Zoolights!!

Oh, how I love zoolights! My first time in Portland hitting up their version, and it didn't disappoint. Luckily, my friend Dawn was there with her family and we let the kids run wild!!! And I had hot chocolate and popcorn. Oo! Shiny lights!!!











Hope he doesn't steal my kidney.




The Wizard of Oz!


Can you see the family resemblance?

How I know I'm getting old

My birthday is next Saturday. Sigh. Here's the thing, I realized tonight as I was getting ready to go out, I'm no spring chicken anymore. I needed my husband's advice to decide what to wear while going out! My question: Do I look old in this?

After several outfits it was decided and I was so thankful for his wisdom. Seriously, how old is that!!??

Here's me and Michelle actually out in downtown Portland. I'm saving you from my dancing pics. Thank me later. :-)

But despite my fear, I had a GREAT TIME. In fact, my feet are KILLINGME. So, what do you want to do before your next birthday???

A Thanksgiving Recap

My friend Dawn had us over for Thanksgiving this year, and oh... what fun we had. We took pictures:

And then I was introduced to the Wii. Bowling? Not so good. But Karaoke Revolution? Watch out!

Then it became dessert time. And then dessert time again. And then once more:

I helped the kids with their whipped cream:

We had to dodge paparazzi all night:

We drank and were very merry:

And it was just a good ol' time!! Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!!!!!

And she will Twinkle no more...

Today was a tragic day in the Young household. Our fish, Twinkle, passed away. To be honest, I'm not sure how she lived this long. I mean, between my forgetting to feed her and the kids overfeeding her, she was a trooper.

And coincidentally, my husband cleaned her bowl yesterday. Not that I'm blaming him! It's just... I don't know. Suspicious. :-)

Well, I was a little sad when I saw her lying at the bottom of her rocket ship bowl (especially because I thought dead fish floated to the top?). But I didn't expect the kids to melt down. And melted they did.

The poor things SOBBED into their chicken all through dinner. Sophie asked if she could hold Twinkle once more. And I thought, "When did you hold her? Maybe that's why she's dead?" But my son was the saddest. He locked himself in his room and cried.

When Sophie decided to write Twinkle a song to sing at the funeral, I gave my husband "the look". The look that says, "I'm really comfortable on the couch. Can you please just handle this?"

Twenty minutes later we were gathered around a shallow grave in the yard, singing: "Twinkle was a happy fish." Did I mention that it's freezing out? And that the spot my husband chose pretty much guarantees that the dogs will dig Twinkle up and eat her? I just hope the kids aren't home for that.

Anyway, after we got in, my son laid on the couch, sniffling. The dog came over and licked his face and Joey murmured, "Thank God dogs live forever."

Yeah, I'm not touching that one.

Would you like Sparkles with that?

Hold on a second while I sigh in a dreamy way. Okay, thanks. So me and Lisa Schroeder and Lisa Madigan went to see New Moon during lunch today. We had our favorites going in and debated it beforehand. But luckily, we're all adults, so no fist fights broke out.

I won't spoil the movie, but let me assure you, it's better than Twilight. And Edward--although not in it as much as I'd have liked--made me squeal with delight. I'm pretty sure that if any of my books get made into movies, I want him in it. And I will direct the kissing scenes. Starring me. What? He's got to practice!

But I will admit, although I wasn't a Jacob fan in the books, he does come across quite charming in the movie. But let's be real folks. He DOESN'T sparkle! And if you had the choice of being with someone that sparkles, wouldn't you take it?

Anyway, here are some reenactments. Enjoy!

Lisa S. and Lisa M. reacting to Jacob's abs:

For real, I did squeal the first time Edward walked on screen. Yes, I was that lady in the theater. Wait, now that I just thought of him, I'm feeling another dreamy sigh come on....

On the way out, we had to say one last goodbye. How long until the next movie?

What's New?

Oh, hello! Didn't see you there. So I've been writing, writing, writing and have been neglecting my blog.

Catching up on the blogs, here are some things going on in cybertown:

My friend and author Daisy Whitney has an excellent post up about how to use video to market your novel. Definitely worth checking out.

Adam Rex is growing out his face for charity. Give! I'm hoping he'll get a handlebar moustache.

Lisa Schroeder is going to celebrate her book Far From You being included on the TAYSHAS 2010 list for teens by buying cowboy boots.

And we're ALL anxiously awaiting the return of Laini Taylor and Jim DiBartolo from NY's National Book Awards. We had a twitter anxiety attack last night waiting for tweets. I'm hoping they'll bring back LOTS of pictures.

Finally, I've been spending hours trying to put together our Tenner's Covers. Check it out:

Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit: Starring Laurie Faria Stolarz!

I'm very excited to bring you my first Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit author post! Today, I'm happy to show off the latest books from Laurie Faria Stolarz!

Thanks so much for inviting me to talk here about BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS and DEADLY LITTLE LIES.

BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS is a companion book to the BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES series. When my editor approached me with the idea of writing a graphic novel, I was very intrigued because it gave me the opportunity to not only try something new, but to really picture the book as a movie. I have a background in screenwriting and wrote BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS in screenplay format, adding in ideas for illustrations and sidebars. It was an absolute thrill to write – to have the opportunity to work with an illustrator, and to see my work come to life in this way. BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS does not take the place of a regular prose novel in the series. It is a companion piece, complimenting the entire series as a whole. It picks up where RED IS FOR REMEMBRANCE left off, and also shows some fan-favorite scenes from the entire series.

DEADLY LITTLE LIES is the sequel to DEADLY LITTLE SECRET, (the first book in the TOUCH series). I’m really excited about it, because I think it has even more suspense, romance, and twists than the first book. It starts up a few months after Ben’s departure at the end of DEADLY LITTLE SECRET. Camelia’s spent those months researching everything she can find on psychometry (the ability to sense things through touch). See the full description below.

I’m launching the release of DEADLY LITTLE LIES with a really exciting contest; be sure to check out the details below. Also below, you’ll find Stacey Brown’s courage sachet spell, Camelia’s favorite psychometry links, and some tips Camelia has to develop your own psychometric powers. I’m also including some random facts about me.

Lastly, the paperback of DEADLY LITTLE SECRET is out as well. For a limited time Barnes & Noble is offering an exclusive edition that has bonus excerpts from Ben’s secret blog.
Many thanks again for this opportunity to chat!

All best,
Laurie Stolarz
http://www.lauriestolarz.com/

ABOUT BLACK IS FOR BEGINNNINGS:

The BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES series that put a spell on more than half a million readers continues – in graphic novel format! Prophetic nightmares. Near-brushes with death. Killers pursuing her and her friends. Stacey Brown knows that being a hereditary witch isn’t all it's cracked up to be.

All she really wants to do is work things out with Jacob and figure out what to do with the rest of her life. But before Stacey and Jacob can have a future, they must face their pasts. BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS reveals the never-before-seen backstory - and what lies ahead - for the young, spellcasting lovers.

BLACK continues the harrowing adventures of Stacey and Jacob in the wake of Jacob's brush with death. Ever since he lost his memory, Jacob hasn't been able to remember Stacey - his own soul mate. He leaves Massachusetts, returning to his childhood home in Colorado, hoping to jog his memory. What he remembers is Kira, his ex-girlfriend. As Jacob works to piece together his past, will there be room for Stacey in his future?

REVIEWS:

"The half-million readers of Laurie Faria Stolarz’s paranormal mystery series will be happy with this shift to graphic style, offering as it does the pleasure of putting faces on characters, its visualized eeriness and vibrant displays of emotion...The graphic style allows Stolarz to distill the story while simultaneously dropping hints about Stacey and Jacob’s supernatural talents, luring new readers to the series." - Kirkus Reviews

"Taking Stolarz’s Blue Is for Nightmares series into the graphic-novel realm is a bold idea, and it pays off in this morbidly entertaining and surprisingly romantic page-turner." - Booklist

“This scary and romantic story, with its larger-than-life emotions and darkly twisting plot, lends itself well to the graphic novel format. The teenage characters, their dialogue, and their interactions are well imagined and ably captured. And when you are not enjoying the great dialogue or fantastic artwork, it is fun to pore over the little details…BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS serves both to draw new teen readers to the series and to supply existing fans with interesting additional background and never-before-seen details. A winning formula!” – TeenReads

ABOUT DEADLY LITTLE LIES:

Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, a new boy at school who had a very mysterious gift – psychometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry and experiencing strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow been transferred to her.
Ben returns to school, but he remains aloof, and Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Camelia makes the painful decision to let him go and move on. Adam, the hot new guy at Knead, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. But when Camelia and Adam start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events uncovers secrets from Ben’s past – and Adam's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out who – before it's too late.

View the Book Trailer for Deadly Little Secret: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fzMpVMy2fQ

TOUCH SERIES CONTEST

You will need to read a copy of DEADLY LITTLE LIES to enter this contest. The grand prize winner of the contest will have a minor character in DEADLY LITTLE GAME, the third book in the TOUCH series named after him or her. OFFICIAL RULES for this contest are listed on my website, under NEWS: WWW.LAURIESTOLARZ.COM/NEWS.html.

Stacey Brown's Courage Sachet

Purpose: To help conquer your biggest fears.
Ingredients: swatch of cheesecloth, dried thyme, small piece of paper, black ball-point pen, piece of string.

1. On the piece of paper, using the black ball-point pen, write whatever it is you fear.

2. Fold this paper up, as tight as you can get it, imagining your fear becoming smaller and weaker with each crease.

3. Lay the cheesecloth open in front of you and drop the folded paper ball into the middle.

4. Sprinkle the dried thyme atop it.

5. Gather the ends of the cheesecloth and tie closed with the piece of string.

6. Hold the sachet and repeat the following chant three times: I fear you now but not for long for with my courage you will be gone.

7. Keep this courage sachet with you whenever you need to remind yourself that you are much stronger than your fears.

For more spells, go here: http://www.llewellyn.com/spell.php

Camelia’s Favorite Links About Psychometry:
http://paranormal.about.com/cs/espinformation/a/aa063003.htm
http://freespace.virgin.net/russel.steward/psychome.htm
http://www.powerful-psychic-reading.com/psychometry.html

Directions on how to bring your own psychometric senses to fruition:

1. Make yourself comfortable in a place that feels “sacred” to you. For some it’s outside, surrounded by nature; for others it’s a favorite chair or surrounded by candles; for me, it’s wherever I’m doing pottery.

2. Close your eyes and concentrate on your breath, letting go of any stray or nervous thoughts. 3. Now, take an object in your hand. A good idea is to have someone give you something they’ve owned for a long time, i.e. a favorite bracelet or a set of keys.

4. Close your eyes again and concentrate on this object. Be aware of any thoughts or feelings that come about as a result of holding this object. Talk those ideas through, even if they seem silly or insignificant, but never make information up.

Remember, this takes practice and a bit of experimenting. The goal is to begin tuning in to your own inner awareness and your ability of perception. What works for me is saying a question aloud in my head, and then sculpting out the answer – using my power of touch in a creative and organic way.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laurie Faria Stolarz is the author of several popular young adult novels, including Deadly Little Secret, Deadly Little Lies, Project 17, Bleed, and the bestselling BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES series, which has sold over 500,000 copies worldwide. Stolarz's titles have been part of the Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers list, the Top Ten Teen Pick list, and YALSA's Popular Paperback list, all through the American Library Association. Born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts, Stolarz attended Merrimack College and received an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College in Boston. For more information, visit Laurie's website at www.lauriestolarz.com.

RANDOM FACTS ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

1. I love what I do, and feel very grateful to be able to have this as a career.
2. I love dark chocolate, Starbucks coffee, Bertucci’s cheeseless pizza, popcorn, and Indian food (though not necessarily in one meal).
3. I watch an embarrassing amount of reality TV (it’s research after all).
4. I’m very deadline driven, giving myself weekly deadlines and agendas, so that everything gets done on time.
5. I have a background in marketing and French.
6. My first job was as a piano teacher (I was 9). I’ve also been a waitress, a supermarket cashier, worked in a ceramics studio, worked as a tour guide for international exchange students, been a teacher, a script reader, an editor, and written obituaries for a newspaper.
7. I’m a vegetarian. If I were to try my hand at a different career, it would be holistic nutritionist.
8. I love yoga, dance/aerobics classes, cooking, tennis, and power walks.
9. I often shop online, fill my basket, and then empty it all out. Does anyone else do this?
10. My readers mean the world to me.

And lastly, here are a few more super important questions!

If this were high school, which senior superlative in the yearbook would you score? Drama Queen.

What is one thing you wish you would have done when you were younger? For me, it’s that I never studied abroad. How about you? I wish I’d had more confidence.

3. So, say your book just got picked up for a movie (congratulations!) Who’s playing your MC? Blake Lively, who else?

Thanks for stopping by Laurie! And everyone be sure to go out and pick up a copy of Black is for Beginnings and Deadly Little Lies today!

-Suz

Daytrippin' in Portland

What a wonderful non-writing weekend! Jesse and I decided to have a tourist weekend here in Portland! Ready? Here we go!!!

We started off at the zoo:

Despite the cold, we headed to the Japanese Gardens. Wow. It was breathtaking.

Warning: You know those people who have cool hats that make them look cute and stylish? Yeah, I'm not one of those people.

Next up, the Rose Garden. I can't WAIT to go back in the spring. Although I did manage to find a few roses still poking around:

Pitcock Mansion was closed. But we tried to break in anyway. And the city view was amazing:

We ended at VooDoo Doughnuts. I got a "Portland Creme", my son got a "Butterfingering" and I can't remember what Jesse and Sophie got, but it was GOOD!

So yeah! Tourists in our own town! Super fun!!!