Kelly Polark-ing

Did you watch the Oscars? Angelina's right leg stole the show. Forget Tebowing. Now the new thing is Angelina Jolie'ing. See here for the goofiness. Plus her right leg is ending up in some crazy places (see here on E!online).

So, I'm going to start a new craze. Kelly Polark-ing which will be so much cooler than planking. What would be something that Kelly Polark would do? Tell me in the comments, and I'll pick a pose to start our own photo sensation! Because we should all take ourselves seriously, right? I'm sure it wasn't Angelina's intention to be mocked the following week. But any publicity is good publicity!

While I've got your attention I want to give a few shout outs to some worthy authors.

Congrats to sci-fi writer Alex Cavanaugh! His CASSAFIRE book release was yesterday! This King of Bloggers has a blog
tour that runs from February 27 through March 9. Anyone who comments on his blog posts during this time will be eligible to win a special package from his publisher: copy of CassaFire and CassaStar, a large tote bag, and a mug. Feel free to
spread the word about his out of this world news. Don't forget to use his Twitter hashtag #CatchFire.

Also, congrats to Rena Jones on the release of her third Critter series picture book. Check out PONY STRINGS AND CRITTER THINGS here !

Now strike a pose, people, and have a great day!

Winner! Winner! Cold Cereal Dinner!

Thanks to all of you who entered my COLD CEREAL contest! I loved hearing all of your favorite breakfast choices.

Out of all the favorite cereals listed in the comments, Lucky Charms had the most votes (which is my favorite, but I only eat it a few times a year). Coincidentally, the next book in the Cold Cereal trilogy is titled Unlucky Charms!

Now let's get to the winner. I gave everyone a number, and random.org picked Nicole Zoltack's number! Congrats, Nicole! Email me your address, and I will send some Cold Cereal your way.

For those of you who didn't win, I'd be happy to send you a spoonful of cooked oatmeal in an envelope. I'm nice like that.

Listen to Adam Rex read a bit of Cold Cereal. (Note: The chapter is slightly interrupted in the middle as I spliced two video segments into one.) ENJOY!

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone! MWAH!

Cold Cereal Giveaway!

No, not Lucky Charms! No, not Special K! It's an awesome, amazing book giveaway!

Last week I was fortunate enough to attend a booksigning at Anderson's Bookstore for Adam Rex's newest middle grade release, Cold Cereal. I've loved Adam's work since I read Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich. Rex writes and illustrates picture books, middle grade, AND young adult, all of which I've read and loved. His wit that shines in his writing was clearly evident at the book signing. He answered funny questions by kids with clever retorts, and the audience enjoyed his reading of a chapter peppered with an Irish accent (you'll see why he needed it when you read the book). Yep, I'm a huge fan of his. HUGE.

So, I was pretty excited to be able to attend the booksigning and finally meet the man.

Here's a pic of a drawing he did at the event. He asked kids to tell him names of animals and he did a cool mashup. A young fan named this a "bearger."

And here's the author and me before I sort of forced a hug on him. You think I'm joking don't you.

Lastly, for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday I have a signed book of Cold Cereal to give away to YOU! All you need to do is be a follower and tell me your favorite kind of cereal in the comments. That is it. Contest closes at 9pm central time on Wednesday!

So, what's your favorite kind of cereal?

I'll Tumble for Ya Blogfest

Ahhhh, the eighties. Good times. Like totally a fer sure awesome time to grow up. The purpose of today's blogfest is to meet new friends and show off the babes that adorned your walls in the eighties. Don't spaz. Just read on.

I was boy crazy in the eighties. Boy. Crazy.
And this boy had my heart.
Ponyboy Curtis. And C. Thomas Howell. Ponyboy is still my favorite literary character of all time. And Tommy Howell's photo is still on my bedroom wall (okay, maybe not, but his avatar is frequently on my computer screen. I follow him on Twitter! He's a hoot and a holler!).

This musician had my eardrums.
Ahhh, John Taylor of Duran Duran. Even though I'm a rocker girl now, I still go see Duran Duran in concert. I'm No-No-Notorious for that.


But then my pop loving eardrums turned to rock 'n' roll. And this guy was on my bedroom door in the late eighties. Remember the band Winger? Yes, Kip Winger. Don't judge me. I was only seventeen. Seventeeeeeen.


Lucky for me, two/three of my 80's babes have tweeted me their fave reads for my Book Recs of the Rock and Famous site. Read John Taylor's book recommendation's HERE and Tommy Howell's faves HERE. Listen here, Kip. I'll be askin' for your picks next.

Check out more hotties from the 80's at the blogfest list at Nicki's blog!
Who is your 80's babe?

Music & Maurice

ROCK N ROLL
I finally got my concert fix Friday night (it's been 3+ months, people). My friend Sue and I ventured out to see Candyland favorite New Medicine with American Idol rocker, James Durbin. I've seen New Meds before, and yes, Candace is right, they do indeed rock. And yes, Brady is a sigh-worthy bassist. The girl don't lie! And he's as sweet as can be; he had just returned from Ghana a few days before the concert.

Here's James Durbin.


A couple of rock chicks


LITERARY LAUGHS
Okay, if you are one of the few who didn't see the Colbert Report with author Maurice Sendak, you must watch. It is flippin' hilarious! Love his candor. He even sings! And Stephen Colbert makes me laugh pretty easily anyway. Check it out here. Definitely worth your time.

OTHER DANG GOOD STUFF
Thank you again to Nutschell! I won a signed Ellen Degeneres book at her blog! Yes, I'm one lucky girl!

A poem of mine was accepted for a summer issue of Stories for Children magazine. I've switched gears for the last month (and next month) and have been concentrating on poetry and picture book writing instead of middle grade. I think it's good for my creativity to mix it up a bit!

Please check out Book Recs of the Rock & Famous at http://www.bookrecsthatrock.blogspot.com today. I have one of my favorite actors ever chatting books with me. He played my best loved literary character in a movie. Any guesses?? (Again, I'm one lucky girl!)

Have a fabulous week, you! Thank you for stopping by!

Top 7 of 2011

Happy freaking new year. No, really, I hope it's a great one! :)

Today is a post of reflections on the past year. What did I read, watch, and listen to in 2011? Tell me your faves of 2011 in the comments!

Why Top 7 and not 11? Because I care about you and your time. I'm a giver, people.

Top 7 Songs of 2011

7. "Walk" by Foo Fighters

6. "The Sound of Winter" by Bush

5. "Buried Alive" by Avenged Sevenfold

4. "Race You to the Bottom" by New Medicine

3. "Planetary (Go!)" by My Chemical Romance

2. "Burn" by Papa Roach

1. "This is Gonna Hurt" by Sixx: A.M.

Bonus fave pop song "Party Rock Anthem" by LMFAO

Top 11 Books Read in 2011

(in no particular order, I couldn't stop at seven)

I was so happy to read many books by fellow bloggers/tweeters this year. And the best part? I loved them! Here are my top eleven faves in alphabetical order by author's last name.

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger, Untraceable by Shelli Johannes, Possession by Elana Johnson, On Writing by Stephen King, A Scary Good Book by Anita Laydon Miller, The Liar Society by Lisa & Laura Roecker, The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan, The Fourth Stall by Chris Rylander, Forever by Maggie Steifvator, When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead, Nightshade City by Hilary Wagner.

Top 7 Movies watched in 2011

Breaking Dawn Part One (I didn't love Eclipse movie, but this was better, especially ending)

Bridesmaids

The Change Up

Christmas Vacation with my kids for the first time

Elf for the umpteenth time

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2 (sniff...)

Horrible Bosses

Can you tell I love comedies or book adaptations?!

Also, thank you to Sherrie Peterson for the A Great and Terrible Beauty book I won at her blog. Plus I won Wildefire at Literary Rambles from Natalie and Casey! Thanks, ladies! What a wonderful way to start the year.

What are your faves of 2011?

Here's one of my fave songs of 2011 by MCR (I've already posted my first two faves on the blog at some point). "If my velocity starts to make you sweat, then just don't let go..."

Ho, Ho, Ho, Gotta Go!

Gotta prepare for the holidays, you know!

This will be my last post of 2011 since I will be busy with Christmas and family festivities for the remainder of the year. I want to thank you all for coming by the ole blog to say hi. Thank you to followers new and old for your wonderful support! I'll still be popping by blogland to say HEY this year, but just not posting here.

I will be posting a few more times at my other blog, Book Recs of the Rock & Famous this year. Find out what a witty TV host is reading today! Please stop on by!

Lastly, I am down to number 19 in the Meegenius Author Challenge. Not too bad considering there are almost 400 entries, but I'd love to get into the top 15! Thank you for all of your support voting and sharing my link on your facebook page or retweeting it! If by chance you haven't voted, here's the link! Thanks for your help! :)

Enjoy the holidays with your family and friends!

I have an eclectic Christmas carol playlist, but this one is my fave. Peace and love to you!