According to the random number generator, Tina G. is the winner! Yay! I will need you to email me your address (diathewriter at yahoo), and then I will mail you the ARC of Slice of Cherry.

And to everyone else, thanks for playing along. It has been very entertaining, indeed. Really dug the stories/neuroses (looking at you Georgia; and possibly Mallory–a rabid squirrel? xD). A few things though:

Ari – The Book of Lost Things sounds cool. I’ll have to look that one up.

Jena – What is this mysterious sexy comment of which you speak? The only time I require sex in a book is if I’m reading a romance. A romance novel without sex is like cornflakes without milk. Blerg.

Ronni – Hot mess is right, but the finished copy will be cold and tidy. And don’t I know you from somewhere? The blueboards maybe?

Doret – Apparently knives are the killing tool du jour. But in the rock, paper, scissors of life, I think bus beats knife. Hands down. ;p

Kay – Creeptastic, as usual. I’ve never felt a need to hurt a truffle bar, but I often torture candy bars by sinking my teeth into them. Repeatedly. I feel no remorse for this. I can only be me.

Sara – You definitely had the best comment. Love the image of the 60-year-old aunt sniffing crack off the bodies of hot guys. xD

And music! Forgot to do this yesterday, so here’s one from Faith No More. People mostly remember their one hit wonder “Epic”, but they had a couple of other songs that I like. Like this one. The video probably won’t make sense unless you’ve seen the movie Vertigo, so all you young’uns avert your eyes.

Tags: Music, Slice of Cherry
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Still haven’t got a cover yet and I’m still working on correcting some of the goofs–hoping to get everything ironed out for the final copy. However, if you want a sneak peak at a big, juicy slice o’weirdness, leave a comment. But you know the rules–it has to be interesting/entertaining or I will throw you under the bus. And don’t think I won’t–I’m magic. I’ll pick a winner at random a week from today. Oh, and since I missed Music Monday, there’s a tune down below. Three words: Disturbing. As. Crap. Enjoy!

Tags: giveaway, Music, Slice of Cherry
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I haven’t done one in forever, so let’s see…

Lately, I’ve been listening to Dakota Fanning’s version of “Cherry Bomb” which I actually like better than the original. Yes, that’s probably blasphemous to all The Runaways fans, but screw it. Anyway, listening to “Cherry Bomb” made me remember my fave Joan Jett song, which is “Bad Reputation”. I swear to God, she wrote that song especially for me. So if ever anyone should try to get holier-than-thou with me about how my stuff is inappropriate for teens, I will simply send them a link to “Bad Reputation”. And also, possibly, advise them to suck it.

Tags: Music
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My editor just sent me the copy for SoC:

Happiness is a bloody knife.

Kit and Fancy Cordelle are sisters of the best kind: best friends, best confidantes, and best accomplices. The daughters of the infamous Bonesaw Killer, Kit and Fancy are used to feeling like outsiders, and that’s just the way they like it. But in Portero, where the weird and wild run rampant, the Cordelle sisters are hardly the oddest or most dangerous creatures around.

It’s no surprise when Kit and Fancy start to give in to their deepest desire—the desire to kill. What starts as a fascination with slicing open and stitching up quickly spirals into a gratifying murder spree. Of course, the sisters aren’t killing just anyone, only the people who truly deserve it. But the girls have learned from the mistakes of their father, and know that a shred of evidence could get them caught. So when Fancy stumbles upon a mysterious and invisible doorway to another world, she opens a door to endless possibilities….

I think she did a great job. I like the way it focuses on the sisters and the murder and mayhem and not the romance, which is normally what YA paranormal blurbs highlight. Now if only I had a cover to go along with the cool jacket copy, I’d be the happiest girl in the world. Hint, hint.

Tags: Slice of Cherry
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Jeremy West!

According to the random chooser thingy, you are the randomest thingy of all. I will mention you in my acknowledgments, and if you email your address to diathewriter at yahoo, I’ll mail you your keychain. Yay!!!

So, I’ve gone through the posts and my favorite one is Kay’s–hands down. Unfortunately Kay’s post is double-disqualified because it came too late (contest ended yesterday, kid) and because I had already decided to put her in the ackowledgments, cuz she is just cool like that.

Allison is also disqualified (of course you’re going in the acks, silly girl).

Blythe and Denise are ALSO disqualified (you guys are writers–you’re already immortal, ya goofs; oh, and great blog post, Blythe).

So based on the remaining comments, the runner-up and winner of a memento mori keychain is…Shanise J! I like how she’s willing to admit to trying to communicate with the dead–you know me and my love of crazy. Plus, I dig her use of the word “bragadocious”. Nice. So Shanise, email me your address (diathewriter at yahoo) and I’ll send you your keychain!

I found it interesting that most people wrote about death instead of life. I’m wondering if that’s because I attract dark-minded people (like me), or if most people naturally  think more about dying than living. It would make sense to wonder more about the unknown than the known, right? It would make sense, but I don’t know. I think most people are like Ari and don’t want to think about death. Makes it kinda hard for people like Lucile, but there it is. It’s how the human race survives–we do whatever it takes to avoid death even to the point of not talking or thinking about it.

Btw, Lillie, your post reminded me of that Dorothy Parker poem:

Razors pain you;
Rivers are damp;
Acids stain you;
And drugs cause cramp.
Guns aren't lawful;
Nooses give;
Gas smells awful;
You might as well live.

And that’s another reason the human race survives–our ability to think up reasons to put things off until waaaay later. :p Anyway, thanks for playing, y’all!

Tags: giveaway, Slice of Cherry
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My books take place in Portero, TX, and in Portero, everyone carries these silver keys. Well I bought some silver keys to give away to readers, but they’re sitting here collecting dust. Mostly because I hadn’t found the right sort of creepy keychain for them. Until now.

I found some memento mori keychains that have a little vial inside that you’re supposed to fill with the ashes of the departed, and I thought, how morbidly perfect is this! It’s just the sort of thing Porterenes would carry because they often lose the people they love.

It’s such an old-fashioned thing to do, carrying the physical remains of a loved one on your person. People used to do that during the Victorian era–make a dead person’s hair into a ring and wear it or arrange dead people on couches and then photograph them. Strange little keepsakes. But you know me, I don’t judge.

I will, however, have a contest. Since I have to turn in my dedication and acknowledgments pages for Slice of Cherry pretty soon–like real soon–I figure I’ll give one of you lucky so and so’s the chance to not only win one of these memento mori keychains, but also the chance to see your name in print–at least on the acknowledgments page.

I kind of like putting these elements together. Slice of Cherry is about life and death, memento mori means “remember that you will die”, but getting your name in print is like becoming immortal. As long as the book exists, so do you. Your name, anyway. See, it all makes a weird kinda sense. ;p

So if you want a keychain and your name in my book, and all the glory and fame that comes with it ha ha, just leave a comment about life or death–any comment you want, as long as it isn’t lame. All lame comments will be disqualified. The winner will be chosen at random, but I will pick a personal favorite who will also get a keychain. Clear enough, right? This contest only lasts until a week from today so tempus fugit, children.

Tags: giveaway
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This week, I went to New York for the Book Expo America convention. Book sellers, publishers, authors, bloggers, and other bookish folk all come together to talk shop and make deals and promote and score free ARCs and all kinds of crap. Me, I was just there to have a good time. Here’s a photologue of my NYC adventures.

Sightseeing:

There was a random swim tank on the street near Rockefeller. No idea what TLC was promoting, but if that network launches a reality show about New Yorkers swimming in tanks, just remember you heard it here first.

The building with the lions in front of it is the New York Public Library. Didn’t really get to explore it because Jackie Dolamore and I were hurrying to some other place. Can’t remember where.

That’s Emilia and Jamie, my editor and agent, respectively. We were on our way to lunch, and Jamie is the one who pointed out the swim tank. We went to a place called Mangia’s and I worried the whole time about lettuce getting stuck in my braces. xD

A bunch of debut authors (Class of 2k10) met up at Books of Wonder and talked about their books. They were so fancy. Jackie and I were sitting outside eating ice cream when some of them pulled up in a shiny black town car. Meantime, I’m ducking in and out of subways. Soooo unfair. Anyway, their event was packed, as you can see in the next picture, with folks sitting on the floor like little kids at storytime; it was almost cute. Just for the record, I couldn’t fit all the people who were at the table into the frame, which is why you can’t see Irene Latham who was also there.

And there’s Jackie having an elderflower martini at the Algonquin Hotel. She was intimidated by the swank surroundings, but the folks at the Algonquin were very cool, friendly, and laid back. So if you’re thinking it’s too classy or snooty, it isn’t. But it’s crazy expensive. I ended up paying thirty bucks for two drinks. Also, Jen Nadol and Amy Brecount White was there, but I forgot to get a picture. I also couldn’t think of any knock-knock jokes to tell so as to inject some irony into all the witty, writerly conversation. Maybe next time.

BEA:

I didn’t actually get to BEA until Wednesday. I walked all the way there from my hotel, which was really stupid. Plus it was ridiculously hot that day.

There was mucho Heather Brewer love happening inside the building. Note the smily fangs on the stairs. Plus they were giving away smiley fangs tote bags–everybody and their dog had one. Except me, until Josh Berk gave me his which had a purple smiley fangs. Apparently, everyone has decided that purple is my signature color. I’m tired of fighting it. I’ll probably give that bag away though. Outside of BEA, I don’t really have a need for a tote bag.

They had a bunch of different stages were people were on panels talking about this and that. I went to the one on steampunk, which was very educational. Cherie Priest and two other authors talked about what steampunk was and was not, and since I’ve been invited to submit a story to a steampunk anthology, I was for sure taking notes, and now I know exactly what to write about.

Some group photos. In the first, from left to right is Khy and Sarah Bear (bloggers), Josh Berk (Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin), Steve “The Breeze” Brezenoff (Absolute Value of -1), Bree Despain (Dark Divine), Heidi Kling (Sea), Chelsea Campbell (Rise of Renegade X), and Jackie Dolamore (Magic Under Glass). In the second, Alex Bracken (Brightly Woven), Chelsea, Heidi, Bree, Khy, and Sarah, and then Jackie, me, Josh, and Steve. The photos were taken right before we ventured out into the hot sun for lunch.

Lunch didn’t go too well, though, because Burgers & Cupcakes was packed when we got there, so we had to turn around and walk back to BEA and the food court there. But since the food court was also packed, we had to eat on the floor like schlubs. I didn’t mind though, since I was in such good company.

I took a picture of Bree’s feet (note the Dark Divine nail polish) because we were all in the same sore feet state. New York is such a walkable city that you think you can walk anywhere, no sweat, but boy do you pay for all that exercise. Anyway, while we were sitting there, Jame Richards (Three Rivers Rising) and Denise Jaden (Losing Faith) joined us. They got to eat at Burgers & Cupcakes, but we were nice to them anyway. xD

The autograph area was super packed. You had to literally shove people aside to get from one end of it to the other. Steve the Breeze was worried that no one would show up to his book signing, but you’ll notice how in the picture you can barely see him. Steve’s wife Beth was there too, and I thought it was mean that he made her stand in line for his autograph. I’m almost sure she made him sleep on the couch that night.

That second autograph line belongs to Chelsea. Chelsea’s line was so popular she had to have handlers protect her from undesirables. The girl in front of me, frex, tried to give Chelsea her business card, and the handler growled, “This line is for autographs only!” Probably if Chelsea had asked the handler to feed the girl to the lions, he would have, but Chelsea is way too nice to really feed people to the lions. That business card girl doesn’t know how lucky she is.

I don’t know what the deal was with Kris Kringle the Musical. For one thing, it’s frigging May. For another, there was just one guy in the whole show. I think. Everytime I passed there was just that one guy, acting and singing all on his own. He looked like he was having a good time, though, even if no one else was.

More authors:

Simon Pulse and Alladin threw a cocktail party and invited all us authors to come, so we did. I didn’t meet everyone. Elizabeth Scott and James Dashner left before I could say hi, but I managed to get photographed with the other authors there that I knew of. I cropped myself out of the photos though, because we all know what I look like–they’re the interesting ones.

Kekla Magoon (Rock and the River); she won a John Steptoe award and went to the NAACP Image awards and saw a buttload of celebs and I kinda want to be her when I grow up. When I met Kekla I had had a Blue Moon and a mint julip (but no way it was a mint julip since there was no bourbon, nor was it sweet; no idea what that drink was) so I was feeling veeery happy.

Terra Elan McVoy (Pure); she’s one of the those rare religious types who’s also super cool and quirky. And holy smokes, she gives Josh Berk a run for his money in the “awesome hair having” department.

Diana Peterfreund (Rampant); very friendly and bubbly.

Leila Sales (Mostly Good Girls); her name sounds like Lila, btw, not Layla. And the guy with her is Brandon Sullivan. No idea who he is or what he was doing there (neither did anybody else). I’ve decided that Brandon’s occupation involves crashing parties and hanging out with awesome people. Sweet gig, if you can get it.

Peter Lerangis (wtf); I saw Peter and was glad I wasn’t the only person there wearing a hat.

Justine Larbalestier (Liar, and a bunch of other stuff); I should have asked her how to pronounce her name cuz I still don’t know.

Folks who I may or may not have pissed off:

Okay, the players are, in order, Scott Westerfeld (Leviathan, and a bunch of other stuff), Robin Wasserman (Crashed, and a bunch of other stuff), and Sharon (blogger). Robin’s picture was the first I took during the cocktail party, but afterward she ran away screaming. Maybe not with her mouth, but definitely in her mind. Scott and his wife Justine had walked to the bar from BEA and were hot and sweaty when I ambushed them with my camera–Justine hid her annoyance a lot better than Scott did. Btw, it was really cute watching them together. Justine found little snacks for Scott to eat, and when Justine spilled some red stuff all over the floor, Scott mopped up after her. Tres domestique. And last but not least, I took Sharon’s picture while I was waiting in line for somebody’s autograph (can’t remember who). I recognized her from her blog and took a picture. She did not recognize me, however, and thought I was psycho.

Other interesting people:

Kay! Totally bummed that I didn’t get a chance to hang out with her like I’d planned. She seems way less crazy in person, which is both reassuring and disappointing. xD 

The next photo is of…okay, I have no idea. The girl on the left came up to me and said, “Are you Dia Reeves?” and I said yeah, and she told me how much she liked BV, so I took her picture. My response to everything in New York was to take a picture. I was very camera-happy there. I wish I knew who she was though so I could give her a proper shout out.

That’s Khy and her mom. I had hoped to actually talk to Khy, but she seemed kinda shy, so I decided not to bother her. I ran into another blogger like that, Rob I think his name was, and he was so shy, he couldn’t even say hi. I always think I’m shy, but then I meet people who really are and have to spend long moments reevaluating my self image which is very time consuming. Sigh.

That’s Valerie Kemp and Lacey Bolderev, two aspiring authors and all around cool chicks. I met them at the kidlit drinks thing and spent the whole time hanging with them. How could I not? They’re smart, funny, and have dark literary tastes. Definitely my kinda people.

So that’s it. Sorta. A lot more stuff was done, a lot more pictures taken, but I am tired and can no longer be bothered. But I had an awesome time and made some good friends during my week in New York. I’m already thinking about what hat to wear to next year’s event.

Tags: authors, BEA
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So I’ve been listening to “Old Man” by Neil Young a lot lately. Probably because I’ve been watching the documentary Dogtown a lot–not so much for the skateboarding as for the soundtrack. Anyway, I read somewhere that Young claims “Old Man” is about the janitor who worked for him, which I found very disappointing. Because to me, the song is about a (somewhat angry) son trying to get his father to acknowledge him as a person. But my interpretation isn’t based on anything except my crap relationship (relationship might be the wrong word) with my own father.

It’s impossible to have an opinion about something without revealing a part of yourself, isn’t it? And it’s also impossible to put something out in the world and say, okay this is what this is about and nothing more. Because people always internalize everything and come up with their own narrative, despite the creator’s original intent.

So Neil Young and his janitor can both suck it, I guess. I like my interpretation, and I’m sticking with it.

And I totally thought Neil Young wrote this song. Turns out, there’s some dude floating around out there called Neil Diamond. Who knew?

Tags: Music
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I was turned on to this documentary called The Bridge by a coworker. This is the premise: a guy and his crew spend one year filming people jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. And no not bungee-jumping–jumping to their deaths. It’s the eeriest frigging thing I’ve ever seen.

I think the point is to try to understand why people want to commit suicide and why so many people choose the Golden Gate Bridge over several other choices. There’s a romantic quality involved–much more romantic than just blowing your brains out, I guess. So the bridge itself becomes a character in the film, this creepy, hypnotic Pied Piper that lures people to their deaths. Kinda. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. Here’s the trailer:

It’s a really heavy film, tragic and fascinating. You look at the people on the bridge and think you know which ones will jump,  but it’s never who you think it’ll be. There’s one scene with a photographer on the bridge. He starts taking pictures of a woman climbing over the railing and stepping right to the edge of the bridge to jump. And then he realizes he’s not just taking pictures, he’s watching a girl who’s about to kill herself. So he grabs her and saves her, even though she tries to fight him off.

And that’s how I felt while I was watching. My mind kept trying to convince me that none of it was real, but it is real. Boy, is it real. A total mindjob, and I highly recommend it.

Tags: unheard of awesomeness
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Mimeograph ink
When I was in elementary school, everything was printed via the mimeograph machine in the front office. The teacher would send a kid down to make copies of worksheets and such, and the kid would come back and pass the papers to everyone in the class. The sheets were warm, and the ink was purple and smelled kinda sweet and kinda toxic, like glue or gasoline. Not that mimeograph ink smelled anything like glue or gasoline–it had a unique scent all its own. Good times, man.

Records
My aunt and uncle had an extensive collection of oldies’ records, crates and crates full of them. There was something almost soothing about the hiss and pop of analog sound quality that I can’t put my finger on, something sensuous about having to pick lint off the needle so the record wouldn’t skip. You couldn’t just make a playlist and click play; you had to be very hands on and flipping the records over and skipping over the groovelines in order to hear only the songs you wanted to hear.

Slip-N-Slide
That’s how you knew it was summer, when you you pulled out the Slip-N-Slide. Do they even make those anymore? It was this long skinny yellow surface that you wet with water from the garden hose. You set it up in the backyard (or if you’re like me and grew up in an apartment building, your cousins’ backyard) and then you’d make a running start and then flop bellyfirst onto it, slide, and then go flying off the end of it onto the grass. The cool move was to try to stay on your feet and surf down the thing, a trick I never managed to pull off.

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