Kimberly Pauley

Day 15 Winner: Amy Smith

Congrats to Amy Smith, the Day 15 Winner of a signed copy of Quaking by Kathryn Erskine (plus a bunch of other cool stuff that Kathryn sent, like tattoos and stickers and all kinds of stuff).

Remember, you’ve got until the end of the day today to enter to win Niki Burnham’s Goddess Games and until the 21st to enter to win the Grand Prize Contest! Good luck to everyone and thanks again for participating in the Sucks to Be Me Book Launch Party!!

Tags: book launch, Giveaways, kathryn erskine, sucks to be me, winners
Posted in Giveaways | 2 Comments »

Day 14 Winner: Carrie Harris (and other news)

The Day 14 winner of the “surprise prize” is Carrie Harris! Congrats! Once Carrie chooses which prize she wants from the choices I sent her, I’ll update this post.

UPDATE: Carrie chose a signed copy of Sucks to Be Me

And if you haven’t already, don’t forget to enter the Grand Prize Contest! Keep the names comin’!

In other news, I picked up some fun vampire stuff today to make up some little “vampire goodie bags” to give away at the Teen Read Week event I’m doing in October. Kinda lucky that it’s getting close to Halloween. You can find all kinds of cool stuff now. And in even more “other news” I’ve gotten a bit of writing in on the sequel. Not as much as I would like, but getting there. Friday was actually a pretty good day — I got in about 1,300 words.

Tags: Books, Giveaways, prizes, vampires, winners, Writing
Posted in Giveaways, Writing | 4 Comments »

Winners! Days 11, 12, 13! & a peek at the Grand Prize

Hope everyone had a good weekend! My husband and I were still recovering from a cold and getting rained in, so we took it pretty easy.

Here are the winners of Days 11, 12 and 13:

• Winner of Anyone But You by Lara Zeises: Olivia (paradoxrevealed)
• Winner of A School for Sorcery by E. Rose Sabin: Tami (blackroze)
• Winner of Supernatural Rubber Chicken: Poultry in Motion by Debra Garfinkle: Elizabeth Mays (doot65)

I thought you guys might also like to see what the Grand Prize looks like (only 4 more days!!!) :-) And there’s no time like the present to enter the Grand Prize Contest!

Ze Grand Prize Pack

It’s kinda hard to see what the tote bag looks like under all that stuff, but it’s cool, I promise you. And isn’t the t-shirt cute?? If you click on the picture to get the larger view, you can see it even better. (leave me a comment and tell me whatcha think of it…I’m thinking of having some more made up and maybe giving prizes every now and then or using them at school events as special prizes…whaddaya think?) Good luck to everyone in the contest!

Update: Grrrr, probably would make sense to include a link again to the main contest post so’s you could enter in any of the remaining daily contests, eh? Seeing as how each entry gets you an entry into the Grand Prize Contest too…

Tags: Books, Giveaways, grand prize, winners
Posted in Giveaways | 16 Comments »

Book Launch Party: Day 13: Debra Garfinkle

All About D. L. Garfinkle
My guest today is the very talented Debra L. Garfinkle. I loved her first book Storky and she’s done great things since then, like Stuck in the 70’s and The Band books for teens and the children’s series, Supernatural Rubber Chicken (I smile every time I say that). Believe it or not, she was an Economics major and also worked as an attorney for nine yers. Go figure! Today she lives in Orange County with her family where she’s also an award-winning humor columnist for the Aliso Viejo News and the Laguna Niguel News sections of the Orange County Register.

You can learn more about Debra at her official website, www.dlgarfinkle.com.

All About Poultry in Motion…
Poultry in Motion, the third book in the Supernatural Rubber Chicken series, comes out September 9. It features mean girl cliques, insect-loving boys, dogs who lick too much, and of course, an ornery, wish-granting, talking rubber chicken. The series has been compared to Captain Underpants, which Debra thinks is a terrific compliment.
 
The Q&A

Here’s my question for Debra…

Your first book, Storky, has a male protagonist. Was it hard to “write like a boy”?

And her answer…

It really wasn’t. I have two younger brothers and I’ve always had a tomboy side. I am also a big believer in critiques, and the two guys in my critique group and my male editor stopped me from sounding too female.

For my Supernatural Rubber Chicken series, I read all the books out loud to my sons and had them raise their hands when they were bored or didn’t understand something. Having  male kid feedback was really helpful.

And Debra’s question for me…

I love your book Sucks to Be Me. It’s so funny and unique! Did the first publisher who saw it snatch it up, or was it a more arduous process to get published?

And my answer…

Thanks! As for your question…hmmm…well, both, kind of. Mirrorstone was the first publisher to see the book, but the whole process was a little arduous and it did take a while…I started off sending the manuscript out to agents and they all basically told me that they liked it but didn’t think vampires were a good bet (this was before Twilight hit it huge). Then a friend of mine that had written books for Mirrorstone said her editor was looking for paranormal YA and offered to introduce me. They considered it for a good long time before I heard back (I think roughly 9 months? Maybe more, I can’t remember now). So technically it was the first publisher…but it wasn’t an overnight kind of thing.

I’d actually given up on the book and was working on other, non-vampire related stuff. But I’m really glad Mirrorstone picked it up as the staff there are all wonderful, wonderful people. I hope that they’ll be able (& willing!) to publish the sequel (there’ve been some direction changes there back towards their core fantasy stuff, so there’s no guarantee…hey, everyone reading this who loves STBM…feel free to write Mirrorstone and tell ‘em how much you want to see a sequel! I’ve got all kinds of craziness planned for Mina, so I really do hope the sequel sees the light of day.).

The Giveaway

Want to win a copy of Poultry in Motion? All you’ve got to do to win a copy is visit Debra’s website and then email me at kim @ kimberlypauley.com with the subject line “Debra Goes Supernatural!” and tell me…what was your favorite writer’s tip out of the ones she gives on her site? Be sure to enter by September 14th!

And don’t forget to check out all the Sucks to Be Me Book Launch details for more giveaways!

Tags: book, D. L. Garfinkle, Giveaways, kimberly pauley, sucks to be me, Supernatural Rubber Chicken
Posted in Books, Giveaways, Q&A | 3 Comments »

Book Launch Party: Day 8: Cecil Castelluci

All About Cecil
My guest today is the über-cool Cecil Castelluci. She’s one of the authors I would most like to hang out with in person (and, bummer, I’ve never gotten to…we were both doing signings at ALA at the Mirrorstone booth and I got to see her, but our schedules crossed so I never got to actually hang with her). She’s a writer and a director besides being a cool person with a really fun fashion sense (seriously, go look at the pictures on her website). She’s a founding member of the Alpha 60 film club and an indie rock musician and has even lived in Paris before. *Sigh* I feel so un-cool.

You can learn more about Cecil at her official website:  www.misscecil.com

All About Boy Proof
Meet Egg. Her real name is Victoria Jurgen, but she’s renamed herself after the kick-ass heroine of her favorite sci-fi movie, TERMINAL EARTH. Like her namesake, Egg dresses all in white, colors her eyebrows, and shaves her head. She always knows the right answers, she’s always in control, and she’s far too busy — taking photos for the school paper, meeting with the Science Fiction and Fantasy Club, and hanging out at the “creature shop” with her dad, the special-effects makeup wizard — to be bothered with friends, much less members of the opposite sex. As far as Egg is concerned, she’s boy proof, and she likes it that way. But then Egg meets a boy named Max, a boy who’s smart and funny and creative and cool . . . and happens to like Egg. Could this be the end of the world — at least as Egg knows it?
 
What happens when an antisocial cinephile meets up with the worldly new guy at school — a quick-witted artist who’s savvy enough to see through her sci-fi disguise?

 
The Q&A
Here’s my question for Cecil…

What movie do you wish you’d been involved in the production of (from any era)? Why?

And her answer…

Normally I would say Star Wars.  That would be my default answer.  But I think that it might have been really fun to work with Mabel Normand, Buster Keaton, Fatty Arbuckle,  Clara Bow and the other greats from the silent era.  Imagine, if you will, the excitement of being involved the creation of a new art form.  People were running around Hollywood and making movies and it seems as though it was very exciting.  So I’m going to say, while I would love to have been involved in Star Wars or any other number of other movies from a more modern era, I think that it would have been amazing to be involved in the Silent Era.

And Cecil’s question for me…

What is your absolutely favorite vampire a) movie b) TV show and c) book?

And my answer…

Hmmmmmmm. Yeesh, it’s so hard when people ask me my favorite anything. I have a hard time narrowing things down because it kind of depends upon what mood I’m in. So, let’s see…today I’d say…for movie…perhaps the original Buffy the Vampire Slayer with Kristy Swanson or Once Bitten, Twice Shy with Lauren Hutten. Can you tell I’m going for the funny here?

For TV Show…er, well…I can’t say that I’ve ever actually watched any vampire TV shows. I’ve never seen Buffy or Angel or whatever the name of the new one is with the guy with curly hair. I don’t think I’ve ever watched any vampire TV. I’ll keep thinking, but I’m pretty sure I haven’t. Wait – would The Addams Family or The Munsters count?

As for books…I like Cynthia’s Tantalize a lot. And I liked Anne Rice’s Interview with a Vampire when I was younger, though it has been so long since I read it that I can’t hardly remember what was in it. Other than that, it’s hard to say since I stopped reading vampire stuff once the publisher bought my book.

Geez, it’s a wonder I wrote a book featuring vampires, huh?

The Giveaway

Ready to meet Egg? All you’ve got to do to win a copy of Boy Proof is visit Cecil’s website and then email me at kim @ kimberlypauley.com with the subject line “Rock On, Miss Cecil!” and tell me…what is one of the names of her bands (any one of ‘em will do — one of the bands she’s been in)? Be sure to enter by September 9th!

And don’t forget to check out all the other posts about the other awesome authors I’m featuring during the Sucks to Be Me Book Launch Party!! And heck, tell your teacher or librarian about how I’m giving away an Author Visit (I’d love to meet you in person!)

Tags: authors, Books, boy proof, cecil castelluci, Giveaways, kimberly pauley, sucks to be me
Posted in Books, Giveaways, Q&A | 5 Comments »

Sucks to Be Me Giveaway on YABC this month!

If ya’ hadn’t already noticed, my publisher (Mirrorstone) has donated some copies of my book for me to give away on Young Adult (& Kids!) Books Central (YABC)…so you’ve got another chance over there to win a copy of my book. I will, of course, be personally signing copies to the winners, so it’ll be a custom autographed book and not just a generic one (well, unless you prefer a generically signed one. That’s fine too.).

Tags: Books, Giveaways, kimberly pauely, sucks to be me
Posted in Books, Giveaways | No Comments »

Book Launch Party: Day 7: Alyson Noel!

All About Alyson
My guest today is oh-so-cool OC (that’s Orange County, California for those of you not in the know) expert Alyson Noël! Yep, she was actually born and raised in that rarified zone made popular by the TV show. She’s lived in Greece (how cool is that??) and in Manhattan but now she’s right back in the OC. Which works out great for you guys, since her teen books (she also writes for adults) are often set in that area. Saving Zoë is probably my personal fave of her books, but I’ve heard some great things about Cruel Summer (it’s the latest). And Art Geeks and Prom Queens is awesome too (great main character – I love Rio).

You can learn more about Alyson at her official website.

The Latest
Cruel Summer is the story of Colby Cavendish, who is looking forward to a long hot season of parties, beach BBQ’s, and hopefully, more hook-ups with Levi Bonham, the hottest guy in school. But her world comes crashing down when her parents send her away to spend the summer in Greece with her “crazy” aunt Tally. Stranded on a boring island with no malls, no cell phone reception, and an aunt who talks to her plants, Colby finds herself worrying that her new friends have forgotten all about her. But when she meets Yannis, a cute Greek local, everything changes. She experiences something deeper and more intense than a summer fling, and it forces her to see herself, and the life she left behind, in a whole new way…

The Q&A
Here’s my question for Alyson…

You’ve lived in a lot of different places…but where would you live if you could live anywhere (family included, of course)?

And her answer…

Well, it’s actually a toss up between a tiny garret apartment in the left bank of Paris, or a palatial seaside estate right here in Laguna Beach, CA. Either one would be fine.

And Alyson’s question for me…

If you could live inside any book, which would it be?

And my answer…

Wow, that’s a tough question. There are so many books that it would be interesting to experience from the “inside.” There are the magical worlds in Harry Potter and the Narnia Chronicles. And Clive Barker’s very inventive Hours in Abarat. And what about Piers Anthony’s Xanth novels? Oh, to be able to try some of that Boot Rear and argue with Grundy! And what about Anne McCaffrey’s Pern novels? To be able to see (and possibly ride on) dragons? Oh, and geez, what about Terry Pratchett’s Discworld?? That might have to be my final answer. And I’ll have to stop thinking about it or else I’ll just keep going on and on with possible answers (oh, hm, what about Douglas Adams’ books? Or…okay, seriously, am going to stop myself now or I’ll be here all night.)

The Giveaway

Okay, so I just know you wanna read Cruel Summer, right? How about the chance to win a signed copy of it? So, all you gotta do is visit Alyson’s website and then send me an email at kim @ kimberlypauley.com with the subject line “Oh Alyson, Don’t Be Cruel!” (which is, of course, an Elvis reference…and bears no relation whatsoever to Alyson’s potential cruelness because she’s not cruel…eh, you know what I mean) and tell me…what book has she read at least 15 times?  (hint: check out the About Alyson page) And get your entries in for this one by September 8th!!

And just a reminder if you’re popping in directly to this post…be sure to check out all the details about the Sucks to Be Me Book Launch Party ’cause there’s lots more stuff to win (and learn! Didn’t I tell you these were some awesome cool people??)

Tags: alyson noel, Books, cruel summer, Giveaways, kimberly pauley, sucks to be me
Posted in Books, Giveaways, Q&A | 2 Comments »

Book Launch Party: Day 6: Alan Gratz

All About Alan
My guest today is the wonderfully nice (and talented) Alan Gratz! He’s one of the most helpful (give-you-the-shirt-off-his-back…well, not that I’ve ever asked him for his shirt…it’d probably be too big and, well, the wrong style for me since he’s a boy) guys I know and also a wonderful writer. He’s the author of Samurai Shortstop and the awesome Horatio Wilkes series (Think Shakespeare. Think Mystery. Think Awesome.). He’s been a teacher (and even taught catapult building…how cool is that??) and has written more than 6,000 radio commercials (whoa!).

You can learn more about Alan at his official website.

Something Rotten
Something Rotten…a little Hamlet, anyone? Stinking-rich family. A reeking paper
plant. A murder most foul. Something is definitely rotten in Denmark, Tennessee,
and only 17-year-old detective Horatio Wilkes can sniff out the killer.

The Q&A
Here’s my question for Alan…

You’ve given a lot of workshops for both authors and teens. What have you learned from them?

And his answer…

I’ve learned that there are many ways to write a book. When I give workshops, I always talk about my outlining process. Before I write the first word of a book, I outline every single chapter. I want to know what happens every moment of my story before I begin. I teach my process in the hope that it will work for someone else, but I know going in that outlining doesn’t work for everyone. There are general writing tips and tricks that can be shared, but when it comes down to it, each writer has his or her own method for bringing a story to life. I once read that Ellen Raskin, the author of the incredibly fabulous and very tricky mystery The Westing Game was once asked if she outlined her complicated stories in advance. She said no—if she knew what was going to happen before she started a book she would be too bored to write it!

And Alan’s question for me…

Okay, tell me about the big leap to quit your corporate job and become a writer. I quit teaching to become a full-time writer (and stay-at-home-dad) and it was scary. What was your transition like? And had you already written Sucks To Be Me, or was that a product of your new “day job?”

And my answer…

Well, it was kind of a kismet situation. I was a manager at AT&T Labs and it was before the takeover…basically, it was all layoffs, all the time. Very depressing. I felt like my whole job was trying to figure out who I should put on the chopping block next and I’d worked with all of these people for years. My husband was starting to think about changing jobs within the company he worked for, but it was something that was going to require a move (from Florida to Kentucky). We talked it over and decided, hey, we could both use a change. And I’d always wanted to write for a living (rather than just doing stuff on the side). It was kinda scary (heck, terrifying) and we effectively cut our income in half.

Then the bad news – right after we moved I hurt my back and leg. I couldn’t walk for a while and had to go through all kinds of nasty medical stuff and heavy duty medication. But I somehow managed to write Sucks to Be Me during that time. I honestly have no idea how – the doctor had me on Vicodin and muscle relaxers and I spent a lot of time sleeping (those kind of drugs make me verrrrry sleepy). I was also in quite a bit of pain. Pretty much the entire time we lived in Kentucky was kinda sucky. I didn’t really get over the back and leg trouble until after we moved to Illinois.

The writing was kind of therapeutic, I suppose. Mina has a strong character voice in my head and I like her snarky style. She’s spunky. And funny (at least I think so). It was kind of a way to get inside my head and away from the physical pain.

Ha, I suppose that’s more than you ever wanted to know! But, seriously, quitting the corporate life was the best thing I ever did. And now that we’ve got a baby, I’m even more glad. You can’t work 60+ hours a week and have a kid. Well, I guess you can…but it ain’t the best idea. Though between the baby and YABC, I almost feel like I used to have more time to write.

The Giveaway

Want to puzzle out the mystery yourself along with Horatio Wilkes? Enter to win a copy of Something Rotten (‘cause you should read it before October, when the next book, Something Wicked comes out) by visiting Alan’s website and then emailing me at kim @ kimberlypauley.com with the subject line “There’s Nothing Rotten About Alan!” and tell me what Alan wanted to be before he became a writer (hint: check out the Author Q & A linked on the “Author” page).  Be sure to get your entry in by September 7th!

And don’t forget to check out all the Sucks to Be Me Book Launch details for more giveaways!

Tags: alan gratz, book launch, Giveaways, kimberly pauley, sucks to be me
Posted in Books, Giveaways, Q&A | 3 Comments »

Book Launch Party: Day 5: Lauren Mechling

All About Lauren

My guest today is Lauren Mechling, the ultra-fab co-author of the Social Climber series and the author of the brand new, super-awesome-fabutastic (seriously) Dream Girl. Lauren is a New York City kind of girl, which means she’d be way too cool to hang out with me if she weren’t so nice (I’m only kinda kidding about that…I am such a geek, even if I was born in California in the San Francisco area). She’s written for everything from New York Magazine to Jane (again, the ultra-coolness factor) and from the New York Sun to Marie-Claire.  

You can learn more about Lauren at her official website: www.laurenmechling.com 

The Latest: Dream Girl
Dream Girl is the first book in a series about Claire Voyante. She has been having strange visions ever since she can remember. But the similarity between her name and her talents is purely coincidental. The name is French, and unlike the psychics on TV, she can’t solve crimes or talk to the dead. Whenever Claire follows her hunches, she comes up empty – or ends up in pretty awkward situations. But that all changes on Claire’s 15th birthday, when her grandmother, Kiki-former socialite, fashion icon, and permanent fixture at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel – gives her something a little more extraordinary than one of her old cocktail dresses: a strange black-and-white onyx cameo on a gold chain. It’s not long before Claire’s world becomes a whole lot clearer. And a whole lot more dangerous.

The Q&A

Here’s my question for Lauren… 

If you were a girl (or lady, if you want to be grown up about it) detective, what famous detective would you be most like (girl or guy detective is okay…after all, there haven’t been too many famous girl ones)? 

And her answer… 

First, thank you so much for that sweet introduction. I’m delighted to hear you liked Dream Girl and I can’t wait to sink my teeth (har har) into your new book.

Now, down to serious business. There are a lot of detectives who are near and dear to me. I love Tess Monaghan, the plucky heroine of Laura Lippman’s Baltimore series, and I think Hercule Poirot is a total hoot. But . . . my favorite is Detective Superintendent Jane Tennison of the magnificent BBC “Prime Suspect” series.

They made the first “Prime Suspect” in 1991 so I’ve watched Detective evolve from a young-ish hopeful thing into a steely pro who, after seventeen years of disappointment and injustice (why must her less talented male colleagues always be promoted over her?), remains unrelentingly good at what she does.  

And Lauren’s question for me… 

Help! Rumor has it there are some vampires on the loose in my neighborhood. I’ve stocked up on garlic but I’m still very afraid. In the event of a vampire bite, what would you advise?

And my answer…

Well, that depends. Do you wanna “live” forever? Join the ranks of the undead? Or do you want to stay…normal?

And it also depends upon which version of vampire-hood we’re talking about. :-) In “my” world (i.e. Mina’s), the garlic wouldn’t do you much good. And most conversions are done by ingesting vampire blood, which you probably didn’t do. While you *could* get converted by being bitten (it’s what happened to Mina’s dad), chances are you were just a snack and you’ll just have a sore neck and a heckuva story to tell your grandkids.

In some vampire myths, you have to be bitten three times before you get turned, so if you just lay low and don’t let your guard down, you’ll be just fine.

The Giveaway

Dream Girl sound as cool to you as it does to me? Well you’ve got a chance to win a copy right here! All you have to do is visit Lauren’s blog and check out what she was doing on the release date for her new book (hint: it was July 22nd) and then email me with the subject line “I’m Dreaming of Lauren!” at kim @ kimberlypauley.com and tell me what she was drinking. And then you should check out the rest of her blog; it’s a lot of fun. Get your entries in by September 6th!

And don’t forget to check out all the other stuff you can win during the Sucks to Be Me Book Launch Par-tay!

Tags: authors, book launch, Books, Giveaways, kimberly pauley, lauren mechling, sucks to be me
Posted in Books, Giveaways, Q&A | 3 Comments »

Book Launch Party: Day 4: Tanya Lee Stone

All About Tanya Lee Stone
My guest today is the fantastic Tanya Lee Stone who wrote A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl, a novel told in poems. She worked for years as an editor and also has a Masters Degree in Education (so she’d be one heckuva English teacher). She has written nearly 90 books, mostly for younger readers (like the new Elizabeth Leads the Way and the soon-to-be-new Sandy’s Circus, coming Sept 4th!). One really cool fact about her – Mandy Patinkin once personally showed her the Inigo Montoya swords from The Princess Bride! I’m so jealous! That’s one of my favorite movies of all time.

You can learn more about Tanya at her official website.

About A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl
Josie, Nicolette, and Aviva are three very different girls who all meet the same bad boy with an irresistible knack for getting into their blood and under their skin. Will the choices they make and the paths they take lead them where they want to go?

It’s been compared to both Judy Blume’s Forever (which features in the book) and to the Vagina Monologues. Sound intriguing? It is.

The Q&A
Here’s my question for Tanya…

I’m dying to ask about Mandy Patinkin, but I’ll be good and ask a book-related question instead. I read your post about the best thing that can happen to a non-fiction writer over at I.N.K. (which was SO awesome, by the way) – so, as someone who also writes fiction, what would be the best thing that could happen to you related to that?

And her answer…

Well, there are two best things—and they’ve happened! The first, hands-down, are the readers who write to me. There’s no feeling in the world that compares to knowing that someone connected with something you wrote for them. And the trust that the teens show me who write in can’t be beat. Those emails make me tear up.

The second thing was meeting one of my heroes—Judy Blume. You could have mopped the floor with me when I found out we were going to meet for lunch. And the best part was—she was as absolutely cool as I had imagined she would be.

And Tanya’s question for me…

Okay, Kimberly—your turn! I have two questions for you. Where, oh where, did you get that fabuloso hat you’re sporting in your author pic? And, when oh when, do you find time to sleep? With all you do, you’re like the energizer bunny! Give the woman a Standing Ovation! (hands clapping wildly in cyber-space)

And my answer…

LOL, well, the hat I actually got at an art show. I wish I could remember the name of the lady I got it from; she made AWESOME hats. It was my Kentucky Derby hat (we lived in Louisville briefly). Isn’t it a cool hat? People should wear hats more. I’ve actually collected hats (mostly old) since I was a teenager. I don’t wear them too often though. Not enough opportunities.

As for sleep…lately, it’s catch as catch can! I’m behind on EVERYTHING since the baby was born (he’s 5 1/2 months old now and the cutest little peanut you can imagine). I can tell you, I sure don’t feel like the Energizer Bunny!

The Giveaway

So, If you haven’t read A Bad Boy Can Be Good for a Girl yet, now you’ve got the perfect chance. To win a copy, all you have to do is go visit Tanya’s site and then email me at kim @ kimberlypauley.com with the subject line “Go Tanya! Go Girls!” and tell me…why did Tanya don thigh-high rubber boots? (Hint: look on the Biography page). Remember to enter by September 5th!!

And don’t forget to check out the main Book Launch Contest Info post for all the details and links! Seriously. You want that monster prize pack. Trust me.

Tags: authors, Books, Giveaways, kimberly pauley, sucks to be me, tanya lee stone
Posted in Books, Giveaways, Q&A | 4 Comments »