Monday morning blahg: And the award goes to . . .

As much as I love James Franco and Anne Hathaway, I did not like their performances as Oscar co-hosts.  I'd go as far as to say they sucked.  They weren't funny or witty.  The best thing they did was the pre-scripted video at the beginning of the show.  We need to go back to having comedians do it.  Comedians are funny.  They can ad lib. 

I can't say I'm disappointed with the winners as the only movie I've seen from the way too long list of contenders was The Social Network, which I loved.  I would like to see all the ones nominated.  They look (and I've heard) they're excellent.

Funny how we have all these awards shows, the Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, and then of course, there are the Country Music Awards, the Mtv Awards, the Golden Globes, etc, etc. but none for the most educational art of all, writing.  Yes, I know the screen writers and song writers are included in all of the above, but what about an awards show for book writing?  Don't we deserve that kind of recognition?

What would they call it?  The (Pen)ny?  The inventor of the typewriter's name is too boring.  The Sholes.  Meh.  It could be named the Remmy, after Remington, the gun maker that manufactured the first typewriter.  Or how about the Qwerty?

I could picture the likes of Stephen King to Stephenie Meyer handing out awards.  I can imagine myself accepting the award for YA Debut Novelist of the Year (I really don't think that highly of myself, but it's my imagination so I get to win).

What would the award look like?  A golden pen or pencil?  Maybe it should be in the form of Gilgamesh, since the author of The Epic of Gilgamesh, Shin-eqi-unninni, is said to be the first named literary author.  We could have it in the form of Shin-eqi-unninni, but people probably don't know what he looked like.  Maybe the model should be Enheduanna, Priestess of Inanna, the first known female writer and poet.

Doesn't Twain look good as a gold statue?

Maybe in the form of a more contemporary writer like Twain or Bradbury or Hemingway?  Or even a poet?  Dickinson, Keats, or Shelly?  Or how about Oscar Wilde or Poe?  What do you think?  Should we as writers demand our award show?  Or should we be thankful to remain happy in our anonymity?

Speaking of awards, I'm getting closer and closer to 200 followers, so I thought I'd do a giveaway.  I don't know what I'm giving away yet.  I'll have to think about it.  But my 200th follower is getting a prize, and if anyone referred them, they'll get something too.  :)

Thanks all.  Have a wonderful Monday. ugh.

~Megan

F³A: Stupid snow and writerly things.

Thing Three (my niece) and Thing One

So, it snowed here the last couple days.  Lots.  Annoying thing is that they didn't cancel school.  I almost got into three accidents yesterday getting my kids to school and then to work.  And it's because people think they can just drive like regular when it's snowy and icy out.  And they're in a hurry.  And their time is more important than anyone else's.  And they're dumb.  So, since they didn't cancel school again today, I did it for them.  I'm sorry, I'm not going to drive on a grid of ice sheets risking life and limb to get my kids to school.  And I'm skipping work today too.  Meh.  Nothing to do today that can't be done Monday.

Okay, enough about that.

My editor got my first pass pages yesterday, and so hopefully they're on their way to me.  I'm psyched!!  If you don't know what first pass pages, it is basically the pages of your book, in the form they will look when they're finally in book form, fonts, etc.  I decided to grab some random pages off of the internet to show you and it just so happens one of the first pics to pop up was Tess Hilmo's, With a Name Like Love.  Tess and I were 2k11ers together, so hopefully she won't mind me using hers.

This is what first pass pages look like.

This is a very important stage of the process because it is basically the last time you can make edits.  So I will be going over these pages with a fine tooth comb to make sure every word is correct, every period in its place.

Also going over my option book with my agent.  I've been working on three novels, Withered, Taking Zoey, and Sad.  I think we're going to go with Sad.  She didn't really like Taking Zoey, and I've got more on Sad than Withered.  She liked Withered also, so after Sad, and my dystopian, and maybe an edit on a superhero series I've written, I'll probably finish that one.

I suppose that's it for today.  Except for the Friday Weekly stuff.

Random iPod shuffle song: The Underdog by Spoon

Book of the Week: XVI by Julia Karr.  I'm about half way through and really enjoying it.

Movie of the Week: The Housebunny.  My daughter has watched it every night this week.  She's insane.  It is funny though.

Quote of the Week: "A lot of people like snow.  I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water."  ~Carl Reiner

Thought Provoking Thursday: Living in Shadows

I know you've all HAD to feel that way at one time or another.  That you're living in someone else's shadow?  I think as a writer, a sibling, and friend, a co worker, whatever our circles and relationships, we can't help these feelings sometimes.  We feel unworthy or inferior to those around us.

Point?  I guess I've been feeling a little like this.  And it's not fun.  Luckily, I have people around me that remind me that I've got some good stuff going on.  That we can't live under the shadow of someone else because their paths, though they may be similar, are unique.

And then of course there's Walt Whitman.  His quote, "Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you," really struck a chord with me yesterday.  And it's true.  I think I may be a natural pessimist.  I need to look toward the sun more often.  After all, I am solar powered.

Sorry, just some random musings from my warped mind. :)

A couple more things.  Mrs. Andersen at the Y.A. Love book blog featured for her Book Trailer Thursday, the trailer I made for Carole Estby Dagg's novel, The Year We Were Famous.

Also, I want to wish good luck to all those entered in ABNA.  Just remember, if you don't make it past this phase, it's not over.  Here is a list to prove it.  It's all the novels that have been entered in ABNA that have been or are going to published since.  It grows all the time.  So don't lose faith.

And never walk in someone else's shadow.  Cast your own. :)


~Megan

Writing Wednesday: Sad

     Just a warning, this is an R-rated excerpt.  Oh, it's also unedited, keep that in mind.  Oh, one more thing, my poem, Me, will be posted on Cari's Book Blog today.  Cari is a rockin' review blogger and all around great girl.

 

      There was a silent pause.  “Well, Jordie won’t be here until around six.”  Jordie Hicks, Haleys’s new boyfriend.  Didn’t really see it myself.  He was a jock.  A tennis player to be exact.  Short, blond, and freckled.  Haley probably could have had any guy she wanted if she tried. But she didn’t.  Try that is.  She was perfectly complacent following David and I around, getting the occasional drunken mash, not going for what she really wanted (which unfortunately was my brother, Bryce, which I totally didn’t get since he was a freshman to our juniors), and just dating any schmuck who’d ask.

     She was really pretty too, and I’d tell her all the time, but I don’t think she believed me.  She was tall and thin.  I envied her hair, long dark loose curls.  I think she had no confidence in her looks and herself in general because she lived in a house of assholes.  Her step-mom was the most superficial phony bitch on the face of the planet.  To her, everyone is worthless unless, that is, you made bank and looked like you came straight out of an Ambercrombie catalog.   Elitist bitch.  Every time I go to their house, she sizes me up, as if I might have improved since the time before.  And she never says, hello, it’s always just, “Sydney,”  making me sound like something disgusting she can’t wait to spit from her tongue.

     Haley’s dad was a workaholic and pretty much lived at his office or his girlfriends.  I didn’t even know Haley had a dad until about two years into our friendship.  We were sitting around doing homework when this dude walks in without a word and opens the fridge.  I was sitting there staring, wondering, WTF?  I looked at Haley, but she didn’t seem concerned, so I said, “Who is that?” 

     She glanced up for a split second and said, “My dad,” then went right back to her homework.  He grabbed something from the fridge and left.  He didn’t say anything to Haley.  Not hi or how was school or who’s your friend.  Nothing.   I speculated once if he just hated his existence outside of the office and slutty bartender he was fucking, or if he was actually mute.

     And then there were her brothers, four to be exact, one step, from the bitch’s first failed marriage, and three half, the product of the union between her dad and step mom.  The older one was a complete waste of oxygen.  He blew up his girlfriend and their two year old son in their meth lab a couple years earlier.  Now he’s coming down from the addiction, and spends his days on the ‘rent’s couch crying, watching reality shows, smoking cigarettes, and drinking a bottle of Jack a day.  Prick is too lazy to even buy us booze when we need it.

      Not much to say about the three younger brothers, except they’re so hyped up on sugar, video games, and inattention that they’d have to make up a new acronym for whatever their diagnosis would be.  And all three think Haley is a disease.  It’s no wonder Haley always wanted to hang out at my house.  Well, all that and of course the fact that my brother lived there.

Tooting the Horn Tuesday:

Okay, first I have an update to tell you that my garbage did indeed get put out.  Rusty dropped Mary off and noticed they had not picked up yet.  Hero of the day.

Secondly, yesterday was Shake-Your-Ass-Like-Shakira-Day on Facebook thanks to yesterday's mentioned Barb and Deb at the Middle Ages and Gae Polisner.  Against my better judgement, I did indeed participate (as did many others) and against my better judgement, I'm sharing my Facebook link with you.  I don't know if you can watch it if you're not a Facebook friend, but here it is.

Okay, tooting my own horn, I ended up in Publishers Weekly yesterday in the midst of the Fall releases (they apparently don't know I got bumped to Winter, or maybe it's me that doesn't know something).  You can read about all the Fall releases here.  If you want to see my tiny little blurb, scroll down to HMH/Graphia. :)

Two 2k11ers, Kiki Hamilton and  Tess Hilmo, reveal their book covers at the 2k11 site. I must say, they are gorgeous.

And did you know that they are making my favorite YA novel into a movie?  The Thirteen Reasons Why (by Jay Asher) movie will star Selena Gomez.  I cannot WAIT to see it.

I believe that's all I've got for now.  Until tomorrow.

~Megan

Monday Morning Blahg: Weekend Vamps

Okay, first off, I forgot to have someone put my garbage out today so if someone would run over there and do it, that'd be fantastic.

Two, I have to mention these ladies because they made me laugh this morning.  Deb and Barb over at the blog, The Middle Ages posted some ass shaking videos along with Gae Polisner.  Hysterical.  You HAVE to go watch. (Gae is trying to talk me into doing it to.  I may or may not)

Okay, so I've been in Forks since Saturday.  Saturday we ventured out to the store, Dazzled by Twilight, which was packed with Twilightaholics.  They had EVERYTHING.  Slap a picture of Bella on some coffee, you know had Twilight Coffee.  Print something on a Bic, you had Twilighters.  Slap a pic of Jacob on a bandaid box, you had a . . . wait for it . . . Wolfpack of bandaids.  Some of it was ridiculous, but they had cardboard cut outs, and t-shirts, and the coolest dolls which I'm sure cost a mint (didn't bother checking)  I left with a Team Jacob t-shirt, a Vampire at Heart t-shirt, and the book The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner.  Which I'm now seeing is $7.92 on Amazon and I paid $13.99 >:(  But I bought it in Forks (that's how I'm rationalizing it anyway).

Yesterday we did our own TwiMoonLipseDawn tour.  We started in Forks, some things are not as they appear in the movies.  Just a warning.  The Forks High School sign is standing on its own amongst a severely Under Renovations school.   We got lost but finally found city hall which supposedly sported Chief Swan's uniform, but we didn't go in to find out.  And down the street from that was the Cullen house, which wasn't really the Cullen house, but said Cullen on the mailbox.  We could have peered in the windows and seen some staged Twilighty stuff, but didn't bother.

We drove by Dr. Cullen's parking spot at the hospital, and The Swan's house, which looks a little different than you'd remember from the movie.  We also hit the Chamber of Commerce which is home to Bella's truck(s).  The one from the movie is a broken down old red truck with a bashed in back window and a weird looking bed.  The other is more the style from the book, it better shape, but still.

Then we were off to La Push, we'd gotten a Twilight map and were heading down highway 110 to see, Jacob's house, the Vampire baseball field, and the beach.  We stopped at 3 Rivers Resort where is home to the sign for the Treaty Line.  There's also two little extras, a cabin that says Jacob's den on the side and a Vampire Threat Level sign which read 'danger' oooh.  Scary.

We didn't realize we'd already passed the baseball field until we were, well, way past it, so we continued to the beach while looking for Jacob's house.  Well, Jacob's house was supposedly in two spots, one the Chamber of Commerce said was it, and another one.  But as we were heading to the beach and restaurant on the river (suggested by the guy in the souvenir store) we are suddenly attacked by a werewolf.  He jumped right out in front of the car and just stood there.  I had to yell at Heidi or she would have hit him.

Yes it is a werewolf

He then barked at us and ran around the car then took off.  We followed because it seems like that's what he wanted.  He led us to the restaurant we were looking for, which had closed down (as many other things in Forks which were started because they thought Twilight would be a big draw for the Timber town, which it is, but not as much as they thought).  And then he led us to the beach, which was gorgeous.

On our way out of La Push, we searched for restaurants because I was so hungry I was about to drain Heidi of all her blood for nourishment.  What we found instead (people in La Push apparently don't eat out) was the house that the Chamber of Commerce said was Jacobs, which was nothing but a mobile home on the side of the road.  Um, what?

We headed back the way we came to find the baseball field.  Which we did.  There was a sign that read, Vegetarian Vampires at play.  Very cute.  We got to drive right into the field.

Heading back to Forks, we passed a red house and I said, "Well THAT looks more like Jacob's house than the other."  I turned to look at it and it had a sign reading JACOB BLACK'S VACATION RENTAL.  I made Heidi flip a Uie and we stopped.  There was a motorcycle out in front of a mail box that read Black.

What you do when you're bored in Forks.

When we got back, we poured a glass of wine and went Vampire hunting, which proved to be a silly and fatal idea.  Heidi is now undead.  I've had to fend her off a few times from trying to bite me.

That's all she wrote of the Twilight Adventures.  Thanks for reading.  Catch you on the flip side.

 ~Megan

F³A: I'm sure I had something to write about.

But I forgot.  I really need to write these things down.

I will say that things are starting to happen at the Class of 2k12.  I'm not at liberty to say, it's very covert, but I know 2012 will be epic (no the work epic is not a hint, you're just going to have to wait)

If you're an author with a YA or MG debut coming out next year, and want to work with a great group of writers using synergy to cross promote, get in touch with me, or the beautiful Caroline Starr Rose.


On the writing front, I'm over 6.5K into my novel Sad, and it's really coming together.  I'm loving Sydney's voice and I'm really connecting with her.  Tiny blurb:

"We wrapped around each other and  just lay there breathing, and I felt the kind of peace you usually only find while watching a baby sleep, or when you look up into the night sky imagining yourself among the stars."

Hmmm . . . what else?  Oh, yes.  All you Twilight fans can envy me this weekend as I travel to the town of Forks to visit all things Twilighty.  Hopefully I'll run into a vampire or two (have I mentioned my love for vampires, if not the Twilighty ones,  the Interviewy, Underworldly unsparkly ones).    

That's all for the Friday Free For All, except of course for this:

Random song from my iPod: The Killers, All These Things That I've Done

Book of the Week: XVI by Julia Karr

Movie of the Week: Eh, let's throw Eclipse out there in honor of my trip to Forks

Quote of the Week: "My mom is a vampire.  She is Vampire Mom." ~ Mary and Rachel Bostic

Thought Provoking Thursday: Casting Never Eighteen

Okay, maybe not so much thought provoking as just sitting in bed with nothing to do so I went ahead and cast the movie version of my novel (wishful thinking, yes).  Here's what I came up with.  We'll start with the secondary characters and work our way up to the good ones.  Oh, and I'm not going to say too much about the characters, because I don't want to ruin the book for you.  You're just going to have to read it to find out who they are.

Scott McPhee - Zac Efron
Anyone that's been reading my blog awhile knows I have a bordering-on-unhealthy obsession with Zac (yes, we're on a first name basis, shut up).  Originally, I would have wanted him to play my main character Austin, but I realize that he's just too old.  But I think he in his scruffiness, could play wastoid, Scott.

Hunter Parrish and Shia Le Beouf are also options if Zac is busy.




Julianna - The women, aside from Kaylee were a little more difficult.  There are a lot of cute little actresses out there, but this girl stood out to me as someone Austin might have dated, but very much different from Kaylee.  So I chose Alyson Stoner.  She's been in lots of Disney stuff, and she's a dancer, but I like her from the Cheaper by the Dozen movies.

Allie was difficult.  I needed someone that could do dark.  Someone that would have to dye their hair black.  I really couldn't make up my mind.  Originally, I had picked Taylor Momsen for Kaylee, I mean, look how adorable she can be. *points up*  Then I saw pictures of her like this:
and decided she could be Allie.  Another choice was Annasophie Robb because I like her acting chops.

Jake.  Handsome, loveable Jake.  I found him in William Moseley.  Narnia's Peter.  The face says it all.  I just hope he can do an American accent.








Twins Suz and Trev.  I just needed some dark haired tiny things.  Here they are.  Aren't they adorable?

Avan Jogia

Jodelle Ferland 

Jodelle's latest venture was as Bree the vampire in Eclipse.  Avan has been in a lot of stuff.

Justin.  Jock and Austin's right hand man.  I knew who would play this right off the bat.  He is one of my favorite young actors and has been since I saw him in Little Manhatten.  Just a good little actor who is turning into quite the stud.  Josh Hutcherson.






Kaylee.  Beautiful Kaylee.  Austin's best friend (and secret crush).  I had entertained lots of girls for this, the two mentioned above that I finally labeled potential Allies, Dakota Fanning, but I almost forgot about this girl.  Amanda Seyfried.  She's the perfect Kaylee.  I think you all know who she is, I don't need to list off the many films she's done.

Logan Lerman

And now for Austin.  I poured over lots of young actors to find just the right one.  Almost settled on Logan Lerman of Percy Jackson fame.





But then I saw these pictures:

 
And knew I'd found my Austin.  This is Aaron Johnson from Kickass.  For now, he's my Austin.

They might want to consider making this into a movie soon, before all these actors are too old to play teens.


Yes, this is me dreaming.  But reality would suck without dreams.

So what do you think?

That's all.  Thanks for reading.

Peace Out

~Megan

Writing Wednesday: Guest Writer!

Yes, I have a guest writer today.  It's my cousin and fellow poet, Nathan Jordan.  Here is his poem:

Nathan Jordan

Gigantic Imagination-Itty Bitty Reality

We are born into this world

Kicking and screaming

Looking only for milk and warmth

Not caring about morality

Only our own whims to satisfy

We grow up and rebel against the world

It won’t give us what we want

Now we want metaphoric milk and warmth

And if reality won’t provide it

We’ll cry and cry until we get what we want

Or we’ll turn to drugs and alcohol to soothe ourselves

And that’s where most of us stop growing

We continue throughout life demanding

Shaking our fist at the world

Reading our list of requirements

Cutting those off who don’t agree

Not stopping to realize that everyone else

Is doing the same thing.

And then a fortunate few stumble on the truth

Begin to understand their true size in reality

A grain of salt

A piece of sand

That’s right size

This big huge colossal universe

Doesn’t care about what we demand

It only gives us what we need

And it’s up to us to realize

That that’s all we should ever want.

Nathan Jordan is accountant by day and lives in T-Town with his lovely wife Rachel, and son Rylan. A bit of a joker, Nathan also has a serious side.  He enjoys film, singing, playing guitar, and is proud of his Italian heritage.

Tooting the Horn Tuesday: Music, Trailers, and Other Cool Things

The Less Deceived

So,  many of you saw the video that I did for the mishmash contest, right?  I created a trailer for my novel, Never Eighteen.  Well, after the contest, we were supposed to destroy all of the pics, video, and songs off of our computer, never to be used again (without paying).  I redid the video, which can be seen here, but it just wasn't the same without that beautiful song.  

So, I scoured the net for the guys who did the song.  I could only find them on myspace, as of yet, they are unsigned, etc, etc.  I decided to write them:

Megan Bostic says

To: The Less Deceived (theaceproject@myspace.com)

I would REALLY like to use this song in a book trailer I'm creating, but alas, I'm a poor writer and all I could offer you is credit on the video which would be placed on youtube and facebook.
Any chance you'll let me?  It's a beautiful song and catches the mood of my novel perfectly.
BTW my novel is being released by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Fall, 2011.

  

This is what I received back from them:

The Less Deceived says

To: Megan Bostic, Writer (meganthewriter@myspace.com)

Hello Megan,
sorry for the late reply. Of course you are more than welcome to use the song. Would be great if you could credit the song as The Less Deceived - Love's Labour's Lost and also provide a link to our website: http://www.thelessdeceived.com/
We'd also be very happy to receive a copy of your novel, of course!:)
Let me know if you need an mp3 of the song and where to send it.
Good luck and best wishes,
The Less Deceived

The Less Deceived

Needless to say, I'm ecstatic!!! Here is their own video for the song.  I'll post my book trailer once it's redone.

 

Thanks for reading.

Peace out,

~Megan

Monday morning blawg: V-day

My first Valentine's Day in 19 years alone.  I was never a fan of the holiday anyway.  I thought it was a waste of time and money.  Probably created in a collaboration of Hallmark, FTD, and Jared (or whatever came before Jared).  I was never one for chocolates or diamonds.

Flowers are another thing.  I love having fresh flowers in the house, but I learned a long time ago, if I wanted them, I'd have to buy them myself.  Which I did.  I buy a bouquet a week from Safeway. (you can't beat their $10 for a dozen roses deal)  I love all kinds and  colors of flowers.  The exceptions: anything red, and anything dyed to a color that's unnatural.  And carnations.  I really don't like carnations. (if you plan to date me in the future, you might want to bookmark this page)

So, today I'm going to grab the $125 of gift cards to Metropolitan Market and buy me some cool kitchen shit and maybe a good bottle of wine (and flowers of course).  Tonight it's going to be me and two girlfriends, the Lonely Heart's Club (shout out to Val and Heidi) having dinner and a couple drinks, then probably go home and curl up in bed with my sock monkey, my laptop, and some Dead Like Me.

To those of you with big dates tonight, have a great time and never take the person sitting across from you for granted.

For those without plans, or with plans that does not involve any romance, you're not alone.  There are millions of people in the same boat.  Enjoy your friends, your children, your solitude.  Go to a movie, treat yourself to a nice dinner, create something.

And buy yourself some flowers.

Happy V-day to all of you,



~Megan