Cyber Gems

It's Cyber Gems week here at TFC, the week for us to focus on great websites, interesting articles and fun YouTube clips etc. There's just one problem with that, or at least with me being part of the rotation this week: I'm pretty much the biggest tech-not in the world. You know the type of person, the one who's the last to know what LOL Cats is or discover the Numa-Numa Song or see Matt crazy-dancing in a gazillion countries. And since writing and reading is pretty much all I do with my waking hours, here's all I've got for you:

Backspace - If you're interested in having a career as a writer, the best thing you can do for yourself is join Backspace, an online forum with 1500+ writers at all stages of their careers, from just starting out to NYTimes bestsellers. There's a modest subscription fee but I know of no better place to get information on all aspects of the art of writing and the business of publishing while networking with other writers.

BookBalloon - The ultimate site for book lovers, there is no subscription fee, just discussion threads devoted to every genre, NF and book-related topic imaginable, and there are even monthly book-discussion groups. The proprietor, Gary Glass, is like a genie, making innovations to the site as demand arises.

The Official Sisters 8 Website - It hasn't been updated recently - there are only five books currently on it even though the seventh of nine was just released - but I still adore the publisher-created website for the series for 6- to 10-year-olds that I write with my husband and daughter. There are a lot of fun features there for kids to play around with - there's even a section on advice for kids to start their own book discussion groups - and all kids seem to love taking the personality-profile quiz "Which Eight are You?"

So that's all I've got for you today. I wish I had more. I wish I were the kind of person likely to be the first to discover the next Numa-Numa Song, but that's not me. Hopefully it's you? Please tell me: What are your favorite Cyber Gems?

And just in case you haven't seen it: The Numa-Numa Song.

Be well. Don't forget to write.

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Food in Fiction

You're probably wondering what the image of that book cover is doing here. We'll get around to that in a minute, or two, or three.

I'm currently reading Elin Hilderbrand's latest adult novel, The Island. It's good, as are all of her books, and like all her books it takes place on Nantucket. Here's another feature of her books: they all make you want to go out and eat or drink whatever her characters are currently consuming. The descriptions of restaurant meals or meals prepared at home - I want to eat it all. And then there's the matter of what her characters drink. They drink a lot of wine. I once went hunting for a particular wine, Viognier, just because the characters in one of her books made such a big deal about it.

So what does any of this have to do with The Sisters 8 Book 6 Petal's Problems? The Sisters 8 series for young readers aged 6-10 is about octuplets whose parents go missing, leaving the Huit sisters to run the household while trying to solve the mystery of their parents' disappearance. Durinda, the second sister, becomes the family cook and occasionally comes up with some unique recipes, like her meatballs, which never come out round, but rather, as every geometric shape but round. I'd love to one day do a cookbook of Sisters 8 recipes although someone else would have to taste-test the geometric meatballs since I don't eat meat.

So why am I even talking about this today? Because: 1) it's Food Week here at TFC; and 2) The Sisters 8 Book 6 Petal's Problems goes on sale today. Yippee! So if you've ever loved me, liked me, or hated me and just wish you could find something to make me shut up, then go out today and buy a copy of Petal's Problems.

And now for our...

QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY:

HAVE YOU EVER READ A DESCRIPTION OF FOOD OR DRINK IN A NOVEL THAT HAS MADE YOU WANT TO GO OUT AND EAT THAT VERY THING?

HAVE YOU EVER WRITTEN A DESCRIPTION OF FOOD OR DRINK IN A NOVEL THAT YOU THINK IS MEMORABLE?

Be well. Don't forget to write.

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Movies, Books, TV, Music - Well, Sort Of

Story of my life. Usually, I can't get Blogger to upload the images I want it to, leaving me with the most bland-looking content in the blogoshpere. And when I finally am successful? I wind up with a monster-sized version like the one on the left. Feh.

OK, here's the deal. Today I need to write the penultimate chapter on a YA novel due out next year. I've been waiting a very long time to write this particular chapter - yea, me! Problem is, it's my turn to write something here at TFC. And I'm just Type-A enough I can't bring myself to blow you off. However, because that chapter is calling me - "Write me, Lauren! Write me! If you do, I'll even learn how to spell your last name!" - we really do need to keep this short.

On May 3, the fifth volume of The Sisters 8 series for young readers age 6-10 officially pubs. It's called Marcia's Madness and it's already shipping from all the usual suspects. The series, in case you don't know, starts when the parents of the titled octuplets go missing in Book 1: Annie's Adventures. Look at the gorgeous website Houghton Mifflin Harcourt made for the series: The Sisters 8 website. I can hear you now - "Ooh!" "Aah!" Thank you. There are all sorts of cool things on the website, like a craft section and even an area for kids to get tips on starting their own book clubs.

Oh, dear. I hear you talking again. This time you're saying, "But this is Teen Fiction Cafe, Lauren. Where's the teen in all this?" Yeah, well. Surely you must know a kid somewhere you'd love to give A SIGNED COPY TO. Yes, that's right. Now hold on just one more minute.

Since this week's topic is "Movies, Books, TV, Music," I'm going to ask folks to leave comments saying what new-since-the-first-of-the-year thing in any one category - or all four if you have time and are so inclined - has caught their fancy. For me, it would be the new TV show "Parenthood." It's very 1opm-soapish, but it works for me. Of course I don't get a chance to win by telling you that.

But you do! So post away! Sometime Saturday morning, Danbury time, I'll pick a winner and that winner will receive a signed copy of the hardcover edition of Marcia's Madness, signed by all three creators of The Sisters 8: Greg Logsted, 10-year-old Jackie Logsted and me.

Oh, and if you help spread the word about the series and the gorgeous website? No, you don't get any extra chances to win. But I will think you're wonderful and be eternally grateful to you, so there is that.

OK, have fun, turn me on to some new stuff, good luck, Happy Thursday, be good, don't take any wooden nickels, AND...

I'm off to write that chapter. Go, me.

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