Kody's Blog

Cover Reveal!!! A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE

2012-01-24T23:00:00.008-06:00

So I have been dying to show this to you guys. ARCs came out months ago, but with a non-finished cover, and after I saw this one I was SO excited to share. But I had to wait. Now I can show you all the cover for A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE, my 3rd book out in June!

Are you ready?

HERE IT IS!

Eee! I actually really love this cover. The girl on the front is EXACTLY how I imagine Whitley, my leading lady in this novel. She has the right look, the right attitude, and the right bikini, based on that little pink strap there. (No, really, a pink bikini is actually in the book. HOW COOL IS THAT? Attention to detail FTW!)

*Disclaimer - this cover may be tweaked a little bit before the publication date, but if it is, it won't be much, which is why I can show it to you now!

And in honor of the cover reveal, I'M DOING A CONTEST! I'm giving away one ARC of A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE! In case you haven't heard much about my third book, here's the summary my publisher has written up:

Whitley Johnson's dream summer with her divorce dad has turned into a nightmare. She's just met his new fiancee and her kids. The fiancee's son? Whitley's one-night stand from graduation night. Just freakin' great.

Worse, she totally doesn't fit in with her dad's perfect new country-club family. So Whitley acts out. She parties. Hard. So hard she doesn't even notice the good things right under her nose: a sweet little future stepsister who is just about the only person she's ever liked, a best friend (even though Whitley swears she doesn't "do" friends), and a smoking-hot guy who isn't her stepbrother...at least, not yet. It will take all three of them to help Whitley get through her anger and begin to put the pieces of her family together.

Don't tell my other books, but this one is my favorite. It was the hardest to write and it took the most revision, but I am so proud of it and so excited to share it with you all.

Speaking of sharing, let's get back to that contest, shall we?

I"m giving away one signed ARC of A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE. Here is how to enter and how to get bonus entries.

To enter, all you have to do is follow this blog and leave a comment. That's one entry. But you have a chance to get up to 5 more entries total, here's how.

1. Tweet about this contest (1 bonus entry)

and

2. Follow and comment on one (or more) of the blogs below that are featuring the cover today! (1 to 4 bonus entries)

So four of my close writing friends are helping me with this today by featuring the cover on their blogs. If you follow their blogs and leave a comment when their cover post is up, you'll get a bonus entry. One for each blog you comment on/follow.

The blogs you can check out are Kristin Halbrook's, Kaitlin Ward's, Stephanie Kuehn's, and Amy Lukavic's. All of them are awesome, and you'll want to be following them anyway (at least, in my opinion!).

So in your comment on this post, just fill out the following:

1. Do you follow this blog?

2. Did you tweet?

3. Did you follow another blog? (How many?)

Number of Entries:

Contest ends NEXT Friday (That's Friday, February 3.) US and Canada only for this contest (i will do an international one soon, I promise).

I hope you like the cover guys! And I hope you enjoy the book!

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!! <3

Reading Tomorrow!

2012-01-24T10:17:00.001-06:00

Hey guys! I'm reading tomorrow in NYC. Check out the details below if you're in the area!

I am reading from SHUT OUT tomorrow night (1/25) at Bluestockings Books downtown (172 Allen Street).

Here are the details:

Wednesday, January 25th @ 7PM – Free
Reading: Heuler & Keplinger “The Made-up Man” and “Shut Out”
How far would you go to get what you want? In Karen Heuler’s “The Made-up Man,” one woman takes her fate in her hands and sells her soul to the devil to be a man for the rest of her life. What could possibly go wrong? In Kody Keplinger’s “Shut Out,” high school girls decide to end the obsessive rivalry between two boys’ sports teams by going on hookup strike. These updates on “Faust” and “Lysistrata” confront their own surprising modern twists.

How Much Of You Is In Your Books? - a frequently asked question

2012-01-23T11:57:00.002-06:00

I get a lot of tweets and emails from readers asking questions about my books and my characters. I think one of the most frequently asked is, "How much of you is in your books?" or "How much like Bianca and Lissa are you?" or "Did this really happen to you?" or variations thereof. I always answer these questions individually as they come in, but I thought, since I've taken a vow to blog more, that it might be something worth blogging about.

There's a short answer and a long answer to these questions. The short answer is, "My books are fiction and therefore entirely made up." But the long answer is a little, well, longer.

I'll start with THE DUFF because I get the most questions about it. Honestly, when it first came out, one of my biggest fears was that my family would think it was autobiographical in some way. It is not. At all. Not only was there no Wesley and no Toby and no sex in my life - I was too much of a prude at seventeen to even think about sleeping with anyone - but I was also nothing like Bianca. I was a romantic, not a cynic, and I was very open about my feelings, while she's a bottler. Actually, it kind of made writing her hard because I was so used to just telling my friends how I felt, where Bianca keeps things tightly locked up.

Not only that, but I was never blatantly told I was a "duff." Sure, I felt like it sometimes - I think everyone does - but no one ever told me I was ugly or fat in high school. I had a "best friend" who subtly bullied me into believing I was unattractive, but she never came out and said it. I did have a friend who had been called a "duff," which is how I heard the word and what eventually led to the idea. But it wasn't my experience at all.

The only real thing Bianca and I have in common is that we both had two really wonderful friends who stuck my us. Mine were not cheerleaders, nor were they blond, but I loved them and they stuck by me (note: neither of them is the one who bullied me). My friends are very different from Casey and Jessica, but their love and support inspired me to give Bianca those kind of friends - not the frenemies we so frequently see in YA and on TV.

So how much of Bianca is like me? Very, very little. Which is why it is sometimes both frustrating and amusing when I see people making assumptions that Bianca is a fictional version of me. She's not, and I'm glad she's not. I think I'd be very disappointed in myself if I were that bitter all the time. I love Bianca, don't get me wrong, but I tend to find myself on the happy-side of life a lot more than she does.

Now, here is the funny end, though. Appearance. I have been told SO OFTEN that I "look" like Bianca. It always makes me giggle because there is so little about her appearance in the book aside from her wavy auburn hair, her small breasts, and the fact that she *thinks* she's overweight. I have my own image of Bianca in my head - she looks something like Ellen Page in Juno, but with slightly reddish hair. My best friend, on the other hand, sees Bianca totally differently and gets mad when I mention Ellen Page. I don't think I look anything like Bianca, personally, though I am frequently told I look lie the girl on the cover. (Actually, my own father that it was me on the cover, no joke. That is depressing.) I am NOT on the cover, I swear! And, personally, that girl doesn't look like my version of Bianca - though she does look like a few of my friends' versions of her.

What's funny is, I get asked so often how much Bianca is like me, maybe because she's in my first published book, but fewer people ask about Lissa. Though, when I really think about it, Lissa is the most like me of the two.

Not in appearance. Lissa is all blue eyes and straight black hair - so not me. But our personalities are similar. We both love books, we both tend to be pretty girl about our clothing, and we are both -groan- neurotic.

Okay, I'm no where NEAR as neurotic as Lissa - she's straight up OCD - but I empathize with her anxiety. What's funny about that, though, is that she was so different in my frist draft. Her anxieties came later, with revision. The original version of Lissa was laid back and confident and funny - all great treats, but it didn't work with the story. Her neuroses developed over time and eventually I realized that my anxiety had trickled into her - only in a much more heightened sense.

Aside from those things, Lissa and I are quite different. Someone once asked me in an interview if I thought we'd be friends in real life, and I don't think we would. Despite our commonalities, we are from very different social spheres. I wasn't friends with any jocks in high school. I was on the Academic Team and in the drama club. I never would have been in a position to end a sports rivalry.

Thinking about it now, its funny to realize what parts of you trickle into your writing. Sometimes I think it's the parts we least expect. With Bianca, as dramatically different as we are, I can see a little spark of me in her - the me that comes out after a really bad day, maybe. The bitter side of me that rarely shows - that I rarely think about - trickles through with her, and its funny to me because I didn't realize I even had that occasional bitter side until right after I finished the book. With Lissa, the anxiety issues were definitely not something I ever thought I'd see in her, and then one day they were there and I realized how much I related her her stress. These aren't parts of me I'd necessarily WANT in any of my characters, but they're there.

Does that mean my characters are based on me? God no. But I do have this theory that every writer has to put a tiny bit of themselves into their characters, just to keep it relatable. It could be something as small as a fear of spiders or as a big as a shared love of art. I'd say my characters are very different from me, but do we have things in common? Yeah, just like I have things in common with my friends or my roommates. We're different people, but we have traits that keep us close, and I think that's important with a character since, as a writer, you have to spend a lot of time with them.

So this post, which was intended to be an answer to a question, really just turned into a lot of rambling and musing. But it is interesting to think about. It's made me curious to reread A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE, whose main character, in my mind, is the farthest from me you could ever possibly be, and see what aspects of me have trickled down to her.

What about you writers out there? Do parts of you ever end up in your characters, even if they were totally accidental? Like I said before, my characters and my stories are entirely fictional and have nothing to do with my own life, but sometimes I find little fragments of me - usually the worst parts of me - in my narrators. What about you?

Some Semi-Sort Of Maybe Big News

2012-01-16T09:11:00.002-06:00

So I've been waiting a few days to post this, and now that I can share, I'm eager to tell you my news!

The thing is, though the nws is big to me, it may not be big to anyone else. Which is to say it may not mean as much to anyone else as it does to me. That said, if all the right stars align, this news could actually be REALLy big, and not just to me.

And I'm rambling.

So the news is:

!!!! CBS Films Bought the Film Rights to THE DUFF !!!!

Which basically means that I now have a producer, a director, a screenwriter, and a studio! Woohoo!

Now I know some of you are thinking, "Isn't this old news? Didn't that happen last month?" Well, it isn't old news, because last time it was announced online, it wan't true. That was a false leak. This time, however, it IS true. So yay!

A note: This doesn't mean the movie will definitely be made or aything. Basically, it just means the chances have increased. To be honest, I'm still hazy on how it all works or where we go from here, but it's a big step in the right direction, which is great! Who knows, maybe one day we'll see Bianca and Wesley on the big screen!

So that's my news. *squeeee*

Answering Your Questions

2012-01-08T15:34:00.004-06:00

Hey guys!

So since I've decided to start blogging at least once a week, I'm going to need some things to blog about. And since I typically fail at ideas, I thought I'd ask you guys for suggestions.

So I'm going to answer your questions. Feel free to ask anything - about reading, about writing, about my books, or even about TV or cooking or fashion or NYC. I'm a (mostly) open book. So if you have a question, feel free to post it in the comments of this post. Ask one or ten, whatever. I'll get to answering them in upcoming posts.

In the meantime, to make this post better, here's a puppy!

That's a puggle! A pug/beagle mix. Adorbs, right? *snuggles the puggle*

A New Year, A New Me

2012-01-01T12:11:00.002-06:00

The other night my roommate's and I sat down to write our New Year's Resolutions. I've never been a resolution maker - I guess you could say I'm the cynical type who scoffs at everyone's insistance that they "WILL lose 10 pounds!" I'd seen too many people fail at resoultions, and I didn't want to fail myself. So I just never made any.

But this year I changed my tune. There are some things in my life I want to change, and it dawned on me a few weeks ago that those things would never change if I didn't make the effort to change them - not next week, not later, not tomorrow. Now. It's my life, and I should be in control of it, right?

So I made a list of resolutions, and I wanted to share them with you as maybe a little bit of inspiration. Some of the goals I made for myself are easier than others, but they are all in my control. So this year - 2012 - is going to be a year of great change for me.

So here's my list:

1. Write 2 first drafts of novels this year.

2. Over come some of my social fears. This isn't high school anymore. I'm not the geeky kid no one wants to be friends with. I shouldn't be afraid to approach new people with confidence.

3. Become a vegan/cook more often/eat less takeout.

4. Learn the subway better and take taxis less. (aka - save money)

5. Stop thinking in terms of "can't." Some things in life are challenging, but there is nothing I "can't" do. Don't let the fear of failure stop me from living my life.

6. Read more.

Looking at that list, I realize I should add a seventh goal - blog more. I have no excuses for why I haven't been blogging aside from worrying that I can't blog about anything interesting. But I CAN (no more can't! no more can't!) so I will. So . . .

7. Blog at least once a week for ALL of 2012.

All right! That's my list. A new year, a new Kody Keplinger. I am going to make this year better than any other. (That way, if the Mayans are right and the world ends, I ended on a high note!)

So what about you? Do you make resolutions? Are you making any this year? Let me know!

Slut Shaming On the Subway

2011-12-07T00:30:00.005-06:00

So an update real fast before I start this blog post:

I have finished the 20 in 20 Giveaways. There will be no more of those on this blog as I finished them in a spontaneous whim on twitter. I will be doing more giveaways on here in future for my upcoming book A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE so keep an eye out!

Now on to the actual blog post.

I have talked a lot on this blog about slut shaming and sex positivity. I have talked a lot about my personal belief that slut shaming is wrong and damaging. I have talked a lot about research I've done, articles I've read, and feminist theory. But I've never talked about personal experience with the issue. Why? Because I had none.

But tonight, on the subway, I had my first encounter with slut shaming, though in a milder sense of the term. But I wanted to write about it because I saw first hand how it can make a person feel, how it can make you second guess yourself, even when the comment is mild.

Tonight while on the subway with a friend an old lady (who may or may not have been a little crazy, this is New York after all) interrupted our conversation. First she addressed my friend, asking where she was born and enquiring about her hometown in California. It was kind of odd since she was a stranger, but whatever. No big deal. When my friend and I resumed our conversation, the woman butted in again about two minutes later. This time she addressed me.

"You should get dressed," she said.

I smiled at her and put on my Children and Old People Voice - you know, the voice you use when your'e talking to a very young person or a very old person who is confused. Don't pretend you don't have a voice like that. I replied, "But I am dressed."

"No you're not," she said. "You're exposing yourself."

Because I can't think of any other possible answer, I believe she must have been referring to the amount of cleavage I was showing. Below I have posted a picture of my EXACT outfit tonight so that you can judge for yourself.

And a closer look at my top, just in case that photo leaves you with any doubt.

Yes, this outfit does expose a little bit of cleavage. Enough to be considered inappropriate? I doubt it. I'd wear this outfit to school visits, actually. It's comfortable, it's cute, and - in my opinion - it's tasteful. And when you have a figure like mine (curvy) it's hard NOT to show a little bit of cleavage unless you are wearing a turtleneck.

And for that matter, no one has the right to judge another person's clothing based on something this trivial. I mean, my goodness, I'm a 20-year-old woman and it wasn't like I was walking around naked or anything. This is my body, my wardrobe, and my life.

And yet, even knowing this, and knowing the lady was likely a bit crazy, what she said got to me. I spent the rest of the night tugging on my shirt, worried I was somehow being inappropriate. I felt embarrassed and self-conscious and uncomfortable. I'm a girl who is all about embracing your body. I'm pretty comfortable in my own skin - comfortable enough to wear this *much* more revealing Marilyn Monroe costume on Halloween:

(BTW, that's my friend Rachael - the Book Muncher - dressed as Audrey Hepburn. Adorbs, right?)

I have never been the type to be self conscious or to second guess my clothing choices or how much skin I've shown (because I've never shown that much, and, um, so what if I had?). But tonight, after that lady said I was "exposing" myself, I felt . . . gross. I felt like I had done something wrong. Like people were looking at me and judging me and calling me names in their heads.

This is slut shaming. This is what it can do to a person - even the slightest little bit of it. I was made to feel guilty for "exposing" myself, when even if my outfit was revealing, that would be no body's business but my own (and the law's if TOO MUCH was exposed - but we won't go inot that because clearly I was not nude).

But if I was made so uncomfortable by this one little comment, what can the more intense slut shaming do? What does a girl feel when someone calls her a slut (which, as you know, often happens to girls who haven't even had sex yet)? How does it make her feel about herself as a person? What about when LOTS of people call a girl names based on her sexuality and/or the clothes she wears?

If one word from a likely senile old lady can make me - a hardened, anti-slut shaming adult feel uneasy and self-conscious, what can years of name calling and judgment do to a teenage or preteen girl?

So there are two things I want to say - first to everyone: Please, think about the little things you say. I don't know what was going through Old Lady's head whens he made her comment, but we all do it. We all make judgments about people based on how much skin they expose or how many people they've SUPPOSEDLY had relationships with. Whether you say it to their face or whisper it on a school bus or tell your friends when you're gossiping - that judgment could seriously hurt them. A lot more than you'd think.

And to girls' reading this: I know this is going to sound cliche, but I mean it - be who you want to be. Don't let anyone try to change you or pressure you into being someone you are not. Don't let anyone shame you. If you are comfortable with who you are, don't let anyone take that away from you just because they think you're being "slutty." Be confident. Be comfortable. Be proud.

And now, without further ado, I'm going to go crash. Good night, friends.

A Confession About My Disability

2011-11-08T10:02:00.003-06:00

So I know I promised another giveaway, but that'll have to wait another week. Because today I'm posting about something else. Somethign really important to me that I want to finally share with all of you.

This is a post I’ve avoided writing for a long time. I thought it was best left to other people – better people, smarter people than me. And yet it’s a post I’m perfectly qualified to make. A post that I see no one else making. And as much as it makes me uncomfortable, I’ve decided to write it. So here we go.

Some of you may know that I am legally blind. To clarify legally blind does not mean that I see total blackness. In fact, about 9/10ths of the people classified as legally blind have some varying amount of vision. On my end, my visual acuity is about 20/400. If you know what that actually means, you’re a smarter person than me. For those of you who don’t know what that means, I will try to explain how I see to you, at least a little.

Take a look at the world around you. Now imagine everything being really blurry. Imagine some of the colors blending together a bit. Imagine that some colors (purple and brown, green and blue, pink and orange) look so alike that you have trouble telling them apart. Imagine you have terrible depth perception. Imagine that you have tunnel vision and you can’t see too far to the side or up or down without moving your eyes in those directions. That’s how I see during the day.

Now, you’re probably thinking “That’s awful!” but don’t. Don’t say that. Don’t think it. Because it’s not. When you’re born that way, when you don’t know better, it doesn’t seem so bad. And I was born this way (cue Lady Gaga). I’m not saying it doesn’t affect me, because it does, but it’s no tragedy. It’s not even that difficult to overcome when you’ve been overcoming it all your life.

I can’t read average sized books without a magnifier. My computer has magnification software. I use a cane. I can’t see at night at all. Yes, sometimes it sucks, but this is just my world. I’m used to it.

So why am I writing this post? Why am I framing it as a confession?

Because, in a lot of ways, it is. Three years ago it wasn’t. Three years ago I signed up on AW with the handle Blind Writer. Three years ago (or less actually) I blogged about a night where, despite my vision impairment and my friends lack of a sense of direction, we walked to a concert in the dark in a city I’d never been in before. Three years ago I was . . . well, not “proud” to be blind, but open about it.

That changed two years ago when an article for a college newspaper that was intended to be about me and the sale of THE DUFF ended up being something along the lines of “Oh, look, we have a blind girl on campus! Isn’t she amazing BECAUSE SHE’S BLIND? Oh, yeah, and she wrote a book.”

I was infuriated. Beyond infuriated.

Let me be clear about something. I do not want pity, nor do I want to be admired for the fact that my eyes don’t work properly and yet I – gasp! – live a normal life. Thousands of legally blind people live normal lives. Many are more talented and more creative and more intelligent than me. Their disability shouldn’t be what makes them impressive or admirable. It shouldn’t even be a factor.

Do you get called impressive just for living by yourself? For going places on your own? I don’t think so. So why should I be?

It was after that article in the college newspaper that I stopped talking about being blind. I hid my cane in pictures. I refused to answer questions about my vision in interviews. (I had a local newspaper reduce a full article about me to just a tiny write up because they were so disappointed I wouldn’t talk about my vision. Apparently getting published right out of high school is small stuff compared to not getting lost on my college campus or something.) I started memorizing passages of my books to read at signings so I wouldn’t have to have a friend read for me and draw attention to the disability.

I pretended I wasn’t blind, basically.

I didn’t do this out of shame. I’m not ashamed of being blind. I did it because I didn’t want it to be part of my identity. I am a person. I am writer. I am a girl. I am a Southerner. I am a music lover. Way, way, way down that list you might see “I am blind.” Of course it is a part of me, but it isn’t me.

But our society loves “tragedy.” In my experience, when I’ve been open about my visual impairment, I suddenly lose my identity to it. I am no longer “Kody” or “a writer” but instead “a blind person.” That moves to the top of the list instantly, even though it is one of the least important parts of my life.

So why am I talking about it now?

Well, there are two reasons. First, because dear God someone has to. Someone needs to stand up and say how ridiculous it is that our society treats disabled people as “disabled” rather than “people.”

And the second reason I’m doing this - the most pressing reason – is that secrets never stay secret forever. People will find out about my visual impairment. People will talk about it, even if I don’t. And I’d rather take control of the situation and lay out the facts rather that let people thrive on assumption.

So, one thing I want to address before I finish this post is a question I got on this blog a few years ago – a question I didn’t answer because, at the time, I was so offended. The question was something like:

“But if you’re blind, how can you write books?”

Well here’s you’re answer – I just do. The two things are so unconnected, so separate, that the question is equal to “But if you are lactose intolerant, how can you watch TV?”

My writing has nothing to do with my disability. And I want to be recognized for my writing, not my disability. When I die I want people to say “Kody Keplinger was a great writer” not “Kody Keplinger was blind and she still managed to write books!”

I want my work to stand on its own, which is why this post is so terrifying to write. Despite everything I say here, I may still be condemning myself to a life of being known as a blind author. It’s not a life I look forward to, and yet this post had to be written. I had to come forward on behalf of myself and of other blind artists out there.

I’m going to wrap this up because it’s an insanely long post, but there are a few last points I want to make.

• I will take questions (if you have them) in the comments of this blog post.

• After this, however, I will not be answering questions about my visual impairment in interviews, on twitter, or anywhere else. I want to keep that part of my personal life separate from my public, professional life.

• All this being said, I encourage you to look up information on blindness and the reality it inhabits, as opposed to the “reality” the media creates. Look up the National Federation of the Blind if you’re interested.

And that’s it. God, that was hard to write. We’ll see if I actually post it. If I do, I want to thank you guys for reading this post. Just remember, this shouldn’t make you see me differently. I’m the same Kody. The same person. This is just one, small part of my life.

Thank you.

I Am a Terrible Person

2011-11-03T10:30:00.002-05:00

Hey guys.

So I know its been, um, over a month since I posted. I'm not dead. I'm just frazzled.

This is a post that's sort of a non-post. Really, i have nothing to post about, except my state as a terrible human being (well, a terrible blogging human being) and an apology.

So for those of you who have entered my 20 in 20 giveaways, I am sorry. I utterly failed at doing this in 20 weeks! OMGGGGG. It's been way more. And to those who haven't received prizes yet, I also apologize. You will get them soon. I swear. There are a lot of people from a lot of giveaways waiting on prizes from me. As soon as I trek to the mailbox, they'll be on their way.

This is all to say that I'll be back Monday with a new winner and a giveaway. I am DETERMINED to do all 20 giveaways by the end of the year. Determined I say!

So, just don't forget about me, even though I really suck at blogging lately. I shall return!

20 in 20 Giveaway - Week 17+ Winner

2011-09-26T11:44:00.002-05:00

So it's been a while. With Shut Out released and me traveling, I had a hard time keeping these giveaways up. but I'm back, and with a winner of a book of their choice!

And the winner is . . .

MISS LAUREN!

Lauren, I already have your email on file. I'll message you soon.

And as for this week's prize....

How about a signed copy of SHUT OUT? I just got my big box of author copies, and they are all just BEGGING for a new home!

So for a signed SHUT OUT, all you have to do here is:

1. Tweet or blog this contest
2. Save the link!
3. Comment below with the link.
4. Be a follower of this blog.

And that's it! This time I really will announce the new winner on Monday.

Good luck! Expect new blogs soon!

Release day! Prizes! Giveaways!

2011-09-05T09:12:00.002-05:00

MY BOOK COMES OUT TODAY!!!! WHEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Did you hear me all the way in California? That sound? It was me screaming.

And in honor of release day, I'm doing several giveaways. Links below! Enter away!

First there's still the Shut Out Book Trailer giveaway - for a Shut Out gym bag full of goodies:

I'm also giving away Duff and Shut Out audibooks on my Facebook fan page.

Then there's the Shut Out Shout Out contest on YA Highway.

And, also, I'm giving away random prizes on twitter all day long! Just tweet #ShutOut for a chance to win audiobooks, signed books, and other fun stuff!

Whooo! Let's celebrate!!!!

Shut Out - The Trailer Revealed! And a GIVEAWAY!

2011-09-02T00:25:00.004-05:00

First we showed you this:

Then we showed you this:

And now, we bring you THIS:

That's it! The official book trailer for SHUT OUT! Tell me what you think!

And also, you have a shot at winning a giveaway! The winner will receive a SHUT OUT gym bag filled with signed books (by me and others), ARCs of upcoming releases, and some fun SHUT OUT themed swag! To enter, all you have to do is link the SHUT OUT book trailer on a blog, twitter feed, facebook page, or other social networking site and show us where you linked or embedded it. And that's it!

To enter, go here!

Stars Are Sweet

2011-09-01T05:57:00.001-05:00

So yesterday I told you why libraries are sexy and gave you the link to the special bonus clip from the Shut Out trailer shoot. I also filled you in a little on Cash and Lissa's rather . . . interesting relationship. Well, today's excerpt - the last of the teasers - might explain a little bit why.

So you know that Lissa is dating Randy, that Randy hates Cash, and that Lissa and Cash have a history and some undeniable chemistry - a chemistry that threatens Lissa's sex strike plans. But what was their history? Well, there was a night at a party . . . a night even Randy doesn't know about. While Cash and Lissa, neither big on the partying scene, were sitting outside on the back porch, waiting for their friends to get partied out . . . this happened.

Before I could move, he turned to face me again, freezing me on the spot with his gorgeous eyes. “Have you ever played the Star Game?”

I just blinked at him.

Cash’s cheeks turned just the slightest bit red before he elaborated. “You have to be here because of your friend, and I’m driving home guys who won’t want to leave until the keg is empty. We’re going to be out here a while, so we might as well find some way to entertain ourselves, you know? So, have you ever played the Star Game?”

“What’s the Star Game?” I asked.

“Well . . . technically, it’s this thing I saw Russell Crowe do in a movie once, but I just kind of turned it into a way to pass the time.” He looked up at the sky, which had now become dark enough to make out the vast number of summer stars. “Okay, pick a shape,” he said.

“A . . . what are we doing?”

“You’re picking a shape,” he said. “Anything. It could even be an object. Or an animal, but sometimes those are harder.”

“Cash, I don’t—”

“Just pick one.”

“Fine. A triangle.”

He sighed. “That is way too easy.” Then, without warning, he reached between us and picked up my hand. I was startled, and I almost pulled back, but then our eyes met.

“Relax,” he said.

And, for once, I did.

His fingers were warm and callused against mine. He uncoiled my hand and gently forced me to extend my index finger. He made me point to a cluster of stars over our heads, and I watched as he drew a triangle with my finger, using three stars as the points. “See? That’s the Star Game.”

“Oh,” I said. “Wow . . . a triangle was too easy.”

“Your turn,” he said. “I tell you a shape and you have to find it in the stars.”

I admit, the game was kind of cheesy, but I thought it was sweet of him to try to entertain me when I was so clearly having a bad night. So I played along.

“All right, what shape?”

“An elephant.”

“Are you joking?” I cried. “You said animals were the hardest. You can’t give me an elephant.”

“That’s what makes it a game,” Cash teased, grinning and looking at me out of the corner of his eye. “The first person unable to piece together the image loses. I like winning. So I give you an elephant.”

“Jerk.”

“Clock’s ticking.”

“There’s a time limit, too?” I asked, panicked.

“No,” he laughed. “Now I’m really just messing with you.”

But that's not all. Want to know what happens next? Want to see WHY Randy doesn't know about that night? You can find out tonight at 6pm EST when we'll premier the second bonus scene, a video teaser that picks up near where this scene leaves off. It's not as sexy as yesterday's scene, but a little more on the sweet side. And full of stars!

So that premiers at 6pm. In the meantime, all day today you can tweet #ShutOutTrailer for a chance to win a photo print from the shoot AND an ARC of SHUT OUT (thanks to my generous editor!) Tweet whatever you want. Tweet as much as you want. You could win!

I'll link today's bonus video tonight on twitter, facebook, and this blog post. So stay tuned!

And tomorrow . . . TOMORROW THE FULL TRAILER WILL PREMIER!!!! And I'll be launching a BIG giveaway with swag, books, and other goodies! Trust me, you want to keep your eyes peeled!

UPDATE

Here's the bonus scene that picks up where the excerpt leaves off! It's super sweet!

Libraries Are Sexy

2011-08-31T05:39:00.002-05:00

....but I don't have to tell you that. Chances are, if you are reading htis, you are a reader, which means you (hopefully) love books. And what is more sexy than a building full of books?

Nothing.

Which is why Lissa's work place, a library, seemed like the perfect place for a forbidden, sexy kiss.

So today I bring you another SHUT OUT excerpt. Fair warning, this may be a bit spoilery, so LOOK AWAY if you don't want any spoils! But I tried to reduce the spoiling as much ass possible.

Today's excerpt is one a sexy, sexy library with a sexy, sexy boy. Why am I showing you this scene? Because if you stay tuned on twitter today (and my Facebook fan page, and I'll update this post later) you'll see that Vania at VLC Photo decided we should do two extra scenes from the book. Of course, I OBVIOUSLY chose to do scenes with cute boys. So after reading the excerpt today, I hope you'll watch out for the sneak peaks!

So, a little set up for the teaser. I told you Lissa is dating Randy. Well, there's a problem. She's dating Randy, but she has a pull toward Cash. Always has. And a history with him she'd rather forget. But working in close quarters with him at tte library? A SEXY PLACE? Things get interesting. . .

For one thing, this happens . . .

“Nice job leading the girls the other night.”

I was crouched down in the floor of the reference section, alphabetizing the encyclopedias, when I heard Cash’s voice behind me. Startled, I jumped and smacked the top of my head against the shelf with a loud thwack.

“Augh,” I groaned.

“Oh, shit. Lissa, are you okay?” He knelt down and turned me to face him, his eyebrows pinched over concerned green eyes that made me forget the throbbing pain in my skull—but only for a second. “Do you need me to get an icepack or something?”

“No, it’s fine, but you have got to stop sneaking up on me,” I hissed through clenched teeth. “God, that hurt.”

“I’m so sorry,” Cash said. Before I could stop him, he reached out and cupped a hand over the back of my head, his fingers gently stroking the place where my skull had collided with the wooden shelf. “That was an accident.”

...and then, a few minutes later, this happens.

We stared at each other for a long, long time. Then Cash’s hand slid down from my head to the back of my neck, and he gently pulled me toward him. It was like a slow motion scene in a movie. I had plenty of time to turn my head, to jerk away, to say “stop,” but I didn’t move, didn’t speak, didn’t breathe. Instead, I watched his head lower toward mine and felt his free hand fall on my knee. My eyes shut, and I managed a quick, anxious gasp of air.

And then Cash Sterling kissed me.

My heart raced as Cash’s lips moved over mine. I opened my mouth to his as my arms wrapped around his neck. His hand slid up my thigh and came to rest on my hip. I felt his finger curl into the belt loop of my jeans, tugging me a little closer to him. I moved forward willingly, eagerly, needing to be next to him, to touch him.

My body was riddled with electric shocks as his kisses grew more intense. My fingers twisted in his short, brown hair, pulling him into me. I’d never felt like this, like I wanted to climb into another person’s skin. Like I wanted every inch of him to touch every inch of me, to twine myself around him and never let go. I’d never kissed anyone this way.

Not even Randy.

My skin was on fire as we pressed in closer to each other. I found myself climbing into Cash’s lap, straddling his hips as his hands slid to the small of my back, pulling me toward him.

“Oh my God, are you kidding me?”

Cash’s mouth jerked away from mine as Jenna’s voice ripped through the heated silence. It took me a minute to catch my breath, and I blushed, realizing the delicate position I’d gotten myself into. I scurried out of Cash’s lap, straightening my slightly twisted t-shirt and running my fingers through my hair.

“Nice, Lissa,” she snapped when I tentatively looked up at her. “Didn’t I warn you about getting into this?”

Jenna, by the way, is Lissa's co-worker and sort-of-but-not-really boss. Uh-oh. Busted guys!

So what did you think? Are you looking forward to seeing the Sexy Library Scene? I am. Might need to get my sun block out, though. Things might be getting a tad hot!

The scene will premier at 6pm tonight! (That's EST!) So keep an eye on twitter, kids. And I"ll link it other places, too. Lots of smooches ahead!

UPDATE

As promised, here's the sexy library clip! Warning: this may leave scorch marks.

Shut Out Trailer - Teaser Day 5 - Cash!

2011-08-30T04:36:00.002-05:00

Hello all!

So today I introduced to you the last of the major players in SHUT OUT. Today, I bring you, Cash.

So Cash Sterling . . . He's attractive, he's sweet, and he's a soccer player - which means he's Randy's mortal enemy. The trouble is, Lissa has a little history with Cash that makes things . . . well, complicated. But we'll get to that later. First, I'd like you to meet Mr. Sterling.

One minute I was clearing off my tray and returning it to the rack, thinking of how quiet the library would be, and the next I’d spun around—without checking behind me, of course—and slammed into something hard. For a second I was totally dazed, the top of my head pounding from the impact with something very solid. When my senses came back, I realized that the thing my head had hit was Cash’s chin, and the only reason I was still standing was because one of his arms had wrapped quickly around my waist, keeping me from falling backward into the trash cans.

I knew it was him without even looking up. I blushed, embarrassed by the way I knew his scent. Hating that I remembered.

“You okay?” he asked in his bass voice.

I pulled away from him, hurriedly putting a few feet of space between us. “I’m fine.”

Cash was still rubbing his chin where we’d collided. “Sorry. I didn’t even see you.”

“It’s no big deal,” I told him, pretending I didn’t care if he noticed me or not. “But you shouldn’t stand so close behind people. Maybe remember personal bubbles next time or . . . or something.”

He shook his head, half laughing, and ran a hand over his buzzed brown hair. “Personal bubbles, huh?”

I almost laughed, too. Wow, that really had sounded lame. But I forced myself to keep a straight face, to stay cool and aloof. Cash Sterling would not make me smile. I wouldn’t let him.

“Yes,” I said stiffly. “It’s, like, a three-foot radius for most people.”

He smiled, his green eyes crinkling at the corners. “Would it surprise you if I mentioned that I barely passed geometry?”

“Oh,” I said. “Well, a radius is the distance from any part of a circle’s perimeter to the direct center of the circle. It’s half the diameter. So if a circle is six feet across the middle, the radius is three feet and . . .” And I was rambling. I shifted my feet and took a breath. “And I got an A in geometry.”

“I’m not surprised,” he said. “Seems like I should have hired you as a tutor, huh?”

“I doubt even I could have saved you if radii are beyond your comprehension.” The joke slipped out before I realized it.

“True,” he said, stepping a little closer to me. “But if I’d been smart enough to hire you, maybe I would have been smart enough to learn the material.”

I was fighting off a smile when I saw Randy coming up behind Cash. That killed the smile. And in a weird way, I was grateful. It made me uncomfortable to be so comfortable around Cash.

Cash, Cash, Cash . . . Oh, man, I kind of adore him. And here's a teaser of his role in the Shut Out book trailer!

Vania from VLC Photo and I will be tweeting more Cash teasers throughout the day, and we'll also be giving away a signed print, like we have the last few days. All you have to do is tweet @VLC_Photo and me (@Kody_Keplinger) using the #ShutOutTrailer hashtag and tell us your favorite literary love interest! (Mine is Mr. Darcy!)

And, just a heads up, tomorrow we won't be doing just a photo teaser - tomorrow we're doing the reveal of a secret scene.

That's all I'll say for now, but let's just say it (and the excerpt that go with it) are pretty hot. So stay tuned!

Shut Out Trailer - Teaser Day 4 - Randy!

2011-08-29T00:01:00.004-05:00

Good morning all!

Well, the storm has passed here, and all in NYC is (mostly) well. There was some flooding and definitely some damage, but I have to say, I am so, so amazed by the way people come together during a crisis. There's this stigma that New Yorkers are cold, mean people, and that is so, so not true. In a time when chaos could have ensued, crime went down, people were helpful, and everyone stuck together. Just going to the grocery store for food was amazing because our neighbors were talking with us, joking around, and swapping "how we'll spend the next few days" plans. I love this city, and I'm so glad Irene do too much damage to it.

As for the rest of New England, I hope you are all safe and well!

And with Irene over, it's time for me to get to some serious planning. SHUT OUT releases one week from today (eep!) and the book trailer, which I've been telling you guys about, premiers Friday! So, once again, I bring you a sneak peek of both the book and the trailer. Today, you guys get to meet Lissa's boyfriend, Randy.

Here goes:

I opened the door for him as he made his way up the front steps. “Hey, babe,” he said, leaning in to kiss me.

I let his lips brush mine for just a moment before pulling back.

“Still mad?” he asked.

“Not mad. Frustrated, remember?”

Randy ran his fingers down my arm, lowering his voice so Dad and Logan wouldn’t hear. “I can un-frustrate you if you want.”

I swatted him away, my whole body stiffening at his touch. “You sure you won’t be too busy cleaning your windshield?”

“I’m never too busy for you, baby.”

“You were last night.”

He tilted his head to the side, batting his long, perfect eyelashes at me. “You’ll forgive me. I know you will.”

“We’ll see.” I meant it to be teasing, but it came out sounding cold.

“You always do!” he called over his shoulder as he strolled into the kitchen.

I shook my head, knowing he was right. I always forgave him, and I was sure I always would. I knew as soon as he walked into the kitchen. As soon as Dad smiled at him. As soon as Logan clapped him on the shoulder. I would always forgive Randy because he was part of my family. He had been since the moment I first brought him home.

Watching them now, as I stood in the kitchen doorway, I knew I’d fallen in love with Randy that first night, when he’d walked right up to my father as if he didn’t even notice the wheelchair and shook his hand. He made my family happy, and after all we’d been through over the past few years, seeing them smile like that . . . well, it made me happy, too.

I forced myself to relax, to loosen up a little, as I walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table next to Randy. There was no need to be on edge right now. Not with my family. Not with Randy.

Oh, Randy . . .

And, once again, Vania at VLC Photo and I are giving away prints from the Shut Out Book Trailer! Here's a screen shot - Lissa and Randy. Kind of cute, right?

Want to enter to win this or one of the other screenshots we'll be tweeting throughout the day? All you have to do is tweet @VLC_Photo and me (@kody_keplinger) with the name of your favorite athlete! Be sure and use the #ShutOutTrailer hashtag.

And keep your eyes peeled for the announcement of the big giveaway Vania and I are doing around the trailer's premier!

Shut Out Trailer - Teaser Day 3 - Chloe

2011-08-28T06:00:00.004-05:00

I'm writing to you from the past! Well, from Saturday night. I'm not sure if I'll have power in the morning, so I"m doing this now. Thanks, Irene, you are ruining my procrastination techniques!

It seems appropriate that today is hurricane day, though. Because today's teaser is going to introduce you to the character of Chloe Nelson from SHUT OUT. Chloe is Lissa's best friend, and like a hurricane, she's a little unpredictable! Or maybe that makes her more like a tornado, since we get tons of notice about these hurricanes. Huh - sorry, off topic.

Anyway, here's another little sneak peak of SHUT OUT. Let's meet Chloe!

“God damn it, Lissa. You know, you are the only person who can make me sound like a fucking Hallmark card. Just talk to him, all right?”

“Fine.”

“Good. He’ll probably be nicer to you than I am anyway.”

“I like it when you’re mean.”

“Meow,” Chloe said. “Oh, baby.”

I laughed. She was really the only person who could get me this loosened up. If anyone else made the jokes she did, I would get so uncomfortable. Not with Chloe, though.

“I hate this, Chloe. Instead of it being just me and Randy, lately it’s been me and Randy and the entire soccer team.”

“Bow-chika-wow-wow. That sounds like a good thing to me.”

“God, Chloe.”

“Sorry. I couldn’t resist.” She giggled.

And that, my friends, is the infamous Chloe Nelson!

And again, VLC Photo and I will be giving away a print (which I will sign) of Chloe from the book trailer!

Here's what you have to do to win!

Tweet #ShutOutTrailer and tag me (@kody_keplinger) and @VLC_Photo the name of your favorite best friend character in books, TV, or movies! Willow from Buffy? Ron from the Harry Potter books? Tell us and you could win!

Shut Out Trailer - Teaser Day 2 - The Pact!

2011-08-27T05:00:00.000-05:00

So yesterday I introduced you to Lissa, the main character from SHUT OUT. And in the photo from the book trailer you saw, she was holding an issue of Cosmo. Why you ask? Well, today i'm giving you another sneak peak excerpt from the book, and it might answer your question!

So here we go. An excerpt from SHUT OUT:

“We need to make a pact or something,” Chloe said. “Like, an oath. We need to swear to abstain from all sexual activities.”

“What do we swear on?” Susan asked. “The Bible?”

“That’s kind of inappropriate,” I managed to joke. “Considering what we’re swearing about and all.”

“Here.” Ellen placed her backpack on the table and unzipped it. After a few seconds of digging, she pulled out a new issue of Cosmo and tossed it onto the table. “It’s the sex-tips issue. Includes a nice list of all the things we can’t do. We can swear on it.”

Chloe picked up the magazine. “Sweet,” she said, flipping through the pages. She paused and visibly cringed. “Ugh. No, don’t try that. Trust me, not as great as it sounds.”

I grabbed the magazine from Chloe, half wondering and half afraid to see what she was talking about. I held it up for everyone to see. “Okay,” I said. “So we’ll all take a vow. I’ll lay out the rules, and if you agree, you put your hand on the magazine and say, ‘I do.’ Got it?”

Most of the girls nodded.

I placed the magazine on the table, putting my hand over the model’s face on the cover. “I hereby swear to abstain from all forms of sexual activity. This includes but is not limited to anything involving body parts below the belt. That’s either party’s belt. Oh, and second base is outlawed, too. Nothing, um, under the shirt.” I forced myself to continue, despite the way this speech made my face heat up. “I’ll stand my ground, even in the toughest of times, and will resist temptation until the rivalry is put to an end.”

So that's where the Cosmo came from!

And once again, that's not all! VLC Photo and I are doing another print giveaway! Below is one of the screenshots from the "pact scene" in the trailer (and in case you are wondering, those arms belong to the character of Susan!) and we'll be tweeting more Pact related shots throughout the day. So be sure and follow me, @VLC_Photo, and the #ShutOutTrailer hashtag.

Today, to win a print (signed by me!) here's what you do:

Just tweet the name of a celebrity or fictional character you'd have trouble keeping that oath with and tag me (@Kody_Keplinger) and @VLC_Photo in the tweet. Be sure and use the #ShutOutTrailer hashtag!

And don't forget, the trailer will premier this upcoming Friday, and we'll be hosting one BIG giveaway with signed books, ARCs, swag, and other goodies, so stay tuned!

Shut Out Trailer - Teaser Day 1 - Lissa!

2011-08-26T04:57:00.000-05:00

So for the next week, Vania over at VLC Photo and I will be bringing to you a series of teasers for the SHUT OUT trailer, complete with photos, giveaways, and special excerpts you'll find right here on my blog!

Today, we're kicking off the week by introducing you to Lissa, the main character in SHUT OUT!

Lissa's a tad bit neurotic, a control freak, and a literature buff. I think this short excerpt might give you the best sense of just what kind of girl Lissa Daniels is. So, without further ado - a sneak peak of SHUT OUT!

. . . .I hurriedly turned my attention back to the book. Don’t think about him, I told myself, keeping my eyes trained on the page as I picked up my red pen. Don’t think about him. . . . Just keep reading. . . .
“Lissa,” Cash said slowly, drawing out the A at the end of my name. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but . . . Did you just mark a typo in your book?”

I bit my lip. “No. Of course not. Why would you say that?”
“Because you just marked something on the page with a red ink pen—like the ones teachers use to check papers.”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Lissa.”

“What?” I asked, ducking my head. “You’re imagining things.”

And that's Lissa! Now, time to see her in the flesh. Here's a great shot of Lissa from the SHUT OUT trailer!

Isn't she adorable? And if you're wondering about the Cosmo, I'll explain that tomorrow when we talk about The Pact.

But, in the mean time, do you want to win some free stuff? I know you do.

For the next few days, VLC Photo and I will be showing off photos of the SHUT OUT Trailer cast on our blogs and on twitter. Each day, we'll be giving away a free, signed print of the featured character to a winner on twitter.

What do you have to do?

Just tweet the following:

"I want to win a free print from #ShutOutTrailer from @VLC_Photo and @Kody_Keplinger."

We'll pick a random winner at the end of the day!

And, one week from today, the official SHUT OUT Book Trailer will premier. We'll be announcing a BIG giveaway then - one with a grand prize that includes signed copies of SHUT OUT, some ARCs, and other killer swag. So stay tuned!

In the meantime GET TO TWEETING! And be sure to follow me and @VLC_Photo on twitter to see more sneak peaks of Lissa and the rest of the cast!

20 in 20 - Week 16 + Winner

2011-08-22T13:21:00.003-05:00

And the winner of Delirium is . . . .

Cara! (@ChasingWords)

Cara, please email me your mailing address at kodykeplinger@gmail.com and I'll get that on its way.

And now, a new giveaway!

So I love characters, especially when I find a character that is "just so me!" I also love character quizzes. Yes, perhaps that's dorky, but I love when my computer tells me which character I am most like in a book or TV show. It's fun!

So this week, I'm not just giving away a book, I"m giving away a book of the winner's choice. It could be one of my books, it could be a Jane Austen classic, it could be ANYTHING. Its totally up to you!

But here's how to enter - and this week you can get EXTRA ENTRIES so pay attention!

You may have noticed the new bar at the top of this page. It's a SHUT OUT character quiz, a way to find out which of the leading ladies in SHUT OUT you are most like before the book comes out in . . . uh, wow. 2 weeks from today, actually!

I told you, I love character quizzes.

So to enter for the book of your choice, please do the following:

1. First, go up to the top of the screen (or to this link) and take the SHUT OUT character quiz. (If you'd like to like my fanpage, that'd be cool, too, but it isn't required. :-P)

2. Once you take the quiz and find out which character you are, come back here and tell me who you are in the comments.

3. Also in the comments, place a link to a blog or tweet where you linked this giveaway.

And that's it, unless you want ONE EXTRA ENTRY!!

For the extra entry, all you have to do is, along with your SHUT OUT character and link, tell me which character in literature you think you are most like. for example, I think I'm most like Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter books. So who are yOU most like?

And that's it! I can't wait to see what characters you guys are from SHUT OUT! According to that quiz . . . I'm a Chloe. And you guys will get to learn a little about Chloe next week when we start the SHUT OUT trailer campaign. It should be interesting!

Contest ends Friday at midnight PST, and it is open to US/Canada only. Good luck!

Some Fun Stuff Is Coming Up!

2011-08-20T12:30:00.002-05:00

So SHUT OUT is only a couple of weeks from release, and I've got some REALLY fun stuff headed your way to celebrate!

First, you may notice the bar at the top of this page. It's a link to a SHUT OUT character quiz. The quiz will only be running from now until September 6 (the day after release) so take it soon and find out which of the SHUT OUT leading ladies you are before you meet them next month!

In case you missed the bar, here's a link to the facebook page. While you're there maybe you could like the fan page? Maybe? Please? I looooooooove you!

But there's more going on than just the quiz! starting August 29th I'll be going on Blog Tour. I'll do my best to link you to all the stops so you can check out the guest posts, vlogs, and character interviews. It'll be fun! The SHUT OUT soundtrack will also be revealed on the tour, so stay tuned!

And starting August 26th, VLC Photo and I will be hosting some SUPER EXCITING teasers and giveaways leading up to the premier of the SHUT OUT book trailer! If you haven't already, check out the #ShutOutTrailer hashtag on twitter for sneak peaks. But starting the 26, we'll be doing big teasers, complete with pictures, a few excerpts, and some cool giveaways! After the trailer premiers we'll be throwing a BIG giveaway that you do NOT want to miss! I'll give you the details as soon as I can, guys!

Then once SHUT OUT is out, I"m off to do some signings in NYC and on the west coast! In case you missed it, I'll be signing on:

Sept. 9 - Books of Wonder in NYC, 6-8pm.

Sept. 12 - Changing Hands in Tempe, AZ, 7:30-9pm (near Phoenix)

Sept. 17 - University Bookstore in Mill Creek, WA. 11:30am - 1pm. (near Seattle)

So come out and see me! I'll be giving away some books and swag at these events, too. I'm so excited! The swag I made just came in the other day and it looks AMAZING. I cannot wait to give some out to you guys!

And in the mean time, while I wait for all the craziness to begin, I'm sitting at home, hacking away on a new project that I'm about 80% through the first draft on. Let's see if I can finish it before SHUT OUT releases, shall we?

Road Trip Wednesday: Inspiring Settings

2011-08-17T13:46:00.002-05:00

This week's RTW topic over at YA Highway is "Inspiring Settings." The question is, what is the most inspiring setting you've ever visited in real life?

Well, it's not hard to figure out my answer. I blog about this place all the time, and it's probably the most inspirational place a lot of people have been. It's the location of a million movies and popular TV shows, it's home to some of our country's most famous landmarks and celebrities, and it's one of the oldest cities in the US.

Yep, I'm talking about New York.

I didn't always live in New York. I'm originally from the south. But I remember the first time I laid eyes on the city. I was on an escalator coming up from Penn Station at night. The sky was dark, and my agent was escorting Mom and I to our hotel. It was the first time we'd ever stayed in the city, and it was only a 1 day pit stop on the way to Ithaca.

But as that escalator went up, the lights appeared. We could see the Empire State Building, the twinkle of Time Square a few blocks away, and all the people. It was absolutely breath taking.

Now, I hate Time Square. At least, I do now, but back then it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

The next morning as I sat in a cab staring out the window and watching all the people walk by, I knew without a doubt I wanted to live in New York. And two years later, I do. And I absolutely love it. Why? Because there is constantly inspiration. Manhattan is a small island, but there are dozens of little neighborhoods, each with their own unique feel, offering a new point of view on this city. Whether I'm walking around the East Village or listening to people speak Spanish in Washington Heights, I'm constantly finding new inspiration here.

I don't just visit the inspirational setting. I live it.

Vlog - Sex and the City, Feminism, and Female Friendships

2011-08-16T01:37:00.002-05:00

So I decided to do some vlogging. So here you go! A vlog for you guys on why Sex and the City was AWESOME and more feminist than you'd think!

I plan to do more of these in the future, so if you have any topics you'd like to see a vlog about, please comment below! Thanks guys! Love you!

20 in 20 - Week 15 + Winner!

2011-08-15T15:17:00.002-05:00

Wow. 54 entries to win THE DUFF and SHUT OUT???? Man oh man, I love you guys! Happy birthday to me!

and random number generator says the winner is . . . .

ERICA!!!!! Bookcellarx, my dear, please email me.

and thank you ALL for participating!

Now, onto this week's giveaway.

This week's book is . . . .

DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver (which I just read and super duper loved.)

Delirium is a fantastic dystopian love story that I think you should all read! So, if you want to win a copy, do as follows:

1. Tweet or blog about this contest.

2. Save the link!

3. In the comments below, paste the link.

And that's it! You MUST be a follower to enter. Contest is open to US/Canada only.

Love y'all!

Signing Update! Please Read!

2011-08-11T17:39:00.003-05:00

Hey guys! So there's been a quick change to one of my signing dates - the one in Seattle. See below!

SEPTEMBER 9th

Shut Out Launch Party @ Books Of Wonder

(18 W 18th Street, New York, NY)

From 6-8pm.

I'll be reading, talking, answering questions, signing, and maybe even giving a few things away! There will also be some food, so come out!

SEPTEMBER 12th

Shut Out Signing @ Changing Hands Bookstore

(6428 S. McClintock Dr., Tempe, AZ)

From 7:00-8:30pm

Once I get out to Phoenix, I'll be heading to Tempe to sign books at Changing Hands! I'll talk, read, sign,a and do a Q&A!

SEPTEMBER 17th

Shut Out Book Brunch Event @ University Bookstore

(15311 Main Street, Mill Creek WA 98012)

From 11:00am - 12:30pm

I'll be at University Bookstore (near Seattle) for a Teen Book Brunch! I"ll be signing and answering questions and chatting with those who attend, so please come out and say hello!

I hope to see you guys there!

Signings! Come See Me!

2011-08-10T11:37:00.002-05:00

Hey guys! So I have some MEGA exciting news. I've decided to go visit some friends out west, and my AMAZING publicist got me set up with some fabulous signings! And I wanted to tell you guys about them so that you could come out and see me!

First, before I leave, I'll be having a book launch in NYC:

SEPTEMBER 9th

Shut Out Launch Party @ Books Of Wonder

(18 W 18th Street, New York, NY)

From 6-8pm.

I'll be reading, talking, answering questions, signing, and maybe even giving a few things away! There will also be some food, so come out!

Then it's out west I go for 2 awesome events!

SEPTEMBER 12th

Shut Out Signing @ Changing Hands Bookstore

(6428 S. McClintock Dr., Tempe, AZ)

From 7:00-8:30pm

Once I get out to Phoenix, I'll be heading to Tempe to sign books at Changing Hands! I'll talk, read, sign,a and do a Q&A!

SEPTEMBER 17th

Shut Out Book Brunch Event/ University Bookstore @ Mill Creek Library

(15429 Bothell Everett Highway, Mill Creek, WA)

From 11:00am - 12:30pm

University Bookstore (Seattle) is hosting a Book Brunch at the Mill Creek Library! I'll be there to sign SHUT OUT and to chat. So come on out!

And that's it for now!!! OMG, so excited to see you all. Will you be coming? Tell me in the comments!!!

20 in 20 - Week 14 (and winner, AND ITS MY BIRTHDAY!)

2011-08-08T10:47:00.002-05:00

First of all, this week's winner of Divergent is . . .

SIMPLY_MEGAN!!!

Megan, email me your address at Kodykeplinger@gmail.com

NOTE TO PREVIOUS WINNERS: If you were a winner here and you've yet to recieve a prize, please email me and let me know. I've had a lot of things to mail and I'm sure a few people got passed up. So please shoot me a reminder!

Now, on to other things.

Today is my birthday. Like, for reals. I'm turning 20 today, thus the 20 in 20 giveaway! Anyway, it FREAKS ME OUT. Like, I don't know if I want to be 20. I posted last year about wanting to stay 17 forever. I think I still feel that way. Luckily I have tons of awesome people (some of whom blogged me birthday wishes - LOVE YOU GUYS!) supporting me into my next decade.

So, in honor of my 20th, I'm going to giveaway the first finished copy of my next book SHUT OUT plus one of my last hardcovers of THE DUFF right here.

Now, I don't have SHUT OUT finished copies yet, but I will soon. I actually got my very first DUFF hardcovers on my birthday last year (thanks to the amazing Kate Sullivan, my fabulous editor!). So SHUT OUT will be here in a few weeks, and I want the winner of today's giveaway to win both books in hardcover, first edition form.

Here is how to enter:

1. You must be a follower of this blog.

2. Tweet or blog about this contest.

3. Save that link!

4. In the comments below, tell me about your best birthday memory. It can be anything! Funny, romantic, sweet. I want to know!

5. Beneath that, post the link.

I will announce the winner next Monday. Contest ends Friday night at midnight PST.

Contest IS OPEN INTERNATIONALLY!!!!

Illegal in Alabama: Sexual Politics, Women's Rights, and Becoming an Adult

2011-08-02T23:48:00.003-05:00

I want to say up front that this post is kind of mature. I debated for a while on whether or not to write it because some of the content might be controversial. Then again, when have I ever run from controversy? Once I thought about the topic, I knew I wanted to post. And anyone who has read my books or is a follower of this blog knows the kind of issues I tend to discuss. Still, I felt the need to warn you.

So you've been warned.

As I've mentioned before, I'm about to turn 20. It's terrifying. I mean, I have loved being a teenager so much, and while I know logically being twenty won't be so different, it still freaks me out. I'm growing up. And sometimes that's not so fun. Sometimes it kind of sucks. One way in which it sucks is that, as you get older, you become disillusioned to the world around you. This can be good, of course, but it can also be really upsetting. Sometimes you realize things that are just outright infuriating.

When I was younger, I thought we lived in a nearly perfect society. I know, I know. I was naive. As I got older, I realized that we didn't. There is a lot of hatred in the world. Senseless hatred that ruins lives. There's a lot of poverty. A lot of illness. A lot of abuse. And yet, even up until last year, I truly thought that at least people were equal in my world. Then I took sociology and I learned that, when it comes to gender, we are not.

Sure, we're more equal than we were in the fifties. Women can have jobs - great ones. Women can make choices. Women can make money. Women can go to great colleges and do things besides teach!

And yet . . .

I recently read an argument about feminism. Basically, the argument was that feminism was unnecessary because men and women were, for most purposes, equal. I strongly disagree with this, and I made some points about sex positivity and how women are victims of the virgin/whore dichotomy and how gender roles are still an epic issue. I also mentioned the recent Planned Parenthood drama in congress that threatened to take away some of women's rights.

Still, I was told that men and women were equal enough that feminism wasn't necessary. I put the debate out of my mind for a few days, and then, this afternoon, I learned something that made the issue come rushing back into my head.

And this is where the content is going to get a little more mature.

I learned (rather randomly) today that vibrators are illegal in Alabama. Like, you actually can't sell them or buy them. They were deemed too obscene. Several other states (including Texas, Kansas, and Colorado) used to have bans on vibrators, but the laws were overturned. But Alabama's law continues.

So you can't buy vibrators, but firearms are just fine.

(To be clear, I am actually not opposed to the selling of firearms, but I find it absolutely ridiculous that firearms are considered more ethical than sex toys. I've never, for instance, heard of someone murdering another human with a vibrator as a weapon.)

Now, I know that vibrators can be used by both genders, but statistically and culturally they are more associated with females. Quick History Lesson: The first vibrator was actually steam powered and it was used by doctor's on women with "hysteria." It was not seen as sexual at all, but they believed that "pelvic massages" helped treat hysteria. (Basically, they'd help a woman reach orgasm and they believed it would help her. A vibrating device made that easier.) Over time the devices became used less for medical purposes and more in homes. And today, with shows like Sex and the City bringing them to the forefront of pop culture, vibrators are seen primarily as female sex toys.

And they are ILLEGAL in Alabama.

Okay, why am I harping on this? Because after I learned this, I did some googling. I was just so shocked by the idea that something so simple and harmless could be banned anywhere in 2011. That's when I ran across some info on the ethical debate about vibrators. This quote (which I found on wikipedia) particularly started and infuriated me.

From Wikipedia:

An American Baptist preacher, Dan Ireland, has been an outspoken critic of such devices and has fought to ban them on religious and ethical grounds. According to Ireland, "Sometimes you have to protect the public against themselves....These devices should be outlawed because they are conducive to promiscuity, because they promote loose morals and because they entice improper and potentially deadly behaviors."^[17] Ireland believes that "there is no moral way to use one of these devices."^[

For full disclosure here, not that it's super relevant, I want to say that I consider myself a Christian, so I in now way mean to condemn anyone for their faith. Not at all. In fact, it's as a Christian that Ireland's statement offends me. Because this statement is just so ridiculous and offensive, and it insinuates that women who choose to use sexual devices are unholy in some way.

After reading all of this, I was left asking myself why people are so afraid of vibrators? Is it fear that women will no longer "need" men in a sexual way? Or is it fear of women seeking sexual pleasure for themselves? We do have a strange idea in our society that men want sex and women don't, and those who do are "promiscuous." What I have to ask is, how is using a vibrator (particularly if someone decides to use it by themselves) promoting promiscuity? Isn't it actually doing the opposite?

But if there's one thing I've learned over the past several months it's that female sexuality is something many people fear. I don't understand why. I'm not really sure I want to understand why. It's something that bothers me so much, and its a huge part of the reason I wrote Shut Out. This idea that women should keep topics of sexuality secret because they are "dirty" is ridiculous, and yet it still affects even me. I hesitate to write this post for its content, but why should this discussion be considered inappropriate? It isn't graphic. It isn't overly personal. It's all just fact. And the fact is, by banning the buying and selling of vibrators, Alabama is taking away women's rights.

Which brings me back to the beginning of this post. Growing up. It sucks. It sucks to realize that the world you thought was perfect is actually kind of unfair. It sucks to realize that a society that masquerades as being equal actually has a long way to go. It really sucks to know there's not much you can do about it.

Except, actually, there is. I'm doing something about it right now. It's a small thing. I'm sure no Alabaman politicians are reading this post. But this is about more than Alabama. Its about our culture, how we view the world. If we came telling ourselves the genders are equal, we'll never fix the problems we still have. And the only way to change culture is to change minds, to help the next generation move past the stereotypes and fears and prejudices of the world we live in. And to make that happen, we have to speak up.

I speak up through my books and this blog. But you don't have to have a platform to speak up. You can do something as simple as standing up for yourself or others when issues of sexual politics or women's rights come up. You could help a friend get over her embarrassment about issues of sexuality. You could have a sex talk with your kids that didn't leave them feeling awkward or embarrassed or afraid to be honest. You can speak up and make a difference in so many ways.

This is my way.

So you know, growing up sucks, but as a kid, I never thought I could make a difference even if I wanted to. Now I know that I can. So in that sense, that knowledge that my voice matters, growing up has its perks, too. I might not be happy to know some of these things, but I'm happy to know that I can change them if I try hard enough.

And so can you.

20 in 20 - Week 13 (and Winner!)

2011-08-01T13:28:00.002-05:00

The winner of A Need So Beautiful is . . .

Mrs. Heise!!!!!!

Please email me at kodykeplinger @ gmail . com and I'll get the book to you as soon as I can.

(Note to all past winners - I'm still getting things sent off. I promise, you have not been forgotten.)

And this week's book is . . .

DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth!

Divergent is THE BEST dystopian I've read in YA, and I know so many others who feel the same way. Its the story of a girl living in futuristic Chicago in a society where people are divided into factions based on their values. And it ROCKS!

So here's how to enter:

1. Be a follower of this blog

2. blog or tweet this contest

3. Save that link!

4. Comment below with a link to your blog or tweet.

That's it!

Contest open to US and Canada only. Contest ends this Friday at midnight PST.

I keep forgetting to say that . . . oh well. I said it htis time.

20 In 20 - Week 12

2011-07-25T11:47:00.002-05:00

Hey y'all!

So it isn't exactly week 12 since I've skipped a few weeks here and there, but we're going to pretend it is anyway, okay? Okay.

I'm still not totally caught up on mailing things, but I'm getting close. Close enough that we can do ANOTHER AWESOME GIVEAWAY!!!

This weeks book will be . . .

A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL by Suzanne Young!

I actually just read this one recently, and I loved, loved, loved it! It's such a wonderful, beautiful story about a girl who discovers that she is one of The Forgotten, a type of angel whose destiny is to help people, but to eventually be forgotten by those she loves. It's wonderful and heartbreaking - and theres a REALLY hot boy involved, guys. REALLY HOT.

So, if you'd like to win, here's how to enter:

1. Blog or tweet about this contest

2. Save the link!

3. Come back here and leave the link in the comments.

And that's all!

You must be a follower to enter.

US/Canada only this week.

Go, go, go!

Blogging Fail, but I'm back!

2011-07-16T00:27:00.002-05:00

Hello lovelies!

So I know I've been a bit of an epic blogging fail lately. Mostly its because of moving and getting settled into my new apartment. Mix that with writing non-stop and prepping for SHUT OUT's release in September, and you have one crazy/exhausting summer ahead. But I know I've been neglectful of the blog, and I'm vowing here and now to fix that.

But first, let's give a few updates, shall we?

SHUT OUT is out this September. There's a cool widget Kari over at A Good Addiction made me on the sidebar if you'd like to snag it. Thus far, the response has been pretty good! BEA and ALA goers got to get copies from giant piles of ARCs provided by Little Brown. I did a lot of signing at BEA, too, so that was fun! And reviews are starting to appear! Now, if you aren't a conference-goer, no worries. I already gave away 2 SHUT OUT copies here on the blog (speaking of which, DANI!!! Please email me your address at kodykeplinger@gmail.com so I can get that book to you!) and I'll be giving away more. Actually, I just started a goodreads giveaway I linked at the top of this page, so check that out.

In other bookish news, I just got my first pass proofs of my third novel, A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE today. Now, I don't mean to play favorites *covers THE DUFF and SHUT OUT's ears* but this book is my favorite thing I've written. Shhhh. Don't let hte others know!

But seriously, I LOVE this book. The main character is just so complicated and I adore her so much. For those who don't know, pass proofs are the final editing step, just checking for last minute typos. So I'm a little sad to be nearly done with this novel. But that does man its close to time for you guys to read it! AMN should be out next Spring. Once I have a release date, I'll let you know!

And, in the meantime, I'm working on some other secret things. I just started one project that I'm about 40k into, and I'm LOVING it! But it's a lot different from anything I've written, so it's also nerve-wracking. Which means that, for now, i"m writing it just for me. And hopefully, way down the road, I can share it with all of you guys. <3

In non-bookish news, I'M A NEW YORKER!!! Yep, yep. I have a great aparment that I've been living in for just over a month now, and its amazing! It's a lot bigger than any place I ever expected to get in NYC, and its wayyyy uptown, so it takes me a little longer to get places, but that's okay. So worth it! And I have a fun, cool roommate to boot!

And now that I've shared what's up with me, waht's going on with you guys? Any new cool things happening?

SHUT OUT and DUFF Prize Pack winners!

2011-07-13T14:11:00.002-05:00

Okay, guys. I'm here with my random number generator and some great comments, so its time to pick my winners!

Here goes!

For a copy of SHUT OUT signed . . .

DANI!!!! (aka Dandilion on twitter, I think?)

and the winner of a SHUT OUT ARC and a DUFF Prize Pack is . . . .

LOUISSE!

Congrats to both of you!

Please email me your mailing addresses and I'll get these out as soon as I can.

NOTE: I am not doing a new giveaway this week because I am woefully behind on mailing out prizes. If you have won a prize and have not recieved it yet, don't worry, I haven't forgotten you! I'll be heading to the UPS store soon.

Thanks everyone who entered! Y'all rock!

20 In 20 - Week 11 + Winner!

2011-07-04T19:34:00.002-05:00

And the winner of ANGELFIRE is . . . .

MISS LAUREN!

Miss Lauren, email me your mailing address at kodykeplinger@gmail.com and I'll get that to you ASAP!

And now, for the new contest....

I'm giving away 2 ARCs of SHUT OUT!!!

SHUT OUT is my new book, not out until this September, but you can win it right here!

Along with one of those ARCs I"m also giving away a DUFF prize pack, including a DUFF poster, a signed paperback of THE DUFF, and a few DUFF bookmarks.

Here's how to enter:

1. Be a follower of this blog

2. Tweet or blog about this contest and post the link in the comments below.

3. In your comment, tell me in 100 words or less why YOU are the biggest DUFF fan and why you want to win SHUT OUT and the DUFF prize pack!

And that's it! I'll announce winners in a week. Contest ends midnight SUNDAY (not Friday, SUNDAY).

Good luck!!! LOVE YOU GUYS!

20 in 20 - Week 10 + Winners

2011-06-20T12:26:00.002-05:00

And the winner of LEGEND is . . .

LUDWIG! (Susan)

Please email me at kodykeplinger (at) gmail (dot) come with your address. Will send soon!

Time for another giveaway!

This week's book is ANGELFIRE by Courtney Allison Moulton. Courtney is one of my favorite people and ANGELFIRE is one of my favorite books! Its fun and action packed, and there are hot boys. What else can you ask for?

So, if you want ANGELFIRE here's all you have to do:

1. Follow this blog

2. Tweet about this contest (each tweet = one entry. Entries unlimited)

3. For every tweet, save the link and post that link in the comments below. Separate comment for each tweet, please. It makes picking a winner easier.

And that's it! Open to US/Canada residents. Closes at Midnight PST on Friday.

20 in 20 - Week 9 + Winners

2011-06-13T12:22:00.003-05:00

Okay, time to announce the winners of THE DUFF!

Winner #1: Tiffany

Winner #2: Britney from I Eat Words

Winner #3: Storyteller_Princess

If you three could please email me at kodykeplinger(at)gmail(dot)com with your address, I will get these in the mail as soon as I can.

NOTE: I sent out books to winners a few days ago from previous contests. However, only a few winners emailed me with their addresses. If you entered a previous contest PLEASE look back at winners posts to see if you were a winner. If you don't, the books will never be sent. Thanks!

This week I'm giving away an ARC of a new book, one that I haven't gotten a chance to read yet but that I'm told by MANY is absolutely wonderful. I'm giving away an advanced copy of LEGEND by Marie Liu.

If you would like to enter, please do the following:

1. Be a follower

2. Blog or tweet about this giveaway.

3. Save the link to that blog or tweet

4. Post the link in the comments here.

PLEASE NOTE: the more you blog/tweet and comment the more entries you get. So you can tweet about this contest and comment here with the links AS MANY TIMES AS YOU WANT. The more you do this, the better your chances to win!

Contest is not international this time - just US and Canada. Contest ends Friday at 12:00am (PST this time!)

Best of luck!

20 in 20 - Week 8 + Winners (sort of)

2011-06-06T18:31:00.002-05:00

Hello all!

So after that super long hiatus, I have returned.

First off the winner of CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS is Erica, whose favorite city is Chicago! <3 Erica, please email me at kodykeplinger@gmail.com with an address and I'll send soon.

To all previous winners - the delay is finally over! I will be ordering your books tonight and they should be there by Friday (I hope). If you have not revieved a book by Friday, email me and I'll take care of it.

Ans since I had to skip two weeks, I'm going to make up for it by declaring THREE winners for this weeks contest.

This week, the book I'm giving away is my own. I just got paperback copies of THE DUFF in, and I want to share them with you guys!

So, to enter, all you have to do this week is this:

1. Be a follower

2. Blog OR tweet about this contest (each tweet/blog you do is an extra entry, so if you do it multiple times, multiple entries)

3. Put the links to your blogs/tweets in a comment here. (If you want to comment for each separate blog or tweet, that's actually better for me to tabulate the winners, so go for it! each comment with a different blog/tweet is an entry - no limit on entries).

That's it! THREE WINNERS of a paperback of THE DUFF!

Contest ends midnight Friday!

No contest - updates

2011-05-29T11:25:00.002-05:00

Hey peeps!

So the City of Fallen Angels contest is going to continue on until next Friday. I have very limited internet until then, so you have another week!

Why limited internet? BECAUSE I HAVE A NEW PLACE!!! I have a new apartment in NYC, and I love it! But the internet hasn't been set up yet. Once it is, I'll get back on the ball.

This is also why I am behind on sending out prizes. Once that is set up, all of my winners will recieve their books via amazon.

Gotta go! I have an apartment to set up!

20 in 20 - Week 7 (and winner!)

2011-05-16T07:50:00.002-05:00

And the winner of LIKE MANDARIN is . . .

BEE!!! (Shoot me an email at kodykeplinger (at) gmail (dot) com, Bee!

NOTE TO WINNERS: I haven't had the chance to ship out a few of your books yet. I'm sorry! I'll get on that by the end of this week.

And now on to this week's book!

Since I'm in NYC right now, it feels appropriate to giveaway a book that takes place in this, my favorite of all cities. The first one I thought of?

CITY OF FALLEN ANGELS by Cassandra Clare!

CoFA is the 4th book in the Mortal Instruments series, and it is stellar! So, I want to give you a chance to win a copy!

Here's how to enter!

1. Tweet or blog about this contest

2. Save that link!

3. In the comments of this post, tell me what your favorite city is and why!

4. Under that paragraph, paste your link.

Contest is US only this week.

Contest ends Friday at midnight EST!

GOOD LUCK PEEPS!

Want to win an ARC of SHUT OUT?

2011-05-10T12:38:00.002-05:00

So the girls over at YA Highway have set up a BAD ASS contest to win an advanced copy of my second novel, SHUT OUT! It's easy to enter, but also fun. Get out your face paint or open up your photobucket - its time to get FEIRCE!

http://www.yahighway.com/2011/05/first-ever-arc-giveaway-of-kody.html

20 in 20 - Week 6 (And winner!)

2011-05-09T12:41:00.002-05:00

According to my random number generator, this week's winner is Kristina Sheilds! Kristina, you won BEFORE I FALL! Email me at kodykeplinger at gmail dot com and I'll get that to you ASAP.

This week's book is LIKE MANDARIN by Kirsten Hubbard. Kirsten is one of my best writer friends, and this book is one of the most beautiful contemporary novels I've ever read. I'm always excited to share it with others - like you!

So, to enter, just do the following.

1. blog or tweet this contest

2. SAVE THE LINK!

3.In the comments here, tell me what your favorite contemporary YA novel is and why. This is a great way for me to get recommendations! <3

4. Post the link below your paragraph!

You must be a follower to enter.

Contest open internationally!

Good luck!

The Friday Mix: May 6, 2011

2011-05-06T13:50:00.003-05:00

So I've been a fail at keeping these up, but I'm back and ready to share some music that has been going through my head all this week. Fun stuff!

Without farther ado, here are the top 5 songs I've been jamming to all week!

"Poison and Wine" by The Civil Wars

This song is basically just gorgeous and deep and full of longing. LOVE IT. Also, I discovered this week that it is perfect for Chuck and Blair on Gossip Girl - my favorite couple. Yeah, I know, I'm obsessive. Sorry!

"Set Fire To the Rain" by Adele

Blame it on the fact that it has rained in Ithaca wayyyy too mcuht his week. I just can't stop listening to this song. LOVE ADELE!

"ET" by Katy Perry (covered by Meghan Tonjes

So I love "ET" but recently someone introduced me to Meghan Tonjes, who does some great original stuff, but I think its her AMAZING covers that I really appreciate. This one, especially, is fabulous.

"Jesus of Suburbia" by Green Day

It's like 6 songs in one or something! Augh, I just love this song. Its my favorite Green Day and hs some amazing lines.

"Arise" by Flyleaf

I think its because the fabulous novel DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth came out this week that I have been listening to "Arise" so much. It reminds me a lot of that book (which you should all read) and makes me want to read it again . . . and again . . . and again....

And that's all this week!

Hep Me Name My Spirit Animal!

2011-05-05T14:37:00.003-05:00

Today was my last day at Split Oak Press as an intern. SO SAD! But I've loved my job this semester, as well as my co-workers and boss. So, in honor of our last day, my boss had each of us pick an animal from a box of plastic animals. My co-worker decided we should choose which represented us - our "spirit animals." (If you were as addicted to The O. C. as I was, this will make you giggle, I hope.)

Well, I met my spirit animal today. And, as a Leo, I think he represents me pretty freakin' well. I mean,

I'm fierce, too!!! Right? Right.

Anyway, I love my new friend here, but I just can't think of a name for him! Not Simba or any references to real lions. Something cool or funny or symbolic! Anyway, since I can't pick, I thought I'd ask you guys!

So tell me, what should I name my spirit animal?

Commercial, LIterary, and the Question of Value

2011-05-04T14:47:00.005-05:00

Posts about commercial writing and literary writing have been done before by many people, but a lot of times it seems to be a tough subject to talk about without offending people. But today, after a class discussion, I was left feeling very angry, very passionate, and very in need of explaining some apparent misconceptions about value when it comes to books.

I'm not here to tell you the definition of commercial or the definition of literary. I'm not sure I could articulate it, really. For me, its an "I know it when I see it" sort of thing. I read both genres, I love and hate books in both genres, and I respect both genres. While I could name off a list of examples of which books fit into which categories, I won't. That's a waste of time. But I will say that I loved White Oleander (literary) just as much as I loved Vampire Academy (commercial). I loved them for very different reasons and in different ways, but I loved them both just the same.

I write commercial fiction. I know this. I love what I write and I am proud of what I write and I work hard to be the best writer I can be.

Which is why it makes me very, very upset when people act is if commercial is of a lesser form than literary fiction.

In class today we discussed the debate happening now between Jennifer Egan and Jennifer Weiner. I personally have no strong feelings about either of these women or their sides, because I feel some wording has been misconstrued on both sides. However, while discussing this debate, some very interesting - and very incorrect - statements were made by my peers.

First of all, the attitude seemed to be that literary fiction is inherently "better" just because it is, well, literary. But what is the definition of better? Every single reader has different feelings about every single book they read. I recently read Jonathan Franzen's Freedom and I can honestly say that I did not enjoy it. I would much rather reread The Hunger Games. But Freedom is literary and The Hunger Games is commercial. So, to me, The Hunger Games was "better." However, I am aware that others will disagree. That's cool. But its unfair to say that all literary is "better" when each reading experience is going to be different.

The second thing that came up that really irked me was that a few of my peers stated that they primarily read commercial and yet they saw it as expendable, meaningless, just for pleasure. Perhaps some books are this way - I've read a few - but to say all commercial fits this mold is highly offensive. Not just to me as a writer, but ot me as a reader. I have read many, MANY commercial novels that "got something out of." I would argue that Dreamland by Sarah Dessen is commercial, and it honestly changed my life. I totally advocate reading for pleasure, but I dare say we can find pleasure in both literary and commercial literature, and that it is definitely possible to get deep meaning from both. Every book is going to affect a person differently. Putting all commercial in the "expendable" category is over generalizing and rather demeaning to many of its readers. And, you know what? Even if a book is only for pleasure, I'd argue that it is still not expendable. Deep meanings and important messages aren't necessary for a good read. My enjoyment is not expendable to me.

The third and most upsetting statement made today was this:

"People aim for literary and just fall into commercial when they miss that mark."

No. No, no, no. WRONG. (And I said as much in the class today.) Most, if not all, commercial authors intended to write commercially. Or intended to write without caring what genre it was. I didn't think, "Oh, I want to write literary!" when I wrote The DUFF. I also didn't think "Oh, I want to write commercial!" I wanted tow rite a story. Now, I know I write commercially, and I am so fine with that. I have many peers who went in knowing and aiming to write commercial books because that is what they read and what they love. To say they "missed the mark" is not only hurtful, it is very wrong.

Not EVERYONE wants to write literary. Not EVERYONE wants to write commercial. Some people don't even care which they write. That's fine. That's why we are all so different. And that's what makes reading so great - we get a wide range because different people want to write different things. To say one aims for literary and lands in commercial is to say all commercial authors are, in fact, failures in some way. I don't think Stephen King would see himself as a failure, personally.

My point here is that both literary and commercial have value. They are very different, they are apples and oranges, and they both matter. I will even venture to say they have equal value, just in different ways. Because both genres have fabulous authors who write fabulously different types of stories. AND THAT'S AWESOME!

I've told you all that I'm leaving Ithaca and taking a year off before. I'm also switching majors. Because over the past two years I have learned that literary fiction is the only acceptable form in academia. This upsets me so much I can hardly put it into words. The point of a writing department is to teach students how to get jobs as writers or in publishing, but by enforcing the "literary is greater" attitude we demean those students who might be great writers and want to write commercially. This is oppressive and damaging, especially in an industry that values commercial literature.

To be clear, this is not why I'm leaving Ithaca, but it IS why I am switching majors no matter where I end up. I desperately hope to see a change made in writing programs around the country. I desperately want to see acceptance of literary and commercial fiction in all genres. I"m just not sure it'll happen anytime soon.

I"m going to end on one final note. Some will call this a war or a debate. I don't. Because I personally stand on both sides. I love literary fiction. I love commercial fiction. And I love stories.

Commercial writers are writers because they love to write. Literary writers are writers because they love to write. If we all love to write, why can't we just support each other in this? Let people write what they want, let people write what they love, and cherish every story told because it'll impact someone, somewhere. I think all writers, no matter the genre, should stand together here. We love what we do, and there is no need to devalue each other when we ultimately have the same goals.

And that, I suppose, is the end of my rant.

20 in 20 - week 5 (and last week's winner!)

2011-05-02T12:52:00.002-05:00

So last week's winner of Pride and Prejudice is THE ROMANCE BOOKIE! Please email me at kodykeplinger (at) gmail (dot) com with your address!

This week I'm giving away a copy of one of my favorite books of 2010, BEFORE I FALL by Lauren Oliver. This book blew me away with its stunning character development and fabulous writing, and I want to share it with YOU!

To enter:

1. Be a follower of this blog.

2. Blog or tweet this contest.

3. SAVE THAT LINK!

4. Here in the comments, tell me ONE THING you would do if you knew you only had one day left to live. This is in the spirit of the book, which is about a girl reliving her last day on earth. So what would yo do if you got to relive those final hours?

5. Paste the link to your blog or tweet below.

Contest is open to US and Canada only. (Next week's will be international - promise!)

Winner will be determined by random number generator. Contest ends midnight Friday!

Road Trip Wednesday: Theme Songs

2011-04-27T12:16:00.002-05:00

So this week's RTW (via YAHighway.com) deals with songs. So, we were asked to pick a song that sums up either something we are writing/have written OR a song that sums up one of our favorite books. I decided to do one song for all 3 of my book - THE DUFF, the upcoming SHUT OUT, and the book I am editing, A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE (out next spring). So lets get started!

So, I've talked kind of . . . a lot, about how The Veronica's song "I Can't Stay Away" inspired the entire plot of THE DUFF. So I wanted to do a different song today.

For THE DUFF I picked "Stay" by Safetysuit. For anyone who has read the book, this is a theme song more for the second half of the book mostly from Wesley's POV. <3

I haven't posted my playlist for SHUT OUT yet, but it's coming. And "One Girl Revolution" by Saving Jane is basically the entire book's theme song. LOVE THIS SONG!!!

And, finally, A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE. I haven't talked much about what this book is about, and I don't want to give anything away so soon. But Iwill tell you that the main character is he kind of girl who refuses to listen to music that came after 1999. She likes it retro, and I think she'd approve of this song choice.

"Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper fits the romance in A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE in a lot of ways. The verses fit the main character's point of view and the chorus fits the love interest's POV. That's all I will say, though. It's a lot more complicated than most of my romances, but you'll just have to wait and see why.

What Sex Positive Means (at least to me)

2011-04-25T22:00:00.003-05:00

Lately, we've seen lots of blog posts (including a few of mine) about sex in YA. There are arguments and counter arguments and counter counter arguments and counter counter counter arguments and . . . well, I guess you get it.

One phrase gets thrown around a lot. "Sex Positive." We've heard authors talk about sex positive YA, we've heard about sex positive education, and we've heard some argue against sex positivity. Recently, a discussion with some friends I go to school with proved to me that not everyone knows what sex positivity is. This made me wonder - do *I* know what sex positivity is? I've been told my writing is sex positive, I've identified myself as an advocate of sex positive messages, but did I know what it meant?

That's how this post came about. After a few serious conversations with friends, I came up with what "sex positive" means to me, and, more importantly perhaps, what it does not mean.

What Sex Positivity is NOT

-Sex positivity is NOT sex encouragement. Sex positive messages aren't promoting sex nor encouraging teenagers to have sex.

-Sex positivity is NOT pressuring teenagers to have sex young.

-Sex positivity is NOT advocating sex . . . well, at all, actually.

So then what does it mean? Well, here's what it DOES mean - at least to me.

Sex Positivity DOES Mean (to me, at least)

-Sex positivity DOES mean educating young people about their bodies, about sex, about safety, and about things that are natural and normal human responses.

-Sex positivity DOES mean encouraging conversations about sex, asking people not to silence themselves, to ask questions, to learn.

-Sex positivity DOES mean treating everyone - teenagers included - with respect and honesty, telling the truth - the good, the bad, and the awkward.

-Sex positivity DOES mean talking about sex as a natural thing, not as something "bad" or "dirty," not treating those who have it as shameful.

I write this post because I've seen some confusion on this matter. Sex positive sometimes gets mixed up with "GO OUT AND HAVE SEX NOW IT'S GREAT!!!" which is so, so not what it means - not in my world. Instead, it means education on all fronts and treating sex as something normal - because, hey, every species has some way of doing it - and not something to be ashamed of.

I've talked a few times on here about slut shaming and the dangers of it. Well, sex positivity discourages this. Instead of treating those who think about or engage in sex as demons, it treats EVERYONE with respect.

So what does it mean to write sex positive literature?

Again, this is my personal definition, so others may disagree here. But to me, writing sex positive literature means writing books in which the characters are not condemned for their sexual choices. Maybe they face consequences - that's life - but the reader is not told that the characters should be ashamed. Sex positive literature is honest, it doesn't moralize, and it treats its characters AND its readers with respect.

Just as a note - a book doesn't even have to have sex in it to be sex positive by my definition. I'd call Andrea Cremer's Nightshade sex positive (I actually just presented on it and some other sex positive urban fantasy this weekend - I'll do a post on that later).

Anyway, I think that's the end of my little ramble. But now I"m curious - what does sex positivity mean to you? What do you think good examples of sex positive media (books, TV, movies) are? Let me know in the comments!

20 in 20 - Week 4

2011-04-25T14:25:00.002-05:00

So time for another 20 in 20 contest!

As I said at the start, my goal is to giveaway books that inspired my writing a lot. Thus far, all have been YA. But I'm not just inspired by YA. I'm inspired by sooooooo many other things - even in reading.

One book that inspired me a lot? Well, I think you can all probably guess that I'm in love with Jane Austen. (Come on, my adoration of love/hate relationships didn't give it away?)

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is one of the first "classics" I ever read, and I reread it frequently. So, this week, that's what I'm giving away - a copy of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE.

And this week, for a bit of creative fun, I have another writing contest for you!

So, follow these steps to enter.

1. You must follow this blog.

2. Tweet or blog about this post - save the link!

3. This is where it gets fun. So recently PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES has been a big hit, yet? And several other classics retold with supernatural creatures. So, for this contest, give me the title (and even a short summary - two or three sentences) of your favorite classic with the addition of supernatural creatures. The most original and humorous will win! Post your entry in the comments here.

4. At the bottom of your entry, link to your blog or tweet post.

And that's it!

This contest is US only (as I will be sending things via Amazon).

Best of luck to you all! <3

Winner!

2011-04-23T21:38:00.002-05:00

And, according to random number generator - which is how it was decided this time - the winner issssss.....

LISSA!!!!

(Who, incidentally, shares her name with the main character of my SHUT OUT)

Lissa - email me your address and I'll get a book to you!

What YA Lit Taught Me About Feminism and Femininity: A Guest Post by Stephanie Su

2011-04-22T09:02:00.002-05:00

I've been a fan of Stephanie Su's blog and book reviews for a long time now. Her reviews are always written honestly and intelligently. And the girl is my age! So when I asked her to guest post, I was thrilled with the post she came up with. Check it out!

What YA Lit Taught Me About Feminism and Femininity

By Stephanie Su

A few weeks ago, I started reading Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture by Peggy Orenstein. This is a hilarious, yet biting and troubling, nonfiction account of our society’s consumerist (re)obsession with all things pink, frilly, and girly for females. In the book, the author wonders how this phenomenon will impact the current generation of little girls. Is this female penchant for feminine things such as princesses, playing House, and the color pink biological, or is it the result of the conditioning females have received at the hands of an unwitting (or perhaps very intentional) society?

Related to that, I’m curious as to what effect recent trends and tropes in YA literature have on our notions of feminism and femininity. Below, then, are some things I learned from reading YA*:

Girls can do anything just as well as boys.

YA lit is the land of strong, proud, capable, and brilliant female protagonists. So many YA books are about strong females who prove that they can do anything that boys can: Alanna becomes a knight in Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness quartet; the gifted Menolly dares to become the first female musician in Anne McCaffrey’s Pern: Harper Hall series; and these are just the first two I can think of. Reading YA, readers can get ideas of what females can do in the face of traditional opposition.

Be thyself, and thou shall attract sexy, sexy boys.

One of the greatest things that YA promises heterosexual female readers is that if they stay true to themselves, boys will flock to them, sure as the sun will rise. This is a double-edged message. On the one hand, it’s great that YA lit encourages its female readers to not change for love. On the other hand, this message is problematic when the female protagonist is a personality-less dullard who is incapable of standing up for herself and yet inadvertently attracts the devotion of incomprehensibly perfect guys. The message of “be yourself” has, in some cases, become conflated with “don’t be inclined to develop emotionally or mentally” or “boys like personality-less dullards who can’t stand up for themselves”—neither of which, I think I can say fairly certainly, are good things to teach people of any age.

Furthermore, very few YA books feature girls who know what they want in love, and take it upon themselves to get their happily ever after. YA lit sends the subconscious message that love will find you without you having to do anything to encourage it along. This is an unrealistic notion. How wonderful is the idea of being loved without even having to try to encourage it! The truth of the matter is that, whether you’re interested in males or females, we are all still vulnerable human beings who rarely wish to be emotionally hurt, who will rarely make our affections for someone known without some concrete evidence (confirmation from a mutual friend, perhaps) that that person just might feel the same way for you too. Think about whether or not you would declare your love for someone whose regard for you you are unsure of. How likely are you to do it? I thought not.

If you have a boyish (nick)name or figure, you will have more fun.

Sometime in the past decade, names like Charlie, Joey, Billie, etc. began to appear more as girls’ names than boys’ names in YA lit. At first glance, there is nothing wrong with this—until we look closer and examine what drives this female appropriation of masculine names: the subconscious devaluation of feminine traits. This literary choice, seemingly harmless on the surface, implies that we females cannot have fun or succeed unless we reject traditional feminine characteristics. Instead of empowering females, this trope perpetuates the old patriarchal ways, that masculine characteristics are superior to female ones.

It’s okay to have unrealistically high expectations for romance.

Don’t get me wrong: I don’t think anyone should settle in love. I think it’s okay to have high standards for the one you want to end up with. But there are high standards, and then there are standards that are impossible for anyone to reach. Breaking up with your BF because he doesn’t sparkle in the sun? Honestly, girl: he can’t help the fact that he’s human! Couples therapists always advise people not to expect their partners to read their minds: if you want something, you have to let them know! You can’t expect your partner to act like your perfect fictional boyfriend/girlfriend. Fiction is fiction, and reality is reality, and when readers start mixing the two up from reading so many YA romances, I think they could use a little slap upside the head.

You are not complete until you find love.

What I am going to suggest is not something I have an answer to, and it’s not something that I think many will find problematic or wish to change, either. It’s the subconscious danger of implying that love is essential for young adults, or young adult literature. There is nothing at all wrong with a good romance in literature. Many of us LOVE when there’s a romance in fiction. But when agents and editors suggest to authors that they add a more concrete romance to their novels so that it will sell better—when YA books’ more salient themes get pushed to the wayside in favor of Team Boy A vs. Team Boy B debates—when I start a YA book and can immediate predict who the main character will end up with romantically by the end of the story, as if the fact that the MC will end up with someone is required of the story and the author… well, yes, I’m a little worried about the message that is sending to readers.

I suspect that the points I make here will garner their fair share of criticism, criticism along the lines of what feminists argue when they say that their choice to flaunt their femininity is a sign of their success in overthrowing patriarchal attitudes. But does it really? Or does that chain of thought reinforce for men that it’s okay to objectify women? Similarly, when such archaic notions of love and femininity are visible in YA lit, is that really a success on our society’s part? I have no answers, merely lots of questions and room for discourse.

*This list should be taken with a grain of facetiousness. I am not outright criticizing YA and suggesting that people should stop reading and writing it. That would be very, uh, counterproductive to my blog and my writing aspirations. I just want to move people to consider some issues latent in things they might have taken for granted.

20 in 20 - Week 3

2011-04-18T13:53:00.002-05:00

2 Giveaways down, 18 more to go!

This week, I'm giving away one of my favorite books OF ALL TIME. It's a book that inspired me to write contemporary YA, it's a book that changed my adolescence, it's a book that meant and means a lot to me. This week, I'm giving away DREAMLAND by Sarah Dessen.

DREAMLAND is about a girl who falls in love with a boy. But they boy can be violent. She both loves and fears him, and as a reader, I both loved and feared him. As someone who has personal experience (friends, family, etc) with domestic violence and never understood why my friends stayed with the boys who did this to them, I appreciated this book. It taught me a lot. And I think it will mean a lot to many other readers.

So, here's how you can enter for a copy.

1. Tweet or blog about this contest.

2. Save that link!

3. In the comments here, tell me about ONE BOOK that changed your life and maybe made you see the world differently.

4. At the bottom of the comment, leave the link to your blog or tweet.

And that's it! GO GO GO!

A TOUCH MORTAL winner!!!

2011-04-17T00:37:00.002-05:00

And the winner, with her dreams of purple and blue glitter hair, is . . .

Casey (The Bookish Type)!!!!!

So, Casey, shoot me an email at kodykeplinger (at) gmail (dot) com with your mailing address and I'll get this baby in the mail asap!

For everyone else - a new contest will be announced Monday!

Slut Shaming - In HIgh School, It's a Big Deal

2011-04-12T22:00:00.006-05:00

A few days ago I was doing some research for a presentation about the portrayal of sexual desire in young adult series. In my research, I came across some field research regarding adolescent girls and sexuality. I found this study incredibly interesting, because my own views on sexuality in high school never seemed to be the norm. Not only that, but I had zero experience with boys or sex in the real sense - books and movies and my mother's talks were the extent of it. So seeing how a variety of girls responded to surveys given to them over a period of three to four years during high school seemed really interesting to me.

But what I found really, really upset me.

There were many issues brought up in the publication - a piece by Margarita Viner if you're interested in checking it out. Its easy to find on google scholar. Anyway, the issue brought up that most worried me was the issue of labeling.

According to Viner's study, most girls' ultimate decision about whether to or not to engage in sexual activities has very little to do with what they actually want. Instead, many girls said fear of being called a "slut" or "whore" by peers was the deciding factor.

I dealt with slut shaming a little bit in THE DUFF, but it's also a theme - well, labeling in general, not just slut shaming - in SHUT OUT. So it's clearly been on my mind a bit, but now? Now I'm really worried.

I'm all for encouraging teenagers to wait until they are ready and mature enough to deal with sex. I do think teens should be educated about consequences, but my feelings on abstinence only education aren't appropriate for here. Regardless of which side of that very heated debate you are on, can we agree that fear of name calling and peer torment is NOT the right way to keep girls from engaging in sexual activity?

Since reading the article, I've started paying attention to how my peers, even in college, refer to girls. I hear girls use "slut" and "whore" a lot around here, and not always in regard to girls who "sleep around." One of my friends called a girl who flirted a lot as a "whore." Another friend described a girl who sexiled her roommate (kicked her out so she could be alone with her boyfriend, presumably to have sex) as a "slut." This made me take pause. The girls in question weren't necessarily having sex, and if they were, not necessarily with more than one person, and yet they earned the label.

Even if the girls in question were "sleeping around," I couldn't help thinking that labeling them still seemed very antifeminist and unfair.

But this is what I hear everyday. This is what high school girls hear every day. Girls ridicule each other for sexual activities frequently. And now, according to this study, this fear of name-calling and shaming is what drives many girls to avoid sexual encounters.

I"m noticing, too, in popular media, not just our own mouths. The other night, while listening to a Taylor Swift song I used to love, I caught this line:

"She's not a saint, and she's not what you think. She's an actress. She's better known for the things that she does on the mattress."

The song, "Better than Revenge," is actually about a girl who steals boyfriends. Regardless, I worry that the wording on this phrase sends a very, very negative message. The line here implies that the girl isn't a "saint" because she's "known for the things that she does on the mattress." So her sexual activities make her a bad person. Don't get me wrong, I love Taylor Swift, but this particular line and the phrasing seriously put me off.

Since the end of high school, I have done my best to eliminate the word "slut" from my vocabulary. Sometimes, out of habit from back then, it slips out and I have to check myself. But, for the most part, I've gotten rid of it when referencing another female. In a discussion with a friend the other day, though, she said, "I think some girls do deserve to be called sluts, though. Definitely not all. But some."

I"m not sure I agree, since men are never called out for their promiscuity and, if they are, its just "manwhore" which is usually taken as a joke, not as damaging as "whore" for a girl.

But i'm curious - what do you think? Is slut shaming something we should be worried about in our teenage girls? Is there ever an okay time to call another woman a "slut?" And, better yet, what can we do to help fix this problem of slut shaming? I want to know your thoughts.

20 in 20 - Week 2

2011-04-11T13:27:00.002-05:00

And we're back for another giveaway!

So last week I gave away PERSONAL DEMONS and asked you to tell me about your wings. Well, this week I"m giving away another of my favorite urban fantasy books of late - A TOUCH MORTAL by Leah Clifford!

I've had an author crush on Leah for just over a year now, and when A TOUCH MORTAL debuted in February, I was a happy little fan girl. So happy, in fact, that I bought TWO copies of the book so that I could share one with you guys!

So, if you'd like to win A TOUCH MORTAL, here's what you do:

1. Be a follower of this blog.

2. Blog or tweet the link to this giveaway.

3. Save the link to your blog or tweet - you'll need it!

4. And here's where it gets fancy.

I LOVE the main character of A TOUCH MORTAL. Her name is Eden and, guys, she has pink streaks in her hair. As you may know, I used to have pink streaks in my hair, so this endears me to her.

So, for step four, I want you to write for me in the comments. I want to know either a.) the craziest/coolest thing you've ever done to your hair, or b.) the craziest/coolest thing you've ever ANTED to do to your hair! Feel free to link pictures if you'd like!

5. Paste the link to your blog or tweet below the writing bit.

And that's it!!

Note: This contest is open to US/Canada only.

Tell me about your hair!

PERSONAL DEMONS winner!

2011-04-09T12:52:00.002-05:00

Oh my gosh, we had some of the most AMAZING wings described in the comments of my 20 in 20 giveaway post for PERSONAL DEMONS. From mechanical wings to color changing wings - we had every kind of wing imaginable.

But alas, I had to pick a winner. AND IT WAS HARD!!!!

In the end, however, my love of pink and affection for bling won me over. So - L8BloomerOnline's Jen, YOU HAVE WON!!!

For those wondering - Jen had pink winks that shot spasms of color and were blinged out. I'd say that constitutes some killer originality!

Jen, I'll be emailing you tonight!

To everyone else - my next giveaway will be announced Monday! Stay tuned!

The Friday Mix, April 7, 2011

2011-04-08T14:39:00.003-05:00

And welcome, all, to the second installment of The Friday Mix in which I share my top 5 favorite songs of the week and invite you to share yours with me in the comments!

So, let's get started.

This week's songs are:

"The Story" by Brandi Carlile

I've been listening to this one on repeat all week. The lyrics are just so wonderful and deep, about one of those relationships with someone who knows you inside and out. It's just gorgeous! And Brandi's raspy voice is amazing.

"Back To December" by Taylor Swift

You guys may not have heard of Taylor Swift (ha! sarcasm!), but I admit that I'm actually a big fan of some of her stuff. Not all of it, but some. And this is my favorite Taylor Swift song. The longing and regret just feel so real here. And, little tidbit, this song is on the playlist of a project I'm working on. :-)

"Portions for Foxes" by Rilo Kiley

I first heard this one on Grey's Anatomy, but I quickly fell in love with Rilo Kiley. Her song "Silver Lining" is pretty great, too, but this song is just so fun and cool, and while it isn't yet, I can totally see it being a theme song for one of my books. Hmm. *plots*

"Wouldn't Change a Thing" from Camp Rock 2

Okay, okay. Point, laugh, and judge me all you want, but I just discovered this song by accident this week. I've never seen Camp Rock 2, but while surfing youtube I came across this one, and I have to admit, I like it. For you haters - I personally think it's a perfect Bianca/Wesley song. Love/hate songs are some of my favorites, and I LIKE THIS ONE OKAY!!! *hides from scrutiny*

to redeem myself.....

"Push" by Matchbox 20

Another Bianca/Wesley song (well, more Bianca song) that might be less embarrassing. This is actually one of the first songs I remember coming on the radio and really liking. My mom bought the CD when I was six, and I loved it. I still love Matchbox 20, but this is my favorite song by far.

And that's it for the Friday Mix! Tell me your 5 favorites this week!

20 in 20 - Week 1

2011-04-04T14:09:00.002-05:00

Hey peeps!

So last week I told you that in honor of my 20th birthday I would be giving away 20 (TWENTY) books over the next 20 weeks. Thats a book a week to you - my awesome followers. Each book I give away will either be one of my favorites or one I've written (that means DUFF and SHUT OUT giveaways mixed in! Stay tuned!).

But for now, its 20 of my favorites.

Today is the start of the first giveaway. The first book I'm giving away is one of my FAVORITE paranormal romances. It stole by breath last year when I first read it, and now I have an extra copy that I"m eager to share!

What book?

PERSONAL DEMONS by Lisa Desrochers!

PERSONAL DEMONS is about a girl caught in a battle between Heaven and Hell when both an angel and a demon arrive in her high school with the intention of tagging her soul for their respective sides. But what they don't expect? The battle is for her heart, too.

Alert - there are HOT BOYS in this book.

So, how do you enter to win?

Every week, the rules will be different, and maybe customized a bit to the book at hand. So this week, in honor of PERSONAL DEMONS, here is your task:

Step 1: You need to be a follower of this blog.

Step 2: You should either tweet or blog about this contest and save the link to your tweet or blog post.

Step 3: In the comments of this post, write a paragraph describing your wings. WHAT? You heard me. Describe your wings! If you had wings, what would they look like? Color? Texture? Would they be angelic or demonic? Could you hide them? Where are they (shoulders? feet?). I want to know all about YOUR wings!

Step 4: Under your paragraph, link to your blog or tweet.

And that's it! I'll pick a winner Friday night (so enter before midnight EST) and post the winner on Saturday morning. Whoever has the coolest, most unique, most intriguing wings will win.

Note: This contest is open internationally. But not all will be, so if you live overseas enter while you can!

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WINGS PEEPS!

The Friday Mix: April 1, 2011

2011-03-31T22:35:00.002-05:00

So I've decided to start a new weekly thing for the blog. Since some of you pay have noticed, I have a little bit of an obsession with music. (My addiction to iTunes is killing my bank account, oh God....) I'm always eager to share the music I've discovered and loved - new and old - so I thought it might be fun to do a weekly round up of my Top 5 favorite songs of the week to share with you guys! And in return, I want to hear YOUR 5 fave songs of the week in the comments.

So here's my list for this week:

"Where Are You? (I'm Already Gone)" by Kate Tucker

So I could only find a live version, but I LOVE this song. I just discovered Kate Tucker, even though she's been around for a while, but her soft voice and lyrical songs stole my heart. WIN!

"White Houses" by Vanessa Carlton

Sorry about the preview at the beginning, but I really love this music video. Anyway, I LOVE this song. I have for a while, but sometimes I just get on a kick of listening to it over and over and over again! I had one of those kicks this week. This song is just such a great story - coming of age, first love, friendships . . . gah, I just love it!

"They" by Jem

I love this song. I've had a thing for Jem's unique style of music since she had "Just A Ride" and her cover of "Maybe I'm Amazed" on The O. C. back in the day. And her stuff never gets old. I think this song is my favorite. It's just so unique and cool. And dude, it gets stuck in your head for days!

"Set Fire To the Third Bar" by Snow Patrol

I LOVE Snow Patrol. The entire "Eyes Open" CD was fabulous, in my opinion. But for me, this eerily tragic duet stood out the most. The desperation and yearning just give me chills sometimes - inspiring me to write even angstier romances than I already do! Gotta love it.

"Be The Young" by Yellow Card

For me, freshman year of high school and the first boy I ever had a serious crush on will forever be associated with Yellowcard's "Ocean Avenue" CD. I've loved them ever since. So when their new CD came out this month, I jumped onto it. Of all the great songs on the album, this one stood out the most. As someone who has a real angst about growing up, this song about always being young - at least in some ways - while knowing growing up has to happen just touched a nerve. I love this song so much.

And that's my top 5 songs of the week. What are yours?

20 Books in 20 Weeks

2011-03-29T16:45:00.002-05:00

Hey peeps!

So I'm turning twenty this year. As you all know, I am dreading it greatly. However, I figure if I HAVE to say goodbye to my teens, I want to do it with a little fun involved.

And I want YOU involved!

For the next 20 weeks, every Monday, I will be giving away one of my favorite books. Each giveaway will have different rules and different ways to enter, but to be clear YOU'LL HAVE 20 CHANCES TO WIN AN AWESOME BOOK!!!

The first contest will go up on Monday, and I'll tell you now that the book is PERSONAL DEMONS by Lisa Desrochers - one of my favorite YA urban fantasies.

So stay tuned and spread the word! Details to come THIS MONDAY.

Blaming Victims, Blaming Characters

2011-03-24T19:30:00.002-05:00

So this post is going to be hard to write without getting a little bit angry and emotional, but after talking about the topic with friends all day, I've decided it's something I should blog about because it's important - not just to me, but to a lot of people. Warning, this post does contain some discussion of rape, though not in any sort of graphic detail.

In a recent blog post, Kristin Cashore discussed some controversial reporting in the New York Times. The post, which you can see here, talked about some bad wording choices on the part of a reporter who, long story short, hinted that a rape victim had "asked for it." Now, you'll have to read Kristin's post or one of the many other's she linked to for the details - that is not what this post is about - but that post has been on my mind for weeks, and today, after a conversation with another student, I realized that this "victim blaming" culture has seeped much farther than I imagined.

Today, after reading a short story for class (the story is unpublished so you will not be able to find it anywhere) in which a character is gang raped, I had a discussion with a friend about the contents of the work we'd just read. When I mentioned the dark contents of the story, my friend said, "I'm sorry, it was her own fault." To shorten a very long, very heated (on my side) debate, my friend's basic reasoning was that the protagonist had put her self in "that position" by going over to the house of a guy she didn't know that well with full intention of sleeping with him. I disagreed (strongly) and said that even if the character had gone to the house of a stranger dressed in nothing but a miniskirt and bra - no one ever, EVER puts themselves in "that position." Because the character intended to have sex with one guy, no matter who he was, does not mean she planned on being assaulted by five of his friends.

Since I can't share this story with you, it's hard to really express my argument. But the debate really got me thinking. Part of me doubts that if this character had been a real person my friend would have said such things. It's college, so I'm sure a few of her friends have hooked up with guys they weren't necessarily super in love one time or another if she hasn't. Would she ever blame them if this tragedy happened? Probably not - at least, I seriously hope not. But because this was a fictional character, she felt okay saying, "She asked for it."

Let me be clear in saying that I am incredibly against victim-blaming. No matter the person, no matter the way he or she dresses, acts, or who they are associating with - no one ever asks for rape, and no one ever deserves it.

I feel this way with real people, and I feel this way with characters, too.

But today's event was not the only run-in I had with blaming fictional victims. Last year, in my freshman seminar, we read the short story "Greasy Lake" by T. C. Boyle. If you haven't read the story, you should. It's a coming of age short story and it's quite good, but in the story a female character is the victim of an attempted gang rape. She ends up unharmed physically, but in my seminar I mentioned that the scene made me dislike some of the protagonists, who took part in the attempted rape.

This led to a discussion about whether this female character deserved what she got. Some argued, "She's half naked in the backseat of a car in the middle of the night - she doesn't seem that innocent." This made me angry then, but it flat out infuriates me now. Innocent or not, virgin or not, promiscuous or not - how is an attack like that deserved? Would the boys in the class have felt that way if it was their girlfriend in the backseat of a car with them one night in the middle of nowhere when some thugs attempted to rape her? Again, I say - dear god, I hope not.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that we as readers are too hard on fictional characters in general. Our society has an obsession with likable characters when, in reality, people are not always likable. There are actually many scholarly articles about this, about bow our culture in particular insists on a character you can "like." I won't get into all of that too deeply because I haven't done enough research, but I can see that I see it a lot in book reviews.

I am constantly reading reviews in which people say "But this main character made so many dumb mistakes" or "but the character was so stupid" or "I didn't like how the main character handled this situation." I see it constantly, and to be honest, it annoys me a little. Because in so many books, the whole point of the book is that the main character was stupid or that they made a huge mistake - heck, if there were no mistakes there would be no conflict, and that's a boring story.

Don't get me wrong, there are characters I despise, but I think sometimes that's the point. Because there are people I despise, too, and they still have stories to tell.

What does this have to do with victim-blaming? Well, I think our determination on having likable characters is part of what leads to the idea of "she asked for it" in literature. I feel like so many people see the mistakes a character makes and say, "Well, that was dumb, so if something bad happens, you asked for it."

No. Just no.

IIf it is so easy to blame a fictional character who makes mistakes, how easy will it eventually be to blame a stranger? An acquaintance? These are real people. And as we can see from the New York Times article Kristin Cashore mentioned, sometimes we already are blaming real people.

I don't care if it's the book's protagonist or antagonist, main character or side character, good guy or freakin' evil asshole - no one deserves rape, no one asks for it, and no one deserves our judgment, not even fictional characters. Because when we start blaming the people who read about in books, it isn't along before we start blaming those we read about in articles or see on the news or hear about in the hallways. It's a chain, and it needs to be broken. Now.

So this is what I ask of you - next time you watch a movie or read a book and someone is victimized (be it rape or another heinous crime), stop and think for a second. Don't judge, don't point out the character's mistakes, and just think. Put yourself or a friend in those shoes and see if you'd feel the same then.

I also ask that if you are ever in class or anywhere, really, discussing something and someone says a person "was asking for it" - steer them in the other direction. It may lead to a fight or a debate (like the one I had today), but maybe we can change this mentality, one mind at a time.

Road Trip Wednesday: The Boy Next Door

2011-03-23T12:20:00.002-05:00

Over at YA Highway, today's Road Trip Wednesday topic is: What literary character would you love to live next door to?

How could I resist?

It took a lot of thought to pick a character, because I had to narrow it down. First, I knew I wanted to live next to a boy. The better to creepily spy on you, my dear! I'll admit it, if I had a hot neighbor boy next door, I'd be a total stalker. Alas, I grew up in a small, rural town where I didn't have neighbors, and on the few occasions (I moved houses in the same town a lot) that I did, they were old. No fun!

So, my fantasy neighbor had to be a boy. A hot one.

Well, there a lot of hot boys in YA, so how do I pick? My next decision was that said hot boy had to be supernatural in some way. Because that way, while stalking of course, I might discover his secret super ability and then be "accidentally" plunged into his world of fantasy and fun! Muhahaha, I am laying my plan!

So I had to pick a hot supernatural boy to live next door to.

Still, there are so many, and my decision was so, so, so not easy.

I ended up choosing Ren from NIGHTSHADE by Andrea Cremer. Why? Well, that was my first instinct when I narrowed this group down, and lets's just be honest, the boy is hot.

Don't get me wrong, I have some issues with Ren, and if he lived next door to me, I'd have to put him in his place quite a bit. That alpha-male crap won't work on this girl. But somehow, I get the vibe Ren might find that intriguing. Who knows?

The perks of living next door to Ren? Um, the view for one thing. The guy is described as being gorgeous, and who doesn't want a gorgeous guy living a few yards away? Second, if I caught him shifting into wolf form, I could be all, "Whoa!" and he could be all, "You shouldn't have seen that," and I could be like "BUT I DID!!!" And then my life would change forever and we'd eventually end up falling in love or something with some scene where he throws pebbles up at my window or something. LET A GIRL DREAM.

So, to wrap this up, I would love to live next door to Ren from Nightshade.

Who do you want to live next door to? Tell us on your blog or on the comments over at YA Highway! (yahighway.com) - we'd love to know!

A New Publication!

2011-03-21T13:18:00.003-05:00

Hey guys!

So SHUT OUT doesn't hit shelves until September, but if you are interested in reading a new story by me, you are in luck!

Today, over at YARN (YAReview.net) my short story "Before We Were Lost" has been published! You can check it out here: http://yareview.net/2011/03/before-we-were-lost/

"Before We Were Lost" is the first short story I've ever had published. It's about the friendship between a girl named June and the boy she never quite fell in love with. It's a lot different from my usual work - more literary, more serious, a little less funny - but I think any fans of my work will still see that touch of Kody!

I hope you guys read it, and I really hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think about it here!

Also, you should follow @YAReviewNet on twitter! Great original work by authors and teenagers alike!

Guest Post: Phoebe North on Sex Positive YA

2011-03-18T01:34:00.004-05:00

For today's post, I asked blogger Phoebe North to guest blog. She's here to talk about sex positive relationships in YA genre fiction. You can see more from Phoebe on her website (phoebenorth.com) or follow her on twitter (@phoebenorth).

Hey everyone! I was very excited when Kody asked me to write a guest post here on her blog, because not only is this a fabulously pink space, but because, after Kody's recent blog post on sexuality in YA, I knew I'd found a kindred spirit. As Kody writes (reflecting an experience that was very close to my own):

Let's be frank. Sex does happen in high school. Not for all teenagers, of course. I'll be perfectly honest and say that I never had sex in high school - heck, I graduated before I'd ever even kissed a boy. But some of my friends were sexually active. . . All of this is to say, even those teenagers who are not sexually active are aware of sex.

Accurate representations of the sex lives of teenagers don't exactly abound in young adult literature. Positive representations are even rarer. By "positive," I don't mean books where all teenagers are depicted as horn-dogs, or where sexual behavior is glorified at the expense of love, identity, or religious conviction. Instead, I mean literature that reflects, realistically and rationally, the actual sexual behavior of teenagers, and, more, does it in a way that can help kids navigate thorny problems of their growing sexuality safely and without shame.

Because, as Kody says, all teenagers are aware of sex. And sex it can be a pretty scary thing. Knowing how to juggle budding love with budding hormones is hard--knowing how to do it without getting a disease is even harder. But books can help us know when to trust our instincts. They can help us know what a good relationship looks like. They can even help us learn how to recognize respectful, safe sexual behavior. Books can answer questions for you that you're way too embarrassed to ask your Mom, or your friends, or your health teacher about.

Judy Blume knew this. That's why her 1976 novel, Forever, was so revolutionary. In it, she describes Mike and Kathy, a pair of high schoolers who take the sexual plunge in a loving, mutual relationship. Blume was unflinching in the way she described birth control, body parts, and the way Doing It really feels. She wasn't afraid to show us the bad sides of young love (because it can hurt!), but the reader is never made to feel like anything Kathy experiences is due to her sexual behavior. She's not punished in the novel--we know she made the right choices for her, because we were right there with her as she asked all of the important questions.

Many contemporary authors have followed in Blume's footsteps, braving book bannings to show us the complicated sexual lives of real teenagers. From Melvin Burgess, to Simon Elkeles, to Melina Marchetta, to Kody herself, a good number of authors have demonstrated their commitments to talking honestly to teens about sex by doing just that.

But for some reason, positive representations of teen sexuality are much rarer in YA sci-fi and fantasy. I've always been a huge genre reader, but when I returned to young adult literature several years ago, after a brief stint in academia, I was surprised by how chaste most young adult genre books really were. This was in 2008, at the height of Twilight's popularity. Still, I found it odd that so many writers were relying on traditional stories about Girls Who Waited Until Marriage--stories where best friends were sluts who would invariably end up injured or pregnant or dead because they Did It, stories where girls didn't take charge of their own sexuality, stories where girls didn't follow their instincts, stories where there was a lot of shame around the topic of sex.

This seems weird to me. I can't help but think that, in universes where the impossible is possible, where teenagers can have superpowers or magic at their command, then their sexualities should be at their command, too--that teenage girls should decide when to keep it or when to lose it as part of a mutual, respectful dialogue and not have the decision made for them by their supernatural (and usually supercondescending) boyfriends.

Luckily, not every YA genre novel I've come across has been full of anxious handwringing about sex. I've been happy to stumble across a small handful of books that were actually really strong sex-positive reads. And so I thought I'd share three with you--one classic, one contemporary, and one upcoming book.

In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce. This is pretty much a YA feminist classic--the sequel to Alanna: The First Story, where we were introduced to a plucky young cross-dressing girl knight. In this 1984 follow-up, Alanna grows up big time. She starts seeing (and sleeping with) a handsome prince, and though their relationship isn't perfect, they have great chemistry and seem to genuinely like and respect one another. And Tamora Pierce doesn't pretend like sex doesn't have repercussions. Instead, she has Alanna use magic birth control to make sure she doesn't get pregnant (because she has baddies to fight!).

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. Shiver is paranormal romance that shares some features with Twilight--gorgeous, supernatural boy; human girl; rich setting. But in a major diversion from the Twilight formula, our semi-supernatural couple don't wait four books to Do It. Instead, Grace and Sam give in to their carnal desires in the first book. Grace is the initiator, but there's no doubt that their pairing is loving, mutual, and respectful. Stiefvater is careful to make it clear they use protection (condoms), and during the act, and after, they check in with each other to make sure that they're both happy and comfortable with the progression of their relationship.

Bumped by Megan McCafferty. In this April release, a comedic satire from the author of Sloppy Firsts, McCafferty presents a dystopian future where adult women are infertile and teen girls are prized for their babymaking abilities. This could have been a morality tale--meant to show the dangers and evils of sex, how sex will get you pregnant and reduce your value to nothing more than your uterus. Instead, McCafferty is refreshingly pro-lovemaking. She presents us with many different kinds of sex, and we're never made to feel like the choices our twin protags Melody and Harmony make--whether they abstain or oblige--are the wrong ones. There's also an absolutely hilarious scene featuring a long-expired condom. I don't want to spoil it for you, but it's awesome.

So if you're looking for books that talk honestly and frankly to teenagers about sex, I'd enthusiastically suggest the above. This list is in no ways comprehensive, of course, and I'd love to hear your suggestions for sex-positive genre YA in the comments.

I Didn't Know I Was Bullied

2011-03-16T01:07:00.002-05:00

I promised this post yesterday, but it took me longer to write it than I thought it would. While this is a subject I've discussed with many, it is not one I've ever written about, especially not in public, and I can honestly say the idea scares me a little. But after that Lady Gaga concert and the things she said, I decided I should share my story. So here it is.

I was bullied as a kid.

But I didn't know it then.

I know that seems strange, right? How can you NOT KNOW you're being bullied? Well, when the bullies are the people you think are your best friends, it's not always easy to see the truth.

There is a lot more to bullying than stealing lunch money, shoving kids into lockers, and name calling. Sometimes bullying is slow and silent. Sometimes that is worse.

There was a girl I'd been friends with since pre-school. I don't think it would be fair to say her name here, so for the sake of privacy I'll only call her H. H and I had known each other for years. Her mother used to babysit me when we were small, even, but it wasn't until seventh grade that H and I became "best friends." As it turned out, we had a lot in common when it came to music and taste.

In the years that we were friends, we definitely had good times. There's a lot a owe to H. She got me into Buffy the Vampire Slayer, fan fiction, and Cruel Intentions - a movie that is now my favorite of all time. We had private jokes, critiqued each other's stories, had slumber parties, and shared some of the best years of middle and high school together. I thought H and I would be friends for the rest of our lives - like those friends you see in movies that have known each other forever.

But H was my bully.

I didn't know this for years, not until after our friendship dissolved, not until the hurt at having lost her as a friend faded and I suddenly woke up one day realizing that my life was happier without her in it. That's a strange thought to have about someone you considered a best friend, but it was true. I was a happier person once H and I stopped speaking, and this led me to look back over our friendship and ask myself just how good of a friend she'd really been.

I don't know when H began making me feel inferior. Sometime in middle school, I think. Just little things back then - comments about how my hair looked to poofy (I was a Hermione clone back in the day), or how the band I liked was just "okay." I looked up to H a lot, even though now I"m not sure why, and I really wanted her to like me, so I took her criticism as "advice" rather than insults.

It got worse as we got older though. So many times my comments or thoughts were met with eye rolling from H. Between the way she'd look at me and the things she'd say, it was made clear that she found me "annoying" a lot of the time.

"Annoying" was a word I heard a lot in high school. H told me I was annoying, H told our other friends that I was annoying, other friends told each other I was annoying behind my back. It all got back to me, of course, and I lived in constant fear of my own annoyingness. I second guessed every word out of my mouth, every move I made. There were days where I seriously considered never speaking again - not in front of my friends, anyway - so that I wouldn't be annoying them.

But that was the least of my worries. There were other comments, too. I remember one specifically. On many occasions H telling me that I looked terrible in the color red. She said it made me look like a tomato, convinced me I should never wear it. After a while, this had been drilled so deep into my head that I never wore red at all. I didn't buy red clothes and if someone bought them for me, I didn't wear them. It wasn't until last year, on a shopping trip with a friend, that this was remedied.

"Try this on," my friend said, tossing me a very, very pretty red top.

"I look terrible in red," I said.

She gave me an inquisitive look. "Really? Because you look great in pink, and those are similar tones. You should try it on. You never know."

So I did, just to humor her. When I walked out of the dressing room, my friend looked me up and down and said, "Who on earth told you that you look bad in red?"

"A girl I used to be friends with."

"Well, she lied. You look great in red!"

It wasn't until then that it hit me. Even after our friendship was over, I was still letting H get to me, still trusting her word. She was wrong, by the way. I don't look bad in red. I took me a long time, even after that day of shopping, to believe that fully, but its true. I now buy red clothing whenever I want. Even still, it takes a little effort. One comment like that, no matter how trivial, can really stick with a girl.

On top of all this, H had a way of making me feel like I was two steps behind everyone. If I discovered a new band I loved - she swore she'd been listening to them for years (a claim a later learned was rarely true). She constantly hinted that she was smarter than me and a better writer than me, knowing that academics and writing were the two most important things in my life.

I could go into a long list of all the other things that happened between H and I - it was all small, or seemed so, but small things build up over time. Instead of going through all of that, however, let me skip tot he end - to the reason H and I are no longer friends.

H and I were the part of a larger circle of friends, and H made it clear that she preferred their company to mine after a while. I lived in constant fear that they'd all ditch me, that they'd see I was just as annoying as H claimed. In the end, I did lose a lot of them, but not in the way I'd feared.

In the middle of senior year, without warning, H began to shut me out. She would ditch me to be with other people or lie to me about her plans. One New Years, she told me she couldn't come to my party because she "had family plans." Later, I learned she'd lied about this. Instead, she invited all of our friends to her house to hang out, knowing they'd pick her place over mine. She started having get together's at her house on weekends she knew I'd be out of town, just so that I couldn't come.

A few people in that group remained my friend after and told me the things H proceeded to say about me behind my back. She told them I "didn't want" to come, that I was lame. She made fun of me in front of them.

None of what I learned came as a surprise. The surprising part, really, was that after so many years as friends, she'd waited until then to finally push me out.

I know some of you are shaking your heads. "This isn't bullying," you might be thinking. "This is normal girl behavior. This is just childhood silliness. This is petty. This is nothing to worry about."

But it is bullying. I didn't consider bullying at the time, but now, two years later, I do. And here is why:

The things H did/said to me still affect me.

To this day, friendship is difficult for me. I am very frequently paranoid about how "annoying" I am, and I constantly get nervous whenever a friend doesn't talk to me for an extended time that he or she is pushing me out the way H did. Some of my relationships with friends and roommates in college have suffered because of the insecurities H left me with, and I'd be lying if I said that there aren't times when I think that no one wants to be my friend, and that if they do, they are doing it out of charity - because that's the way H always made me feel.

I'm writing this post for two reasons, and I hope my little story has achieved both.

First, I hope that this has some of you thinking about how you treat your friends. I'm sure H didn't realize she was bullying, either. To this day, she probably sees the way she treated me as just "normal" teenage girl drama. But even that, even the little things, can leave scars. Like I said, bullying can be less obvious, and it is easy to be a bully without realizing it. I know I have. It's something I will regret for the rest of my life, but I have. Not in the way H was, but in less frequent amounts to people I did not consider "friends." Nothing makes it okay, and had I known the way it could hurt a person I would have never said some of the things I did back then. So, all I ask, is that after reading this, ask yourself, "Am I/Have I been a bully?" If so, maybe there is time to fix it.

But the big reason I'm writing this post is because of how Lady Gaga inspired me on Saturday. She made me think about how the tables have turned. In her case, she went from being bullied for her "freakiness" to being one of the most famous women on the planet, and her "freakiness" is something people love about her. My story isn't so dramatic, but I have a similar note to add.

Remember what I said earlier about H making me feel like I wasn't as good of a writer? ;-)

It doesn't erase the wounds she left, but it does help to sometimes stop and realize, "Hey, you know, she made me feel so inferior. But I AM a good writer. I have a career writing books that people love, and she can't say that." And hey, some of the things H and I went through may make good material for a book one day, so there's that upside.

So I guess what I want to say is - to all of you who've felt bullied or put down or inferior by a classmate, relative, or even a "best friend" - know that, even if you don't forget, it does end. I've not been bullied by anyone sense. I now have friends who love me for me, who don't see me as "annoying," who WANT to spend time with me. I have friends who treat me as an equal, and despite the fact that sometimesI get scared or worried because of the things H said to me, I am usually a very happy person now. A very happy person who knows that I don't need friends who treat me that way.

And you? You don't need them either.

No one deserves friends who make them feel badly about themselves. No one deserves to feel ashamed of the person they are or want to be. Not to sound cliche or sappy, but just remember that one day, you will shine brighter than any of your bullies ever will.

Baby, We Were Born This Way

2011-03-14T16:18:00.003-05:00

Anyone who reads this blog knows that it's no secret how much I love Lady Gaga. Not just her music, but her message, too. She promotes acceptance of yourself and others, she speaks out against homophobia, and she encourages everyone to be exactly who they want to be. Say what you will about her, but that is exactly the message our society needs today.

I love Gaga so much, actually, that I paid to go see her in concert over my Spring Break. So, on Saturday night, my mom (a rocker girl who adores the Gaga) and I headed over to Louisville, Kentucky to see what we hoped would be the show of a lifetime.

We were not disappointed.

The show was absolutely amazing. She sang, danced, played the piano, and even cracked a few jokes about the rumors that she is secretly a man. She performed all of her radio hits along with a few others. Her opening number was "Dance in the Dark" and I won't lie - it gave me chills. But not as big of chills as her piano remix of "Born This Way" - which was so gorgeous I kind of wanted to cry.

The show was full of lights, amazing video screens, and special effects that rocked the house - which, in case you were wondering, was a sold out arena packed with 20,000 people. People in jeans and t-shirts, people in outrageously bizarre costumes (I fell somewhere in the middle of those categories), and people in drag.

But along with the show, Lady Gaga also stopped for a few minutes between songs to talk to the audience about the reason behind the Monster Ball, the message she hopes to put out, and her own history with feeling like an outcast.

"I was bullied as a kid," she told the audience. "I won't lie to you. You won't forget it. You'll never forget the way it made you feel." She went on to talk about how the point wasn't to forget, but to learn to be proud of who you are. "I used to want to wear a mask to school. Now, I do wear a mask, but I wear it with pride, not fear."

She also talked a lot about "Born This Way" and how passionate she is about the song. Her message in the song is to let her listeners - no matter the race, sexuality, or gender - know that it is okay to be exactly who they are because God made them that way. Yes, she talked about God and Jesus in a move that, personally, I found very brave. Kentucky is a religious state, and I thought some might be offended by Lady Gaga's religious comments that "Jesus loves EVERYONE - whether they like boys or girls or both." But the audience cheered and applauded this. I felt proud of my peers at that moment.

Lady Gaga said the point of the Monster Ball is to give her fans a place to go where they can be who they want and know they have a "freak in [her] to be with." She told the audience on Saturday that she hoped everyone left feeling free, and that they held on to that feeling long after the show was over.

I definitely left the show feeling empowered. I left thinking about a lot of things she'd said. She was bullied, she was told she would never make it, she was called a "freak" - and now? She's one of the most famous, successful artists of our time.

Take that, bullies.

I've had my own experience with bullies, you see. Its one I will talk about tomorrow, I've decided, but I can say this in short - today, none of my bullies have made it as far as I have. The people who made me feel inferior are still in our small town, still with the same people, still immature and unhappy. And me? I'm in New York wiritng books and meeting new, amazing people ever day - like the people who read this blog.

Like I said. I'll blog about bullying tomorrow. Today it is Gaga.

I loved Lady Gaga before the concert. Now I love her so much more. I know it sounds dumb because I've never spoken to her, but I feel like she's a friend. I feel like she is a friend to all of her fans, to all the people who have felt out of place before.

I hope others discover Lady Gaga. I hope people who need her message can find her and listen to "Born This Way" and feel as empowered as I do.

And, I won't lie, I hope I can see her in concert again.

Like Mandarin Blog Post and Giveaway

2011-03-12T01:19:00.003-06:00

Hey lovelies! So on Tuesday, my lovely friend Kirsten Hubbard became an officially published debut author with the release of her AMAZING YA novel LIKE MANDARIN. Kirsten is so cool, in fact, that she is hosting a huge giveaway. Check out her blog: http://kirstenhubbard.blogspot.com/ for more deets.

But, to make a long story short, just by commenting on this post, you will be entered to win a copy of LIKE MANDARIN.

So today's post is a little sentimental - a little personal. You see, in LIKE MANDARIN 14-year-old Grace would give anything to be like wild, bold 17-year-old Mandarin. So Kirsten asked me and some other YA writers if there was anyone we wanted to be like as a young teen. Well, there was.

.....Mary Bates.

Mary was a senior when I was a freshman, but I'd known her for years before that. We'd been in two or three church plays together, and Mary was just that girl that everyone knew.

Mary was pretty, funny, outgoing, talented, and popular. She wasn't the cheerleader kind of popular, she was the REAL kind of popular - popular because she was legitimately nice to everyone she met. She was the star of every play in our high school, she was musically gifted, and she was on the academic team. Even though she had all the makings of a nerd, Mary still managed to be the star of my high school.

I wanted to be like Mary since the day I met her when I was nine, but when I got older, the want to be like her got even more intense. I had always been a loud kid myself, but I was mocked for my loud, talkative nature. People found it annoying. And yet, Mary was loud and talkative and beloved. She was so funny and charming, she just seemed to draw people toward her. This girl was a magnet. I wanted that. I wanted people to love my constant stream of jabber, not find it annoying.

The thing I loved most about Mary, though, was that she was nice to everyone. Even me. When she passed freshman-me in the hallway, she would stop to say hello, to tell me how well I'd done on the academic team that past weekend (we were on many of the same teams and clubs), or to say I'd really rocked at the drama club audition. She didn't have to, but she did. Even when her senior friends were with her.

Mary was always in the spotlight and she always knew waht to do and say. I would have given anything to be like Mary Bates.

So leave a comment and let me know who YOU wanted to be like, and if you do, you will be entered to win a copy of LIKE MANDARIN by Kirsten Hubbard!

The Stigma Of Finding One's Self

2011-03-10T18:30:00.002-06:00

"He's taking a year off to find himself." *insert eye roll here*

I think we see this a lot in the media today. When someone claims to be "finding his/herself" it is seen as a.) silly, b.) pretentious or c.) hippy-like. I confess, I used to be that person rolling my eyes. I used to be that person who thought "finding myself" was code for "some a ton of weed" and "be lazy." I was that person because I was a girl who knew EXACTLY what she wanted to do with her life.

I'm not that girl anymore.

At the end of this semester, I am moving to New York City and I am taking a semester (or a year, depending) off from school before applying to transfer. Why? It has nothing to do with being lazy or pretentious or wanting to smoke weed. In fact, it isn't even because college is too stressful (it is stressful, but that has little to do with my decision). It's because I want to find myself.

I know what I want in life. I want to be a writer - and, hey, I got started on that goal early! Woot! Here's the thing though - I don't JUST want to be a writer. I want a day job, too. I want a job that will let me work with people since writing is so solitary. I want a job that will get me out of my apartment and keep me from becoming a recluse. What that job will be? I'm not sure.

I originally wanted to be a literary agent, but some experiences over the past year have shown me that, while I would LOVE to be an agent, I won't have time. Agenting takes up a lot of time, and if I continued to write as much as I do and, maybe, more one day - I won't be able to handle the work load. Others can, but I'm not sure I'm one of them. In fact, I know I'm not one of them.

So now I have to "find myself." And believe me, I'm ready for the eye rolls. I'm also ready for that question.

Why can't you find yourself while you're in school?

I asked myself that, too, but after a long talk with my mother, whom I never thought would support this but she did, I realized that college is expensive and paying for an education in a field I may never use seems silly. I'm no longer going to be a writing major because it is preparing me for a job I already have, and there are so many other thing I'd like to do, like to learn. Picking one while i"m in school, wasting time and money, would hurt me in the long run.

But I didn't mean for this post to be all about me. It's more about our society and this idea of going straight to college after high school. This is a very American thing, I've learned, because in other countries a "gap year" is a really, really common thing. High schoolers often take a year off after high school to figure out what they want, to travel, to work, to "find themselves" in a sense.

That's not the case here. Taking time off has a stigma attached to it. One I used to buy into. But the more I think on it and the more I read, the more I wonder if the gap year would have helped me. I've spent 2 years majoring in something I'm not particularly happy with, two years focusing on a career that, had I thought about it, I would have known wasn't a great option. Two years of time I could have used elsewhere.

I think teenagers today are forced into college a little too early. I think that the social expectations placed on teens are harsh and unrealistic. My God, NONE of my friends know what they are going to do when they graduate, but they keep taking these classes because taking a year off to figure it out would be "stupid." I think our priorities are a little out of order here, and it's something that worries me.

I've come to the conclusion that everyone needs to find themselves. Whether that's at college or studying abroad or volunteering for a summer or just some time off to get things in order and figure out what you want - I think it's okay. I do think - STRONGLY think - that college educations are very important. VERY important. But they are also very expensive, and it is my personal opinion that one should have a good notion of what they want to spend that tuition learning before jumping in.

There is nothing wrong with finding yourself . . . . unless you really do just want to be lazy and smoke weed, in which case that isn't finding yourself at all and this commentary doesn't apply to you.

But I want to hear your thoughts. Does finding oneself have a stigma? Do you think the phrase is used as a cover for other things? How do you feel about the college system here in the US? Share your thoughts! Discussions are always great new ways to learn.

Trends of College Writing

2011-03-09T12:06:00.003-06:00

So this semester I am taking my second fiction writing class since starting college. These classes have worked on a workshop type system, where the whole class reads a person's work and then discusses it as a group with the author present. I love these classes, but I've noticed something - there are very distinct trends in the topics being written about by my peers. I thought showing these trends might make for an interesting blog post, so here we go!

TOP FIVE TOPICS FEATURED IN COLLEGE FICTION
(*please note, many stories feature a combo of these)

5. Writers Write Writers

I guess it's part of that write-what-you-know mentality, but I am seeing a lot of stories about people who write. Some characters are writers, some are aspiring writers, and some just turn to poetry at random to get out their emotions. Whatever the case, our workshops have many-a-time featured writing protagonists.

4. Dream A Little Dream

We've had A LOT of stories that involve dreams in my writing workshops. And of all those dream related stories, only one was supernatural. All of the others were contemporary, using dreams as a plot device. No matter how many times our professor lectures us about the use of dreams, they still keep popping up. Is Inception to blame for this? Let's ponder this, shall we?

3. A Bad Childhood

Countless stories have cropped up this semester about protagonists who've been through tough childhoods. Most often, this was parental abuse. We've seen lots of these, all full of angst. Almost every character's backstory deals with abuse of some sort. I'm wondering why this topic is on my generation's mind?

2. The Not-Always-Virgin Suicides

This hasn't cropped up as much this semester as last, but we've had tons of stories in class about suicide. Murder, too, but those usually end in suicide. We've had attempted suicides and successful suicides. Just a ton of characters who want to off themselves! Some of these stories have been AMAZING, but wow, between this and the abuse, some heavy subject matter going down in these workshops.

1. Drugs, Drugs, Drugs

Oh, yes. This was probably a no brainer, though, right? But it seems like almost every story workshopped in my classes involves drugs in some way. Maybe its only a little pot in one story, or a full blown cocaine addiction in another. Whatever the case, these characters are getting high. In some it ends badly, and in others it's glorified. But I feel like this subject matter is less generational and more transcendent. College kids will be writing about drugs fifty years from now, just as they were writing about drugs fifty years ago.

To be clear, I am not saying any of these are bad. Not in the least. I'm just pointing out some very common themes in college writing classes and raising a general question of "Why are these particular themes so common?"

That said, there is one other theme I've noticed that worries me, and since it relates to my post yesterday, I'll mention it here.

In the past three weeks, I've read two different stories with two different plots, both by young men in my class. Both featured one thing and one thing only in common. A male protagonist sleeping with a sexually aware, sexually aggressive female who the protagonist painted for the reader as "shallow" or "disgusting" in some way.

I mentioned yesterday the double standard in the media, but noticing this today took it a bit farther from me. These are not the only stories I've seen in our classes that feature women in this light, just the most recent. And while the writing was beautiful in both and the stories were both wonderful, I was taken out of the plot by the offensive way the men viewed their sexual partners.

I was often left wondering this: if the women are so "shallow" or "disgusting" for having/wanting so much sex, why isn't the main character just as shallow or disgusting for sleeping with them?

I won't go into another rant on the double standard here, since yesterday's post talked about my opinions in full detail. I am happy to say that, in our workshop today, other female members of my class spoke up about this and stated their offense. The author later said he intended it to be a parody, a way of criticizing his main character, but the consensus was that this needed to be made clearer.

I'm proud of my peers for standing up and expressing the offensiveness of this topic today, but I still worry. Two stories in three weeks with this same portrayal of sexually aggressive women? I don't like those numbers. And I really, really hope this isn't the mentality of the males in my generation.

Let's Talk About Sex

2011-03-08T14:35:00.001-06:00

So this is something that has been blogged about and reblogged about by every single person with a blog in the YA industry. However, as far as I can remember, I have never really blogged about my feelings on this issue. So, at the risk of being a massive cliche, I'm going to write here about my feelings regarding teen sex in YA literature - as well as in any form of teen media.

I'm not an expert on this topic. I haven't spent ages researching it the way some of my peers have. But I have written a novel that deals heavily with teen sexuality, and I have read the reactions to this novel as well. I think it is safe to say that the majority of my negative reviews for THE DUFF related directly to the fact that a teenage girl has sex in the novel. Now, the purpose of this post is not to contradict those reviews. Not at all. But the points raised in those reviews made me really think about . . . well, about sex.

When I wrote THE DUFF, I was seventeen. I had no idea it would get published, and I had no intention of being "edgy." I didn't think twice about letting my characters have sex. It was just part of the plot, part of the characters story. It felt natural for that turn to happen. It felt realistic to me.

Realistic. Now, I don't mean to raise hackles here, but let's be frank. Sex does happen in high school. Not for all teenagers, of course. I'll be perfectly honest and say that I never had sex in high school - heck, I graduated before I'd ever even kissed a boy. But some of my friends were sexually active. Many of my friends were, actually. Even in my rather religious small-town community, there were plenty of teens having sex. Not only that, but there were several teens who got pregnant (my thoughts on abstinence only education will be saved for another day). All of this is to say, even those teenagers who are not sexually active are aware of sex.

Random Fact: According to most statistics, the average age of virginity loss in the US is seventeen.

This is why I stand by the decision of writers and filmmakers and television producers to include sexual themes in their teen-targeted shows. Granted, there is a difference between grotesquely unnecessary sex and realistic, plot moving sex. That's another topic entirely, but I felt that fact needed to be acknowledged. But some of my favorite books and movies have dealt with sexual themes in a very realistic way. Juno, Cruel Intentions, plenty of Judy Blume novels. The list goes on forever.

Sexuality in teen-targeted media is almost always controversial, but there is something I have noticed - it seems to be MORE controversial when it is a teenage girl having sex. Since YA seems to target more girls than boys, lets instead focus on movies for a moment.

Look at Superbad and American Pie. Both of these movies are targeted towards boys, featuring male teenage characters who want to get laid. These movies are raunchy and risque, but super successful. And yet, there are no such movies featuring teenage girls in the same circumstance, are there? The closest we have is Juno, which is more about the consequences of sex - aka pregnancy. We have Easy A, about a girl ACCUSED of having sex even when she hasn't.

This is all ironic sense, statistically, girls tend to loose their virginity sooner than boys.

I think Easy A makes some of the best points about this. If you've seen Easy A, then you'll remember how everyone seemed to care when they heard Olive had had sex. It was everyone's business, it was something everyone talked about. And yet, the boys who claimed to have had sex with her? Praised! Made more popular - and in a good way, not infamous kind of way.

Apply this notion to teen media. When a girl in a movie or TV show or book wants to have sex or does have sex, it's a big deal. But when a boy wants to have sex or does have sex, it is normal. It's accepted.

This isn't just unfair to women (though as a feminist, that was the first place my mind went), but it is also unfair to teenage boys. We paint them into this corner, showing them all as sex-obsessed animals. There is more to boys than sex and more to girls than purity. No matter the gender, teenagers are individuals. They have different thoughts, different wants, different emotions, and different opinions on sex.

But there are a lot of different and very valid arguments on the issue of sex in teen media, including YA literature. This is personally just my side. I think that part of the media's job is to be realistic, and realistically, sex is out there. Whether we acknowledge it or not, young adults today are aware of and, sometimes, having sex. Even girls.

So, here in the comments, I welcome you to tell me how you feel on this issue. I only ask that the comments are kept civil. I'd love to have a discussion about this - about sexuality in books, on TV, in movies, and the gender stereotypes that go along with it. So chat away, my friends!

Titles and Covers and Excerpts - OH MY!

2011-03-03T18:22:00.007-06:00

Hello my pretties! *cackles*

And that is where my Wizard of Oz references end, because I'm not that clever.

ANYWAY - I have news!

So remember a few weeks ago when I told you about my second book? LUSTSTRUCK? Well, LUSTSTRUCK is no longer LUSTSTRUCK. It has a new title, but I thought instead of telling it to you, I'd SHOW YOU!

TAKE A LOOK AT THE PRETTY!

Yay!!!!!!!!!

So, the new title, as you can see, is SHUT OUT. And this, my dear, is the cover! Well, it's the ARC cover, so it may change between now and the release this September, but this is pretty close to the final. Isn't it pretty???? I'm so in love with this freakin' fierceness!

So I'm thrilled about this new title personally. I think it really captures the feel of the book, and it goes SO WELL with this cover!

To refresh your memory, SHUT OUT is a story about Lissa, a senior in high school, who decides to put an end to a decade old rivalry between her school's football and soccer teams after her quarterback boyfriend ditches her a few too many times on behalf of hazing the other team. Her plan is to start a sex strike - gathering the girlfriends of all the players of both teams and agreeing that none of them will hookup with their boyfriends until the rivalry is over. What follows is an all out battle of the sexes as the girls begin to explore issues of teen sexuality and the boys attempt to seducethe girls into breaking their oath. Lissa is determined to win, but she never expects the sexual tension that rises between she and Cash Sterling, a member of the soccer team and leader of the boys' side.

I love the title SHUT OUT because, really, that's what the girls are doing! They are shutting the boys out.

But, with all these goodies, I have ANOTHER little treat for you. I just got the go ahead to share the first snippet of SHUT OUT with YOU! So, right here, is a little excerpt from my second novel. I am SO EXCITING for you guys to read the whole thing, but for now, I just have to share a little bit with you!

So here's a sneak peak of SHUT OUT - a little snippet where Lissa first comes up with her big plan! ENJOY!

EXCERPT

Randy disentangled himself from me and kicked off the comforter that was spread over us. I watched as he climbed off my bed and moved to button his jeans.

“Where are you going?” I sat up and searched for my shirt in the sheets. Suddenly, I felt too exposed, too vulnerable.

“Shane wants me to meet up with him in the old Fifth Street parking lot. Some soccer idiots wanna start shit with us because of that freshman who hurt himself. I think it’ll be a good fight.”

“You’re ditching me to go fight with soccer players?” I asked, incredulously. I yanked my t-shirt over my head and turned to stare at him. “I thought you were trying to prove that I came first.”

“I did,” he said. “I came here first, didn’t I? I could’ve gone straight to the fight, but I came to see my girl.” He walked over to me and leaned down, kissing me on the cheek. “And we had a good time, right?”

“No, you had a good –”

“I’ll call you later,” he said. “I was here longer than I expected to be – not that I’m complaining, but Shane’s waiting on me. I’ll see you tomorrow. I love you.”

He tried to kiss me again, but I jerked away.

Randy sighed and shook his head. “Don’t be like this, Lissa,” he said, then he turned and walked out of my bedroom door.

I started to go after him. I jumped out of bed, momentarily determined to give him a piece of my mind, but stopped in the doorway. I took a deep breath and forced it all back, forced myself to stay in control.

But a minute later – as the front door slammed downstairs and the sound of Randy walking toward his car on the corner street wafted up through my window – I knew this was the last time I would be left behind for this war. I had to do something about it. Put a stop to the stupidity. Get Randy out of this trap he was in. For him. For both of us.

And I knew just how to do it.

And that's it! Hope you liked it! If so, the book is out this September! WOOOOOO!!!

Oh So Behind

2011-02-11T12:28:00.004-06:00

Hey peeps!

So remember that whole "I will blog twice a week thing!!!" thing?

I fail.

But here I am, and I think it's time for a little "where am I" catch up session.

So THE DUFF has been out for five months now! Wow, time passes fast. And I'm still getting in lovely reviews every day. It makes me so happy to wake up to a google alert linking to a book blogger who related to Bianca. I also have been loving some of the emails people have sent me about the book. You guys - you rock. Seriously, this is the best part.

LUSTSTRUCK advanced reader copies will be out in a month or two, which means I'm done editing it and have moved on to pass proofs. That's when I read the manuscript one last time and see if there are any final typos/corrections I want to make before the final book. I'm so excited for you guys to see this one! The cover is . . . FIERCE. Can't wait to share!

And now I've moved on to edits of A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE, which will be released as book three. Guys, I love this story. I wrote it before LUSTSTRUCK, but I let it sit for a while. And I'm glad I did. This book has been both wonderful and painful to work on, but I love it. I hope you feel the same way when it comes out next year.

And, amidst all of this (and homework), I just started a new book. I can't share details yet or anything, but it feels GREAT to have a new project in my hands.

And, one last announcement . . . I'm moving.

Guess where! Guess where!

!!!!!

I'm transferring colleges (acceptance letters won't come until May, so not sure where just yet) and getting an apartment. I love Ithaca, don't get me wrong, but if this summer taught me one thing, it's how much I love the city. It's home to me, and I can't wait to move there and be there every day of my life.

So, that's a few updates from my ened!

What have you guys been up to?

Happy Dance!

2011-01-11T17:25:00.003-06:00

So, this morning I got an email from my YA Highway blog-mate, Kaitin, that said, "Kody, why am I finding out about good news for THE DUFF on twitter?"

I had no freakin' clue what she was talking about.

So I hopped on twitter, and found a message from someone at Little Brown saying that THE DUFF had been selected as a YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association) Quick Picks Top Ten!

I just got confirmation from the lovely Courtney Summers (whose fantastic novel, SOME GIRLS ARE also made the list) that I, indeed, made the Top Ten!!!

What is YALSA Quick Picks Top Ten?

Great question. I didn't know the answer to that until recently, but here's the scoop.

Every year, YALSA selects their Quick Picks For Reluctant Young Readers. This is a list of books that the voters at YALSA believe will attract the interest of those teens who don't like reading very much. They're books that, supposedly, even reluctant readers will read and enjoy. From that list, YALSA selects a top ten each year as well.

So, um...... YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would share a link if I had one, but I don't. It should be up on ALA's site soon, though, if you are curious to see the other books on the list.

I'm over hear doing my happy dance! Good news to make an otherwise lazy day AWESOMETASTIC!!!

I love you guys so much! Peace, yo.

My New Addiction

2011-01-10T02:15:00.003-06:00

So I just recently got my first iPod, which meant I got iTunes. Which means that I have a new problem that is destroying my finances.

Music.

I have this problem where I get on iTunes to look up just ONE SONG and end up looking at the "suggested" songs and then buying more and more until suddenly I've bought 4 CDs in one night and I"m like OH SNAP BAD KODY!!!

That said.... Dude, I have some cool music now. :-)

I'm editing book 3 right now, which means I am constantly listening to music that'll help me get into the story. The writing playlist is getting looooooong for this one, which means its final playlist will be kinda awesome, I hope.

But, for funzies, here are a few awesome songs you may not know that have rocked my life over the past few days:

"Orphans" by Jack's Mannequin

"Sick Little Games" by All Time Low

"Time After Time" by Quietdrive (cover of Cyndi Lauper)

"Heavily Broken" by The Veronicas

"Umbrella" by All Time Low (cover of Rihanna)

"You'll Never Know" by VersaEmerge

There are tons more, but most are more popular. I wanted to pass these little gems on. And please, check out other stuff by these artists (ESPECIALLY Jack's Mannequin and The Veronicas, who manage to make it onto almost every playlist I make).

And, with that, I have editing to do. Enjoy!

My Writing Resolution for 2011

2011-01-02T23:33:00.003-06:00

Let me start by saying - HOLY CRAP 2011??????? How did THAT happen? Someone needs to stomp their foot down on the brakes of time because it is going way, way too fast for this girl.

But another year means another chance to improve myself, and that's what this post is about. I always set resolutions - some I keep, some I utterly fail at. But I always try. This year, I'm making some writing resolutions. This year my first book was published, which means now I have to focus on my career plus my education plus my entire life.

So here are some of my goals for 2011.

1.) WRITE SOMETHING DIFFERENT

This year, I want to challenge myself. I've been writing contemporary YA for a long time now, and, even if it never gets published, I want to attempt something new. Maybe that's writing an urban fantasy or maybe that's writing a screenplay. I don't know, and I"m not going to pressure myself too much, either. This isn't for my career, this is for me. I just want to be challenged a little.

2.) BLOG MORE

I'm a neglectful blogger, I know. I suck. So this year, I plan to blog at least twice a week, starting today. Lets just hope I have somethign to blog about.

3.) WRITE AT LEAST TWO FIRST DRAFTS

I wrote 3 first drafts of novels in 2009. I only wrote one in 2010. I've decided by goal each year should be two, so this year I resolve to not only edit A Midsummer's Nightmare, but I plan to compose two first drafts of novels. Let's hope this isn't the goal that kills me.

And for the most part - at least in the writing part of my life - that's it. Of course, I also want to lose wait and figure out what in God's name I'm doing with the rest of my life, yada yada yada. But that's the BORING STUFF!!!

What are your writing - OR READING!!! - resolutions for 2011?

I Need Your Help!

2010-12-22T20:12:00.003-06:00

Hey peeps!

So mini-Kody update - SCHOOL IS ON BREAK WOOOHOOO NO HOMEWORK YEAH!!!!

ahem.

In other news, I'm in the midst of writing a new book. I can't talk about it yet, but I can share this - it is a coming-of-age story set in Tennessee.

And here is why I need your help.

I have CSS. Yes, Chronic Soundtrack Syndrome. Sometimes called CPS - Chronic Playlist Syndrome. It is a disease that afflicts many authors these days. We need playlists or soundtracks in order to write. The lack of proper music will drive us craaaaaazy.

So, I ask for your help today, peeps. I ask for music suggestions. I"m looking for country music - think old school 90s like Deana Carter or, if you go modern, in the style of Miranda Lambert. I need songs about summer, first love, growing up, and family. Also, if you know any classic country-western songs, those would be great mood setters for the writing and I'd appreciate any suggestions!

PLEASE HELP ME WITH MY CSS!!!!

Thank you.

(Hehe)

Seriously, though, music suggestions = mucho awesome. Love y'all!

Peace, yo.

I can finally tell you

2010-12-15T01:32:00.004-06:00

about my next book!

Everyone's been asking what's next. Well, I can finally say!

My next book will be released in Fall 2011, and it's called LUSTSTRUCK. Here's what Publisher's Marketplace has to say about it:

Nineteen-year-old Duff author Kody Keplinger's LUSTSTRUCK, a contemporary reimagining of the Greek play "Lysistrata," that explores the issues of teen sexuality as high school senior Lissa decides it's time to end her school's ridiculous sports rivalry once and for all with a hook-up strike, to Kate Sullivan at Poppy, for publication in Fall 2011, by Joanna Volpe at Nancy Coffey Literary & Media Representation (World).

So, basically, it's about a 17 year old girl who gets together with the girlfriends of a bunch of these boys who partake in the pranks and hazing of a very silly rivalry. Together they all agree to cut their boys off from any sort of naughty activity until the rivalry ends. Humor ensues. But the strike also raises some questions of the "norms" of sexuality.

I read Lysistrata last year and thought "OMG, this would be awesome if it was set in modern times with teenagers." Well, the book turned in a slightly different direction, but "reimagining" is the right word. EEeeeek I can't wait to say more about it, but that's all for now. It's a fun story and I hope ya'll love it when it comes out next year!

As for A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHTMARE, which some of you may have seen up on Goodreads, it'll be out in Spring 2012. Woot!

So Raise Your Glass

2010-12-12T19:07:00.003-06:00

I wasn't going to post this week because I'm in --cue Psycho music-- FINALS. *gasp!* *scream!* *run away in terror!*

Yeah. Finals = ewwww. But what can ya do? When you're a college student, they are necessary evils. And I don't say "evils" lightly, I promise.

But my to-do list is made, my room has been cleaned (for the first time this semester you can see ALL of my floor - not kidding, I'm a terribly messy roommate), and I think I'm prepared to crack down on the work in the morning.

And tonight, I was inspired, so I'm blogging. Have you missed me? Maybe not, but I hope you'll read this post anyway. It's something I think you'll all enjoy.

Lately, I've been obsessing over Pink's newest song "Raise Your Glass." I love Pink - the color AND the artist - and this song . . . well, I loved it the moment I heard it, but the more I hear it, the more it means to me. Yeah, it sounds like a "let's get drunk and party' song, which isn't usually my thing. But I hear so much more in the chorus than that.

To me, the song is talking about celebrating who you are, celebrating who you want to be, and celebrating the people who love you for it. Pink says, "Raise your glass if you are wrong in all the right ways." To me, being wrong in all the right ways means being yourself, even if others see it as "weird" or "different." Kind of like what I talked about on my Halloween post.

When I hear "Raise Your Glass," I want to run out and sing it out loud. I want to dance around the room with all my friends - some of the most amazing and diverse individuals I've ever known. I want to celebrate how okay I am to not be the typical all-American girl - because yeah, I'm a tiny bit quirky. (Can you tell?)

But I digress. Here's the point of this post. It's the end of the year, and there a lot of things I want to raise my glass to before we round out this decade.

So, let's have a party, shall we? Right here on this blog. I'm going to toast to a few things I think need to be recognized this year, and in the comments, I invite all of you to raise your glasses to whatever you like as well!

So let's get started.

Raise your glass to the friends who stick by you through thick and thin. Who drive you where you need to go when you can't get there. Who let you chill with them when you're lonely or just need a chance to vent. Good friends are hard to find. I have several to raise my glass to this year.

Raise your glass to artists - writers, musicians, painters, actors, everything - who spend their lives chasing dreams people say will never come true. I thank God every day for those brave people who took the risk anyway. Who inspired me to chase mine.

Raise your glass to the families who support their kids, the families who never say "no you can't," the families who nurture dreams, the families who let their children make their own mistakes - even though it's hard. Those kinds of families rock hard.

And, a personal one. I raise my glass to you - my lovely readers, my supporters, my friends. Some of you have been here since day one. Some just found me recently. Either way, your support and enthusiasm has meant the world to me. I raise a big glass to you, because you have all played a big part in making my dreams come true.

And while you think about who to raise your glass to, I'm going to play Pink's "Raise Your Glass" for inspiration. (Fair warning - some naughty language in this one. But I'm not a fan of censorship so I didn't dig out the edited version. I do however believe in letting people know of potentially offensive material, and Ms. Pink likes the F-bomb a little in this one.)

Let's celebrate!

Road Trip Wednesday

2010-12-01T22:21:00.003-06:00

So I'm participating in this week's Road Trip Wednesday!

The topic this week?

What Movie Do You Wish Had Been A Book?

And Who Should Have Written It?

I'm going to go with my all time favorite movie, Cruel Intentions. Now, I know Cruel Intentions is sort of based on a French novel, Dangerous Liaisons. But the thing is, Cruel Intentions is a modern adaptation. Its like the YA version of the book.

But I wish there was a real YA novel of this movie. Its so intense and darkly funny and awesome. I would kill to read that. The movie was great, but to see a book on that levelof awesome???? Wowza!!!

Who should have written it? Eeeeeasy.

My vote is on Courtney Summers. That woman nails dark stuff. I bet she could have written a book like Cruel Intentions and made it just as great as the movie. I can't think of anyone more perfect for this kind of project.

So that's my RTW post for this week! Woot!

Team Ron!!!

2010-11-19T02:27:00.003-06:00

Like the rest of the Proud Nerds of the world, I attended the In costume. midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 tonight. At midnight. As in, it's 3:30 am, I have a test tomorrow, and I'm dressed as Hermione Granger.

Being a college student and a nerd at the same time? It gets challenging, kids.

But this is not a movie review. My only note is that this is BY EPIC LEAPS AND BOUNDS OF EPICNESS the best movie in the series thus far. The scariest, saddest, funniest, and most faithful adaptation yet. Bravo Warner Brothers. Brah-voa.

And with that little part taken care of, I want to talk about something similar but nto wholy related. I want to talk about Ron Weasley.

I've talked on here about book crushes before. I've had a lot of them. But my very first book crush was Ron. It happened in The Chamber of Secrets when he ended up puking slugs after defending Hermione's honor. Something about him was just so sweet and genuine that hee became my favorite character. From that moment on, even when I sided with Hermione (because honestly, I'm a lot like Hermione), I secretly hoped Ron would be the victor. When Ron was in pain, I was in pain. As the characters and I grew older together, my fondess and attachment to Ron grew, too.

Tonight, while watching the movie, I realized just how fond of this boy I am. Even when he is being a complete douchebag, I sympathized. Here's the thing about Ron - he's a normal teenage boy. He's not the chosen one. He's not a genius of epic proportions. He's just a teenage boy with extraordinary friends. He's insecure, he's sometimes jealous, but he's also very loyal to those he loves - and he loves a lot. So even when he's being a doodie-butt, I love him, because he's so real.

Tonight, there were two Ron-moments when the theater burst into applause. Me among them, of course. Because even after making mistakes, Ron corrects them, and that deserves recognition.

I hear a lot of people bash Ron, and it always feels a tad personal to me. I got so attached to this character - to this very real boy - that it feels like someone trash talking my best friend.

This, peeps, is the sign of a great book crush. When a reader is so invested, so devoted, that they feel like the character is real. You know you have a great character on your hands when he can be a jerk and you still understand where he's coming from. He was my first book crush, and he'll be my book crush for a long, long time.

I just hope that, one day, someone can get even half as attached to one of my characters as I've felt ot Ron Weasley over the past nine years that I've been reading the series. If someone can truly find a friend in one of my characters - even if not a crush - I will know that I've done my job right.

So, even though she probs will never read this, I want to say thank you to JK Rowling. You inspired me, you made me who I am as a reader and a writer, and you created a character that will forever be dear to my heart.

TEAM RON!!!!!!!!

20 Movies To See Before You're 20

2010-11-14T13:44:00.006-06:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about being a teenager. Not just because I write about teenagers, but also because my own time as a teen is coming to an end. Next August, I'll be twenty, and while that's still very young, it's also an end of an era. I loved being a teen. Like a lot.

And, as a lover of teendom, I also love teen movies. I like to consider myself a bit of a teen movie expert because, to be frank, I've seen a lot. Not them all - I still have a list of some older ones to catch up on - but I've seen and own several. And I love them. Some are great, some are terrible, but they are all kind of special to me.

So I made this list of 20 movies to see before you're 20. This is a list of 20 teen movies, new and old, that really define youth in some way. So if you need something to add to your Netflix, check out this list.

20. Not Another Teen Movie
Let's start off the list with a little reality check. This parody is a great way to celebrate the awesomeness and sometimes ridiculousness of teen movies. It's funny and raunchy, and so painfully true. Awesomely enough, it makes fun of several movies on this list!

19. Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Bueller? Bueller? This classic 80s comedy is full of laughs. It's a celebration of teen freedom and anarchy and great to watch when you're skipping class.

18. John Tucker Must Die
While not the best in this genre by any means, this more recent teen comedy does something I love - it celebrates girl power. What's more entertaining than a group of girls standing up against the guy who has jilted them? Not much. Let the pranks begin!

17. The Breakfast Club
At least one John Hughs movie had to make this list, and if it wasn't The Breakfast Club, what would it be? Detention was never so fun. This movie is great for a Saturday morning.

16. American Pie
Remember back in the old days when teen movies were sweet and innocent? Yeah, that's over. This raunchy teen comedy paved the way for movies like Superbad. Great to watch with friends when you want to laugh like a maniac - but maybe wait until any little siblings have gone to bed. Definitely save this one until you're 17 or so.

15. Grease
Before the High School Musical franchise, there was Grease. Good girl, bad boy, and a lot of great music. Definitely a must see for any musical fans.

14. Jawbreaker
Best friends can sometimes be the best murderers. When three popular high schoolers accidentally kill their best friend, lies, hijinks, and scandal ensues. One of the best dark comedies for teens.

13. Superbad
One of the funniest teen comedies of our generation - two girl crazy best friends, a few parties, and a McLovin'. This is another one for the mature crowd because the dirty jokes never stop in this coming-of-age comedy.

12. Scream
This 90s flick brought back the teen-slasher genre in a new, fresh way. I'm not a big fan of slasher films myself, but even I can't resist this half-horror, half-parody movie. Don't get too attached to Drew Barrymore, kids. Just a warning.

11. 10 Things I Hate About You
Shakespeare gets a makeover in this 90s romantic comedy. Over 10 years later, 10 Things is still beloved, and has even spawned a popular TV series. This is definitely a movie every teenage girl should say - whether a princess or a shrew.

10. Thirteen
Not all teen movies are comedies, as is demonstrated by this dark, gritty film about the downward spiral of a 7th grader. Evan Rachel Wood gives a powerful performance as a teenager trying, too hard, to fit in.

9. Back To The Future
Not many movies have stood the test of time the way this Michael J. Fox sci-fi comedy has. If you don't know who Marty McFly is, you're missing out.

8. Clueless
Don't be fooled by the title, because this movie isn't clueless at all. What first appears to be a silly comedy instead proves to be an intelligent, hilarious retelling of Jane Austen's Emma. I will say that the movie is better if you've actually read Emma, but it can stand on it's own as well. So see this one - like, duh.

7. Donnie Darko
In the words of my mother, "It's the best movie with a six-foot-tall bunny rabbit I've ever seen." And if that sounds weird, you ain't seen nothing yet. This paranormal thriller takes trippy to a whole new level. A cult classic no one should miss.

6. Mean Girls
Mix Tina Fay's writerly genius and a high school setting full of backstabbing teenage girls, and you get one of the most quotable movies ever. Girls can be mean, and girls can get even. This is a movie you can watch over and over again.

5. Juno
Who knew teen pregnancy could be so funny? This Academy-award nominated teen comedy is quirky, smart, and fresh with a touch of a real, raw emotion.

4. Saved!
This is one of my all-time-favorite movies. This dark comedy both pokes fun at and celebrates religion. While some may find the humor a tad offensive, I think most people with an open mind will appreciate the good message about the dangers of judging others.

3. Charlie Bartlett
This isn't one of the most popular teen movies, but it really should be. Anyone who appreciates a good underdog story - or just likes staring at Robert Downy Jr - will love this movie.

2. Easy A
This movie is brand new, not even on DVD yet, but it's one of the best I've seen. With some great literary references, a wonderful message about female labeling and stereotypes, and some hilarious dialogue, this one will be a classic.

1. Cruel Intentions
Not only is this my favorite movie of ever, it's also one of the best dark comedies ever written. It's a modern retelling of the classic book Dangerous Liaisons, and it features some of the best, most twisted humor of the genre. Shows like Gossip Girl took their inspiration from this movie. If you can handle the twisted antics of Kathryn and Sebastian, this is sure to be on your favorites list as well.

There are also a few honorable mentions I should post here. First, Heathers, which is on my to-watch list, but I know had I already seen it, it would make the cut. Also, She's All That which is sort of a modern-day classic and Adventureland which only missed the cut because the main character is older than 19. So many great movies that didn't make the list, but if you need more recommendations, let me know!

Big Facebook Contest!Want

2010-11-04T14:22:00.002-05:00

Want some freebies?

I thought so!

I'm holding an INTERNATIONAL contest over on my FB page! There are FOUR PRIZE PACKS available!

What can you win?

Well, each prize pack gets an audio copy of THE DUFF, as well as some of these:

THE MOCKINGBIRDS by Daisy Whitney (ARC)
THE DAUGHTERS and an ARC of it's sequel THE DUAGHTERS BREAK THE RULES by Joanna Philban
An audio copy of HALO by Alexandra Adornetto
and, in the biggest prize pack, an ARC of Claudia Gray's fourth and final EVERNIGHT book (which I will be reviewing before the contest ends!)

Many more prizes (all book related) included. Four chances to win!

To enter, head over to my facebook page and leave a comment telling me your favorite genre!

Winners to be named the FRIDAY after Thanksgiving!

A Gaga-tastic Halloween Post

2010-10-30T17:06:00.007-05:00

I love Halloween. I make no qualms about admitting that it's my favorite holiday. Yes, I mean even more favorited than Christmas. I LOVE Christmas, but I don't get to dress up on Christmsas, so sorry Christmas, Halloween just beat you out.

I never out grew dressing up. Neither did my mother. Mom always infused in me a love of Halloween so deep and pure that it is more than just about candy. Way more. It's the freedom, the fun, the chance to be anyone, to look how you want and don't worry about how crazy it is. Mom decorates every year and we celebrate Halloween for weeks before the actual event.

That didn't change when I started college. Not a bit. I wouldn't DREAM of going a year without a costume. But this year, thinking of a costume was tough. In fact, I only decided on my costume last weekend - but boy, do I love what I chose! It took some trying on, online ordering, practicing walking in the shoes, and a lit bit of wig-work, but this is the final product!

That's right! I"m Lady Gaga!!!! This costume was pieced together just this week. The wig and glasses came together - though I also have a crazy funky cool mask - and the boots were on sale at Shoe Depot. The dress was the hardest part. No, it isn't an exact copy of any dress she has warn before. All of those, the ones you could be in stores, were not made in sizes for curvier girls (an issue I could rant about for ages but will not at this moment). So my mommy, the angel she is, helped me look online. We found this on a lingerie website, funnily enough, and it's a Lady Gaga "inspired" design. And, personally, I think Lady Gaga would approve. Its funky, sexy, and FUN!!!! Also, the feathers make me giggle!

I love Lady Gaga. You all probs know this by now, right? She's just so entertaining and her songs never get old for me. Plus, she's just so funky and unique! I'm also freaking excited about getting to see her in concert during my Spring Break in March. Gah, is it March yet??

I mean, how can you not love someone crazy enough to make this video? Epic much?

But the point of this post isn't for me to rant about my love of Lady Gaga - or even for me to show off my cute costume and sing all the lyrics to "Bad Romance" completely off-key -- no. It's about something a little more serious.

As I said before, I love Halloween because its the one time you can dress however you want and be crazy and its okay. And that's what I love about Gaga - she dresses how she wants and is crazy all the time. In some ways, Halloween is every day for Gaga - and not just because her clothes are funk-a-licious, but because she treats every day as an oppertunity to be crazy and bizarre, and that's okay!

I watched an interview with her recently that really got me thinking. Lady Gaga says that she grew up feeling out of place - like a "freak" - and she always had to hide who she was. Now that she's older, her goal is to send a message to her fans that it's okay to be who you are, even if who you are is different from the social norm. Her point is that if you want to be funky and crazy, even when it isn't Halloween, that's okay as long as you're being true to yourself.

As someone who grew up feeling out of place, I appreciate this in a way I can't even describe. I grew up in a very conservative, religious area. I always felt out of place because, despite the fact that I was religious, I didn't always believe the things my friends did. Not to mention, I'm a mega liberal. I felt like I had to hdie who I was. I was funky and kind of a hippie. I wanted to dress crazy when, where I'm from, you were "weird" if you wore anything but jeans and a t-shirt to school. Even girls who wore dresses or skirts were made fun of or called "preppy." It never felt quite fair to me.

I left home and I came to a very liberal area, where my hippie-ish-ness was accepted. Sometimes - most of the time even - I do wear jaens and a t-shirt, but if I want to wear my skirt and some knee highs with neon pink converse? No one even bats an eye. If I wear a plaid skirt wit a Wednesday Adams t-shirt and striped socks and sneakers? It's okay. I can dress how I want, no matter how random.

Now, this applies to writing to. Before I wrote THE DUFF, I was scared to write anythign edgy or remotely racy. The book I wrote before THE DUFF, the one that will never be published, was incredibly bland and tame. No swearing, no sex, no characters that acted like teenagers at all - instead it was the book a preacher at the local Baptist Church would have approved of. And you know what? It was awful, because it wasn't real and it wasn't the book I wanted to write.

THE DUFF was the book I wanted to write, and when I did, I tookt he risk. I wrote a book that I knew some wouldn't like, and I had fun anyway. Since then, I haven't looked back. All of my projects are stories I want to tell, even if they are risque or different or a little quirkier than the norm.

Lady Gaga wants her fans to know it's okay to be who you are, no matter how different or "weird."

I want my readers to know that it's okay to do what you want, write what you want, wear what you want, and BE WHO YOU WANT - no matter what others think. You only get one life to live, after all. Why waste it being a clone?

So, back to the beginning of this post. Halloween. I am going to have a blast this Halloween dressing crazy, singing off key, and pretending to be the woman who I have grown to look up to over the past several months. And on Monday? Maybe I'll be wearing blue jeans or maybe I'll be wearing a dress (I'l definitely be wearing funky colored converse, those are required). Who knows what I'll decide, but it won't be because of anyone else. It'll be what I want. And the stories I write, the places I go, the fun I'll have, will be because it's what I want.

Tomorrow night, dress up! Be crazy, have fun, and on Monday, don't let the spirit of Halloween die. Be who you want. Because me and Lady Gaga say so!

Now, to end this little impromptu rant - let's close with another Gaga-rific video. This is her performing one of my favorite songs, "Speechless" on Ellen. Enjoy, and have a great Halloween!

RTW - Best Book of October

2010-10-26T18:48:00.005-05:00

It's been a while since I've done an RTW, mostly because I've been mad crazy insane busy with everything, and unlike most of the other lovely YAHighway girls, I haven't quite figured out the art of time management - yeah, working on it.

But this week's topic is The Best Book You Read in October - and its one I just couldn't pass up. It just so happens that October has been a great reading month for me. I've read a few great books, and it just felt right to talk about them! The trouble was, picking only one to talk about. I almost did this post about Jane by April Lindner, but since I think I'm going to do a review on that soon (stay tuned!) I decided to blog about a non-YA novel that really, really got to me this month.

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro took me by surprise. I don't often venture far out of YA, but when I do, I am usually pleased. With this book, though, I was nervous. I had no idea about the plot at all, only that the movie had just hit selected theaters and taht a friend of mine considered it to be one of those books that stays with you for years. Of course, I wanted to read it, but what did I expect? Not much. Not really.

There's a reason I'm not doing a full review of this book. It's because I can't tell you the plot without ruining a major part. What I can tell you is that the reader learns about the world slowly. We are told the story as if we are already familiar with this world. Yes, it can be confusing, but trust me, it is worth the wait.

The narrator, Kathy, tells the story of her childhood and early adulthood in a beautiful, tragic way - the way someone sitting at the bus stop or on a park bench may recount their life to you. Scenes are out of order and a little scattered, but Ishiguro handles this masterfully. You learn with Kathy. You discover things just as she does and, inevitably, feel for her. The writing is gorgeous and true.

I can't tell you much more about the book. I want you to discover Ishiguro's world for yourself. But I can tell you this - it is one of the most beautiful books I've read. Quiet, a little spooky, and utterly heartbreaking. I hope you will all give it a shot.

<3

Long Time, No Blog - Here's the Skinny

2010-10-21T15:39:00.003-05:00

I know, I know. It's been like three weeks since I last blogged. I'm such a slacker. But I swear, I have legit reasons!

So a couple weeks ago, by laptop crashed. I mean CRASHED. As in, I lost everything. No, I'm not smart. I didn't have everything backed up. Luckily, a few things were saved in my email, but now I have a external drive to prevent it again. Still, I lost all of my files - devestating much.

So my laptop is now somewhere in Kentucky being fixed. In the meantime, I bought this adorable little pink plaid netbook - yes, you read that right. PINK PLAID. Cutest thing ever - soon I'll post a picture! Sadly, the netbook is not a laptop. Which means . . . *sigh* I'm behind. It's harder to do most things, including blog, but here I am.

And that's why I'm behind. That's why I've vanished. But I'll return soon with a vengence! VENGENCE I SAY!!!

In the mean time - I have a question for youa all! I'm dying to know, what are you reading right now? I just finished NEVER LET ME GO, and it was fantastic. Has anyone else read anything fantastic lately?

Why Judy Blume is My Hero

2010-10-01T14:12:00.003-05:00

The fact is, Judy Blume is the hero of many writers - and for good reason. Her books are sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes adventureous, sometimes modern - but always, always, always honest.

I was first introduced to Judy Blume when I was ten years old. My aunt gave me a copy of ARE YOU THERE, GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET. My mother actually read it out loud to me because it had been one of her favorites as a kid, and she wanted me to read it as well. Margaret provided many topics of conversation between my mother and me, and it is still, to this day, one of my all time favorite books. Last year, in my Girlhoods in Literature class, I reread the book, and you know what? It is still relevent.

I read many other Judy Blume books growing up. IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD, TALES OF A FOURTH GRADE NOTHING, DEENIE, BLUBBER . . . but there was one book I didn't read. One book that managed to slip past my line of vision. Was it stocked in my school library? I don't remember. But when I heard about it, I knew it was something I wanted to read - but by then, I was 15 in high school, and my reading time just wasn't what it used to be. So I never had the chance to read FOREVER . . .

Until today.

Yes, today. I started FOREVER . . . this afternoon and finished it about an hour ago. I feel a little ashamed for admitting that I'm only just now reading it - for many reasons, but one being that my amazing friend Daisy Whitney (author of THE MOCKINGBIRDS, out in November) has said a few times that, to her, THE DUFF is the FOREVER . . . of our generation. Now, I knew this was a maaaaaassive compliment - becaue any comparison to Judy Blume is earth shattering in my eyes. But after reading FOREVER . . . today, I know that comparison is so not accurate.

Because nothing - NOTHING - can live up to a book like FOREVER . . .

FOREVER . . . is still the FOREVER . . . of my generation. By that I mean that, rereading it thirty year after it was released, it still felt like a YA novel you'd find onshelves today. It's still scandalously racy. It's still true, in many ways, to the way teenagers speak. It's still right on point about so many teenage relationhips.

In short, FOREVER . . . is basically timeless. As are all of Mrs. Blume's books.

This still doesn't totally explain why she's my hero - I'm getting to that.

Here's the thing about Judy Blume. There is one word that describes her consistantly, and that word is "fearless." She holds nothing back. She doesn't write with the fear of censorship or being banned. She just tells the story that needs to be told, and she tells it with such honesty and skill that they will forever be accurate - and, by some parents - forever be hated.

But by young women - and some young men, too - Judy is loved. I don't know what I would have done as a little girl without Margaret or Deenie, who both taught me just how normal I was, even when I feared that I wasn't.

When I write, I write with Judy Blume in mind. It was her fearlessness that made for many, many classics. Her fearlessness in many ways saved me.

So I hope that, one day, I can be that fearless and honest, too.

So, cheers to Judy Blume - who should be honored during Banned Books week. She is my hero, and I don't think I would ever be a writer without her.

Ding Ding Ding! Winner!

2010-09-28T12:59:00.002-05:00

Okay, so let me start by saying that reading these microfictions has been AWESOME. Seriously, some of them had me rolling around laughing so hard. I even got my good friend Courtney Allison Moulton to read a few and she agreed that I totes have the best blog readers - because all of the entries were great!

That said, I eventually had to pick a winner.

God, that was hard. Some of the entries were super sexy encounters with Wesley (he appreciates the lovin' ya'll) while others were more, um, negative encounters with Wesley (he's not for everyone). Some of them were funny jokes with the girls. Some were chats with Bianca. They were all so good and so entertaining!

But the winner made me LOL in real life. The winner made me send an email to Courtney saying "READ THIS ONE!" The winner had Courtney laughing, too.

The winner was original and entertaining and accurate - just as I'd asked. She chose to put her microfiction into the form of a letter to poor, sweet Toby breaking up with him. But the best part was the PS, asking him to bring notes to thier study session.

Yep, Audrey. That's you! You rocked this joint!

So, Audrey, comment number 16, please shoot me an email at kodykeplinger (at) gmail (dot) com so I can get your address and ship you a signed copy of THE DUFF!

To the rest of you - THANK YOU for entering! YOu are all amazing, and I wish you could have all won!

New posts to come!

The DUFF Characters Week Day 5 - CONTEST

2010-09-17T15:05:00.003-05:00

And here it is! The big moment! THE CONTEST!

All week I've posted profiles of the major players in THE DUFF. You've gotten to know their favorite things, their family histories, their personalities, and, most fun, who they look like actor wise.

But who would you get along with best?

And who would you HATE?

That's what I want to know.

So here's the contest.

Based on the profiles I've given you (it's okay if you haven't read the book yet, everything I've said on here this week will help you), I want you to write a micro fiction peice. No more than 150 words, to be placed in the comments of this post.

In that microfiction, I want to see a first or third person interaction between YOU and one of the five characters mentioned. You can be doing anything from eating to ice skating to making out. WHATEVER. I just want to see how YOU think you'd interact with one of them. You can love them or hate them, it's up to you.

Post your microfiction here before midnight eastern standard time on Sunday, September 26. That's right, just over a week to enter. Then I'll read all the entries and pick the one I think is the best.

The winner gets a signed copy of THE DUFF!

Here are my judging criteria

-Originality - was the interaction memorable?
-Accuracy - Did you stick to the profiles I gave you of these characters?
-Entertainment - was your microfiction amusing? Or dramatic? Either is fine, just keep it entertaining!

(Contest open to US and Canada only)

I'll announce the winner the following week!

Enjoy! I know I will! <3

******* NOTE*********
I've had to remove a couple of microfictions that, while good and still entered in the contest, were a little too racy for the public comments. (There are school teachers who read this blog - I'm blushing just thinking about it!) As I said, the ones I removed are STILL ENTERED. However, if you think your microfiction is a tad too edgy for the comments (too sexy, too violent, to f-bombastic) then instead of leaving it int he comments, send it to my email (kodykeplinger (at) gmail (dot) com ) and I'll still count it as entering.

Thanks!

The DUFF Characters Week Day 5 - TOBY TUCKER

2010-09-16T17:42:00.004-05:00

And we're back for another shocking episode of THE DUFF Characters WEek! Dun dun dunnnnn.

Or not.

We've covered Bianca, Wesley, Casey, and Jessica - and we only have one major player left! Remember, tomorrow I'm launching the contest that will incorportate these 5 character profiles, so if you haven't caught up already, here's your chance!

Anyway, today we are talking about the other half of the love triangle. The boy Bianca thinks is perfect. The one and only, the adorable . . .

* * * Tobias Clay Tucker * * *

Toby, for short.

Age: 18

Birthday: October 8

Grade: 12th, Senior

GPA: 4.0 (validictorian)

Theme Song: "Nice Guys Finish Last" by Green Day

Toby is the son of a businessman named Charles (Chaz) Tucker and an elementary school teacher, Marlene Tucker. He has one younger sibling, Preston, and a yellow lab name Vira. He was born and raised in Hamilton, but he spends his summers with family in Washington DC, learning about politics, his favorite topic.

Toby is a Young Democrat. He's super involved in politics, and he has been since he was twelve. His favorite class is AP Government, and he spent a lot of time promoting Voter Registration at his high school. One day, Toby hopes to be a senator.

In his free time, Toby watches a lot of CNN. His favorite band is Green Day (he loves the American Idiot album). His favorite book is Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and hsi favorite movie is A Few Good Men. He has Jack Nicolson's "You want the truth?" speech memorized.

Toby is about five-foot-nine and skinny. He has blond hair cut in a dorky old fashion bowl cut. His eyes are green, and he wears oval shaped glasses. He always wears a navy blue blazer (his favorite color) with everything he owns. Over all, he's pretty adorable in the smart, nerdy kind of way.

CASTING CALL

Some of my friends said Michael Cerra, but he doesn't fit the part to me. Toby is a speaker, he has charisma, and I don't know that Michael fits that. Instead, I went with a boy who is cute and charming, and if he altered his hair cute and put on glasses, he'd be perfecto!

Cody Linley

And tomorrow is the contest! Stay tuned!!!

THE DUFF Characters Week Day 4 - JESSICA GAITHER

2010-09-15T18:26:00.008-05:00

Hey ya'll!

So welcome back to Characters Week! So far you've met Bianca, Wesley, and Casey. You can go back and read those posts if you like, but be sure and give them a look because they'll help you with the CONTEST on Friday to win a signed copy of THE DUFF!

But, okay, time for the next character. She's Bianca and Casey's bff - the light in their lives - here she is . . .

* * * Jessica Nicole Gaither * * *

Age: 17
Birthday: June 11
Grade: 12th, Senior
GPA: 3.1
Theme Song: "Innocence" by Avril Lavigne

Jessica Gaither is the daughter of a psychiatrist, Dr. Joseph Gaither, and a dentist, Dr. Janice Leck-Gaither. She has one brother, Jacob (Jake) Gaither, who is four years older than she is. She moved to Hamilton when she was in eighth grade. She had trouble making good friends for a while after moving, but she is now best friends with Casey Blythe and Bianca Piper.

Jessica is a constant ball of sunshine. She may be percieved as "ditsy" by some, but usually just over enthusiasm. Her favorite color is yellow, mirroring her bright personality. She is a complete and utter romantic, though she has only ever been in one relationship, with a boy named Terrance who moved away after junior year. It ended on decent terms, and now she has moved on to crushing on Harrison Carlyle (who is, unfortunately for Jessica, gay).

Jessica has a major crush on James McAvoy (something she and Bianca have in common) and her favorite movie is Atonement, but she cries every time. She also loves classic Disney movies - her favorite is Beauty and the Beast because Belle wheres a yellow dress.

Looks wise, Jessica is adorable. She's about 5'5" and super curvy. She has golden blond, long hair that she usually wears in a ponytail. She wears lots of pastels, and she loves skirts.

CASTING CALL

I had no one in mind for Jessica until this summer when my roommate suggested this girl, who I knew from Charlie Bartlett. She is PERFECT.

Megan Park

Isn't she cute???

Come back tomorrow to meet Toby Tucker, the boy that, aside from the tragic alliteration, Bianca thinks is perfect!

Contest on Friday! Wooooohooo!

THE DUFF Characters Week Day 3 - CASEY BLYTHE

2010-09-14T12:54:00.008-05:00

Welcome to day 3 of Characters Week! If you haven't seen the other posts, you can go back and check out the introductions to Bianca and Wesley, the stars of THE DUFF. And remember, at the end of the week, there will be a contest involving these characters!

Yay!

Okay, so today we are talking about Bianca's long-time BFF and awesome gal-pal . . .

* * * Casey Anne Blythe * * *

Age: 18
Birthday: December 12
Grade: 12th, Senior
GPA: 3.4
Theme Song: "I'll Stand by You" by The Pretenders

Casey Blythe has lived in Hamilton her entire life. Her parents divorced when she was in middle school, and she still harbors some negative feelings toward her father, who is pretty stingy. She lives with her mother and they do decently well, despite not having much money.

Casey met Bianca when they were five years old on the playground. She instantly took the role as Bianca's "protector" - a role Casey plays with lots of her friends. Her natural instinct is to take care of her friends and defend them. She's incredibly loyal, and she doesn't like letting her friends go. Still, Casey has a few insecurities, worrying that one day her friends will leave her behind.

Casey is also very fun loving. She likes to dance and party, but she's never once gotten completely drunk before for fear that she might need to take care of one of her friends. She's only dated two boys seriously, and both relationships ended badly. Still, Casey is optomistic about love and romance. But she puts much more stock in her friendships than in her relationshijps with boys.

Casey's favorite color is purple, she loves the Pussycat Dolls, and she watches The Hills religiously. Secretly, she crushes on the nerdy types - her celebrity dream date would be Adam Brody.

As for how she looks, Casey is very tall. She's almost six-feet-one and she is very self concious about her height. She has blond hair and hazel eyes. Recently, she chopped her blond hair into a pixie cut. She's got an athletic build from years of cheerleading, and she loves to wear bright colors.

CASTING CALL

Casey was a hard choice, but I recently found the perfect fit! She'd have to cut her hair, but that's a tiny difference. But I love this pick!

Deborah Ann Woll

Come back tomorrow to meet the other member of the threesome - Jessica!

THE DUFF Characters Week Day 2 - WESLEY RUSH

2010-09-13T09:33:00.008-05:00

So yesterday, I announced the start of characters week - a 5 part series ending on Friday in a contest. I'm not telling you what the contest is yet, but I will tell you that reading all 5 character profiles, starting with Bianca's yesterday, will help!

*Note: I did a post last year before THE DUFF sold with quick profiles of the major characters to demonstrate how I write characters. Some of the information in these profiles differs from the ones I wrote a year ago. This is because, in edits and revisions, a few things changed and I got to know each character a little better. So if you are zooming through old post and notice inconsistancies, that's because those elements of the character evolved or changed through revisions, but these are the updated, final profiles. :-)

But, anyway, today we have the leading man of THE DUFF, and I can't wait for you guys to get to know him!

* * * Wesley Benjamin Rush * * *

Age: 17

Birthday: March 27

Grade: 12th, Senior

GPA: 3.95 (ranked 3rd in his class)

Theme Song: "Sexyback" by Justin Timberlake or "Womanizer" by Britney Spears

Wesley Rush was born and raised in Hamilton. He has one sibling, a sister named Amy, and his parents are still married. Both are successful business people, which keeps them busy and traveling a lot. While Amy often stays with their paternal grandmother, Welsey stays on his own at his very large, very expensive house. (He is from one of the wealthiest families in Hamilton).

On the surface, Wesley seems like your typical slimy playboy - he really, really likes the ladies, and they really, really like him back. But here's what you may not know about Wesley: while he doesn't always advertise it, he's one of the smartest kids at Hamilton High School. He's ranked third in their graduating class. His best subject is History, most likely because, when he does watch television, he enjoys watching the History Channel.

Wesley loves James Bond movies. As a kid, and even still once in a while, he aspired to be James Bond when he grew up. He has a PlayStation 3, and he loves playing it. His favorite games are usually fighting games - SoulCaliber 4, for example - but he owns a variety. He also plays pool, and he's pretty freaking good at it.

Welsey's best friend is a boy named Harrison Carlyle. They've been friends since forth grade, and to this day, Harrison is the only person Wesley really trusts.

When he graduates, Wesley wants to study business. His goal is to open his own company and be one of the youngest, most poweful CEOs one day.

Appearance wise, Wesley is pretty freakin' hot. He's 6'2" and totally muscular. He has curly brown hair, gray eyes, and a sneaky little grin that drives Bianca nuts . . . in both good ways and bad.

CASTING CALL

I've had TONS of ideas for who might play Wesley, but I'm super duper picky with this boy. Because he's so hot and yet a little more complicated. But here's the best I've found yet.

Jeremy Sumpter

And that's Wesley!

Stop by tomorrow to meet Bianca's BFF, Casey Blythe. :-)

THE DUFF Characters Week Day 1 - BIANCA PIPER

2010-09-12T11:36:00.009-05:00

So this week, I'm going to spend each day featuring characters from THE DUFF. And at the end of the week, we'll have a contest for a signed copy! Sound fun? Okay, so here's the schedule.

Sunday - Bianca Piper
Monday - Wesley Rush
Tuesday - Casey Blythe
Wednesday - Jessica Gaither
Thursday - Toby Tucker
Friday - Contest!

Details of the contest will be announced Friday, but here's a hint, be sure to read all of the character posts! They'll be important!

Okay, and now, with that out of the way, let me introduce you to the star of THE DUFF.

* * * Bianca Lynne Piper * * *

Age: 17

Birthday: May 28

Grade: 12th, Senior

GPA: 3.8

Theme Song: "Bitch" by Meredith Brooks

Bianca is the star and the narrator of THE DUFF. She's sarcastic and super cynical, but also very loyal to her best friends, Casey and Jessica. She's lived in Hamilton, a small town in the mid-west, all her life. Her dad, Mike, works at a technology store (kind of like Best Buy) and her mother, Gina, wrote a book that flopped and now travels the country as a motivational speaker.

Bianca is kind of anti-social. She hates parties and clubs and prefers just being alone with her friends watching James McAvoy movies. She secretly loves the TV show Gossip Girl, but she won't admit it for anything. When she was little, she had a crush on Michael J. Fox because she and her parents watched a lot of Family Ties reruns.

Bianca's favorite book is The Catcher and the Rye because she loves Holden's cynical perspective - it mirrors her own. Her favorite band is Paramore. She hates techno music with a passion. She's a vegetarian and her favorite food is spaghetti with no meat balls.

Appearance wise, we don't know that much about B. Here's what we know - she has wavy auburn hair, she's only 5'2", and she *says* she is overweight and flat chested, but the jury is still out on that one. She's definitely not as thin as her best friends, which is how the whole "DUFF" thing gets started. Each reader will have to decide for themselves what B really looks like.

CASTING CALL

If I got the cast the movie, it would be tough, because I hope that everyone has a different image of Bianca in their heads. I left so much of her description out for the sole reason of letting the reader decide.

That said, I *do* have my own image of her, and if I were to cast a movie version, I think there are two options that would be great!

Mae Whitman

Ellen Page

So that's Bianca! She can be a tough pill to swallow sometimes, but she's got her heart in the right place. *snuggles B*

Tomorrow you'll get to meet the boy who drives her insane - in good ways and bad ways.

Have a great Sunday! And remember - contest on Friday!

Launch Pics!

2010-09-11T00:43:00.010-05:00

Tuesday night, my fabulous agent, Joanna Volpe, threw me a launch party in the FinePrint/Nancy Coffey Literary offices. I got to invite my closest friends in writing and publishing, and we celebrated with cupcakes, cherry soda, and a whole lot of free copies of THE DUFF!

And here, in this post, I will give you all the dirt on what happened at that party!

So the guest list included some of my dearest writing friends - some of whom flew over to NYC just to attend and celebrate! Other guests included some publishing folks that I know from my time in NYC. And then there was my team. My team showed up and made me proud! One of the best parts of the night was getting to celebrate with my editor, Kate (seen in pic) who has really helped me make this book so much better than I could have imagined.

The lovely Courtney Allison Moulton, author of ANGELFIRE (2011) flew up from Michigan to party with me. (I love this pic because, ironically, we didn't even mean to wear the same color!)

Leah Clifford (A TOUCH MORTAL, 2011) also came to celebrate (but I don't have any pictures with her! Damn it!) and we all had a great time.

But the award for traveling the farthest goes to Leila Austin, my YA Highway companion, who happened to be in NYC on vacation FROM NEW ZEALAND!! at the right time. Here are my, Leila, and Emilia Plater, also from YA Highway, posing at the party.

This was all fun, but I have to say. I think my favorite part was getting to meet my agent sister and long-time writer BFF Amy Lukavics. Amy and I have been talking and critiquing for over a year and half now, and this was our first time meeting in person. It was pretty freaking magical! Here are me, Amy, and our agent, Joanna, at the party. (Also, can I just say, I really want Joanna's dress!)

That's all of the pictures (well, I mean, there are more, but I don't have room on this blog to show ALL of them!). But here's some more of the scoop.

Also in attendance were Jen Hayley of the YA Rebels, writing friend Shana Silver, several members of the Poppy staff, agent Nancy Coffey, agent Suzie Townsend, agent Kathleen Ortiz, and a few other members of publishing awesomeness. Nancy Coffey and FinePrint interns, new and old, attended (I love these guys!) and my other agent sister, Shelby Bach, popped in too!

There were so many others there, and I apologize to anyone I left out! The party was so much bigger than I expected, and it was so great to see everyone there!

During the party, I made a short speech, thanking everyone for being so supportive and helping me to reach this point. It's so surreal to actually have a book on the shelf! And I wouldn't have acheived it without so many helpful and supportive people.

Then Joanna presented me with what might possibly have been the best gift ever.

Apparently, six months ago when ARCs of THE DUFF came out, Jo set one aside and began sending it around the country. It went to my agent siblings, my writing friends, some bloggers, and others that I've becoming friends with over the past year. Jo set up a traveling ARC tour, and all of the people on it signed the ARC, write me a short letter, and then preceeded to make notes in the text pointing out their favorite lines and scenes. It's so amazing and sweet!

So, to everyone who signed the ARC - there were so many of you - I want to say thanks. Not only am I so grateful, but I'm shocked! So many people knew about this and I had NO CLUE it was coming! Best gift ever, guys!

And that's basically the skinny on the launch.

I wish all of you could have been there! It was so fun! I'm still celebrating, so come celebrate with me here on the blog! Wooohooo!

IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!

2010-09-08T01:39:00.003-05:00

TODAY!!!

TODAY!!!!!

TO-FREAKING-DAY!!!!

Today, my book released.

Well, for you normal people, yesterday, really, it released because I'm writing this late at night and humans will likely read it on Wednesday morning, so yesterday book book released.

Either way!!!

My first book is actually out! Like for real. LIke on shelves. LIKE WHOA!!! I'm so excited and scared and in shock and and and . . . .

*brain esplodessss!!!*

Ahem.

I'm a tad bit hyper, but super thrilled. THE DUFF is on shelves now which means it is finally and officially real.

I"m an author!

And I spent the day with the best people ever. Courtney Moulton, Leah Clifford, Amy Lukavics, Emilia Plater, Leila Austen, Jen Hayley, and so, so, so many other celebrated with me tonight at the Nancy Coffey/FinePrint offices. There were yellow cupcakes and cherry coke and bubble gum!!! It was wicked cool.

I'll have pictures soon, but now? I"m tuckered out.

But I had to share my happy dance with you guys, becaus you've been here with me for a while. Thank you so much everyone!

*happy dances*