Friday Five.

Why do I only think to do these on late-Friday afternoon or Saturday morning?

1.  Tomorrow, it will be exactly FOUR MONTHS until October 5, 2010.  And you know what that means . . .  :-)

2.  Oh, and speaking of FREEFALL!  It is currently oot and aboot in some places of the world.  And, by that, I mean that it's getting advance reads by some Tenners, Traveling ARC Tours (starting tomorrow, I believe), and trade reviewers.  If it were possible to simultaneously scream, "Yaaaaaaay! and "Eeeeeeek!", I would do so. 

3.  I'm going to a vegan potluck birthday party this weekend.  I am not vegan; just a vegetarian (who doesn't eat any animals, including fish).  I wasn't sure what to bring, but luckily there was a cooking demonstration here at my office today by Kate Schenk!  She has is certified nutritionist who runs a blog called NudeFood.  Most of her recipes are not vegan (or vegetarian), but the spring rolls and Soba noodle salad she made for us were both easily adaptable to be, I believe.  And YUMMY.  So I might make one of those recipes.  Thanks, Kate!

4.  Two weeks ago, NBC aired the most horrifically spoilery "Next week on FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS" that I've ever seen.  They gave away the Big Shocker for last week's episiode.  I still was affected when it all unfolded, but I can't even imagine the impact it would have had if those dillholes hadn't given it all away!

5.  Maybe I should switch to doing "Friday Four."  I can never think of a fifth item!

Book launch ponderings.

My publicist is working on setting up a book signing event in NYC the weekend after FREEFALL is released in October.  I don't know what's going to happen with that, but I'm moving forward as if she's already worked her magic.  What we're hoping for is an event on 10/10/10 with a group of other Tenners all signing with me.  Fun!

Meanwhile, I'm trying to make decisions about a book launch event to take place in the Seattle area the following weekend on 10/17/10, perhaps.  This would be my official launch party.  I'm trying to figure out what type of venue would best meet my needs.  Basically, I don't know how many people to expect.  Maybe 50.  Maybe over 100.  Maybe somewhere in between.

I've visited several indie bookstores in the area and determined which won't work and which might work.  The two I'm leaning toward at this point are Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park and University Bookstore in Seattle.  I also have a meeting set up at a bistro very near my house who has offered to hold the event and will be putting together a quote for me next week.

I'm conflicted about what I should do.  My husband is really in favor of the bistro because it will be a nice gathering place where people can hang out, have some appetizers and drinks, and I can mingle, sign books, and have fun.  He pointed out that there won't be anyone trying to browse the poetry books to my right, or making an espresso, or answering the phones and stuff while I'm doing my reading .  It will just be all about my book and me and the people who came to celebrate with me.  This all sounds very good!  But ,of course, there's that whole money thing to consider.  Plus, I'd have to figure out a way to get a bookseller out to sell the books for me.  Is this as big a hassle as it sounds like?

The bookstore idea holds appeal for me because the venue would be free and . . . a bookstore!  It feels more, I don't know, official or something to have it at a place like that.  Like, "Hey, look friends and family!  You can buy books in a bookstore.  You can buy MY book in THIS bookstore."

Maybe people would be disappointed to come to a book signing that isn't at a bookstore.  Maybe it wouldn't be glamorous enough.  Or maybe they'd be disappointed to come to a book signing that is at a bookstore because they'd have to wait in line to talk to me for a few seconds and then bust out of there.

I've heard of some people having their launch at two locations on the same day.  The signing is at a bookstore and then the celebration at a restaurant afterward.  I just wonder how well that would work for me.  It sounds like double the work.  And would enough people come to the second portion to even justify it?  And also, we're talking about paying money again if I go that route.

I just don't know what will be best.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: Kristina McBride

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Kristina McBride is the author of THE TENSION OF OPPOSITES, a YA novel released by Egmont USA on May 25, 2010. 

It’s been two years since Noelle disappeared. Two years since her bike was discovered, sprawled on a sidewalk. Two years of silence, of worry, of fear.

For those two long years, her best friend Tessa has waited, living her own life in a state of suspended animation. Because how can she allow herself to enjoy a normal high school life if Noelle can’t? How dare she have other friends, go to dances, date boys, without knowing what happened to the girl she thought she would share everything with?

And then one day, someone calls Noelle’s house. She’s alive.

A haunting psychological thriller taken straight from the headlines, The Tension of Opposites is a striking debut that explores the emotional aftermath of a kidnapping on the victim, and on the people she left behind.

THE MAGIC 8

1.      At age eight, what did you want to be when you grew up?  And at age eighteen?  And while you’re at it, what about at age twenty-eight?

8: A librarian, hair stylist, teacher, or author.
18: Author
28: I was already a high school English teacher and yearbook advisor, but still had dreams of being a published author.

2.      Which Breakfast-Club-style label would have best fit your teenage self?

I was a social butterfly. I had a group of very close girlfriends who I spent most of my time with. My nickname in high school was “The Clipboard” because I always formed our plans and tried to keep everyone on task. When I interviewed for my teaching position, my nickname helped me land my job. They were looking for an extremely organized person to take over the production of the high school yearbook. With my obsessive-compulsive tendencies, I fit the bill perfectly!

 
3.      What are some of your superstitions and/or phobias?

For most of my life, I have feared being kidnapped. Fancy that I ended up landing my dream agent and selling my first novel this theme, huh?

4.      Without giving away too much from your book, which character or scene are you the most pleased about having created, and why?

This is so difficult! There are several scenes where Tessa, my main character, is out in the woods taking pictures. I love being outdoors, hiking through nearby Sugarcreek Nature Reserve, so I wrote several scenes in this location. I also love the scenes in the neighborhood park where Noelle (who returns insisting she be called Elle) was kidnapped.
 

5.      Was there any certain music that inspired you while you were writing this book, or is there a song that could serve as your protagonist’s theme song?

Don’t Follow by Alice and Chains is a beautiful song that portrays the character of Elle, who returns after a two-year abduction.

6.      What’s up next for you as a writer?

I’m currently working on my second novel in my two-book deal with Egmont USA. That’s about all I can say for now.

7.      And, now, the most important question of all:  Beatles or Elvis?  Please support your answer.  ;-)

Definitely Beatles! I have many memories of singing and dancing to their songs with some of my best friends in high school. There’s nothing better than being goofy with your friends on a lazy summer evening!

8.      Okay, your turn.  Do you have a question you’d like me to ask my Magic 8-Ball on your behalf?  (I’m telling you, this thing is scarily accurate!  Well, except for when it’s lying.)

Will I ever enjoy a Dave Matthews Band concert from the first ten rows?  (Please, oh, please say yes!)

    

Thanks so much, Kristina!

To learn more about Kristina McBride and THE TENSION OF OPPOSITES, visit her online at www.kristinamcbride.com/

Seattle Art Museum visit.

Yesterday, Dwayne's parents took us to the Downtown Seattle Art Museum.  We've all been there before, but we want to see the special exhibits this time: Andy Warhold Media Works:  love fear pleasure lust pain glamour death and Kurt.

The Kurt (Cobain) exhibit was kind of . . . strange to me.  It was noisy with about six Nirvana songs all playing at once and the items included mostly fan art of Kurt.  I think reading HEAVIER THAN HEAVEN a few years ago demystified Kurt Cobain for me, as well as having had experiences with similarly self-destructive people, so it wasn't quite my thing.  Not like it would have been back when I was sixteen.

But that's okay!  Because I was really there to see the Andy Warhol exhibit.  As you might know I'm, like, into his stuff and am admitting to it these days.  As promised by the museum, we got to see photos and videos taken by Andy Warhol, including Screen Tests of various actors who worked with him like Dennis Hopper.  (Who knew?  Not me!)  We weren't allowed to take photos in this visiting exhibit, which was sad because HOW ELSE AM I GOING TO SHOW THE INTERNET WHAT I LIKE?

Regardless, here are some pictures of me with two Andy Warhols from SAM's permanent collection:

And here's Dwayne and me hanging out with a totem pole and Dwayne with his parents:

 

Email drafts.

I was just cleaning out my email drafts folder in one of my accounts and found this one that I composed, but never sent to my agent:

Dearest Jim,

Please save me.

Love,
Mindi

It was dated 4/29/10, which was less than a month ago.  I don't even remember what I needed saving from.  Something writing related, of course.