An Amazing Thing Happened on the Way to the Coffee Shop...

So I was heading into Starbucks yesterday to meet a friend and then decided to stop at Barnes & Noble first. I love me some books, you know? I have a pattern. I weave through the front of the store, briefly stopping to glance over the new releases, then I head to the YA section and then over to the romance section. Once I hit the YA section, I head to the B's... can my book be out yet? Brian, Brian, Brian... BROWN!

My books! They were there! Only three of them, but they were there. I cried.

What an amazing moment. And then I realized I looked like hell and therefore couldn't introduce myself to the bookseller and sign the books. Ahem.

I snap a pix and then wander out to find Kerry, my best friend and CP extraordinaire. When she arrives, I march her through the store, she oohs and ahhs appropriately and buys a book. YAY!

It was an epic moment.

Be sure and check back over the weekend... I have a contest for Tuesday you all are going to want to participate in:)

Debut Timeline

My book comes out in five days. This is the timeline

May 30th: Take painkillers. Have big drink. Go to appointment
June 2nd: Go say hi to all the YA librarians in the city. All gazillion of them. Class of 2k8 Launch Party Begins!
June 3rd: Throw up. Go haunt book stores and book sellers. Sign stock. (Don't forget to take mints) Class of 2k8 Launch Party. Send out private invitations for blog launch party.
June 4th: Do all last minutes shopping for party. Class of 2k8 Launch Party. Announce Blog Launch far and wide!
June 5th: Launch party at the Washington School for the Deaf. Class of 2k8 Launch Party.
June 6th: Class of 2k8 Launch Party. Post pictures of launch party grand prize.
June 7th: Family graduation party. Tell everyone about your book. Hand out bookmarks. Be obnoxious.
June 8th: Travel to book stores and sign stock.
June 9th-13th BLOG LAUNCH PARTY!
June 14th: Signing at my chapter RWA meeting!

Seven Days

In honor of my book coming out in seven days, I am debuting my book trailer a bit early. Enjoy!




Oh, and if anyone wants to put this on their blog... feel free:)

To Tattoo or not to Tattoo...

That is the question.

I have this urge... to get a tattoo.

I know. I know I am 43 years old. I know that tattoos aren't really me... but I have this... urge.

I'll let you know how that goes.

Ah, High School: Reliving the Golden Years

In many respects I had a normal highschool experience. I mean, I attended from ages 14-18 just like everyone else. I went through grades 9-12, just like everyone else. I went to football games, pep rallys, and dances... just like everyone else. But unlike a lot of people, I couldn't stand it.

I felt like I had been born in the wrong decade. I should have been going to high school in the sixties or early seventies. I saw wrongs everywhere, but no one heard me... I think they were too busy listening to Duran Duran or Eddie Money. I wanted to be different and I succeeded... in becoming just like every other rebel girl who had ever walked before me. HA! So I got kicked out. A lot. I hated math and science... it seemed so pointless to me back then. (Actually, it does to me now unless you want to go into those fields, but if you are a teen, DO NOT tell anyone I said that!) Why couldn't I read ahead in my history book instead of doing a boring assignment? I was soaking it in, it fascinated me... why did I have to answer questions that were so bloody boring and pointless? Why couldn't I study psychology in a math class I was failing anyway. I loved psychology and anthropology and all my english classes. Why make me go to classes I was never, ever going to pass?

A lot of my rebellion ended when one of the most popular cowboys in school moved out to where I lived in the boondocks and we fell in love. THAT rocked everyone's world... What does he see in her? Honest to God, I actually heard that question in the halls as I walked past. But the class of 83 was nothing if not apathetic, so soon I was just one of them. Redmond, Oregon had a hell of a rodeo team and I began traveling with my boyfriend to rodeo's around the state. Now that was an experience for a hippie girl. I had a horse, but I rode bareback... Big dif.

So that basically was my highschool years. Not really successful and my views on education are still radically different from the norm.

And no, I'm not going to give details on why I got kicked out each time... I am a young adult writer, afterall. I don't want to give the wrong impression. Which is why I have a hard time imagining myself going in and talking in a high school... the last thing teachers want to hear is an adult empowering kids to take charge of their own education. To own it and make it theirs, because they're the ones who have to live with it for the rest of their life. Besides, I still get the heebie jeebies walking into my daughter's high school for conferences!

It's a delimma!

Notes from Outerspace (otherwise known as the land of promotion)

1. My actual physical release party is being held at the Washington School of the Deaf. According to the absolutely amazing English teacher, who has been helping me set it up, the students are very excited to have been chosen for the party. There will be about 50 people all together. Two of the students will be introducing me. Wow!

2. I have no clue how to do a fancy HTML newsletter. Not one. Mine will be completely boring and in normal type. My apologies. If you want to join the newsletter, there is still time to get the amazing invitation (and details) to my cyber launch gala before anyone else. Just send an email to: soveryteri-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

3. I have an idea for another promotional contest, but have to wait until I find out how many books I'm getting and when.

4. I pick up my postcards today! Am so excited! Unfortunately, I don't think I'm going to have enough time to get my bookmarks done. Oh well.

5. Once I get my postcards I'll be doing a daylong push to all the YA librarians in Portland. All of them. Should be fun.

6. I must try to figure out some kind of workshop presentation. How about: Writing YA When Old, Fat and Funny Looking? Or Kicked out of Highschool? You, Too, Can Become a Published Author!


Okay, My daily six:

Find anecdotal source for Probiotic Pregnancy
Get in touch with MOM author
Finish Chapter two in Deck.
Pick up Postcards
Put together Bookclub contest
Make out invitation list for gala

Book Release Blog Party: A Teaser

I have been uber busy working in the yard, but have made much progress: Will post pix soon.

Have made even more progress on the planning of my launch party!

A Few Teasers:

My guests are all published authors.

One author started her career as a fashion forecaster.

One author used to be a blueberry picker... now she's been on the New York Times Best Seller list.

One author used to be a Rydal Racoon.

Three of my guests have been on the New York Times Bestseller list.

The prizes... are fabulous!

Remember: June 9th-13th!

Prom!

Remember the story a few weeks ago when my daughter tried to ask her boyfriend to prom and things kept happening? Well, last night was the big night so I thought I'd put up some pix...

The end of the week...

Is pretty much the start of real labor around here. We're getting barkdust and trying to fix the whole damn property in 3 very hot days. Wish us luck.

I finished almost all the six items on my list yesterday. I still have to polish up the surgery article, but I actually sent it to a source for fact checking, so I can't do any more on that for the moment.

Here's today's six

1. Call DOM dude for interview
2. Work on getting music for blog party
3. Write the Maestro of YA and ask if they will be super secret guest.
4. Get sources for next weeks article
5. Work on DECK
6. Go over master launch list, blog party list and school launch list and see what I have done and still have to do.

Have a great weekend!

Flab Doesn't Fall Off...

I've tried, I've really tried. But flab doesn't fall off just because you quicken your pace from a 3 mph walk into a slow(very slow, very painful) 5 mph jog. I thought maybe it would. Doesn't.

And who's idea was it to call it flab anyway? What an ugly word. Honestly, the man should be shot. (And you know it had to be a man)

Usually I don't talk about my struggle with flab, because quite frankly, I find weight loss blogs boring and this is mostly a writing blog. Or at the very least a writer's blog, which isn't always the same as a writing blog.

But I suppose that my weight loss is crossing paths with my writing because for the first time ever, I have a flab deadline.

July 30th.

Yes, people, you know the date. The first day of RWA nationals.

I think I might make it. I won't tell you how much I want to lose, but I can tell you that I have lost 13 pounds in the last 24 days. It's amazing what happens when you eat right and work out. Netflix is great for this... you can get almost any exercise video under the sun delivered right to your door. I went out and bought running clothes and a balance ball.

Let's just say I'm not making cream scones for breakfast, because not only can I not eat them, but I don't have time. Turns out working out takes time. And you know I'm not taking it from my writing!

Oh, and I decided to make my to do list of six here everyday. Whatever I don't get done will be rolled over to the next day's list. I just need some accountability.

1. Send the web guy my final blog party guest list.
2. Write Sugery article
3. Make out DOM questions and interview
4. Send AM Northwest pitch
5. Talk to eprint about bookmarks
6.Get list of local libraries to visit.

No time for fiction today. Wah!

Notice the New Name?

The new blog name is in preparation for my book release cyber party, of which I am still hammering out the details, but let me tell you, it's going to be EPIC!

EPIC, people!

So mark your calendars. June 9th-13th.

EPIC!

Mother's Day Revisited...

My darling son went out with his best friend Saturday night and made me a Mother's Day basket, with candles and coffee cups and lotions... How sweet and thoughtful was that?



Later that afternoon, I went to the mall with my darling daughter. We bought coffee, went shopping for running stuff (we decided to start running together, squee!) and went out to lunch. It was nice getting to spend time with her... between school, her new job and her new boyfriend, I don't get to see her as much.

Then I went to my Mom's with a delicious chocolate cake. Everything was fine until the subject of my launch party came up and I tried, very gently, to tell her no. Let's put it this way... she could teach a class in the fine art of mother guilt. But since I have NOTHING to feel guilty about, I prevailed. She isn't doing well, physically, and my June is maxed. So no...I do not want a party where I have to worry about her and worry about finding time, etc. My Mom doesn't do no very well. (So that's where I get it from!) Not even the cake made her happy.

Oh, and my dad decided he doesn't like cake.

I think next year I'm just going to kick it with my kids and send Mom a card.

How was your Mother's Day?

Newsletter Contest Winner!

Here is my beautiful daughter:



Here is my beautful arc:



My beautiful daughter chose the winner of my beautiful arc by sticking her hand in a hat (actually it was a box) and pulling out a slip of paper that had the following name on it:

PJ Hoover!

Congrats, PJ! Please contact me off list so I can get your contact info and send you one of my precious arcs!

Lists upon lists

So I'm not a list making girl, but I make them because I can't survive without them. There's just too much to do and I have too little brain left after the radiation. (Not that I had that much brain to begin with!)

But now I am drowning in them.

I have master launch list which includes things like get postcards printed, finish up press releases, send out bookplates, and don't throw up.

Then there is blog launch party list which includes things like, send master guest list to web guy, write up announcements, gather door prizes and don't throw up.

Then there is launch party list for deaf school, which comprises of things like, order balloons, pick up gift cards, prepare talk, and don't throw up.

Oh, and the personal list which has things like clean out litter box, fill up the gas tank and pick up anti nausea medicine for the launch.

List upon lists, but am I getting everything done? That depends. I think at this point, I'm spending more time making the lists than actually following up on the lists!

YIKES!

Yikes, Yipee and Yowza!

Book launch coming sooooon.

Spent yesterday in a book launch frenzy (after taking my parents to their respective doctor's appointments and convincing my mother, "No, I do not need a party for my family and friends for the book launch. No,you can't cater it, you can barely see!")

Came up with super-de-duperty idea for blog party and am dying to tell you, my dear friends, but I musn't quite yet. Tis secret. Shhhhhhh! Spent a good portion of yesterday shooting emails off to various and sundry PR people and editor. Let's just say that I have found myself to be a shameless advocate for, well, myself!

Also spent time with my dearest BFF, Mrs. Annie at the Beaverton Bakery, the oldest from scratch bakery in Portland. We were choosing a cake for the book launch party at the Washington School for The Deaf. They are so talented there... they are going to airbrush the cover on top and on the sides will have double lattice garland with a pair of mauve lips between each loop. How incredibly cool is that?? We tried small bites (cause I'm dieting) of the raspberry poppyseed, two kinds of old fashioned white (one with fudge filling, one with ganach) and a marble. Mmmmm! We chose the marble. It should feed about fifty people or so... I may do some more finger foods...not sure.

I love it when plans come together!

Notes on the book launch.

Obviously am bad at contests because I didn't give a deadline. So I will give people until Friday and then I'll draw a winner.

I'm putting together a blog party for my book launch because I'm not going to have a party for family and friends. Marley Gibson had a great party and I wish I could have one just like it, but have to sink my money somewhere else, like Nationals... Not sure what it is going to look like, but I'll let you know!

Countdown for the book launch is ticking away... I ordered the chocolate lips and am ordering my business cards today. I have to figure out what to do for snacks for my party at the deaf school... The teacher says there will be about 50 students. Plus teachers... Am thinking a huge cake with Lips all over it... what do you think? What kinds of things should I put in the gift baskets? Woot!

Am so excited!

Pre-debut contest!

My wonderful editor at Simon Pulse sent me two advanced reader copies of READ MY LIPS.. And as I am keeping one-- heck, I'm going to frame that sucker-- I am giving one away in my pre-debut contest.

All you have to do is join my newsletter Yahoo group, So Very Teri. The newsletter hasn't even gone out yet, that's how low key it is. You will NOT be inundated with spam as I'm only using it for big announcements. I will be drawing a name from the group.

It's easy to join. Just send a blank email to:

soveryteri-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Or join online at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/soveryteri/

READ MY LIPS is getting some great reviews and is fun for both teens and adults. Plus, it's my debut book! You know you want to help!

You can read more about the book and preorder it at www.teribrownwrites.com (Or of course, Amazon or Barnes and Noble.)

Back Cover Copy

Popularity is as easy as a good secret.

Serena just wants to fly under the radar at her new school. But Serena is deaf, and she can read lips really well-even across the busy cafeteria. So when the popular girls discover her talent, there's no turning back.

From skater chick to cookie-cutter prep, Serena's identity has done a 180.almost. She still wants to date Miller, the school rebel, and she's not ready to trade her hoodies for pink tees just yet. But she is rising through the ranks in the school's most exclusive clique.

With each new secret she uncovers, Serena feels pressure to find out more. Reading lips has always been her greatest talent, but now Serena just feels like a gigantic snoop..

Pee-Em-Essss

I knew it the moment I opened my eyes. Today I was going to be wracked with Pee-Em-Esss. I knew there was a reason I was crying last night, I just didn't know what it was.

I really hate hormones. They turn me into a cross between a snarling badger and the proberbial banshee. (I know badger doesn't immediately bring up images of terror, but did you know that not even a grizzly will mess with a badger or it's cousin the wolverine? HA!)

I imagine my hormones dancing through my blood stream like demented revelers,screaming, "This will really piss her off!" You add husband and two teenagers, five screaming cats and two dumb ass dogs and you have a recipe for Mommy Monster.

What is not helping is today's schedule. The window man is coming to put in new windows. I have to meet my bf and lovely foster daughter's today, (which I am totally looking forward to and really is the only thing I WANT to do) I Have to take my mom to the doctor today because she is seeing images of things. This is concerning because of her brain tumor last year and even more disturbing because this means she can't drive! ANYWHERE! Which means we are going grocery shopping afterwards. I love my mother. Really. She just makes me nuts on a good day let alone one rife with Pee-Em-Esssss!

Wish me luck people... And TGIF!