Tooting the Horn Tuesday: Interview with Amy Holder

Today I'm posting an interview I did with, Amy Holder, the author of, The Lipstick Laws.  This is her debut novel, slated for release April 4, 2011.  Want to know what it's about . . .

At Penford High School, Britney Taylor is queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone's life as easily as snapping her perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her. 

For April Bowers, Britney is also the answer to her prayers. With zero friends and nothing close to a boyfriend, April is so unpopular, kids don't know she exists. That is, until Britney notices her. One lunch spent at Britney's table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity. 

But Britney's friendship comes with a price tag. How much is April willing to pay?

1.Tell me about The Lipstick Laws? Personal experience, or pure fiction?

The Lipstick Laws is 99% pure fiction, but there are some influences from personal experience. I definitely shared some of the same feelings about wanting to be accepted as the main character (April) when I was a teen.  And the whole story is actually set in a fictional town around the very real town that I grew up in.  The mall in the book was a stomping ground for me and my friends when we were in high school.

 

2.Were you a bra stuffer back in high school like your main character, April?  Or did you harbor some other humiliating secrets?  Are you willing to share?

 

Hmmm...If I had been, I'm not sure I'd admit it.  Honestly, though, I was never a bra stuffer, but I’ve been known to wear a push-up bra or two (not at the same time). 

 

And do you really think I'll admit to any other humiliating secrets publicly like this?  Are you crazy?  Don't worry, I have plenty of them... but they're for me to know and you to imagine.

 

3.Did you know people as awful as Britney when you were a teenager?  If so, how did you handle them?

Thankfully I didn't know anyone quite as bad as Britney as a teenager.  However, I wasn't completely immune to the oh-so typical cattiness of high school girl drama.  How did I handle it? I made sure my nails were extra sharp for the catfights.  I'm talking razor blade sharp fingerclaws.  Okay, I wasn't ever in any real catfights...but it sounds so much more interesting than saying I tried to ignore it, doesn't it?

 

4.Do you have one favorite line from your novel?

I have a couple of favorite lines for different reasons, but one of my favorites is at the end when April says: "Smiling to myself, I realize that it's definitely better to be wanted than to be the one wanting." 

 

I like this line because I think it shows character growth and strength that she didn’t have in the beginning of the book. I can’t explain why without giving away spoilers…so I’ll just leave it at that.  

 

5.Where is your favorite writing spot?

My favorite writing spot is at my desk in my office because I love my comfy chair and widescreen computer! The only problem is that it's attached to the internet...and I have a TV tuner... so it's very easy to get distracted.  Now I understand why some writers choose to write longhand in quaint cottages in the middle of nowhere.

 

6.If you could choose one writer whose brain you could pick over, dead or alive, who would it be?

J.K Rowling!  I'm a huge Harry Potter geek and would love to pick over J.K Rowling's brilliant imagination!  Although I'm not sure if I'd trust myself with that privilege...because I might be tempted to run away with her brain.

 

7.What is your favorite thing to do outside of writing?

I've always loved art, so in my spare time I enjoy doing anything creative and artistic. Creative energy makes me feel happy and peaceful.  It's so much better than math energy, in my opinion. 

 

8.Is there a word you always misspell?  And what is it?

Art u nutz? I nefer mispit wordes. 

Truthfully, I'm a spell check addict!  I wish I had a spell check switch in my brain. One word that I always used to misspell when I was little was beautiful.  I always forgot the A in it... and I'm pretty sure it drove my elementary teachers crazy.  When my fourth grade teacher saw me years later as an older teen, she joked with me about it and asked me to spell beautiful for her.  And I'm proud to say that I spelled it beautifully!  Oh, and I even added a snippet about this particular misspelling inside joke in The Lipstick Laws. 

 

9.What are you currently reading?

I just finished an ARC of The Sweetest Thing by Christina Mandelski, a fabulous Class of 2k11 classmate of mine.  It's deliciously sweet!

 

10.Who is your celebrity crush?

If the cards are in my favor (fingers, toes, hair, eyes and elbows crossed), I hope to marry Henry Cavill from The Tudors.  Unfortunately I'll probably have to live in reality and just be satisfied with drooling over him on TV.  Henry, if you're reading this, call me. *wink, wink*

11. What are you working on now? 
I’m currently working on a couple projects for various age groups, but the one closest to completion is a contemporary YA manuscript with a paranormal twist.  I’m hoping it will be my next book to hit the bookshelves…but a Lipstick Laws sequel may also be an option.

Read my review of The Lipstick Laws by clicking here.

About Amy:

Amy Holder is a writer, artist, and animal lover.  Her educational background is in Psychology, but her heart remains loyal to her love of writing and the creative arts.  She has worked in the early education, social service, and freelance writing and design fields prior to being published.  Other than writing, some of her interests include art, animals, reading, shopping, photography, pop culture, theater, nature, and spending time with family and friends.  Originally from Upstate New York, Amy currently resides in the Philadelphia area with her many adopted pets.

Monday Morning Blahg

If cleanliness is next to godliness, I should at least be in line for a canonization.  I spent yesterday picking up a place that looked like it had been ransacked by burglars.  AND put my kids to work as well.  I'm not sure how I did that.  I just said really excited, "SUNDAY IS MAJOR CLEANING DAY!!"
and they were all over it.

 Thing One folded a pile of laundry about the size of Mt. Fuji.  And she cleaned the downstairs.  I'm not sure what Thing two did, really, but she was downstairs and didn't resurface, whether she was cleaning or hiding I'm not sure.  I do know that they both cleaned their rooms and we all washed our sheets (which we probably don't do often enough)

I cleaned my own room, which was nothing but a pile of clothes covering every inch.  Cleaned the kitchen which had been pillaged and plundered by a five teenager sleepover.  I vacuumed the living room/kitchen (it's more like a great room without the great).  Most importantly, I cleaned my office.  I had months worth of filing to do, Christmas crap piled in there, my desk was cluttered with dvds and books and sticky notes.  I wanted to get back to writing in there and free up my kitchen table for stuff like, well, eating.  I used to pride myself as the Ultimate JFC (see picture above to figure out what it means), I think I need to channel her again.


Having the house uncluttered also makes me realize the important things that need to be done (ahem, like the bills paid that have been piled up in that stack of paperwork you've been meaning to go through), but it is also good for my mental health.  When my house is a cluttered mess, I get cranky.  I'm more Zen-like now, I've found an inner peace that can only come from having a tidy and sparkling sanctuary.


Now about that canonization . . . how about if I'm the patron saint of Scribing Servants.  I like it.

As always,

~Megan

F³A: Life of a Soccer Mom

Okay, I'm not only a soccer mom, I'm a soccer team assistant coach and manager.  When we practice, we play hard.  Right now we're playing indoor so we go to the middle school and practice in the basketball court.  We call it, cage soccer.

The older and better these girls get, the harder it is to keep up.  When we started this team, they were fourth graders, well, now at 13, many of them are taller than me, and they're all definitely tougher than me.

Last night I got kicked in the foot, pummeled in the thigh and gut, and had two near misses to my face (I've been hit square in the face, believe me, it hurts like hell)  Oh, and I got knocked down right on my back on the concrete.  Good times.

This morning my arm is sore, my back aches, and I pretty much hurt all over.  So, why do I do it?  Because I love it.  We've been together so long I love these girls as if they were my own.  Every time I get injured, I play it up and make them laugh.  Of course, if I continue, I could be dead soon.  I can see the obit now.  Megan Bostic passed away suddenly when she was pummeled with a soccer ball one to many times.

On a side note, I'm coming along on my pass pages, my ARC's will be out soon, and my novel is on Netgalley for all you review bloggers.

Random iPod shuffle song: For the First Time by The Script, one of my favorite new bands.


DVD of the Week: Weird Science, going to watch it this weekend with my girls.

Book of the Week:  Deadline by Chris Crutcher, still reading, still liking.

Quote of the Week: "Live under the sun, love under the moon."  I have no idea where this quote comes from.  I saw it on a sign.

Thought Provoking Thursday: Why Do We Stress?

I mean, I know life throws us curveballs, but really, is anything really that big that we can't get through it?  Talking with a friend last night, he tried to tell me about finding happiness by letting go.  Now, he's super smart, and I tried to follow along, and I admit, he lost me in some places, but I get it to a point.

We need to remember, that our physical lives are ephemoral.  Our bodies our mere vessels to get us through this phase of existence, so everything here, our stuff, the people in our lives, our experiences are only temporary for us.  If we remember the big picture, that we're not going to be in this life forever, it may be easier to let things roll off of us.

While it's kind of a confusing concept, and I'm not trying to get all metaphysical and religious on your ass, because frankly, those are not my things, but I think I'm going to try and put it in a smaller perspective.  Day to day.  The things I go through are temporary.  They won't last forever.  Now that may mean they go away in this lifetime or after death, but they will go away.

Our physical lives are fleeting.  We are merely a speck in the scheme of things.  So why do we make things so hard for ourselves while we're here?

I don't really know what happens after.  But I know that all I've left behind won't matter anymore.  So why do I worry about it so much?

Think on that for awhile.

~Megan

Writing Wednesday: A blog and some Sad

First off, I blogged for The Class of 2k11 this morning, check it out here.

Secondly. Here is a snippet from the book formerly known as Sad, which for now I'm changing to FML.  It is unedited, R rated, and not for the faint of heart.  You may leave comments if you wish.

     Speak of the devil.  Tammy walked in humming some sickingly sweet love song, looking way to peppy for my tastes.  Instead of punching her in the face I only glare in her general direction.  She stops in her tracks, looks over at me and lets out a little yelp.  I can’t help but giggle.  “Jesus, Syd, you scared the shit out of me.  What the hell are you doing home?”

     “Brooding,” I said and went back to looking out the window.

     “What are you brooding over?” 

     I looked back at her.  She didn’t give a shit, that much was certain.  She stood there with her stupid messy blond ponytail, hand on her jutted out hip, her legs shooting out of her boxers like sticks.  She made me sick.  “Fuck off, Tammy,” I said.

    “Jesus, you kiss mom with that mouth?  I’m trying to be nice here.”

    “Go be nice somewhere else?  What are you even doing here?  Out of places to bed hop?”

     Her face fell.  I’d hit her where it hurt.  But everyone knew she was a slut.  She rarely spent a night at home.  Still, I’m sure she wasn’t proud of it, and I felt guilty.  I shouldn’t take my frustrations concerning David and Haley out on Tammy.  Even if she was a major bitch.   “Hey, Tammy, I’m sorry.  It’s just . . . David and I broke up.”

     She gave me a puzzled look and then asked, “Who’s David?” 

     And this was why I hated her.  She cared nothing about the world around her.  All she cared about was how she looked and who she was going to lay.  I went from remorse to rage in two seconds flat.  “My boyfriend.”

     She stared at me as if I was speaking a foreign language.  Then she said, “You have a boyfriend?”  as if it was the most ridiculous thing she’d ever heard.

      “Had,” I said.  I stood up, bumped into her as I passed, nearly knocking her against the wall, and went to my room.

     She called after me, “How the hell was I supposed to know?”

     “Open your eyes,” I yelled back right before slamming my door so hard it knocked my framed picture of me and Haley off my wall.  It crashed to the wooden floor, which was fine with me.  I walked over to it, grabbed the frame and threw it in my trash can.  I started picking up the big chunks of glass when one sliced into my finger.    I automatically dropped the glass, but then just stared at my finger, mesmerized.  Why?  I’m not sure.

     Watching the blood as it dripped from my finger to my wrist, down to my elbow and then to the floor, was serene in a strange way, like sitting on the edge of a stream of blood, watching as it twists and turns over the terrain of my arm.  And I felt this release as if everything that had happened the last couple days was oozing out of me, becoming nothing but a pool of heartbreak on my bedroom floor that I could wipe up and throw away.

  For the first time in the last twenty four hours I felt . . . a kind of peace.  I also felt like I was going to pass out.