Book Recommendations

I went to see Da Vinci Code the other night. I was probably the only person in the entire audience (it was filled to capacity) who had NOT read the book. Why? Because when I heard they were making a movie, I didn't want to go to the movie and be disappointed. Books are always better than the movie. Always. So now I can happily read the Da Vinci Code and learn more about the relationship between Sirius and the Cardinal and Lee and John.

But that isn't the point of this post. After the movie we stopped by Barnes and Noble to see how my book was doing. It was no longer on the Summer Reading table and now tucked neatly into the bookshelf. I covertly moved two copies to the 'wall' in a prominent place. I like to hang around and see what teens are picking up and reading. At one point, I heard a mom remark to her 18 year oldish daughter that she was surprised she didn't pick up at least 5 books by now. The daughter answered, "I'll pick up my Romance books at the library."

Aha.

I looked up and smiled that coy, "oh, I read Romances too aren't we cool" kind of smile that and they paused at the table next to me to peruse the teen books.
"Do you like funny vampire books?" I asked them. They stared at me blankly. I tried again, "Do you read MaryJanice Davidson?" this time I looked directly at the young girl.

"I like Katie McAllister," she offered.

So I go into helpful reader mode, "OMG, if you like Katie you will love this book" and I grab my book off the shelf. "Funniest vampire book ever. I couldn't stop laughing." The daughter eagerly takes it from my hand and skims over the back.
"Thanks" she said and I say "No problem" and walk away.

Of course, the girl eventually ends up not buying my book because she cons her mother into buying her a pair of jeans instead of any books but I was not deterred. I know she will check it out at the library.

I continue to stroll the romance and teen section. Another mother and her daughter who is in her preteens (I guess) have loaded up with books and are reviewing each one at the table and the mother is looking them over. She is a book mom. Love the book moms. Those moms who think it is noble to buy books for her kids and would rather spoil them that way than buy a console game or dvd.

So mom is pretty happy with the books her daughter has picked out and I again ask the question, "Do you like funny vampire books?" I noticed the daughter has picked out a fair amount of fantasy. I grab my book off the wall display and say, "Funniest book ever. I read it and so did my eleven year old daughter. We couldn't stop laughing. Its about a popular cheerleader who gets turned into a vampire and has to face a vampire council for the crime of being Undead without a license. Truly one of the best books I've read in a long time and totally appropriate for preteens. Sweet but very funny."

They love the recommendation, thank me profusely and buy the book. My husband can't believe I would be so bold as to sell my book as a book recommendation.

"Did I lie?" I asked him. "It is the funniest book I've read in a while. My daughter did love it."

"You don't think they'll figure out you're the author?"

"Please, I bet they couldn't describe me if they had to. Do you remember total strangers who recommend things to you in a store? Or even the sales people?"

So, to the daughter and her mother who bought my book. Thank you. I know you will enjoy it. And if you recognize me from the back of the book, please forgive me for not introducing myself. But I was right about the book, wasn't I?

-Serena

Horny Woodpeckers

I was awoken at 6 am this morning from a fine sleep by the peck-peck-peck of a woodpecker tapping on the steel of my bedroom fireplace exhaust pipe. Apparently, in the Spring, the woodpecker finds any material that can make the loudest sound when he pecks it to attract a mate. Usually they pick metal fence signs and such, but this one was so amorous, it decided a steel pipe on top of my roof was the way to get a little sumpin', sumpin'.

Being the fine purveyer of wildlife rituals, I promptly rolled over and flipped the fireplace switch that turned on the gas, starting a blazing fire. My horny feathered friend promptly found another house pipe to court on. Of course by then I was up. Damn bird.

Title change

Hope none of you were too attached to the title of my third book in the teen vampire series, miSTAKEn because the powers that be have changed it to Dating4Demons. So, all hail the new title (which is way better than the other title contestant so I am happy) Dating4Demons. AND it is much easier to refer to the book at D4D than typing out miSTAKEn (which has the caps in specific places to spell out STAKE and I thought I was so clever with that one, sigh).

Also, don't get too attached to the cover of Fangs4Freaks because they are doing some revisions to it as well. Change is in the air! Can't you feel it? lol

I am busy this week working on Fendi, Ferragamo and Fangs with my two writing partners-in-crime Julie Kenner and Johanna Edwards. I love the emails we end up sending each other when we work on our story continuity. We are all in deadline hell and totally surviving off no sleep and large amounts of chocolate and caffeine and every joke we make to each other seems so funny.

You know what I am talking about, right? When you are exhausted to the point of giddy and only those brain cell that are never allowed to function on their own have full control of your person and you say the weirdest/oddest/dumbest/non PC things and you think you are freakin' hysterical? Yeah, that's what I'm talking about.

Well, back to the grindstone. Sent back copyedits for F4F and as soon as FFF is done, I am back to work on D4D. See, I can only talk in acronyms when I am on deadline. Isn't that so funny? ugh.

New Cover for Fangs4Freaks

So here is my new cover for my next book Fangs4Freaks. The little decal on the jeans is particularly cute because if you look closely enough, you will notice she has fangs. I'd hoped they would mention the Undead sorority Psi Phi House and its tagline: We're not like the other girls, but this works as well. Thoughts?

Cause you gotta have fr-iends

Last night my wonderful hubby surprised me with a book launch get together at the local Krispy Creme (which makes sense if you read my book 'cause a few scenes are set there) and I was thrilled to posters of my book held by friends in support of my launch.

How lucky am I? I have the best guy and friends in the whole gosh darn world. Yeah, I am feeling the love today. Also, I am getting GREAT reviews for Braced2Bite. Now if only I could get the painters to finish up, since they have been here all week. sigh.

Book Launch Day and I can't find it anywhere

I have worked so hard to get my baby into the hands of teens and adults alike all over and today is the day. Except..Noone has it. I called all the Barnes and Noble's in my area and everyone tells me it hasn't arrived in the store yet. I called the Borders and they have not record of it (though I know Borders ordered it). Waldens expects it in sometime and B Dalton, those darlings, actually have it in the store and are putting it on the shelf today.

So here is my challenge to you. Try to find my book in your local bookstore. Just look for it and let me know if you can find it. My book has become the Where's Waldo of the publishing world. And when you ask for it, remember the title is all one word with the number 2 in the middle-braced2bite. That title, which was so cute when I thought of it, is gonna kill me cause booksellers can't find it in their computer without the exact right spelling.

So, off you go. Tell your friends. Whoever actually spots it first will win a prize. I eagerly await 'Word on the Street'.

-Serena

1 Day to go!

Hard to believe that I have one day to go until Braced2Bite is officially released. Still not sure you should pick it up? Read an excerpt here. That should convince you how cute and funny it is. My precious baby.

I actually had my first book signing on Saturday at the Rose City Reader's Luncheon, where I spelled the person's name wrong. Oh yes. But I totally blame Elizabeth Boyle, who sat next to me. Heckling me. Making me a nervous wreck that I added an extra R to poor Teri Brown's copy. Good thing Teri is a good sport. But that evil Elizabeth Boyle, I tell you. She will get her comeuppance, oh yes. Karma will get her. hehe.

I signed a whopping 4 books. I didn't expect to be signing since last I heard Borders couldn't get my book in on time and yet, that amazing store managed to have copies of my book. How sweet. Had I bothered to remember a pen, I think it would have been even sweeter. And had I managed to eat the chocolate treats in my bag without unknowingly dropping chunks on my light pinks pants so it melted right on my crotch, it would have been even better. Yes, I did that. After I noticed, I attempted to clean the melted chocolate off of linen with a napkin and ice water. Oh yes, you can stop laughing now. I am one classy act, I tell you. I believe two of the book purchases were done out of pity. sniff, sniff. I will post a picture as soon as my dear friend Shannon McKelden sends it to me because I forgot a camera as well. Yes, I am a huge L-O-S-E-R! sigh.

I have been doing the early book scouting thing and absolutely no one in my neighborhood as my book yet. Kind of makes me nervous because they all have it on order (yeah) but its not in the stores yet (boo) and its supposed to be on shelves tomorrow (yeah) but its not in their stores yet (boo). See my dilemma here?

Anyway, the lovely people over at bookloon are giving away free copies so scuttle on over there to win one.
-Serena