Debutante Blog Tour: Cynthea Liu

About The Great Call of China

Chinese-born Cece was adopted when she was two years old by her American parents. Living in Texas, she's bored of her ho-hum high school and dull job. So when she learns about the S.A.S.S. program to Xi'an, China, she jumps at the chance. She'll be able to learn about her passion—anthropology—and it will give her the opportunity to explore her roots. But when she arrives, she receives quite a culture shock. And the closer she comes to finding out about her birth parents, the more apprehensive she gets. Enter Will, the cute guy she first meets on the plane. He and Cece really connect during the program. But can he help her get accustomed to a culture she should already know about, or will she leave China without the answers she's been looking for?

About Cynthea Liu

Cynthea spent her formative years in Oklahoma and Texas where she was a Whiz Quiz member, an Academic Decathloner, and a spelling bee champion. (Yes, she was very popular.) After attending college on the East coast, she worked at a corporate job where she mastered PowerPoint and racked up thousands of frequent flyer miles. Eventually, she traded in her suit for sweats to do the fun stuff–writing for children. In addition to PARIS PAN TAKES THE DARE and THE GREAT CALL OF CHINA, Cynthea's nonfiction book WRITING FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS: A CRASH COURSE (how to write, revise, and publish your kid's or teen book with children's book publishers) is available in paperback. http://www.amazon.com/dp/1605301140/?tag=cynthealiu-20

Author Web site: http://www.cynthealiu.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0142411345/?tag=cynthealiu-20

Now for the interviewy goodness!

1. If you had to kill off one of your characters which one would it be? Why him/her?

Dreyfuss. He's the slimy guy you don't want breathing to close to your food.

2. Would you consider having this character come back from the dead? Why or why not?

Nah. The world could use a few less Dreyfusses. An undead one would be particularly horrifying.

3. What's the strangest thing eaten in the course of your book? (If it's brains you get ten bonus points!)

K, I think I've got this one covered. Fish eyeballs, live shrimp drowning in wine, steamed pregnant crabs with orange eggs, and an eel that looked poised to attack. That was all in one meal, mind you.

4. Random sharing time, what do you want my zombie-blog-author readers to know about your book?

I hate to say it, Zombie-blog-author-readers, but there are no zombies in my book. That would just be too messed up if Cece journeyed all the way to China to learn more about her birth parents, only to discover that they're zombies.

YIKES!

Thanks Cynthea!!

Later readahs,

Stacey Jay

Zombies in Tiaras!!

I've got a new blog! "Zombies in Tiaras", co-written with the fabulous Julie Linker, a fellow Arkansas YA author. She's the "tiara" part, in honor of her sophomore book "Crowned". Here's the cover and yummy blurbage:

Smile. Wave. Dominate.

Presley loves the pageant world. She knows how to work the crowd and looks gorgeous in an evening gown. But really, she needs the pageant world -- for its scholarships and opportunities. The only thing standing in her way? Her archrival, Megan, who was practically born wearing a crown and sash. Megan may be the nastiest girl on the circuit, but she has one thing that Presley doesn't: connections. And she won't hesitate to use them.

What happens when two girls will stop at nothing -- including scandalous Internet pictures, vicious message board rumors, or "accidentally" ruined hair -- to be crowned the winner? Strap on your stilettos and tuck in those shoulder pads...it's going to be a bumpy ride.

Sounds fun right? So, for your weekly dose of zombies in tiaras, head over to our new blog:

http://zombiesintiaras.blogspot.com/

This week we're dishing on Oscar fashions.

Until tomorrow! (I've got so much to blog about in the next few days! Including a visit to a kick butt high school, a four star review, another Debutante release and more.)

Stacey Jay

The last link crawls from its unholy rest

Heh...that makes me laugh. Zombie coffee. More like zombie without coffee. Need a good dose in the morning to encourage my soul to rejoin with my body.

So yeah! Anyway! It's the en of the Debutante Blog Tour! At least the end of the part where people talk about me. I have to say, I'm kind of glad. I mean, don't get me wrong, talking about me and my book is great, but there comes a time when I want to get back to posting random things about zombies and my kids on Tuesdays. Look forward to the return of that next Tuesday! In the meantime, go show these links some love.

2/24 Kristina Springer http://kspringer.livejournal.com/

2/25 Pam Bachorz http://pambachorz.livejournal.com

2/26 Jennifer Jabaley http://jenniferjabaley.livejournal.com/

And stay tuned to the blog for an exciting announcement! (At least I find it exciting.) That will be coming sometime later in the week!

Stacey Jay

Debutante Blog Tour: Jenny Moss

And the Debutante Blog tour continues! Welcome Jenny Moss!



About Winnie’s War

A debut novel set against the backdrop of the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918.

Life in Winnie's sleepy town of Coward Creek, Texas, is just fine for her. Although her troubled mother's distant behavior has always worried Winnie, she's plenty busy caring for her younger sisters, going to school, playing chess with Mr. Levy, and avoiding her testy grandmother. Plus, her sweetheart Nolan is always there to make her smile when she's feeling low. But when the Spanish Influenza claims its first victim, lives are suddenly at stake, and Winnie has never felt so helpless. She must find a way to save the people she loves most, even if doing so means putting her own life at risk.

About Jenny Moss

JENNY MOSS is a former NASA engineer. She earned a master's degree in literature and taught writing as an adjunct at University of Houston-Clear Lake. Winnie's War is her first novel. She lives with her two teenagers in Houston, Texas.

Additional Details

* Author Web site: http://www.jenny-moss.com

* Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Winnies-War-Jenny-Moss/dp/0802798195


1. If you had to kill off one of your characters which one would it be? Why him/her?

Oh, my. Well, there's influenza and hurricanes, so people die.

2. Would you consider having this character come back from the dead? Why or why not?

Not for this book. But there could be a haunting in another! ;)

3. What's the strangest thing eaten in the course of your book? (If it's brains you get ten bonus points!)

Um, cold biscuits?

4. Random sharing time, what do you want my zombie-blog-author readers to know about your book?

There are cemeteries, coffins, and dead people, but not death-by-zombie.

Still sounds awesome Jenny, even without any zombies!

Until next time,

Stacey Jay

Debutante Blog Tour: Saundra Mitchell

And the Debutante Blog tour continues!!

Time to showcase another Deb. More yeay! Now let's get up close and cozy with Saundra Mitchell, author of "Shadowed Summer":

About Shadowed Summer

Nothing ever happened in Ondine, Louisiana, not even the summer Elijah Landry disappeared. His mother knew he ascended to heaven, the police believed he ran away, and his girlfriend thought he was murdered.

Decades later, certain she saw his ghost in the town cemetery, fourteen-year-old Iris Rhame is determined to find out the truth behind "The Incident With the Landry Boy."
Enlisting the help of her best friend Collette, and forced to endure the company of Collette's latest crush, Ben, Iris spends a summer digging into the past and stirring old ghosts, in search of a boy she never knew.

What she doesn't realize is that in a town as small as Ondine, every secret is a family secret.

About Saundra Mitchell

A screenwriter and author, Saundra Mitchell penned the screenplays for the Fresh Films and Girls in the Director's Chair short film series. Her short story "Ready to Wear" was nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and her first feature film, Revenge Ends, debuted on the festival circuit in 2008. In her free time, she enjoys ghost hunting, papermaking, and spending time with her husband and her two children.

Now for the zombie-themed grilling of the author!

1. If you had to kill off one of your characters which one would it be? Why him/her?

Probably Ben Duvall's daddy, but I'll let you find out why when you read the book.

2. Would you consider having this character come back from the dead? Why or why not?

That would be an awesome sequel. Last summer, a voice beyond the grave- this summer, a body that refuses to stay in it, DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNN!

3. What's the strangest thing eaten in the course of your book? (If it's brains you get ten bonus points!)

Awwwwwwww man! In an early draft, I had made mention of Iris' granny eating scrambled calves brains and eggs, but that didn't make the final cut. Do I get five points for that??

4. Random sharing time, what do you want my zombie-blog-author readers to know about your book?

I'd just like them to know that the incorporeal dead need settling, too!


Rock on, Saundra. You all can snag your copy of "Shadowed Summer" at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Shadowed-Summer-Saundra-Mitchell/dp/0385735715

Or wherever those fine books are sold.

Happy weekend!

Stacey Jay

More Stacey Jay Interviewy Goodness

Link for buying...just in case you haven't yet:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/You-Are-So-Undead-to-Me/Stacey-Jay/e/9781595142252/?itm=1

Okay, so getting back to me and my book and talking about me and my book...ehem...yeah. It's hard to believe but I have even MORE links for your clicking enjoyment.

Stop by these lovely blogs to read the latest "You are So Undead to Me" launch interviews.

2/17 Lauren Bjorkman http://laurenbjorkman.livejournal.com/

2/18 Megan Crewe http://megancrewe.livejournal.com/

2/19 L.K. Madigan http://lkmadigan.livejournal.com/

2/20 Kate Messner http://kmessner.livejournal.com/

2/21 Michelle Zink http://www.myspace.com/prophecypress

2/22 Chris Rylander http://www.millencake.livejournal.com

2/23 Jon Skovron http://jonnyskov.com

Have a great day!

Stacey Jay

Debutante Blog Tour: Erin Dionne

And the Debutante Blog tour continues!!

This time, I get to host one of the Debs on my blog. Yeay! First up is the fabulous Erin Dionne with "Models don't eat Chocolate Cookies".



About Models Don’t Eat Chocolate Cookies

Thirteen-year-old Celeste Harris is no string bean, but comfy sweatpants and a daily chocolate cookie suit her just fine. Her under-the-radar lifestyle could have continued too, if her aunt hadn’t entered her in the HuskyPeach Modeling Challenge. To get out of it, she’s forced to launch Operation Skinny Celeste—because, after all, a thin girl can’t be a fat model! What Celeste never imagined was that losing weight would help her gain a backbone . . . or that all she needed to shine was a spotlight.

About Erin Dionne

Erin Dionne has lived on two coasts and in four states. Her debut novel, MODELS DON’T EAT CHOCOLATE COOKIES, was inspired by events that occurred in seventh grade, when she wore a scary peach bridesmaid dress in her cousin’s wedding and threw up on her gym teacher’s shoes (not at the same event). Although humiliating at the time, these experiences are working for her now.

Erin lives outside of Boston with her husband and daughter, and a very insistent dog named Grafton. She roots for the Red Sox, teaches English at an art college, and sometimes eats chocolate cookies.

And now for a few questions for Erin:

1. If you had to kill off one of your characters which one would it be? Why him/her?
I guess I'd kill off Red Bathing Suit Woman. She needs to be eliminated in order for my main character to take full control of her life. : )

2. Would you consider having this character come back from the dead? Why or why not?
She's the type of character who creeps in when she's not wanted, anyway, so she'd probably come back whether I wanted her to or not!

3. What's the strangest thing eaten in the course of your book? (If it's brains you get ten bonus points!)
Oh, easy--the Diet Drink of Horror. It's a mixture of mayo, baking soda, balsamic vinegar, tomato juice, and a few other ingredients. Bottoms up!

4. Random sharing time, what do you want my zombie-blog-author readers to know about your book?
Although MODELS doesn't have zombies, there's a connection to LORD OF THE FLIES, an exploding water bra, and a chihuahua with a bladder problem.

Sounds awesome Erin!! You all can order this fab book right now at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Models-Dont-Eat-Chocolate-Cookies/dp/0803734352/ref=ed_oe_h

Or buy this baby wherever fine books are sold.

Tomorrow peeps!

Stacey Jay

"You are so Undead to Me" is a Recommended Read!

5 Angels and a Recommended Read from Fallen Angel Reviews!! Whoo-hoo!

Here's what the reviewer had to say:

"This was a total page turner. I loved this book. It gave me a new outlook on the living dead, and I couldn’t help but want more." -Alyssa

Well, Alyssa, there will be more! "Undead Much", the sequel to "You are so Undead to Me" is going to copy edits this week. Thanks so much for the fabulous review. You all can read the entire thing by clicking here:

http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/2009/January/Alyssa-YouAreSoUndeadToMe.htm

Have a great weekend!

Stacey Jay

Oxford signing fraught with fraughtness and LINKS!!!

Ahh...Square Books Jr. in Oxford Mississippi...could there be a more idyllic, gorgeous, fabulous bookstore? Or more dedicated, fabulous, and fantastical booksellers? Or more savvy, fabulous and enthusiastic teen readers?



I think not...I think not...



Within minutes of arrival, I had already learned a lot from Square books...



I had only moments to contemplate my newfound knowledge, however, before I encountered an actual Teen Reader!



I signed her book...



And she modeled this FABULOUS t-shirt for me! (Yes, that is the "You are So Undead to Me" t-shirt, available only through ME! You must suck up or win a contest or flatter me in such a way that I don't think you are flattering me, simply realizing my true made of awesomeness to such a degree that it warrants a t-shirt fee plus postage and handling.)



And as if encountering an actual Teen Reader wasn't exciting enough, I soon after had the pleasure to meet and greet two actual zombies, recently risen from their graves. (They died young, which is clearly the only reason they still look so fabulous.) I could only assume these zombies had heard about my zombilicious book and crawled from their eternal rest simply to snag a signed copy.

I was, needless to say, very flattered...



So flattered, that I decided a ride on the local unicorn was the only way to fully express my extreme gratitude for such a zombie and teen-tastic signing. Of course...it was then that tragedy struck. (As it often does after encountering a unicorn. They attract trouble like shiny, sparkly, horned trouble magnets, man.)



So anyway, while I was frolicking with the unicorn, my preshush hubs was attacked by a giant caterpillar with an uholy and zombie-esque hunger for hubs brains. (Or maybe it just wanted to snag his glasses for a souvenier. You never can tell with giant caterpillars.)



Luckily, the unicorn agreed to let me gore the caterpillar to death with its horn. Which I did with utmost enthusiasm and efficiency.



After all the BIG events of the night, I had to take a wee nap on my signing desk, but did manage to rally in time to hit a kick ass zombie party and embarrass myself by signing onstage with the wonderful Jill and to dissect said performance with the equally wonderful Jeff.

But in all seriousness, thank you Jil and Jeff and Teen Readers and Zombies! The signing in Oxford was amazing and I hope to see you all soon!

Now for interview linkage! Go forth and read about me and my book and have a wondrous week!

2/10 Kristin Walker http://walkwrite.livejournal.com

2/11 Mandy Hubbard http://mandywriter.livejournal.com/

2/12 Sarah Ockler http://sarahockler.com

2/13 Rhonda Stapleton http://rhondastapleton.blogspot.com/

2/14 Cyn Balog http://cyn2write.livejournal.com/

2/15 Megan Frazer http://meganfrazer.com/?page_id=56

2/16 Jackson Pearce http://www.jacksonpearce.com

See you next Tuesday!

Stacey Jay

Zombies are the new Bunnies, Obama on a Unicorn, and the Interview Deluge Continues

First up, zombies are officially the new bunnies. This sign says so. Zombies are also the new unicorns, until that book about the unicorns that gore people with their horns comes out. Then unicorns may be the new zombies. Stay tuned for more news on that.

Speaking of news! Here are some more interview links! Yeay! More than you ever wanted to know about me and my book and even my nose. Yes, my nose was discussed in depth on the blog link for today, so go check that out. Me and my nose have issues that go waaayyyy back, and angst is fun to read...if not to live.

2/2 Deva Fagan http://www.devafagan.com

2/3 Sydney Salter http://www.mybignose.blogspot.com

2/4 Cheryl Renee Herbsman http://blog.cherylreneeherbsman.com/

2/5 R.J. Anderson http://rj-anderson.livejournal.com/

2/6 Cindy Pon http://cindypon.blogspot.com/

2/7 Sarah Cross http://sarahcross.livejournal.com/

2/8 Danielle Joseph http://daniellejoseph.livejournal.com

2/9 Aprilynne Pike http://www.apparentlyaprilynne.blogspot.com

And lastly, this is the shirt I'm wearing today:



That's not me, that's a skinnier model who did not have a baby twelve weeks ago. But I still feel pretty fabulous in my Obama on a unicorn shirt. I figure it's going to make a statement no matter which way this presidency goes. And unicorns are just fun...until they become the new zombies. Then we may have issues.

Have a great rest of your week!!

Stacey Jay