New Blog at the Contemps

I posted over at the Contemps today, detailing the (unusual?) rules at my high school against displays of affection! Please visit the Contemps site to read it. And, if you'd like, leave me a comment there sharing what the rules were like at your high school. Pretty please? :-)

Blog: Displays of Affection

I posted over at the Contemps today, detailing the (unusual?) rules at my high school against displays of affection!

Please visit the Contemps site to read it.  And, if you'd like, leave me a comment there sharing what the rules were like at your high school. Pretty please? :-)

Blog: The U2 Concert.

My friend took me to the Seattle U2 concert at the beginning of June, and I totally forgot to post about it and show you the horrifically bad pictures I took with my phone! So, Lenny Kravitz opened the show. He is a very nice-looking man, from what I could see on the screen. :-)

I'm only a casual Lenny Kravitz fan, so I wasn't sure if I'd know many of his songs. As it turns out, during his hour, he played seven songs total (I think!) and I knew all but two.

U2 played for over two hours. (I think! And this is why I should have done this post three weeks ago.) It was my third time seeing U2 because it was the third time Matt bought me a ticket! I think U2 concerts are very feel-good events, so it was a pleasant evening.

Here's a really bad picture of the stage while U2 plays as well as the backlights of many, many phones. You'll have to take my word for it that that's what you're seeing:

And finally, here's a picture that U2 took of Matt and me and some other people!

It kind of freaks me out that there exists pictures online of everyone who was in the stadium that night, but whatevs. Oh, and if you're wondering what I'm laughing about, I think this shot was taken after I'd turned toward Matt just in time to get an ASS TO THE FACE from the dude behind me. I said, "Did that really just happen?"

Matt sat, "He practically sat on your head."

I had the giggles for at least an hour afterward.

Contemporary YA Authors Needed

The Contemps group is looking for new members.

Would you or someone you know like to be a member of the 2011/2012 Contemps Group?

You must:

* have a contemporary YA novel with a traditional publisher coming out between 9/2011 and 8/2012.

* be able to commit to blogging at least once a month.

* offer up ideas, skills and/or abilities that could serve a group of authors and help us to connect to readers, teachers and librarians. Please note: this is a working group.

To be considered for membership, please send an e-mail to thecontemps(at)gmail(dot)com and request an application. Applications will be accepted through July 10, 2011. 20 to 25 members will be selected and everyone will be notified as soon as possible after the 15th so work can begin to get the new group up and running by mid-August.

Please help us spread the word to message boards, author groups, etc. And then stay tuned for our new group of authors to be revealed someday soon! Thank you!!

Realistic YA Revolution!

Author Tara Kelly recently blogged about the importance of realistic stories in the young adult market and how many of these titles just don't get the attention that books of other genres receive.There's a great discussion going on at her blog (over 70 comments so far) with lots of recommendations for readers who enjoy realistic YA.

In addtion, Tara is hosting a giveaway of over one dozen books! Check it out here. The drawings will take place on June 30th, so get on over there with your recommendations!