readergirlz is a literacy and social media project for teens, awarded the National Book Foundation's Innovations in Reading Prize. The rgz blog serves as a depot for news and YA reviews from industry professionals and teens. As volunteers return full force to their own YA writing, the organization continues to hold one initiative a year to impact teen literacy. All are welcome to "like" us on Facebook!
Showing posts with label Tell Me a Secret. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tell Me a Secret. Show all posts
Hello, dear readergirlz, and Happy Anniversary! It's pretty exciting to see the fruition of all of the ideas and hard work of the co-founders--Justina Chen, Dia Calhoun, Janet Lee Carey, and Lorie Ann Grover--and all of the helpers along the way! I'm honored to have been a part of it.
There have been big changes for me personally, too--family up by one, a crazy move to the country, wild forages for ideas and edibles, lots of DIY projects, and...three? four?...novels brewing.
I'm inspired by all of you, readergirlz! Keep up the wonderful work.
Little Willow: Hi everyone! Welcome to the roundtable book discussion of TELL ME A SECRET by Holly Cupala, this month's spotlighted title at readergirlz. We have with us today many fantastic book bloggers as well as readergirlz divas and members of the postergirlz lit advisory council. I’d like to thank everyone who is joining us today as a participant – and remind everyone who is reading this roundtable that you’re welcome to join us in September for our discussion of Maureen Johnson’s novel Suite Scarlett and the sequel, Scarlett Fever. If you’re interested, please leave a comment below.
Let's jump right into the discussion for TELL ME A SECRET now, without any further ado!
Little Willow: Miranda looked up to her big sister with wide eyes. While it wasn’t hero worship - Miranda definitely knew some of the things Xanda did were “wrong” or risky - it was clearly the common idolatry a younger sibling may have for an older sibling. Who here had similar experiences? Do you still look up to your older siblings now, or has your relationship changed? For the adults in the room: How has the sibling dynamic changed in adulthood?
Holly Schindler: I recently read an article that claimed your sibling is actually your life partner. (Your parents are there for the beginning and not the end; your spouse is there for the end and not the beginning.) Your sibling (especially a sibling close in age) is the person who hashes it all out with you: childhood, teen years, adulthood.
Little Willow: Oh, wow. I’d never thought of it that way, but it makes sense.
Holly Schindler: My own brother is just about 16 months younger than I am...and we’ve DEFINITELY grown closer as the years have gone by. Sibling rivalry has become more of a sincere friendship--two people rooting for each other...of course, I can still put him in a headlock every now and then, just to keep him in line...
Featured Author Holly Cupala hand-picked songs for the playlist that accompanies Tell Me a Secret this month (and how cool is that peek at the mix, left?). Listen to the full soundtrack with the player in the right-hand sidebar or in the August issue!
Did you loveTell Me a Secret? Are you looking for more stories of sisters and self-respect? Check out these additional postergirlz recommends. They are perfect companion reads!
Fiction Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles For Keeps by Natasha Friend The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson Borrowed Light by Anna Fienberg The Year My Sister Got Lucky by Aimee Friedman The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard
Non-Fiction S.E.X: The All-You-Need-To-Know Progressive Sexuality Guide to Get
You Through High School and College by Heather Corinna
Tonight we'll be chatting with featured author Holly Cupala all about TELL ME A SECRET...sisters, secrets, superhot sci-fi guy and more! It's all happening at the #rgz twitter party at 6pm PST/9pm EST - see you there!
Plus Holly just made a big announcement: beginning today, she is offering the TELL ME A SECRET audiobook as a free serialized podcast. Check out the first two chapters at http://tellmeasecretnovel.com/!
The entire novel is read by award-winning actress Jenna Lamia (The Adoration of Jenna Fox, The Chosen One, The Secret Life of Bees), and they will be releasing 2-3 chapters per week to roughly follow the timeline of the novel. The chapters will be available for a limited time, plus there will be a special edition full version. Check it out here!
We hope you enjoy the free podcast, and see you tonight to chat about all of the secrets!
Holly says, "Eventually, Miranda makes friends with a group online. Have you made online friends, and do you think those friendships are as strong as the people you know in person?"
Holly says, "Miranda's parents have locked themselves behind symbolic doors and left Miranda to figure things out on her own. Do you have someone you can turn to in times of trouble?"
The author of Vintage Veronica is here telling secrets (her character's and her own) in honor of our featured author Holly Cupala!
Here's Erica:
"A secret, huh?
"Well, let me tell you a story about my new YA novel, Vintage Veronica.It’s sort of about a secret of mine, and sort of about a secret of Veronica’s.When I first started taking notes and jotting down ideas for the book, it was 2002.Yes, that’s right – eight years before the book was published.At the time, I hadn’t published any books, although I had sold a manuscript for my first picture book, Chicken Bedtime Is Really Early.I was very excited about becoming a children’s book author.But my not-so-secret wish was to write novels, too.I really wanted to set my first YA at my favorite vintage clothing story – or rather, at a fictional store that looked a lot like it.So I worked and worked on the book. I took photos.I made sketches.I wrote chapter after chapter of the manuscript.I even set myself a deadline and met it – woo hoo!Yet the book still didn’t feel complete.Veronica’s voice was always strong, right in my ear.But I felt like she still wanted something.I just wasn’t sure what it was.
"I met with a couple of editors who were interested in the manuscript (none of these people ended up being my editor).They shared my feeling that the book needed… something.But their ideas on what it should be differed.One suggested the book should be a mystery.But I’m not really a mystery reader, much less a mystery writer, so I knew that was out.Another said there should be elements of the supernatural.But it felt forced to inject that into this story.Yet another said:romance.But there was already some romance involving side characters.Did there need to be more?Really?
"I got my answer the way I figure out a lot of things about my books: on a run.I was jogging down a street in my neighborhood when I saw a boyfriend and girlfriend on the corner, locked in a deep, epic kiss, ignoring the foot traffic around them.And in that instant, I realized:of course.Veronica.Here I was, writing a world for her to live in and not realizing that she was keeping something from me.Because by listening intently to her voice and what she was saying, I somehow ignored what she was keeping secret:what she was thinking and feeling about Len, who she calls The Nail.Which is how I realized I had to do some surgery on the book and devote some time to letting the two of them be alone together.And seeing what developed between them, and where it took them… good, bad or otherwise.
"So that’s Veronica’s secret (not to be confused with Victoria’s Secret).What’s mine?Hmmmm…. Probably that when I go clothes shopping, I always eavesdrop in the dressing rooms.I get some of my best dialog that way.I’m working on a new book right now.So if you run into me at your favorite store, be advised!"
What secrets have you got? Share them below by August 31st and you're entered to win!*
Watch the book's awesome trailer here:
*Random House is generously giving away three (!) copies of Vintage Veronica.To be eligible for this drawing, submit a comment to this post with your name and email.Mailing address must be in the continental United States to be eligible.
Favorite drink while you write: Tea. Earl Grey. Hot. Or lemonade. Inspiration: Dreams, friends, books, lifeDream book tour: Book tour world cruise, of courseWriter buddies: The readergirlz, and many more!Cure for writer's block: Candy, tea, procrastination, and a timerFavorite outfit: My grey lacy dress - it's cute and comfy and goes with everythingLaptop or longhand? Notes in long-hand, novel in laptop
Décor: Miranda's labyrinth art, mysterious photos, safety-pin fashion
Movies: Juno, Speak, anything sci-fi for Kamran
