tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33972206535975669422024-03-18T05:48:06.227-04:00Kieran's BlogNews about, and musings of, author Kieran Scott.Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-78365434126056752042013-11-08T09:47:00.000-05:002014-04-02T13:09:45.036-04:00Learning to Write by Reading<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been doing a lot of events recently and one of the questions people are always asking me is . . .<br />
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What advice do you give to people who want to become writers?<br />
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One of the answers I always give is . . .<br />
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Read as much as you can, as many different styles and genres as you can get your hands on.<br />
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Don't just read what you think you like. If you love paranormal, you can't just read paranormal. You must also read contemporary, science fiction, romance, historical fiction, biographies, autobiographies and the dozen other genres I'm missing. And don't just read books. Read newspapers, magazines, blogs . . . everything and anything. Doing this will open your mind to new styles of writing and will show you that there are so many different voices out there. You don't have to emulate another author or write a specific way to write something amazing and even publishable. You just have to stay true to yourself, work on your voice and your craft and you'll find an audience.<br />
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Now, I've been on panels recently with authors who have said they don't read a lot of YA because when they read a book it informs their writing and they don't want other people's styles getting into their heads. I get that. It happens to me, too. But I LOVE it. I love when I learn something new from a book I'm reading or can pick up on a cool way to spin a metaphor or get inspired to create a more unique voice for a character. It's basically my favorite thing. I don't think my voice has changed drastically over the years, but if it has, it has changed for the better and it has changed because I KEEP ON LEARNING. I keep on learning by reading authors as varied as E. Lockhart and Alexandra Bracken, Andy Marino and Cristin Terrill, Maggie Stiefvater and Stephanie Kate Strohm. I learn something new every time I read something new and my first book was published FIFTEEN YEARS AGO. Which is why my first piece of advice to aspiring writers will always remain the same.<br />
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KEEP READING!Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com129tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-50061469838177085792013-04-18T12:52:00.000-04:002013-04-18T12:52:05.836-04:00TODAY I AM LOVING: IMHOBooks on YOU TUBE!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every day includes a little procrastination and today I googled myself (shut up. you do it, too), to see if there was anything out there I didn't know about and lo and behold, I found THIS! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red;"><b>IMHOBooks</b></span> is a channel on YouTube, featuring book reviews by two very poised young ladies named Catherine and Olivia. They had a review up of <b><span style="color: cyan;">SHE'S SO DEAD TO US</span></b>, so of course I had to watch it. (LOVE!) It was pleasantly short and sweet, so I went and clicked on a few of their other reviews and they just get better and better. The Ellen Degeneres review had me laughing out loud. You have to check it out and see if they've reviewed any of your favorites. Enjoy! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I tried to insert the videos here, but it's not working, so I have to use links. (Apologies.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhMx6b3jrB4" target="_blank">She's So Dead to Us Review</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f46aSpTVID0" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ellen Degeneres Review</span></a>Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com68tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-81715366425471402842013-04-17T15:16:00.000-04:002013-04-17T15:16:08.698-04:0010 Impossible Things I Wish For<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. That we could find a way to put an end to terrorism.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. That we could agree to destroy every nuclear weapon on the planet and promise not to make more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. That there was no cancer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. That there was no AIDS.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. That all children were born into loving, caring homes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. That cigarettes didn't exist (I know some smokers will vilify me for saying this, and you have every right. My mom loved her cigarettes, too. Until they killed her.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. That we could become more obsessed with building people up than we are with tearing them down. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. That someone could write a gun law that made sense.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. That it was cooler to be smart than to be cool.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. That Brad and Jen would get back together</span>.Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-54719150021305508292013-01-11T10:08:00.005-05:002013-01-11T16:23:30.863-05:00Today I am LOVING . . . UNISON SPARKSome of you may know that I recently ran this charity auction called <span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>YA FOR NJ</b></span> to raise funds for Hurricane Sandy relief. I enlisted the help of over 170 authors to donate their autographed books to be auctioned off with all the money going to The Community FoodBank of New Jersey. It felt amazing to do something to help those in need, but there was also an unexpected bonus . . . .<br />
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I got to meet all these authors I'd never met before and hear about their <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>AMAZING</b></span> books. My reading list exploded as I read synopsis after synopsis, getting ready to post the items online, and I had to run out and buy a few of the more intriguing novels for myself. Well, let me just say, I've only just started the first one, but it is <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>MIND-BLOWING</b>.</span></span><br />
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The book is called <span style="color: purple;"><b>UNISON SPARK</b></span> and it was written by Andy Marino, who clearly has an imagination that is <span style="color: red;"><b>OUT OF BOUNDS</b></span>. It took me a while to get into because my brain isn't wired for sci-fi (I like to watch sci-fi movies, but I don't think I've ever read a book that could actually be classified as sci-fi, unless you count <span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>GLOW</b></span>, which was really more parable/romance in my opinion). I'm only on page 75 of <span style="color: purple;"><b>UNISON SPARK</b></span>, but I can't put it down. It actually took some effort to come to the computer to type this up and I'm already itching to find out what happens next. Not only has Andy created an incredibly rich, detailed world, but it's like he's created his own language. It's stunning and something I know I could never accomplish.<br />
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Clearly, I have no idea where this book is going, but so far it's a highly-satisfying read, people.<br />
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Kudos to Andy. I can't wait to read whatever you come up with next!Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-61564569406460878512013-01-04T11:35:00.001-05:002013-01-04T11:37:44.938-05:00Today I am LOVING . . . Neil Peart on Drums<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The main character is my new book is a drummer, which I know almost nothing about, so today I've been doing a little web-surfing/researching on the topic and I came across this crazy drum solo on YouTube. My husband was a drummer back in high school, and he's mentioned Neil Peart--one of the greatest drummers of all time--but I'd never actually seen him play. Now I can't stop watching this! I can't even keep a beat, so I'm duly impressed. And how the heck does he remember where each of the different instruments is positioned? Genius.<br />
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I wish I'd learned to play the drums. Maybe I could've been a Bangle. :)Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-69540510216885913702013-01-03T11:23:00.002-05:002013-01-03T11:23:21.577-05:00Today I am LOVING . . . Pumped-Up Poses!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you follow me on twitter or facebook, you know I love to work out, but I don't always have time to go to the gym. Over the years I've found that Fitness Magazine and Shape Magazine often offer great, quick workouts that you can do at home with minimal equipment and this one is my current favorite (from the November/December issue of Fitness). You can do it in twenty minutes and feel like you've gotten a cardio and strength work out. What's that saying again? Oh yeah . . .<br />
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New Year, No Excuses! :)<br />
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Here's the link: <a href="http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/yoga/poses/yoga-with-weights-workout/">http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/yoga/poses/yoga-with-weights-workout/</a>Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-26570976875335464192013-01-02T11:18:00.001-05:002013-01-02T11:18:17.833-05:00Today I am LOVING . . . Unpredictability Last night I saw <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: orange;">SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK</span></span>, which was an awesome movie based on the book by an awesome guy, Matthew Quick. (Who also has an awesome wife, Alicia Bessette.) I sat next to them once at the Collingswood Book Festival, and was jealous of the line of guys and girls snaking away from their table for an autographed copy of Matthew's <span style="color: #cc0000;">SORTA LIKE A ROCKSTAR</span>. I bought Alicia's book, <span style="color: #e06666;">SIMPLY FROM SCRATCH</span> because it sounded like my kinda joint (baking and romance? sign me up!), and she did me the solid of buying MY book right back. I'm sure neither of them remembers this encounter, and this has become a total tangent, so back to what I was going to say, which was . . . .<br />
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<span style="color: orange;">SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK</span> did what almost no movie I've seen in the past five years has done--it stumped me! As the climactic scene got ready to begin, I was holding my breath, actually NOT KNOWING what was going to happen. Wait, back up. Not only did I NOT KNOW, I had NO INKLING. It could have gone one of twenty-seven different ways, and because of this, I had an experience I rarely have in the movie theater anymore--I was on the edge of my seat.<br />
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I won't ruin it for you, but I will say this. THAT is the kind of story-telling I strive for. The kind of story-telling all writers should strive for. And it's SO HARD to execute! We're all so programmed by years and years of novel reading and movie-going and tv-watching to pound out a satisfying arc, that we don't realize that what we think is satisfying has become the very opposite. I love a happy ending, don't get me wrong, but we don't all have to take the same path to get to the happy ending. If we all did that, how lame would life (and entertainment) be?<br />
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So that's what I'm taking from my movie-watching experience last night. Today, I will be unpredictable in my writing. And hopefully, every day from here on out.<br />
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And just FYI, on <span style="color: orange;">SILVER LININGS</span>: I LOVED the ending. :)Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com637tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-40224360690058115852013-01-01T14:59:00.004-05:002013-01-01T14:59:55.684-05:00Today I am LOVING . . . Amanda Seyfried's Shoes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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OK, I'm not a fashionista or anything, but I can't stop staring at the shoes Amanda Seyfried is wearing on the cover of this Month's InStyle. Now, as a woman who sits at her desk all day for work, hits the gym in a pair of year-old Rykas each morning, and spends weekends chasing around two little boys in a muddy backyard, I have exactly no use for six-inch high silver pumps (although it would be cool to be six-foot-three for a day). Also, they're Jimmy Choo's, which puts them WAY out of my price range, considering I WOULD like to send my kids to college one day.<br />
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But still, I can't stop staring. I've always wanted to stride into some super high-end store and buy myself a pair of ridiculously expensive designer shoes. I blame Carrie Bradshaw for this. Or the fact that until I was about twenty-five I was afraid to walk into even an overly fancy Fifth Avenue Banana Republic on my own. In the back of my mind I thought that all the beautiful, impeccably dressed sales people were going to see my fifth grade self walking through the door--the one in pink tube socks and two-sizes too short purple corduroys and stringy hair. (My parents could never keep up with my growth spurts and we didn't have enough money for me to keep up with the proverbial Joneses at my middle school. And my super-fine, straight, flat hair? That's always been an issue.)<br />
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In order to one day achieve this goal, I started saving quarters in an old milk bottle that had been left on the Editorial Assistant's desk at my first job by the guy who preceded me at said desk, Mike Fitzgerald. I think it's kind of poetic that I'm saving for my first fabulous shoes in a vessel I inherited at my first not-so-fabulous NYC job (the dollar bills are a donation from my lovely husband). Once it's full, I'm going to cash it in and see how close to my goal I've gotten.<br />
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My guess is I'm going to have to fill the sucker another five to eight times before I can afford a pair of Louboutins, but I WILL succeed. Even if I'm 60 years old and tottering around with swollen ankles, I'm gonna buy those shoes, and not even the super-fabulous sneering salespeople are going to stop me!Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-72150220848725145572012-12-01T19:44:00.003-05:002012-12-01T19:44:33.828-05:00YA for NJ is LIVE!My pet project of the last month, <b style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">YA for NJ</span></b> is finally up and running! It's a huge auction to benefit Hurricane Sandy relief, with all the proceeds going to The Community FoodBank of New Jersey, and some of your favorite authors are participating!<br />
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Go to <a href="http://www.ebay.com/yafornj">www.ebay.com/yafornj</a> to check out all the amazing lots you can bid on. We've got everything from signed novels, to ARCs, to full sets (Beautiful Creatures, The Spiderwick Chronicles, The Summer Trilogy and the He's So/She's So Trilogy included), plus skype visits, school visits, and even manuscript critiques from some of the top editors in the teen fiction game.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000;">YOU MUST CHECK IT OUT! </span></b>Do some holiday shopping! Get a little swag for yourself! Maybe even launch your writing career! (That'd be some gift!)<br />
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I'd love to hear which lots you like and what you're bidding on, so come back and comment, too!<br />
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HAPPY BIDDING!<br />
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<a href="http://www.ebay.com/yafornj">www.ebay.com/yafornj</a><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/yafornj">www.facebook.com/yafornj</a><br />
<br />Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-60322541357807302342012-11-20T14:58:00.002-05:002012-11-20T14:58:35.634-05:00YA for NJ PRESS RELEASE!
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<span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="mailto:kieran@kieranscott.net"><span style="color: #6d076e; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">kieran@kieranscott.net</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Kieran Scott<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> Founder<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Young Adult and Middle Grade Writers to Host “YA for NJ” Event
to Benefit Sandy Victims</span></b><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">November 15th
2012<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">River Vale, NJ
(WEB) – Over 170 popular Young Adult and Middle Grade Writers have come
together to raise money for victims of Hurricane Sandy through an online
auction from Friday, November 30</span><sup><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">th</span></sup><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> through
December 7</span><sup><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">th</span></sup><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">. Autographed books, school visits,
and online meetings are among the many items that will be placed up for
sale.100% of the proceeds will be donated to the Community FoodBank of New
Jersey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“I wanted to do
something to help those in the direst need,” said author Kieran Scott, who penned the <i>New York Times</i> bestselling <i>Private</i> series
as Kate Brian and is organizing the “YA for NJ” event. Like many others in her
home state she felt helpless and was literally in the dark in the wake of
Sandy, but still wanted be part of the support effort. In a matter of days,
over 170 authors rallied to aid in her endeavor. Scott describes the writers as
“talented friends and authors who not only had amazing things to offer, but
would offer them up willingly for a good cause.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Kieran
partnered with the <b>Community FoodBank of New Jersey</b> after
observing the organization’s swift and effective response in New Jersey’s
hardest-hit areas. “As soon as the storm clouds cleared,” Kieran said, “they
jumped into action.” Kieran has supported the <b>Community FoodBank of New
Jersey</b> for years and was glad to help the organization in the Jersey
shore’s time of need.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Some of the
auction’s most intriguing lots are hardcover copies of the best-selling <i>Beautiful
Creatures</i> signed by authors Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia; a skype
visit with Gayle Forman, the international best-selling author of <i>If I
Stay</i>; and autographed copies of the complete collection of <i>The
Spiderwick Chronicles</i> by Holly Black. The auction will be hosted by <b>eBay
Giving Works</b> as part of their High Profile Auctions program.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Community
FoodBank of New Jersey</span></b><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">, a member
of <b>Feeding America</b>, distributed 37 million pounds of food in the
last year to people in need in 18 of New Jersey’s 21 counties. Its staff and
volunteers fight hunger and poverty not only through the distribution of food
and grocery products, but by education and training, and by creating new
programs to meet the needs of low-income people. The Community FoodBank of New
Jersey has earned Charity Navigator’s highest mark, a <a href="http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3545"><span style="color: #6d076e; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">four-star rating</span></a>,
for the second consecutive year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">GENERAL INFORMATION</span></u><span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Direct Link to
Auction Page <a href="http://www.ebay.com/yafornj"><u><span style="color: #6d076e; text-decoration: none; text-underline: #353535; text-underline: none;">http://www.ebay.com/yafornj</span></u></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">YA for NJ on
Twitter:@YAforNJ<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #353535; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 8.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">YA for NJ on
Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/YaForNj"><u><span style="color: #6d076e; text-decoration: none; text-underline: #353535; text-underline: none;">http://www.facebook.com/YaForNj</span></u></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-50383042784057205952012-11-03T12:50:00.001-04:002012-11-03T12:50:13.502-04:00YA for NJFor the last few days I've been casting around for a way to help the recovery effort in my beloved state of New Jersey (see blog post below), and I think I've come up for a good one. Introducing . . .<br />
<br />
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;">YA FOR NJ</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b>
YA For NJ is a charity auction which will bring together dozens of your favorite young adult and middle grade authors. We'll be auctioning off autographed books and arcs (in some cases, entire collections), as well as skype visits and other goodies with 100% of proceeds going to help the relief efforts in New Jersey (the exact charity is TBD). The auction will be held some time in the next three weeks, but I haven't locked down the date yet. Everything is still in the planning stages. So why the early post, you ask? A few of my author friends have been spreading the word, and I've gotten a lot of questions. Herewith, the answers I have:<br />
<br />
1. If you are an AUTHOR of young adult or middle grade fiction and would like to participate, please email me at kieran@kieranscott.net with the title of the book or books you'd like to donate and/or anything else you'd like to contribute (a skype visit, a manuscript critique, bookmarks, library visit, etc). Also, go "like" the facebook page at www.facebook.com/yafornj for updates.<br />
<br />
2. If you are a BLOGGER, LIBRARIAN, JOURNALIST or BOOKSTORE OWNER and would like to promote the event, please email me at kieran@kieranscott.net and I will put you on my mailing list for future updates. Also, go "like" the facebook page at www.facebook.com/yafornj for updates.<br />
<br />
3. If you are a FAN or READER, keep checking this blog and go "like" the facebook page at www.facebook.com/yafornj for updates!<br />
<br />
More from me soon!<br />
<br />
<br />Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-38963973004213661512012-11-01T14:42:00.001-04:002012-11-01T14:42:36.342-04:00The New Jersey ShoreThis is a classic case of "you don't know what you've got til it's gone." Taking something for granted, then having it taken away and realizing what a huge part of your life that something has been. When I woke up on Monday morning and heard the woman on the Weather Channel utter the phrase "zeroing in on New Jersey," my heart dropped. I was thinking about what I would do with my two small boys if the power went out for a prolonged period of time. I was thinking about how to explain a cancelled Halloween to my four-year-old. I was thinking about my trip to Las Vegas for the Vegas Valley Book Festival this weekend and whether or not I would be able to get out on Thursday (update: I was not). While I was so focused on me-me-me and mine-mine-mine, I gave a passing thought to the shore and how scared the people that lived there must have been at that moment.<br />
<br />
I had no idea.<br />
<br />
As the "future-casts" got more and more dire on Monday, I sat at my computer and searched for LBI on twitter. LBI, as some of you may know, is short for Long Beach Island, my go-to summer destination. (The setting of my novel <u>He's So Not Worth It</u>.) When I was in middle school, my best friend Meri had a house down there and I'd go down with her and her family a few weekends each summer and sometimes for a whole week. I was obsessed with LBI. All the houses on stilts, the weathered wooden shingles, the boys riding their bikes to the beach with a surfboard tucked under one arm, a leash clasped in the other hand, leading their dog along for a run. I loved the huge Bay Village pizza slices, watching the sun set over the bay, hanging out at the Fantasy Island amusement park or in the Bay Village shops, giggling whenever a pack of cute boys came by. I made a vow to myself somewhere around eighth grade that I would one day own my own house on LBI and bring my family there for the whole summer, every summer. Which I would have done by now, if I were a millionaire. Instead, we've settled for a one-week rental each year and my older son loves it there almost as much as I do.<br />
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So I'll just say that the pictures I saw online on Monday took the breath right out of me. The storm hadn't even hit yet, and Bay Village was already under water. (See photo below.) It looked like something out of a movie, something even my vivid imagination couldn't have conceived. Not long after I saw those first images, our power went out, and was out for two straight days. When we "woke up" from our electrical coma last night, the first thing I did was go online and look for pictures. I saw the aerial coverage of the entire shoreline. Then I cried.<br />
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I realized, as I was watching harrowing image after harrowing image, how much it all meant to me. And not just Long Beach Island, but Point Pleasant and their beautiful boardwalk, Seaside Heights and their loud game kiosks and crazy-awesome french fries, Sandy Hook and its wide, white beaches, Wildwood and its "Watch the tram car please." (Below: That's me in Wildwood as a college frosh) In my entire life, there has never been a summer when I didn't hit the shore at least for a day trip with my family. We didn't have ton of money when I was a kid, so those day trips are my vacation memories. All I wanted to do was share those same types of memories with my own kids, but now the shore will never be the same. It just won't be the same.<br />
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My heart goes out to all the people who do own places down there, especially the families who live there year round, who own those businesses that make our trips to the shore the incredible, fun-filled, homey experiences they always are. I believe what our governor has said, that we will rebuild and come back from this, and I'm going to find my own ways to help. You bet your butt if there's somewhere for us to stay this summer, we'll be there and do everything we can to help revive the places we've loved so much. I realize now that I took the shore for granted, that I assumed my home-away-from-home would always be there. I won't be making that mistake again.<br />
<br />
I know that a lot of people outside the area are probably sick of hearing about this storm and what it's done, but I urge you to take a moment and look around you and realize what you have, realize how lucky you are to have it, and just hold that feeling close to your heart for as long as you can. You'll be glad you did.<br />
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<br />Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-77391849219113958342012-06-15T19:17:00.001-04:002012-06-15T19:17:10.945-04:00What Really MattersSo clearly that New Year's Resolution to blog once a week was a total farce, but I comfort myself with the fact that I only have 49 followers and maybe one of you actually reads this, so to you, dedicated fan, I apologize. I did, of course, have a series of excuses to end all excuses. Like the two weeks of vomiting that took place in my house starting the Saturday after Christmas, which was quickly followed by the hospitalization of my mother in February, where I visited her every day until she passed away in April, and then I had to deal with funeral arrangements and being her executrix (which sounds like a superhero name, but let me tell you, is no fun), so . . . yeah. This is a huge run on sentence, but there you go.<br />
<br />
I'm only going to say a few things about the loss of my mother. They are 1) Nothing I have ever experienced could have possibly prepared me for the mind-numbing, life-stopping, complete black hole of sadness that overcame me and still hovers around my person twenty-four hours a day waiting to engulf me at any random moment. Like when I see a gift she gave one of my kids or hear a song she liked or open a can of tuna fish (don't ask). 2) Every day I think, about 42 times 'oh I have to call mom and tell her that' and then I realize I can't. 3) I'm not saying you HAVE to have a relationship with your mom, because if your mom is evil or sucks or whatever, I get it (I don't have a relationship with my dad), but if you DO have a relationship with your mom, you should call her and tell her you love her. Now. Go. Yes, I'm serious. I'll wait.<br />
<br />
Okay, you're back? Here's what I was actually going to blog about. The weirdest after-effect of losing my mom is the things I suddenly care about that wouldn't have bothered me before and the things I don't give a crap about that I used to obsess over.<br />
<br />
For example: Last week I had this big event at Books & Greetings,
this local bookstore near my house. Jen Calonita and I invited five of
our writerly friends to come do a panel with us, answer questions and
sign books. (In case you're curious, Elizabeth Eulberg, Susane
Colasanti, Jenny Han, Wendy Mass and Melissa Walker were the fabulous
five.) Now, four or five months ago, I would have spent half the day
before the event rummaging through my closet, trying to decide exactly what to
wear, trying on outfits, cursing my shoe collection and searching my
face for upcoming zits. Know what I did this time? Nothing. I got up Saturday morning,
showered, went into my closet, and put on the first thing that made me
say "Oh, yeah. That looks cute." And both Jen and Jenny gushed over my
shirt. For reference, here's a pic from the event: <br />
<br />
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Now, on the flip side are the things that piss me off now, that I wouldn't have given much thought to before. Like when I smile at people who are behind the counter at a store and they don't smile back. Or when someone looks at one of my frickin' adorable kids and sneers like they're so annoying. Or when I get cut in line, or the dude at the drive-thru window gives me the wrong thing or I get overcharged for something. A few months ago, I was not a complainer. Now, you'd better not cross me, man. I'll tell you what the hell is up.<br />
<br />
The funny thing is, I have NEVER been able to speak up for myself, but I do remember the very first time I told off someone working in retail, and it was on my mother's behalf. This guy at Lord and Taylor gave her one of those impatient sighs this one time because she couldn't find shoes that were comfortable with her ever-present, painful corns. This was about ten or fifteen years ago when I was intimidated by the guys behind the register at TCBY, let alone some dude in a suit who was twenty-years my senior. But I snapped. I told him to have some manners and something like "Do you think she enjoys this? Do you think she likes being in pain with every step she takes and having to sit here surrounded by five-hundred pairs of gorgeous shoes being forced to try on the ugliest ones and not even be able to feel comfortable in those? No. So if you don't mind, get us a size up and quit it with the sighing." Yeah, I actually did say that. So now I wonder . . . maybe the fact that she's not hear anymore has somehow made me braver. Maybe now that she's not here to stick up for, I've learned to stick up for myself.<br />
<br />
Or maybe I'm just pissed at the world that she's gone and I'm taking it out on everyone around me. Whatever the case may be, I'm curious to see if it continues.<br />
<br />
And, BTW, thanks to the woman at Teen Author Carnival who inspired me to start blogging again. Hope you're the one person reading this! :)Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-14782726474184418682012-04-08T10:51:00.002-04:002012-04-08T10:52:01.429-04:00VOYA gets Me!I love when reviewers understand and appreciate what I tried to do with a book. It's even better when they also LIKE it! :)<br /><br /><h5 id="yui_3_3_0_1_1333896543607_5034">VOYA</h5> Ally and Jake are looking forward to starting their senior year at Orchard Hill High as a happy couple, but considering their past, they should buckle up for a bumpy ride. The bump turns out to be a baby bump. When their mutual friend Chloe, the soon-to-be mom, names Jake as the father, he believes it is possible. Ally wants to stand by her man and Jake wants to step-up for Chloe, but can they do it? Jake's grades suffer and finding a balance between almost-dad vs. boyfriend seems impossible. Ally is dealing with her Mom's upcoming second marriage and supporting the teen parents, but feeling understandably hurt as Jake begins to focus more on Chloe. When doubt is cast on the baby's paternity and Jake refuses to question what he has been told, the truth of this complicated situation takes them for a ride. Oh the drama! Oh the half-truths and outright lies! This story is equal parts juicy teen soap and thought-provoking, discussable novel for all ages. A well-rounded group of friends and family are in the background of this story, and their presence is notable even though Jake and Ally are the only narrators. Understanding the thought processes, explaining the reason behind a choice, and feeling the positive/negative reactions of those closest to the situation allow readers to truly appreciate the outcome. Fans of MTV's <i>16 and Pregnant</i> and <i>Teen Mom</i> will find this book particularly fascinating, but it will equally appeal to anyone who enjoys a love story with plenty of ups and downs, interesting characters, and a satisfying ending. This is a great conclusion to an engaging series. Reviewer: Stacey HaymanKieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-57477131341764282462012-03-30T12:33:00.002-04:002012-03-30T12:41:10.025-04:00SPOILERS TWEETED FROM BOOKS OF WONDER!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDkiP-ofTWLINg6aZTDkS_oviyceXWA0fHXzTE-ydxy5phrbA-Z2ZOs79OCaln7w38iDsAtaUkBurJgsQvSmsPWmaopu6REyBP3NP8TlMfUbriuL10e8lZ-UldvZw2cPSfJts9sSDCyAE/s1600/This+is+So.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDkiP-ofTWLINg6aZTDkS_oviyceXWA0fHXzTE-ydxy5phrbA-Z2ZOs79OCaln7w38iDsAtaUkBurJgsQvSmsPWmaopu6REyBP3NP8TlMfUbriuL10e8lZ-UldvZw2cPSfJts9sSDCyAE/s200/This+is+So.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725731129504063538" border="0" /></a><br />All right <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">HE'S SO/SHE'S SO FANS</span>, this is gonna be a <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">big weekend for ALL of us!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;">This Sunday is April 1</span>, and you know what that means! You don't know what that means? OK, aside from the fact that it's April Fools Day, it will also be the day that you can finally shout from the rooftops <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">"THIS IS SO NOT HAPPENING COMES OUT ONE MONTH FROM TODAY!"</span><br /><br />Ahem. So. What I have decided to do to mark this special occasion, is tweet my favorite lines from <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 255);">THIS IS SO NOT HAPPENING</span> all day long. Now, at first, I was going to try to do one line an hour, but I realized I can't commit to anything that regularly-scheduled, because for 45 minutes there I'm going to participating in the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">HUGE Teen Author Festival signing at BOOKS OF WONDER in NYC</span>, so I might not be able to touch my phone for a couple of hours (if you include drive-time). OR there's always the possibility that no one will come for my autograph and I'll be able to tweet like the dickens the whole time I'm there.<br /><br />You never know.<br /><br />But the point is . . . well, the point<span style="font-weight: bold;">s</span> are . . .<br /><br />1) If you're in New York City this weekend come to BOOKS OF WONDER at 18 W. 18th Street between 2:30 and 3:15 and I will sign whatever books you bring me as long as they're by me. Also, if you're the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 204);">THIRD</span> or <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">SEVENTEENTH</span> person to ask for my autograph, you'll win a super awesome prize. (Because three and seventeen are my lucky numbers.)<br /><br />and<br /><br />2) If you want some special sneak peeks of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 204, 204);">THIS IS SO NOT HAPPENING</span> (and perhaps a spoiler or two), follow me on twitter @kieranscott or keep checking the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">SHE'S SO DEAD TO US</span> facebook page at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shes-So-Dead-to-Us/273957676095">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shes-So-Dead-to-Us/273957676095</a><br /><br />Hope to meet you, or at the very least tweet you, this weekend!Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-61101945800948172462012-03-23T21:58:00.002-04:002012-03-23T22:08:58.622-04:00NYC TEEN AUTHOR FESTIVAL!!!This coming Monday, March 26, marks the beginning of this year's SUPER-FANTASTIC, INCREDIBLY EXCITING, UNDENIABLY UNMISSABLE . . . .<div><br /></div><div>TEEN AUTHOR FESTIVAL!</div><div><br /></div><div>It's one full week of panels, signings and general mayhem brought to you by David Levithan and dozens of awesome YA authors! Including MOI!</div><div><br /></div><div>There are many, many, MANY awesome panels for you to go see, and at each one the panelists will be discussing an agreed-upon topic, reading from their books and answering YOUR questions. For a complete list of events and panels, click here:</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.facebook.com/NYCTeenAuthorFestival">http://www.facebook.com/NYCTeenAuthorFestival</a></div><div><br /></div><div>I will be taking part in the first panel on Monday night, called PLOTTING DANGEROUSLY. (Ooohhh!!) I'm so excited to be on a panel with my friends Jen, David, Coe and Melissa, and I can't wait to meet the other authors! (I must confess that one of the best things about this week of merriment is the meeting of interesting people and the making of new friends. And new Words With Friends Nemesis, I'm sure. I've yet to beat Ms. Coe Booth, but it's now one of my goals in life. Along with a #1 Bestseller and the baking of the perfect brownie.) Here's the pertinent info:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; ">Monday, March 26 (Mulberry Street Branch of the NYPL, 10 Jersey Street b/w Mulberry and Lafayette, 6-8):<br /><br />Plotting Dangerously: Doing What it Takes to Find the Story<br /><br />Coe Booth<br />Jen Calonita<br />Paul Griffin<br />Deborah Heiligman<br />Melissa Kantor<br />Morgan Matson<br />Kieran Scott<br />Melissa Walker<br /><br />moderator: David Levithan<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; "><br /></span></div><div><div>I'll also be taking part in the HUGE Books of Wonder signing on Sunday, April 1. There are going to be over 60 authors there over the course of three hours, meeting and greeting and signing books. My designated slot is from 2:45 PM to 3:30 PM. I'd love to see you there! And as an added bonus, the 3rd and the 17th people to ask for my autograph are going to win a LOVELY PRIZE! (I picked 3 and 17 because they're my lucky numbers.) So be there! And no fair mowing over the person in front of you if you're number 4 or 18. :)</div></div><div><br /></div>Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-5340669188132213422012-02-22T20:06:00.003-05:002012-02-22T20:21:33.488-05:00Smoking SucksWell, I've completely tanked on my resolution to blog at least once a week, but I kind of knew that was going to happen when I made said resolution. The problem is, every time I try to think about what to write about, I don't know if I should write something personal or try to come up with something more shallow, so as not to put my real life out there for people to read an analyze and talk about. But lately there's been one personal thing dominating my thoughts so much I can't really think about anything else. So I've decided to write about it.<div><br /></div><div>My mom is in the hospital for the sixth time in two years. She's only 66. I know that sounds ancient to a lot of people, but it's not. Or it shouldn't be. Not in this day and age. But right now, if you met my mom, who used to be the strongest, feistiest, funniest, most engaging person I know, you'd think she was 99. And all because she could never quit smoking.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the thing. Everyone knows smoking is bad, but when you're told that in high school and you're shown the pictures of the dirty lungs or the corroded heart or whatever you think "Yeah, whatever, that's not gonna happen to me." Which makes sense. You feel invincible when you're young, and I get that. And part of me thinks kids deserve to feel that. But it's also kind of stupid. Because none of us are invincible. And those pictures of dirty lungs and corroded hearts are stupid, too, because it doesn't translate into anything real. You don't know--you can't FEEL how having those symptoms will really affect your life. So let me tell you what I've seen my mom go through lately.</div><div><br /></div><div>In 2000 she came down with throat cancer due to smoking. The chemo and radiation saved her life, temporarily, but we now know that they also started a slow deterioration process in her neck. A few years after the treatment she started getting severe laryngitis for about six weeks each winter. Then, she started having trouble eating. She couldn't swallow properly. Food would go down the wrong way and she'd choke. At first this was once in a while, but over the years it became more frequent to the point that she can't eat a meal without choking about every fifteen seconds. And no, I'm not exaggerating. Just imagine trying to get through a cheeseburger or even a bowl of Cheerios while choking into a paper towel every fifteen seconds. Not fun. </div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, thanks to the radiation damage AND the fact that her arteries are all clogged from the smoking, she had a stroke in August and now she can't walk without a walker or cane. Then, last Thursday, she fainted in the bathroom and slammed her head on the wall and passed out and she's been in the hospital ever since.</div><div><br /></div><div>What we've now learned is she has pneumonia because food got in her lungs and irritated them and they got infected. She has low blood pressure from the clogged arteries and low oxygen from the pneumonia, so she's on an oxygen tank. She can't eat anymore, so they're going to insert a feeding tube into her abdomen so that food can be directly inserted into her stomach. So here we have a 66 year old woman, who a year ago was vibrant and happy and she </div><div><br /></div><div>a) can't talk</div><div>b) can't eat</div><div>c) can't breathe on her own</div><div>d) can't walk on her own</div><div>e) can't be left alone because she might faint and</div><div>f) is severely depressed (as you might imagine)</div><div><br /></div><div>Part of me wishes I could bring everyone I know who smokes into her room to talk to her and see if she says she doesn't regret smoking. I know it's so hard to stop, but God, if you could feel the way she's felt for the last five days even for five minutes, I bet you would work your ass off to quit. So do me a favor people, don't start. Because I don't want anyone else I care about to go through this. Ever.</div><div><br /></div><div>And I thought putting this down in words would make me feel better, but it didn't. Probably because I love my mom so much this is killing me. And my sister. And all her friends. It just sucks. </div>Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-84172957978873263092012-01-27T19:18:00.002-05:002012-01-27T19:26:20.481-05:00A little taste of THIS IS SO NOT HAPPENING<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnZfe2ojutz46wUyerUNTPEfVRVaryoUmlQOOzXKSD-kYC5NrMczsVcEyjvEgCWZfKrvKf2DdF392HuZxdMELikxx1gWV24nDQbayVrVntRVjy4MO7bOL8LQt5xfiFovXRPzbzpEV9KHp/s1600/DSCF2165.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnZfe2ojutz46wUyerUNTPEfVRVaryoUmlQOOzXKSD-kYC5NrMczsVcEyjvEgCWZfKrvKf2DdF392HuZxdMELikxx1gWV24nDQbayVrVntRVjy4MO7bOL8LQt5xfiFovXRPzbzpEV9KHp/s200/DSCF2165.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702472472507747378" border="0" /></a><br />What's up, readers?<br /><br />As many of you know, tonight, in about 41 minutes actually, I'm going to be giving away an ARC of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">THIS IS SO NOT HAPPENING</span> via twitter. If you're not aware, then you still have time to enter. All you have to do is click your butt on over to twitter and tweet "I can't wait for <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">THIS IS SO NOT HAPPENING @kieranscott!"</span> and you're entered. But the problem is, only one person can win. And I feel kind of badly about that. So for all of you guys who DON'T win, here's what I'm gonna do. Right here, right now, I'm going to give you my favorite line from the very first chapter of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">THIS IS SO NOT HAPPENING</span>. And then, next week, I'm gonna get the digital file from my editor and post a big, fat, excerpt. But for now, it's just a line. And that line is . . . .<br /><br style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;">Chloe Appleby, princess of perfection, queen bee of Orchard Hill High, she who had never stepped a pinkie-toenail out of line in her life, was going to have an actual baby. This was what I like to call a holy-crap moment.</span><br /><br />Okay. So it was two lines. A little extra giftie just for you. ;) Check back next week for the whole first chapter or two. I can't wait for you to read it and let me know what you think!<br /><br />And now it's only . . . 36 minutes until I announce the winner!Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-72152953027372358452012-01-19T11:22:00.000-05:002012-01-19T11:46:31.379-05:00My Worst Fear(Other than Global Thermal Nuclear War. Thank you John Badham.)<br /><br />Confession: Every time I come up with a new idea for a book, I live in fear that someone else is going to come up with the same idea and write it or sell it before I get the chance.<br /><br />I know. It sounds a little insane. Like what other person in America (or anywhere else for that matter) was going to wake up and think "Huh. What if a brunette cheerleader from New Jersey had to move to Florida and join a competition squad completely made up of blondes?" right around the same time I was pitching <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">I WAS A NON-BLONDE CHEERLEADER</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">?</span></span> But believe it or not, it <span style="font-weight: bold;">has</span> happened to me. More than once.<br /><br />A few years back I had a writing partner and together we wrote three screenplays. The first one was a teen body-switch movie that was cute, but ultimately silly, I guess. The second one was about a guy in his twenties who still had a frat-boy mentality who, on learning his best friend was engaged to a girl he detested, went about trying to break-up the wedding. We had just finished our sixth draft and were very excited to send it out, but we couldn't come up with a title. We racked our brains for days, weeks, trying to come up with just the right moniker to catch the reader's attention and get us our first big movie deal. And then, one day, I was at the theater and I turned around and almost walked right into a huge, cardboard standup ad for a movie called SAVING SILVERMAN! My first thought was "Omigod! That's the perfect title for our movie!" And guess what? It turned out it had the EXACT SAME PREMISE AS OUR MOVIE!<br /><br />I almost threw up. And then the movie sucked and it made no money and everyone in Hollywood who read our script said, "It has a lot of funny parts and memorable characters, but Saving Silverman bombed, so . . . no." And that was the end of that.<br /><br />So we came up with a new idea, wrote a new screenplay (took us a couple of years of toil, btw), put the finishing touches on that one, and were ready to send it out when I went to the theater and saw a trailer for a movie called DOWN WITH LOVE, which had THE EXACT SAME PREMISE AS OUR MOVIE! Except it was set in the 1950's and ours was set in the present day. That time I actually had to get up and go to the lobby to have a panic attack. My date (now my husband), thought I was having a nervous breakdown. It's kind of a miracle he stuck with me after that public display.<br /><br />Anyway, my writing partner and I kind of gave up after that.<br /><br />In the last few years, there have been two separate occasions that an idea I was mulling was basically written by someone else. Both times someone more famous and successful than I am. So as much as I happen to appreciate my own creativity, I've learned to believe in the maxim, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">THERE ARE NO NEW IDEAS</span>. (Most notorious case in point, <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">TWILIGHT</span>? Yeah. <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">THE VAMPIRE DIARIES</span> came first, people.)<br /><br />So I've had this idea that I totally, TOTALLY love for the past month, but I haven't had a chance to perfect it and send it out yet, because first Christmas happened, then the kids were home for a week, then they both got sick and have actually been sick EVER SINCE! I've spent the entire month of January tending to sick children. Which, let's face it, is my more important job, but still.<br /><br />Every day I get that email from Publisher's Marketplace listing the deals of the day, and every day when I see it there in my inbox, I get this awful, hollowed out feeling. I click it open, actually leaning back, away from my monitor, as if it's going to detonate in my face. Then I quickly scan all the deals for key words that might point to something similar to my beloved idea, and only when I see that there are none (not today), do I exhale. Right now, my worst fear, is that I open that sucker and see the line:<br /><br />PITCHED AS A TEENAGED ________ ________ who must save her ________ ________ from _________ by going to _________ and ________ _________.<br /><br />What? You thought I was just going to give it away?<br /><br />So anyway, wish me luck. I plan to have this thing finished by the end of next week, provided I can keep the germs at bay. If all goes well, you'll see MY name in the Marketplace soon with all the blanks above filled in. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">NO MORE FEAR!</span>Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-74799710616532089012012-01-12T01:51:00.001-05:002012-01-12T01:58:47.891-05:00The Bad News, The Good NewsThe bad news is, my entire family, baby and all, had the dreaded stomach flu this weekend. If I were writing a novel, I would share with you all the gory details, but as this story of true heinousness is about those I hold the most dear, I will withhold said details in order to protect the innocent.<br /><br />Let's just say, it wasn't pretty. And in fact some of us have not yet fully recuperated.<br /><br />The good news is, I found out exactly how strong I am during the ordeal. I mean, if you can pull off the things I pulled off--dragging a mattress up the stairs so I could sleep on the floor of B's room, rocking W to sleep, making bottles and cleaning up other people's--you know--all while retching every five minutes yourself--well, I'm still pretty impressed with myself. I'm not saying I'm a Katniss Everdeen-level ass-kicker, but at the very least I could win a Mom of the Week award.<br /><br />The other good news? It turns out that line in The Devil Wears Prada about being one stomach flu away from one's goal weight? That's actually possible.<br /><br />And the third good news? I just wrote the first few lines of the prologue of my new novel. Or what I hope will be my new novel. If my publisher buys it. Which maybe they'll do once they read this and realize I started writing it at 1:45 am after bringing B some Gatorade in the midst of five days of nasty bodily functions. I mean, pity has to play a factor on some level, right?<br /><br />Aren't you SO glad I decided to blog every week? Look at the kind of fun stuff you get to read!<br /><br />Wish me luck.<br /><br />-KKieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-37931485056652422412012-01-04T10:04:00.000-05:002012-01-04T10:16:01.233-05:00New Year, New Posting ResolutionRight so, it's been so long since I posted on here that I actually forgot my password. For shame! I don't have that many followers, but those of you who follow me follow me for a reason. So here's the deal. I made three new year's resolutions. Want to hear what they are? I know you do!<br /><br />1. <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">T</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">o be more frugal in the New Year. </span>I am one to click on the modcloth.com or athleta.com links on my facebook page when I'm bored and just order stuff. Then I usually feel buyer's remorse after it arrives and end up returning all of--okay well, some of--it. This year, I have resolved on no pointless clicking. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">I will only buy clothing if it is needed!</span> Or if it's 70% off. Which, let's face it, it never is.<br /><br />2. <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">To wash my face every single night before bed.</span> I know this sounds easy, but it's not when you've spent your entire day writing and running errands and then you have to pick up your two little boys, play with them, feed them, bathe them, read to them, wrestle them into their pjs and get them to sleep within a two hour time frame. EXHAUSTING! But as Lorelai tells Rory upon meeting the Chilton headmaster's assistant in the second episode of the best-ever girl power TV series GILMORE GIRLS, <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-weight: bold;">"See? That's what happens when you go to bed with your makeup on."</span><br /><br />3. <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">To post a blog AT LEAST once a week.</span> I was going to go for daily, but the only way to keep a resolution is to make it realistic, and considering my track record, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">yes, once a week is realistic. </span>Maybe next year I'll go for daily. If, you know, the Mayans were wrong and the world doesn't actually end this year. Which, for the record, I don't think it will. In case that makes you feel any better.<br /><br />So keep an eye for more posts and send your friends! You never know. One day I might actually write something useful!Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-53560955402775924562011-10-04T14:39:00.000-04:002011-10-04T14:49:02.458-04:00NJ LIBRARY APPEARANCE THIS WEEKEND!<span style="font-family:verdana;">If you live in <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">South Jersey</span>, this weekend is going to be beyond exciting for you, because you're going to get a chance to meet ME!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I'm totally kidding. Well, not about the meeting me part, but about how exciting it is to meet me. It's actually only mildly interesting. But fun!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Anyway, this Saturday I am going to be doing a little <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">writing workshop</span> along with <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">a reading and Q&A</span> at the <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Lacey Branch of the Ocean County Library</span>. If you like my characters in the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">HE'S SO/SHE'S SO TRILOGY</span>, you should be there, because I'm gonna give you a little inside look into how I created them and help you create your own three-dimensional, interesting, flawed-yet-lovable characters! Here are all the important details:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WHAT</span>: Writing workshop, reading and chat</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WHERE</span>: The Lacey Branch of the Ocean County Library, </span><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">10 East Lacey Rd., Forked River, NJ 08731</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WHEN</span>: Saturday, October 8th, 2pm</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">RSVP</span>: Please register for the event so the staff and I can properly plan. You can register here: </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=2161&EventID=104693">http://engagedpatrons.org/EventsExtended.cfm?SiteID=2161&EventID=104693</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">BRING ALONG</span>: Any books you'd like me to sign (as long as I wrote them) ;)<br /><br />Can't wait to see you there!<br /></span></span>Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-62348388131875818362011-09-29T16:20:00.000-04:002011-09-29T16:25:19.714-04:00HE'S SO NOT WORTH IT giveaway TONIGHT on TWITTER!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pydcM3Dza7CZdJtphAj4o4JW_DTVTMtOlIoKmD1nwNe4PyE0m9pz9MDmMM4pxDxK0M_0DLehyphenhyphen1tnNHwTH2GC_yWMaX6-73vhFIZiM9rGXMLw1S-pNW5UMJPadWKvyCHAo-qnXFJl396v/s1600/HSNWI+HC+final.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1pydcM3Dza7CZdJtphAj4o4JW_DTVTMtOlIoKmD1nwNe4PyE0m9pz9MDmMM4pxDxK0M_0DLehyphenhyphen1tnNHwTH2GC_yWMaX6-73vhFIZiM9rGXMLw1S-pNW5UMJPadWKvyCHAo-qnXFJl396v/s200/HSNWI+HC+final.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657879965781358194" border="0" /></a><br />In case you haven't heard, I'll be giving away <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">FIVE signed copies</span> </span>of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">HE'S SO NOT WORTH IT</span> tonight on Twitter to celebrate the fact that I finished revising <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">THIS IS SO NOT HAPPENING</span> today!<br /><br />All you need to do is tweet your favorite <span style="color: rgb(0, 204, 204); font-weight: bold;">SHE'S SO DEAD TO US</span> character's name to <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">@kieranscott</span> at <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">9:00 PM </span>eastern time! (NO EARLY ENTRIES WILL BE CONSIDERED!!!) <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">The contest closes at 9:30</span> when I will pick <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">FIVE ENTRIES</span> at random! And yes, this contest is open to all readers <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">EVERYWHERE</span> (except the international space station). Winners will be notified via twitter after 9:30 pm eastern time.<br /><br />See you there! And <span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">GOOD LUCK!</span>Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-47581250071045465402011-09-14T09:12:00.000-04:002011-09-14T09:21:36.359-04:00Big News on THIS IS SO NOT HAPPENING!<span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">THIS IS SO NOT HAPPENING</span></span><br />coming to a store near you on<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> May 1, 2012!</span><br />Check out the gorgeous cover!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJKsavImxfLfNyXRqNsT0RiWNBhzd1PLjUGpRl232asUHeiHCXFz-0Wa1UgioNd1Up3C-CqDIIaHpKLQNorMQahhiXIz_m0t4fU3IrtHGAXUCcwhgRJpd2Br-3JM9fpgDpDiDf2rnlLUn/s1600/9781416999553.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJKsavImxfLfNyXRqNsT0RiWNBhzd1PLjUGpRl232asUHeiHCXFz-0Wa1UgioNd1Up3C-CqDIIaHpKLQNorMQahhiXIz_m0t4fU3IrtHGAXUCcwhgRJpd2Br-3JM9fpgDpDiDf2rnlLUn/s200/9781416999553.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652202716866799122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As many of you know, I've been on maternity leave since May, which is why this blog has been so very dormant for so very long. But now I am back in action and I'm currently revising the manuscript for <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">THIS IS SO NOT HAPPENING</span>, the final book in the<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"> HE'S SO/SHE'S SO TRILOGY!</span> I know you guys all freaked when you read the cliffhanger of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 204);">HE'S SO NOT WORTH IT</span> (which, I gotta say, gives me a happy), and now I'm whipping up the answers to all your questions! I can't wait for you to read it!<br /><br />I'd post some details for you here, but you know how I feel about spoilers.<br /><br />In other news, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Miss Kate Brian</span> (of whom some of you may have heard), will be appearing <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">THIS SUNDAY</span> at the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">Brooklyn Book Festival</span> as part of a panel discussion called <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">"BRING ON THE DRAMA"</span> at 12 noon. Fellow panelists include Christopher Grant, Rachel Hawkins and Karsten Knight. I'm sure there will be plenty of juicy tidbits and big laughs, so be sure to be there!Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3397220653597566942.post-50201480363023669352011-07-12T11:34:00.001-04:002011-07-12T11:54:57.322-04:00YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED!On Sunday I put out the word that I'd be answering <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#CC0000;">YOUR</span></b> top 20 questions here on my blog on Monday. Of course, in grand procrastinator fashion, I've waited until Tuesday to write this post, so I apologize for the delay. It's been a crazy few days around here, but I think things are starting to normalize. I've got a few minutes before the newborn wakes up and starts screaming for a bottle, so I'm going to answer as many of your q's as I can in that time. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#009900;"><b>Ready, set . . . Go!</b></span><div><br /></div><div>1. When is the last book of the He's So/She's So Trilogy being released?</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgQtZBs-hp-Kuuh4nJ59iCIov9fufBDQ7jR9Cngh07ni35R43_wCH6EamIDY8x8gDIwJxCyKry3xiWCCfckBSCPdadNjqvve_NAeyPAg8RIdf3shUqYt0F76Y41z3S0kKXwANb-wdQzK0/s1600/SSDTU+PB+final.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgQtZBs-hp-Kuuh4nJ59iCIov9fufBDQ7jR9Cngh07ni35R43_wCH6EamIDY8x8gDIwJxCyKry3xiWCCfckBSCPdadNjqvve_NAeyPAg8RIdf3shUqYt0F76Y41z3S0kKXwANb-wdQzK0/s200/SSDTU+PB+final.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628494478758782050" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKXMWZbFIgBD1DZkhXRi5ZcGiI6DixlXzp6oSnEWLGxz3MZXGnR0t9J52t11uvmFZXrxQhPpuE8MWw3dOOavd2gp_ChmMnIADC3IGuOSyCUHbg3dkE2K9U4bAgQpMUYO0RyJ8QKTlOkuC/s1600/HSNWI+HC+final.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtKXMWZbFIgBD1DZkhXRi5ZcGiI6DixlXzp6oSnEWLGxz3MZXGnR0t9J52t11uvmFZXrxQhPpuE8MWw3dOOavd2gp_ChmMnIADC3IGuOSyCUHbg3dkE2K9U4bAgQpMUYO0RyJ8QKTlOkuC/s200/HSNWI+HC+final.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628493713431858562" /></a><br /></div><div>The OFFICIAL publication date for <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#6600CC;">THIS IS SO NOT HAPPENING</span></b> is May 1, 2012. So to those of you who heard May/June, it's actually earlier than you thought!</div><div><br /></div><div>2. Where did you get your inspiration to write the PRIVATE and PRIVILEGE series?</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQEyQ8wbdNyrzLIjRhQTbgP52O-F2zZCztsYSm46t74E3av_GIQVJX-tGvZ1WOrV8gusOdQuI-XEbZbAY0-9Rt2GlegTa9HZstdVsmPUV7Rp1yHsSWO68gImv3Ow2LgBYb4OjryBQJKBN/s1600/PRIVATE+-+original.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQEyQ8wbdNyrzLIjRhQTbgP52O-F2zZCztsYSm46t74E3av_GIQVJX-tGvZ1WOrV8gusOdQuI-XEbZbAY0-9Rt2GlegTa9HZstdVsmPUV7Rp1yHsSWO68gImv3Ow2LgBYb4OjryBQJKBN/s200/PRIVATE+-+original.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628493823979029586" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURXAk20dn7L7aHSeSvIxKtKaTgzIf7rnDO6CeRN2As1w9J0fSIaA6EZvcAHh3c7ksgEA2IDnpOLxTb_UmQyHZk5TAFXH1dWsLfkTkAGzjdBp-JH8iQuubcaioZrZGSsbKR5VwY9614XHf/s1600/PRIVILEGE.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURXAk20dn7L7aHSeSvIxKtKaTgzIf7rnDO6CeRN2As1w9J0fSIaA6EZvcAHh3c7ksgEA2IDnpOLxTb_UmQyHZk5TAFXH1dWsLfkTkAGzjdBp-JH8iQuubcaioZrZGSsbKR5VwY9614XHf/s200/PRIVILEGE.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628493826930290050" /></a><br /></div><div>PRIVATE (which I write for Alloy Entertainment under the pen name Kate Brian) came about after I'd written a few hardcover books under the Kate Brian name. The publisher wanted to do a series and floated the idea of doing something at a private school. It was back when Gossip Girl was first gaining popularity as a book series, and I wanted to do something a little different, so we talked about it and came up with the idea of doing a murder mystery. From there it was all about the characters. Reed is a lot like me, in that she comes from a middle class, dysfunctional family and ends up surrounded by wealthier seemingly more together people. Then I came up with two guys I would have killed to date as a teen (Thomas and Josh) and made them as real as possible, and a group of girls who would have both intrigued and annoyed me as a teen (The Billings Girls) and created them, too. I can't really take credit for the PRIVILEGE idea. An editor called me and said "What about doing a spin-off with Ariana?" and I thought he was crazy. Who'd want to read about that psycho? But she ended up being the most entertaining character to write, and that series was SO MUCH FUN to work on!</div><div><br /></div><div>3. Do you have any method for plotting?</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYO3dar5oTbefJSSvvbusUpg09VSoImNCv90tU0tJuVLJ8cUlGeRaBmVp4lsrvioeo_PQIHgGMHal6YKPaqb4vhMhJVDnlhNeoy9mU3lR8HYo9nubST2dExTMmyYiQELkvBIimIFWZpti/s1600/pen+and+paper.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 158px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSYO3dar5oTbefJSSvvbusUpg09VSoImNCv90tU0tJuVLJ8cUlGeRaBmVp4lsrvioeo_PQIHgGMHal6YKPaqb4vhMhJVDnlhNeoy9mU3lR8HYo9nubST2dExTMmyYiQELkvBIimIFWZpti/s200/pen+and+paper.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628494033275258946" /></a><br /></div><div>I always, ALWAYS outline. It's the only way writing works for me. I don't always stick to the outline, because I sometimes see flaws halfway through, or come up with better ideas during the writing, but the beginning, middle and end almost always stay the same. There's usually a catalytic moment near the beginning--something that shakes the main character's world. Then he or she works the rest of the book to resolve that moment or come to terms with it. It's all about escalating the tension (throwing obstacles, misdirects, pitfalls in their way) until the climax, where the character makes a decision that will put them on a whole new course. Then the resolution. It's a tried and true story-telling formula and I fully believe in it. It's always worked well for me! </div><div><br /></div><div>OK, that's all I've got for today. More answers tomorrow, including my favorite series to write, some mulling over the Megan Meade subject and more!</div>Kieranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08946136303140835267noreply@blogger.com7