The Secret Adventures of WriterGirl

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): According to Plan by Danny Elfman [The Corpse Bride soundtrack].



Okay, so this is definitely pushing the limits of Feature Fun Friday since it is supposed to be centered around books and stories and literature, but it is just so cool. :) And since I'm grasping at straws anyway, there are Star Wars books, right? Plus, this is an awesome vehicle for storytelling. So it's totally valid. Have a great weekend everyone!

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Hanging by a Moment by Lifehouse.





I can't believe I didn't post this. I mean, I really can't. Here I am geeking out about how awesome possum The Hunger Games is and I don't even post about the midnight release party I snuck into! Okay, there wasn't any sneaking, they let me in just fine, but the bouncer dude at the door with arms like a gorilla did look really scary. ;) I had to flash him my most winning smile then promptly darted to the Teen section (and there were other people there. My age. All at once. And no one was giving me funny looks. It. Was. Awesome).


The first thing I immediately noticed was how laid back it was. It was a lot more relaxed than the Breaking Dawn party I managed to go to, and about 20 degrees cooler (that one was like a humid, stinky sauna of 700-2,000 bodies pressing very close to each other. There was no where to move. Much squeezing and apologizing abounded). But this? People sitting in aisles, texting and browsing. It was like shopping for two hours (of course I've never shopped for books for two hours before *shifty eyes*) and no one caring if you cracked open a book and started reading because hey - what else are you going to do?




Here is the line for Cinna's hairstyle station (yeah, I squeed really loud). The line was mega long so I didn't get in (I was um, reading too many books), but they had some awesome styles and even spray-on colors and the like. It was definitely one of the most popular stations.






And perhaps the coolest thing when compared to the Breaking Dawn release party, there were guys in the store too. Besides the Edward Cullen stand-in, I can't remember many guys there. There were lots of girls though. :) I love it when I see the male reading population out in mass, even giving up precious sleep for a book. Be still my heart. *flutters*





The cafe was also one of the other busiest places. When you're waiting and they offer sugar-coated treats of goodness just begging to be consumed, how can you not take them up on the offer? Yeah, smart move Starbucks. :)






Oh yeah, and they had specialty character drinks.




I love Haymitch's because I thought it was funny, but I was going to get a Rue drink because it looked so good. But then my heart stopped. What? No Cinna drink?! How could this be? There wasn't anyone more deserving of a classic drink that him! (Okay, so what if I have a teensy crush on Cinna?). So up I marched clutching my purse I very politely asked why there could be no drink to honor the amazing/hot/incredible Cinna (okay, so I didn't use any of those adjectives, but I sure thought it). And they said it was because it was too early in the season to have (ah crap. I can't even remember what they were going to give him for his drink. Apple Cider?). And then I went - oh, that makes sense. But I asked for a special drink for him anyway. :)


They gave me a pumpkin spice hot drink, no coffee, specially made to order. It was a good thing too because it was rather cold that night. And of course I had to put Cinnamon on it.




So there I sat, happily drinking my very special concoction, working out my Hunger Games crossword puzzle as the clock ticked down the last fifteen minutes. But I realized as I drank it that it didn't feel very much like Cinna. Cinna was much richer and more complex, like, like... hot chocolate. Not the fakey powder kind you can buy in the store, but real hot chocolate. And then I realized - I could make a recipe for him. My mind started whirling and the time flew. And that was, by far, the best way to end the countdown in those last few desperate seconds. So yes, a Cinna-inspired hot chocolate recipe is coming your way. Look for it, coming to you this holiday season. :)

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): King of Anything by Sara Bareilles.



Today we have the lovely and exceedingly wonderful Mitali Perkins, author of Bamboo People (a book I loved, and has also been nominated for a Cybils award!--nominations still going on, by the way) who is here with a mini-interview. Oh, and rights have just been sold to turn it into an audiobook! Yay Mitali! Here we go!




[HZ] I have to admit, Tai was a favorite character of mine. Where did he come from/how did you develop him as a character?

[Mitali] So glad you liked him! He formed himself in my imagination, but he does have similarities to one of my sons.



[HZ] Your novel speaks a lot about violence, prejudice and power. Why did you focus on these subjects when crafting this story?

[Mitali] I think about those issues all the time. Can't shut the door on them when they ask for entrance into my stories.



[HZ] You give a hint of it in the story, but why did you choose to call your story Bamboo People?

[Mitali] I. Love. Bamboo. It is one of the most generous, ecologically-efficient plants on the planet, and people along the Thai-Burma border use it for absolutely everything.



[HZ] While this story is incredible, there is reality behind it going on right now. What can you tell us about children soldiers and the situation in modern Burma? What can be done to help?

[Mitali] Find out if your elected representatives have taken a stand on Burma or on child soldiers. If not, write a letter to him/her to express your outrage at the situation. Raise money to give through the organizations I’ve listed at www.bamboopeople.org. Pray. Read the news about Burma. Find out if Karenni refugees are arriving anywhere in your area and do your best to help them get settled in this new place—they were finally granted permission to come here last year.


[HZ] Your world really came alive as your wrote it. Is there anything from Burma or Thailand you can share with us? Anything that can bring this wonderful world closer to our own door? :)

[Mitali] My good friend who has lived and worked with the Karenni shared a beautiful tradition with me. When a friend or family member is about to leave on a journey, the community gathers and blesses the person by tying white strings around his or her wrist. Maybe we should tie white strings around our wrists for a day in honor of these suffering people. What do you think?





Thank you so much, Mitali. And please keep writing such beautiful stories.

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Sweet Disposition by Temper Trap.



And they're off and running hot! The Cybils nominations are going until October 15th (and you should totally nominate something if you haven't yet!), and I've already got my first stack to tear into. This was actually four books higher, but I took those back to the library already. And these were the just the ones one the shelves. I've already maxed out two library cards with holds requests. This. Is. Awesome. Thank you, you guys! And keep the nominations coming!

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Like A Prayer by Madonna.




This is for anyone who has seen/loves viral videos, especially the "Double Rainbow" video. Kudos to Disney for reaching out to the internet-obsessed crowd (like *ahem*, me). Word gets around. :) I *love* it when a company can make fun of itself. I'm still uber sad it isn't in 2D (do you HE AR ME DISNEY?!!!), but this definitely upped the fun factor of it for me. Enjoy!