me when I've been out of the spotlight for awhile and struggling gives me hope.

G: Do you prefer live performing or recording--or do you get different things from both?

D: I prefer being in a recording studio and watching creations come to life. It's very rewarding, and if you don't get too stressed out about it, it's a lot of fun. When a song turns into this amazing piece of art from such a small beginning because I took all the right little steps along the way, it's like completing a puzzle. It just feels good to look at it. But I love performing live because of the energy I get to share with my audience. It's fun to perform songs live and deliver them in new places to new people. The experience of travelling is fun too, and I've had some great times across this country. I'm not big on having to sing song that other vocalists have become known for, since I'm not a singer. I'm a producer. That is the one thing that bothers me. But otherwise, it's great to make an album and then try to bring it to life in front of an audience.

G: One of my characters rocks the Victorian/Goth clothes you favor in your videos and shows. Why do you think the aesthetics of that era call to you? And do you like the Steampunk movement?

D:

I've always liked fashion and the idea of presenting yourself well. I believe that what you wear dictates your behaviour. Put someone in a baggy jogging suit and they're attitude shifts one way. Put them in a tuxedo and they'd probably stand a bit straighter. For me, I wanted to find something that would work well with my music and give me and my live band something different than the usual rock groups. I've always loved Victorian fashion, and movies set in 18th and 19th century times. I always romanticized about how wonderful it was that people dressed up everyday all the time, not just on a special occasion. I think people were just more dignified then. My music has obvious classical influences, and also theatrical influences. It's not cheap and disposable, but classic and timeless. Victorian/Goth is a great vehicle to carry the musical aesthetics into fashion for me. It's a modern twist on a something that has charm.

I love the Steampunk movement and would love to fill my closet with many of those designs. It's difficult to find new pieces around here that suit me, so I mostly stick to the same type of uniform/outfit when I perform live and do photo shoots. I love black and white. White shirts with scarves, a vest, and black pants. Any variation on this works for me. But I delve into straight Goth sometimes in my collection, and straight vintage also. But Steampunk seems very intriguing. It reminds me of the Tim Burton type themes that I give some of my visuals.

G:
What does Daniel Victor read?

D: I read mostly non-fiction. I have a large collection of books that are about spirituality, many are skeptics-type books debunking notions of organized religions in truth-seeking/scientific background. I love being well-informed on these subjects. So many people don't bother to question those institutions, but it's rewarding. When I'm not reading about religions topics, the only fiction author I need to always have around me is H.P Lovecraft. His stories I've read over and over, and I have pretty much all his works. He has a very descriptive style of building a story up from the tinniest detail through pages and pages of anticipation only to nail the reader with one line or sentence at the end that leaves you feeling uncomfortable. It's great.

G: I hear a lot of Canadian music because I live near the border between our countries. Are you planning on reaching out to more US listeners and going mainstream, or do you feel like too much popularity dilutes your craft? Is a deal with a major label even something you want? I imagine it would be hard to keep as much control as you have now, but on the flip side that might be better for your health.

D: I want to get out to as many listeners all around the world as I can, especially the US and UK. NWL started out fairly mainstream, so I don't really have to "go more mainstream" per se. I could do that if I decided to make music that was more pop oriented, or more commercial, but for now it's a balance between very rich and diverse albums with a song or two that crosses into the charts. I'm fine with that, but I think it's getting near time to try to push NWL further into the light, instead of back into the dark. And with the industry falling apart, there's really no such thing as selling out anymore. I want to find a way to bring my music to a more popular level without compromising too much of my sound.

G: If you could go back in time and talk to Teenage Dan, what advice would you give him?

D: Well, since I don't believe in regrets, I wouldn't try to change anything. And I've always kept a pretty open mind and clear head about things so my philosophies now aren't really much different than they used to be. But I would probably tell myself to generally not take anything too seriously. I've learned that more in the past few years, I've mellowed out considerably. I've tried to lose the stress. The only thing that gets to me is my craft, my music, the process, it's impossible for me not to get caught up in it. But, I used to worry all the time about everything. Now I've just learned it's not worth it.

G: Thanks again for doing this. I'd say "you rock" but that would be horribly, horribly cliche. So, instead, I'll just say I think you're a swell guy.

D: Thanks Gwen, my pleasure!

You can find out more about Daniel Victor and Neverending White Light at his website, MySpace, and Twitter.

YA Workshop in DC next week

Hey there DC area 'Nista readers...come check out the Washington Romance Writers March meeting next Saturday (March 13) at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Service Center.

In the morning is a special panel discussion on the YA market, moderated by yours truly. The panelists are Elizabeth Scott, Diana Peterfreund, Pam Bachorz, and our very own Rhonda Stapleton.

In the afternoon, Rhonda takes over, presenting two special workshops. First up is "Writing the YA Romantic Comedy." Then is "The Fiction Wrier's Self-Editing Workshop."

So come join us!

I gots the blues

Right now, I got the low-down, dirty, funky, rotten blues. Ever get like that, where you feel like things just don't seem to go the way you want or need them to? Whether it's reality or not, it's hard to shake the dumps when it hits you hard. And what's extra sucky is it affects everything you're doing--so even the stuff that's going great loses its lustor because of how crappy you feel.

I hate feeling this way. Therefore, I think some kind of therapeutic solution is called for right about now.

What do you do to get rid of the blues? I'm open to just about any tip/trick right about now. But I'd prefer suggestions that don't involve eating or spending gratuitous amounts of money. LOL

Down time

Down time is something that seems to be in short supply in most people's lives. I'm not just talking about a day off, but rather a day off where you don't have to do homework, clean out the garage, run errands that take all day, give the dog a bath or reorganize your closet.

I'm talking about a day off where you don't have to do anything but whatever you really, really want to do. Kind of like a day when you stay home from school sick, but about an hour after the first bell would have rung, you feel completely well again.

What would you spend your time doing on a day like that? And what if, like today's weather where I live, it was icky and rainy outside? For me, it's a combination of things - old movies, good books and Wii.

What about you? What would you do with some real down time?

the Olympics are FINALLY over

Thank Goodness.

I accidentally watched the olympics this year once when I was at a bar and they had Curling on TV. Um. Yeah. this SNL skit sums it up perfectly for me:



I wanna like Curling...but really, it just looks like they're sweeping. And I do enough of that at home, so I'll pass. Thanks.

I really don't enjoy the winter Olympics at all. I know I'm probably the only person in the world who doesn't and I'm sure y'all are throwing virtual tomatoes as I type this, but I can't help it. They bore the crap outta me...and I'm always cold when I watch.

I'm never happy when I'm cold.

So now we can get back to regular TV and I can be happy again.

Carry on.