Monday, November 21, 2011

Things I'm excited about this week

My week has been made and it's only Monday.  The Bluths are back, baby!!  It's official.  Arrested Development is back again.  First as episodes on Netflix, and then as a movie.  Arrested Development is my favorite TV show of all time, so I could not be more excited.  Every time I watch an episode on re-runs, I'm amazed by how smart and funny this show is (was). 

Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy working on a third Before Sunrise film.  On paper, these movies don't sound like they should work-- two people just walking and talking all night (or day, in the case of the second film), with little to no action-- but they do work.  And I can't wait for more!

And this last one really needs no description at all.  The.  Hunger.  Games.  The trailer looks every bit as amazing as the book.  My only complaint?  I can't wait to see this movie, so hurry up and release this, would you?!



Truly so much to be thankful for this week!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Guest blog: Lauren Baratz-Logsted

I'm so thrilled today because we've got the super-talented Lauren Baratz-Logsted here doing a guest blog!  In honor of today's release of her latest book for teens, LITTLE WOMEN AND ME, Lauren's here talking about inspiration for the book.




So, without further ado, take it away, Lauren!



My latest novel, LITTLE WOMEN AND ME, is about a contemporary teen who time-travels into the classic Louisa May Alcott novel, only to discover that in order to get back out again she's going to have to change something pretty major about the book.

I originally got the idea for the book when my daughter and her BFF both read Alcott's original Little Women. They both loved the book - as I did when I was younger - and they also had the same two problems I remember having with it: That Thing That Happens To Beth (so there won't be any spoilers, I put it like that in case there's one person left who doesn't know what That Thing is); and the fact that The Wrong Girl Winds Up Getting The Best Guy. So I decided to write a book in which I set right at least one of those two things.

Re-reading the original in preparation for writing my own twisted version reminded me about all the reasons I loved it as a young girl. There are sisters! Being the only girl of my generation in my family, I always wanted sisters. And those sisters mostly get along! Well, except for that unspeakably evil thing Amy does to Jo and then the intentional-neglect thing Jo does in return that almost kills Amy. And Jo herself! How many female writers are writers because they fell in love with the picture of Jo March, chomping on apples in the garret while penning her stories? Oh, wait a second. It's Jo March's fault I have a career that comes with no guaranteed paycheck or medical benefits. Blast you, Jo March!

Oops, sorry about that little detour there.

Anyway, in addition to finding so much I once loved about the book, there were some surprises. For one thing, LW is a very episodic book - teens today would say that so much in it is random! Then too, there are characters who I loved unreservedly decades ago that now, well, let's just say they can be a bit annoying. But that's part of what made writing LITTLE WOMEN AND ME so much fun: getting to see the book all over again through the eyes of my main character, Emily, who herself is encountering the book more up close and personal than she ever imagined after a few years away from it.

I hope readers will like what I've done.
 
You can read more about Lauren at www.laurenbaratzlogsted.com.
 

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

How did I not know about this?

Lisa Vanderpump is by far my most favorite of all the Bravo housewives.  She says what's on her mind, and in her posh English accent, no less!  I love her outfits, I love her husband-- heck, I even like her tiny little doggie.  I love her so much that I have actually been on her website.  Don't judge me.  You know that you just clicked on that link.

So, how on earth did I not know about this!?

After all, I love the 80s.  I love Lisa Vanderpump.  This combination of the two things is enough to make my head explode!!