How to use this Page

It looks like you had a great time. Wish I could have been there.

I wish you had been there, too, Janie. You were missed!

Great pictures! I'm sorry I had to miss the gathering this year. You guys look like a million bucks!

xo,

Heath

ZOMG MEG!! I so hope one of you remembered to say hi to her for me. If not, that's ok. I'm sure I'd forget everything I wanted to say to her if I saw her in person.

I really wish I could have been there too. Ah well. I will just have to live through you guys and your recaps!

BookChic--I KNOW! OMG, Meg! And among the fun was telling her that we'd met before, at the Grove in Los Angeles years ago, when I brought my daughter to hear her speak about the Princess Diaries. And she remembered the event--not us, of course--but the event. That was fun for me!

It was so surreal meeting Meg. I don't think I said a word. What a nerd I am! It was a great time but the bees missed Heather and Dona!

I'm so happy for you guys!!!! Your pics are amazing!!!!! It sounds like so much fun!!!!!

These pictures are amazing. I missed you all so much. The only thing I know about Nashville is that I better be there! ;)

These pictures are amazing. I missed you all so much. The only thing I know about Nashville is that I better be there! ;)

Nashville is fantastic. I can just see us now at Tootsies. We ladies are going to take over the place. The last time I was there an Artic front had blown through, so I'm looking forward to seeing the town in warmer weather.

BTW, great photos.

Thanks, Steph and Janie. There is great excitement about holding the conference in Nashville next year, and I'm thinking it'll be very well attended. By all of us!

You all look so elegant!

Looks like so much fun, ladies.

I can't wait for Nashville! I've always wanted to go there -- since the film, "The Thing Called Love" with River Phoenix playing a singer/songwriter. I want to go to the Bluebird cafe to see undiscovered talent, and also take the bus to Graceland to honor the King!

Can't wait...

Heath

Great interview! I heart Tina and Kelly! :0)

Christy

I love their blog, plus their both great writers! Keep up the good work ladies!

Hi,
I am a regular reader of YA Fresh and am always pleased with the info I learn from these two very talented authors.

Fabulous interview. :) Thanks for the links--I appreciate them already!

Hi Alice,

Wonderful interview.

On a separate note, Jane Friedman directed me to you. I had a question about children book trailers and she suggested I contact you through your blog because she thought you might be able to help.

Could you email me at [email protected] or could you blog about some good example of children book trailers? I've looked through YouTube but only found one I thought was good.

Thanks for your time.
Auntie Flamingo
http://auntieflamingo.blogspot.com/

Noncommercial personal advertisement!

Blog tips:

http://singleswingle.blogspot.com/ My Poetry.

http://winmir.blogspot.com/ My Philosophy.

http://screenfonds.blogspot.com/ My Art.

- Peter Ingestad, Sweden

Okay, I really liked Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress and have recommended it as a non-depressing YA book; now I want to check out Kelly's stuff. Thanks!

Wonderful post, Tera, and I couldn't agree more about being happy no matter which one of us wins!

Okay, here's my award: "The Vacation Frustration Award." Because about 10 years ago, on the way to Italy, I grabbed ONE FOR THE MONEY by Janet Evanovich. She had three or four out by then, but I figured, well, IF I liked it, I could get the others when I returned the following month.

Mind you, this was before Amazon delivered in Europe--or at least before I knew they did.

And although I had a wonderful vacation, it seemed like a very long month until I get could get my hands on #2!

I would give Norman Mclean's "A River Runs Through It" the "only book ever assigned in my American Lit classes that I would ever want to read a second time" award.

I'd give LORD OF THE FLIES the "book that's most successful at making middle-school students want to kill themselves" award. (I do NOT think it should be read by 12-year-olds! I'm still messed up from it.)

And I'd give CHARMED LIFE by Diana Wynne Jones the "book that convinces one that life is worth living after all" award. :-)

Congrats you guys! Hope you had fun in Italy, Tina. I lived there for a year in college. :)

Hmm... How about Book with Most Beautiful yet Horrible story? That goes to The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak.

Congrats, again!

I wish my lips would be a lil bit plumber, just a lil bit. My lips are thin and people here say whoever has thin lips is talkative.

And I agree with you, Hayden Panettiere looks so much like the model in the cover of Perfect Chemistry!

What a fun post! I agree that the girl on the cover of of my book has terrific lips! It has already led readers to ask me about the lipstick AND if I knew the model!

One thing I've noticed about Hayden and Kristen (who I agree, are gorgeous without big lips) is that they both have what I'd call prominent lips that curl a bit at the top. So maybe it's not size as much as distinction!

I have never thought about my lips one way or another, but wouldn't want them blown out of proportion. In fact, in TOP TEN USES FOR AN UNWORN PROM DRESS, one character is referred to as having "trout lips," and readers seemed to know that meant overstuffed collagen lips!

I love my lips. Those and my eyes are my favorite features. And yeah, they are full. Maybe not quite Angelina full, but close. And my eyes are almost black. Now if I could just love the rest of me as much. :)

My lips are pretty full but sometimes I still try to use plumper, I don't know why because then they look huge. All in all I'm pretty happy.

I like my lips. They aren't too big or too small, but they do have what my mom calls that "tulip" look. You know, those lips with the very defined curves on the top lip. I'd use a plumping cosmetic maybe, as long as it didn't make them feel too weird... I hear they feel tingly.

What does annoy me about my lips though is that they are constantly dry! Summer, winter, lip balm, no lip balm.... I can't win!

my lips are fine just the way they are at least thats what I think. :)

I like my lips the way they are. Being short I love the fact that I can be comfertable with other parts of me than my hight. Oh Simone you visited my school in South Carolina about a week or week and a half ago. I loved your book Perfect Chemistry!

Oh, I'm so glad you liked Perfect Chemistry! Thanks for reading it and commenting!

I think Hayden would be a great model for Brittany...I loved Perfect Chemistry! I hope it gets made into a movie or something...

I'll go with option B cos it makes more sense too me. Since the princess is spoilt I guess she's not really nice and won't kiss the frog, let the frog sleep on her bed. But hey I wonder what happens after the frog is turned into the prince. Will the prince and the princess fall in love?

I'm gonna have to agree with the first comment! Most princesses won't even look at a frog, loet alone, kiss one!

Thanks, TLC! No, no frogs in The ABC's of Kissing Boys (but there's cockroaches in When Bad Flings Happen to Good Girls--wait, I'm getting ahead of myself).

As for a choice...hmmm...I think I'd go for Option A, too because a kiss can be very, very quick (The Let's Just Get This Over Kiss), and the sleep on the pillow thing would go on and on...

I'd pick Option C. I have kids and I've had WAY worse things on my pillow than a slimy frog! ;)

Probably option 3. Wouldn't want a wart on my lips.

I would have to go with option A too. I think that for the princess to find true love and a handsome prince to boot...she should have to sacrifice a little and kissing a frog would definitely be a sacrifice.

I'd have to go with B too. At least he still turns into a prince.:)

hugs,danette

First off... um, ewww! Frogs are kinda creepy. I would choose option C. I guess I could take the hopper staring me down all night instead of kissing the warty thing! ;)

The first kiss between Jennifer Garner and Timothy Olyphant in Catch and Release. OK movie, but WOW!!! on the kiss. You have to see it for that moment. It was so explosive ... one of those really angry, desperate kisses.

Now I want to see LOST - never have.

And yay on the new book! Awesome cover!

Best,
Sharie

I don't watch many movies but let's see, it must be The kiss between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in the Notebook. It's so emotional and romantic, I love kisses in rain *squeals*

Congrats on your book release Tina, I think I said it thousands times here and there hehe. Oh and thanks for the giveaway too<3

I would say Kate & Leo (or Rose and Jack) in Titanic.

I guess I would have to say Kate and Leo in The Titanic and they were pretty explosive in Revolutionary Road.

Janie

So exciting about your book release, Tina!!! For me, Bridget Jones' Diary. Bridget and Colin Firth (aka Mark Darcy) at the end. Mmmmmm. :D

Even the "best" movie kiss doesn't hold a candle to your own "first" kiss! I just I could remember her name!
Big time props on the new release!!!

My favorite movie for a long time has been "What a girl Wants"- the kiss between Daphne and Ian in the boat is sooo sweet.
The kiss between Bella and Edward is much better in my mind.

I just knew that either Marky Mark or Sawyer would make it into your favorite kiss! ;) I don't watch LOST anymore so I missed that one but I would have loved to trade places with Kate that day at work! ;) Congrats, Tina!

I'm loving these answers--and totally agreeing with them! But can you believe I've never seen the Kate and Leo kiss because I've never watched Titanic? (Okay, running to Netflix...)

And yeah, Steph...it's always Sawyer or Marky for me, but in the romantic kiss-your-socks-off department? Sawyer is at the head of the class.

Tina~
Congrats on the release...great cover. And how can you go wrong with either Marky Mark (he is my sister's favorite) or Sawyer (yum!).

There are lots of really great movie/TV kisses, but I am a fan of old movies and I would have to go with Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard in Breakfast at Tiffany's...the kiss in the rain. This one just really makes me go all warm and fuzzy...I know, I am old but I can remember watching this with my Mom and it is still one of my very favorite movies!

I watched just Pride and Prejudice (the Keira Knightley version)yesterday on the Oxygen channel for like nearly the 10th time, so the kiss at the very, very end of the movie between Lizzie and Mr. Darcy is fresh in my mind. It's so sweet and simple as he gives her little kisses before actually touching her lips.

The Notebook! I don't remember the actors/actresses but that scene when they were old grown up and she was kissing him in the rain. soooo romatic! :]

stephanie

Definitely the kiss in The Notebook! The kiss, the rain.. that scene is just perfect.

I love classic movies and Wesr Side story is my favorite. I love the kiss moment between Tony and Maria in the dance at the gym!

I would have to say the kiss between Kate and Leo in Titantic!

The Notebook is a definite favorite. As is the scene at the end of the movie, Sweet Home Alabama. And the first kiss between Ross and Rachel on Friends. At least, I think it was the first kiss... It was the one where it was raining outside and Rachel was cleaning up the coffeehouse alone. They had just fought, Ross stormed out, Rachel locked the door behind him. Ross came back looking pathetic and Rachel unlocked most of the locks and couldn't get the door open. That is one of my favorites.

Ok, I just realized that most of my favorite on-screen kisses include rain. Strange...

~Meredith

I'd have to say Molly Shannon as Mary Katherine Gallagher on Superstar when she makes out with the Tree. and when the Nun sees her, she's like 'I was doing my part to save the rain forest.' That was priceless.

But the on screen kiss that has made me weak in the knee is Shia LaBeouf and Sarah Roemer from Disturbia.

Congrats on the book release!

I am loving all these answers!

And Meredith, you are right about the rain being a wonderfully romantic back-drop for perfect kisses.

Anyone have any thoughts why?

I'm going to have to go with Spike and Buffy from BtVS...maybe from the episode when they were 'married' as kiss-wise it was sweeter than most of the other episdoes. Though I do just love them in general... :D

Ok, I must agree with most of the posters and choose Leo-but not with Kate! My heart melts when Leo and Claire kiss in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

The kissing in the rain scene with Allie and Noah, from the Notebook. Also, Landon and Jamie from A Walk to Remember. Anything movie based on a Nicholas Sparks book melts my heart.

Oh yeah! And of course he one in Titanic!

Email me if I win!
[email protected]

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days! The real kiss right after their fun day out!

The kiss that Kiera Knightly as Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice, when her and Mr. Darcy almost kiss. I know they don't kiss but even though they didn't you could just fell how much they loved one another by how they looked in each others eyes. Also because that's my favorite Romance movie.
-Taylor Brittany-

Okay, I'm going off on my own to say Elizabeth Gaskell's NORTH AND SOUTH. It is an *amazing* movie. And the kiss finally--finally!--happens at the very end after almost four torturous hours of romantic and sensual tension. Whew!

If you haven't see it, rent it!

Hmm...hottest on screen kiss...Okay, maybe it's because I am in love with Shia LaBeouf or maybe becuase I am just really excited about Transformers 2, I don't know...but the one that comes to mind is the one between Shia and Megan Fox at the end of Transformers. I mean, come on they were chilling on a very hot very animatable yellow car!!! I mean, wow right? Plus...Shia LaBeouf! Yummy!

Great post, Tina!!! I'm soooooo excited about your book!! = )

I don't know if it is THE hottest kiss ever, but the end of the Sweet Home Alabama movie with Reese Witherspoon and ?, on the beach in the storm.
All I can say is Mmmmmmmmmmm

Just as a ridiculous aside... is it only my guy who always chooses the kiss scene to either go to the bathroom, or go get popcorn?

Oh, man! I'm not good at this as I don't have one that I can remember. I did love the chemistry between Patrick Dempsey and Amy Adams in Enchanted!

The one near the end of Bull Durham where Crash pushes everything off the kitchen table and lays Annie down on it. With Sixty Minute Man playing loud. Guh.

The first one that comes to my mind is the first kiss between Mick StJohn and Beth Turner in Moonlight. Do you know how long I had to wait for it? =P

I saw ABC's at my giant B&N - turned out! in all its glory! - and almost snapped a pic for you before You Know Who small child dragged me off to ride the escalator. Speaking of Baz Luhrmann movies, I loved the Romeo + Juliet first kiss. Sigh. First kisses are just the best.

Hi Tina,

ongrats on your newest release!

The best on screen kiss is from the movie Ever After when Drew Barrymore kisses the prince in the old ruins.Sweet kiss!

Hugs, Danette

Congratulations on the release, Tina! So excited to read this one. :)

Best kiss -- Bridget Jones's Diary where Mark Darcy and Bridget kiss in the snow. Loved it!

Heather

I liked #2 because of your pose, #3 is cute, but #1 is green. Green doesn't go. Purple does!

I like Number Tree -- I mean, Three -- the best. It has more of a fun, light-hearted feel to it. Plus, you can never go wrong with tree-hugging. :P

Love them all, Tina!! Oh wow, #Tree for me! ;) Such a natural smile and gives a peek of your fun personality!

You take fabulous pictures. They all are so cute. I think I like #3the best. It's just so friendly and fun.

Number One - the lighting is best in number one. (G) (LOL - see what happens when you ask for input? Everyone has a different opinion.)

You are such a beauty, Tina! I like them all but I think number one is my fav.

Susan and all, I LOVE the varying input! And right now it is waaaay too close to call. More opinions, please!

Hey, Tina,

First I LOVE the picture of you holding the book.

Of the 3 author pictures, I like 1 and 3. The cowl neckline in #2 takes the eye away from your face.

I like the green sweater pic a lot, but I LOVE the purple sweater against the tree pic. It's completely adorable, showcases your personality as well as your writing style (if a picture can do that!). It's young and hip and fun.

Cindy

Hi Tina,
I like green (#1) You look approachable, comfortable and confident!

I love you in the lavender, so I'll vote for the tree picture, as well. You look the most relaxed, natural, and beautiful in that pic.

I love #1, too! You look great, and that necklace is unique and awesome. Not to mention, so few people look good in green and you totally pull it off!

Green. I just love the color.

Once again, I offer the lone male POV. With that said, I love purple. I've ALWAYS had a thing for a cowl neckline, and I like the "straight on" angle of #2. However , I like the lighting on your face in #3 best.

Thanks again to all of you! #1 and #3 (green and tree) seem to be in the lead, but Chuck, simply the fact that you represent a different demographic (male librarian) gives your vote for #2 WEIGHT.

Well, there's not a bad pic in the lot, Tina!! Great photos. I especially like the wedged into the tree one - LOL! - #4!

I love #3 =) Yay trees!

I really like #3!

Tina: Love #1 w/ the light in your hair and so few can pull off green! #3 is cute! You are a great photo subject! Even when the photographer asks you to climb trees with ants in them! It's fun taking pictures of you, you have such a natural sparkle. So much better than squiggling kids and blinking grandmas! So proud of you and your work!

I like number 3, but I also like the photo of you with the book. :)

You're very photogenic!

hugs,

Heath

Thank you for all the compliments...but I must say again, it's not that I am photogenic, it's Jari's talent.

But oh, yes, Jari wasn't kidding about the tree ants...that part WAS creepy. Plus, when I got home, kitty Rascal went catnip-like crazy over some scent on my boots and the hem of my pants. Don't know what that was, and don't want to! =)

I love the third pic the most, you look comfortable and your pose is nice too.

Pic #3 is the best. It's whimsical, playful and will appeal to your young demographic market.

Besides tree hugging rocks!

Sirena

I like green or the the tree picture!

I love the tree one!

I like the #3 pic.

I'm going to have to go with tree. Not only is purple my favorite color (which has absolutely nothing to do with my choice by the way!) but your smile looks so natural in that shot, kinda casual and fun.

my vote is for green it looks the most authorly. lol!

You haven't changed AT ALL!!! = ) Love the pics. Hugs!

Hi,
Marley is right. You look exactly the same! Only, now I think you are even prettier.

Janie

Tina, thatnks so much for posting these pics of you and for bringing me back to a period where we had so much fun. By the way, you really, really have not changed, except for the hair. And this is a good thing (big grin). I think I still have that blouse somewhere lol

The true you comes shining through!
However, those pictures with the cat-eye glasses really got this librarian's dewey decimels all revved up!

Thanks, Marley and Janie. =)

And to "nyborn" (who is one of my HS "besties") yep, in total agreement there that my hair has massively improved!

Hey, Chuck, yeah, I tapped into my inner geek in that glasses shot last week, huh? And you showed us some different sides to you, too... =)

I'm not saying anything nice because you're making me ... I'm saying something nice because it's true. You look lovely in your pictures--lovely, as in so very pretty and like the kind of girl who was friendly with everyone. Not a pea coat or a combat boot in the bunch. And, like everyone said, you haven't changed. You're still exceptionally lovely. =)

(How was that for nice?)

You were such a cutie pie! And apparently a rebel as well! LOL!

Great pictures! I loved the fake photo's too. I had to do it too, which led to my most recent blog post. :0)

Christy

Tera, you are redeemed! In fact, I wish I'd known all you guys when I was a teenager...you would have helped my self-image. :)

Christy, I don't think we can go as far as calling me a rebel...I was only a child of the times. And I'm now going to pop over to your blog and see your pictures!

These pics are awesome, Tina. You look exactly the same! :0)

Wow, I recognized you in a heartbeat. So pretty!

Orange rinds? Yuck. My mother-in-law makes candied orange rinds...want some?

Love your books, Tina!

Great answers, Tina!

Enjoyed reading this post.

Christie Craig

Thank YOU, TLC, for coming up with these fun questions, and taking the time to interview me! (And I especially loved the link to the Ocean's 13 guys!)

Simone, yeah, my love of orange rinds often gets a rise out of people. But you know what they say about "the story being in the details"!

Thanks for joining us, Christie!

Hi Tina,
You've intriqued me with your time travel idea. Maybe someday you will write it. And as for orange rinds...that is a bit weird!

Great interview, TLC. I can't wait to read your book.

Janie

Yeah, the orange rinds thing threw me, too. It has to be a totally naked orange for me. I can't even eat orange slices because I might get a taste of rind. But we love you anyway, Tina.

Fun interview, ladies. Tina, I so hope we can surprise you with Marky Mark someday! :) And I totally agree that Tina will have her own Rita flag at the signing this year! :)

Janie, TLC hit it pretty well when she called my time travel idea "back to the future in a station wagon".

Steph (and TLC!), thanks for the good vibes about possibly earning one of those Rita flags. Yeah, wouldn't THAT be cool...especially if my fellow eligible Buzz Girls, Simone and you--Steph--were sitting behind them, as well!

I'm sorry to go off topic but I wanted to make a request to all of the authors. Would you please consider publishing your books in Amazon Kindle format? There aren't enough YA books and I'd like to change that. Please let me know if there's anyone I could write to in order to get your books and other good YA authors' books available for Kindle.

Hey Sarah,
I'm not sure how to go about getting published on Kindle but I'll say something to my editor about it. :)

Hi Sarah,

Random House is starting to use the Amazon Kindle format for YA books. In fact, HOW TO HOOK A HOTTIE will be released that way in the near future. Keep an eye open! :)

Tina

Another great interview! I'm loving these. I really need to try Starbucks for writing and get away from the fridge and laundry.

Thanks, Kwana! I've actually never tried writing in public, but later this year I'm getting a laptop, and I'm going to give it a go, too!

What a fun interview! Love your books, Tina! And here's wishing Rita flags for all the eligible Buzz Girls!!! = )

Aw, thanks, Marley! :)

Fun interview, but Tina -- cheesecake? Not even chocolate cheesecake?
If only I could change your mind on that one. Unless you are lactose-intolerant and thereby totally-cheese free, that is... :)Then you so have an excuse for not loving one of the main food groups. ;)

Heather