juliepbooks.com

Like always, it's been a long time in between blogs. I always think...I should blog this, or I should blog that. And then I get home and I forget or I start doing something else.

Today though, I got a little reminder that I wanted to post a blog. I had so much fun spending time at a local high school giving book talks. I talked to students about SSR (Sustained Silent Reading) and how cool it is that they get 15 minutes of free time every day to read whatever their little hearts desire. I wish we would've had SSR when I was in school. Maybe I would've started reading before I turned 30.

So I talked a lot about Bluford Books  . I love these books. They are especially great for teens who hate, I repeat HATE, to read. They're only 10 chapters and each chapter is only like 10 to 15 pages long. Super short books with great high school stories. My favorites are Brothers In Arms, Secrets in the Shadows, and Search for Safety. After each book that I talked about it was totally awesome when a student would want to read that book. "Can I get that one?" "Can I trade for it?" Totally cool!!!

I also book talked Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson . What better book to recommend to a group of 9th graders than Speak. The content of the book is so relevant and they can totally put themselves in Melinda's shoes walking into school on the first day of high school, nervous, feeling like you don't belong. Of course, that's not the only thing that's on Melinda's mind, but I don't want to spoil it so I will leave it at that.

Getting the opportunity to talk about So I'm A Double Threat was a surprise, but their teacher asked me to talk to the students about my book and being a writer. I loved that some of them had already heard of Double Threat. I cracked up when one of the students asked if my autograph was worth money. HAHAAHHAH!!! Good luck trying to sell it. Too cute! Maybe some day.

There were a lot of students that want to read You Act So White, so I'm hoping to have that ready to go by Christmas. I'm going to start shooting photos for the cover next week, so we'll see how it goes. Even though the book is finished I can't stop trying to fine tune it. I really love this story and I'm not ready to let it go just yet.

Part 2 of Double Threat, Meggie's sophomore year is not quite done. Well not even not quite, it's just not done at all. I haven't even finished my first draft. I know I have about forty pages to go, but I keep getting distracted. I've heard some buzz about people asking if it's out yet, so I'm working on it. I'm still not sure what it's going to be called. I really like Double Threat My A$$, but I don't think that would look very nice on a cover, so I might have to go with DTMA: Double Threat My... or Double Threat My... . I honestly have no idea. If you have any suggestions, send them my way!

Okay. I better get back to writing. Erian H.: I will be sending a book your way. She's my reminder that I wanted to blog. When I got home today, there was a new comment in the guestbook from one of my book talkees telling me she'd like to read my book. Thanks for taking the time to visit my site!

Be back soon....

Julie

Hey Hey Hey!

I need your help. I'm about to do a reprint of So I'm A Double Threat with a new cover. I thought I'd add a page at the beginning of the book for reviews.

If you are interested, post a comment on this blog.

Post:

1. Your review (what you thought of So I'm A Double Threat)
2. Your First Name, Your Initial for your last name (just the INITIAL)
3. Your age
4. Your location (City, State)

I will pick a few and publish them in the book.

Here's a preview of the new cover:





Thanks for your help!



Julie

It's been a whopping 87 days since I last blog. No excuses here. Just plain laziness.

But tonight I'm in the mood to write, and I thought I'd take a break from Double Threat My A$$ to post a blog.

I'm sitting here listening to my Pittbull station on Pandora  . I love that I can type in his name and it will play music that I might like. And if I don't like the song, I can just skip it. Right now, Shots Shots Shots is buzzing in my ears. I love it! I will never fall asleep listening to his music. I get so pumped. I could write forever, or play on the net. LOL!

I've been on summer break since Memorial Day weekend. I'm teaching summer school though. Only four more school days and I'm off for a month. The month of July will be my editing and revising month. I'd really like to release both Double Threat My A$$ and You Act So White in the fall of this year. So wish me luck.

I went to an Angel Game on Thursday. They played the Dodgers, so I got to see Rhianna's new boyfriend . He has some really pretty eyes. I went with my sis. She was ready to kick my booty since I was cheering for the Angels and she's a die hard Dodger fan.



So baseball isn't really my thing, but I had a great time with my sister. She's hysterical. When we got there, we had seats way up in practically the last section. I'm walking up there looking at all the food we're passing along the way: chinese food, bbq, french fries, ice cream. And she says, "Now, how the hell am I supposed to coach from way up here!" OMG! She kills me. And let me tell you, we stayed for the ENTIRE game. That thing didn't finish until 11:30 PM and we stayed. Nice! No, not really, but I wouldn't have been a very nice sister if I tried to tear her away from the only game the Dodgers beat the Angels this season. Ouch! The Dodger fans cracked me up. They thought they were B.A. leaving the stadium cheering "Angels Suck!" I cracked up. How quickly they forgot that they had just lost the last 5 games against them. Who sucks!!??

Went to see Grown Ups today. Great movie. The guys were pretty funny together. I loved the dialogue between them and how they just kept talking crap. It reminded me of my husband and his friends. Although, thankfully, they do NOT play with arrows! LOL!

I still have a stack of books that I plan on reading this summer: Skeleton Creek, Hit and Run, Cuba 15, Night At The Argentine Cafe, Queen of Babble, to name a few. I finished reading The Boy Who Dared , which is not one of my normal reads but it was great. It was about a boy who grew up in Germany as Hitler began to take power. One part that stuck out to me was how textbooks were changed during that time to reflect Hitler's points of view. It's kind of excessive but it reminds me of what's happening in Texas right now with politicians making the decision the change various topics in social studies and what's being taught. Kinda scary.

Alrighty...I must go and get back to part two of Double Threat.

Let me leave you with this unedited little excerpt:

    What they hell could I possibly have to say to Amy? How about “what up beeyotch?” No, that’s too nice. Let me think. “Hey ho!” No, still not strong enough. How about “Hey skank, this class shouldn’t be too hard for you since you’re so easy.” Uh…that will have to do until I can think of something better.

It doesn't look like Amy and Meg have patched things up. Should they???

Julie

What is Script Frenzy you ask? And why is it INSANITY?

Ummm...I am going to embark on the challenge of writing a screenplay. Yup, I said it. A freakin' screenplay. That means...a movie script.

I don't know why I do these things. I'm nuts. I don't have time. But I can't pass up the challenge. I love these contests. Quick, easy...well not easy...but definitely quick. No dragging stuff out. Get in, get out. Done. Bam. Novel finished. Script complete.

Let's see how this goes. My students convinced me to write an adaptation for So I'm A Double Threat. I was debating on whether to do that or write something brand new. So adaptation it is.

Now I just have to figure out what parts to keep, what parts to throw out, and what to change. Decisions decisions!!!

Let the writing begin.....

 

So guess!!! No really guess!

Let me just start by saying...I was so excited! This year I came across a book called Chicana Falsa. It's a tiny little thin book. So I thought why not, and I gave it a look. When I opened the book and read the first poem, I fell in love with it. I'm totally not a poetry person. Maybe that's the science person in me thinking, if you're going to say something just say it. Why do you have to speak in metaphors? Because...most of the time I just don't get it and I feel like a total loser. But anyway, when I read the poems, I felt an instant connection. I understood the language. I understood the messages. I understood the metaphors. I felt like I was reading so much about my own family, my own friends, and my own old neighborhood growing up. It was great. And let me tell you, for once I felt smart reading poetry. LOL!

So who wrote this wonderful book called: Chicana Falsa : And Other Stories of Death, Identity, & Oxnard ? Well, here she is:

Michele Serros
I actually took this picture. How cool is that? I know, you are so jealous. I actually got a pic with her as well. I will post that as soon as I get it.

Michele, or should I say Ms. Serros? I think I will go with Michele. She was so friendly, and so casual, I can't imagine she'd want me to be so formal. So Michele did an author talk at Chaffey High School in Ontario. The students loved her, as did the staff. She read some of her poetry, and I just loved her voice and expression. My goofy voice can't make her poems come to life like that no matter how much I try. LOL!

I also got a chance to buy my own copy of Chicana Falsa, and a copy of Honey Blonde Chica too. Which I read already, and in only one day. I can't wait to pick up Scandalosa, so I can find out what happens to Evie!! I laughed out load in many places. My favorite character was Raquel. She cracked me up!!!

My favorite Chicana Falsa Poem: Dead Pig's Revenge. When I read this, I wanted to buy a bag of chicharonnes and wash it down with a Diet Coke. I swear, I can eat a whole bag in one sitting. And guess what? By the time you get to the bottom of the bag, they start piling up in your throat like a big lump of dough. That's when I have to bring my feast to an end. Or I might just choke like in the poem.

Check out Michele's website. Check out her books!! You will not be disappointed!!!!

One last thing. Michele autographed my books for me. I feel special. In one of them she wrote:

For Julie, my fellow writer pal.

OMG!!! I almost peed my pants. I'm her fellow writer pal. How exciting!!!

Thanks Michele!!!

Thanks so much!!

 

 

 

            
            “You act so white, Gabby,” Reyna says, accusingly.

            “What did I do now?” I ask with a sigh, tired of hearing the same old crap from her.

            “Girl, look at you,” she snickers, looking down at my shoes, “You got Converse on. When was the last time you saw a Latina wearing Converse, and high tops? Ay ay ay!” She shakes her head with disgust. Her posse giggles, in agreement.

            I sneak a peek at my black high-tops. What? They’re cute, not to mention comfortable. They look good with my outfit. Who gives a crap what she thinks. She’d probably think differently if she’d seen them with the ensemble I picked out this morning. But they don’t look bad with my PE clothes either. That should count for something, because gym clothes always look a little nasty.

            “Whatever Reyna…because your Vans are really screaming viva la raza!” I say, raising my fist. She laughs again, presumably at my poor excuse of an accent. She’s so annoying. She sounds like a damn hyena. I hear her mocking me to the other girls repeating my words, but without her usual authentic pronunciation of the phrase.

            Why do we have to have the same last name? If we didn’t, we wouldn’t have to stand next to each other every day so Coach Stevens can take attendance, or during stretch time at the beginning of the period.

And I sure as hell wouldn’t see her in the rest of my classes. I doubt Reyna can even add, much less work integrals in Calculus.

            Thankfully, we aren’t allowed to talk while we stretch, so Reyna finally shuts her big trap. I’ve had to put up with her daily taunting since the beginning of the year. After Thanksgiving break, I thought after a week off, she’d come back and be over herself, and leave me alone. No such luck. Now we’re back from Christmas break, and she still hasn’t let up. It’s like she’s made it her own personal goal to humiliate, or shame, me into becoming a better Mexican.

            Why do I need to be a better Mexican, or more Mexican anyway? What does that even mean? I am who I am. It’s enough for me. It’s enough for my parents. It’s enough for my grandma, who shed blood, sweat, and tears to make it to the United States when she left Mexico. So damn it, if I’m Mexican enough for Grandma Martina, I’ve got to be for dumb ass Reyna.

            Maybe, I should tell her this. She’d probably crack her neck and laugh in my face again. She says it doesn’t count that my grandma was born in Mexico, because you’d never know it by looking at me or talking to me.

            She might consider me a true Latina if I let her have a piece of my mind. Most of my Spanish sucks in the worst way, but I have no problems communicating the bad words.

 

            "You now have twenty minutes to complete this poetry assignment. Don't forget, it's not all about the artwork, you must have annotations in order to get full credit." Mrs. Ruiz walks around the classroom, shouting reminders about the task we’re to complete.

            Advance Placement Literature is not an easy task, especially when it comes to poetry. I’m so not the "the wilted rose is a symbol of love taking its last breath" kind of student. To me, a wilted rose means that someone forgot to water the dang thing and it's about to die.

            Why don't people just say what they mean? Speaking in metaphors is so not my thing. And who's to say that one person's interpretation of a poem is more right than someone else's. Unless we're about to dig up some of these dead poets to see who's right, I think we should all get A's.

            "I'll start with some of the vocab. Gabby, why don't you start sketching the main events. Marcus, start putting the lines in...you know, the ones that are supposed to tell us when a sentence is finished." Like always, leave it to Ally to have a plan of attack as soon as the teacher says 'go'. She’s the best person to have in a group.

            Thankfully, Mrs. Ruiz lets us select our own groups. It’s always Ally, Marcus, and me. We have this class down to a science. Ally dishes orders, we follow. I usually do the artwork, only because I can draw just a bit better than stick figures. And I mean, just a bit. I'm no Picasso. Marcus is really into poetry, so annotating this junk comes easy to him. If this was physics, I'd be the one working on the hard stuff, not him. And Ally would make sure to check all my answers, even though she knows they will always be right.

            "Ready, break!" I shout, pretending we’re in a football huddle. Marcus smiles, and Ally rolls her eyes. At lunch, she would've thought it was funny. But in class, she’s all business. She pulls a hair tie off her wrist, and smoothes her silky blonde hair into a pony. She then whips out her brown thick-rimmed reading glasses and fits them on her face. Now, she’s ready.

            She’s funny to watch when she’s in a zone. Academically, she’s a nut. She’ll probably be uptight until we get our college letters in March. We still have a month to go, but she's already started checking her mailbox like a mad woman.

            Don’t get me wrong, I'm anxious. But my parents aren't going to have to put me on a suicide watch if I don't get accepted to USC. Ally's, on the other hand, might just have to fill a prescription of anti-depressants if she gets the skinny envelop from Georgetown.

            I still don’t get why she wants to go all the way over there. It's not like she has family on the east coast. I know she's a history buff, but we have museums here. Does she really think that if she goes to Georgetown, her classes are going to be taught at the Smithsonian, or something?

            I start my job with a rough sketch of a small church. I have the urge to grab a red colored pencil to shade in the steps leading up to the front door. Maybe I’m not so scientific after all. To me, red means blood. And blood means death. Coloring the steps red will represent how some walked these steps to their deaths

            I scratch my head, thinking about the image before me. This has to be the saddest poem I've ever read. I'm not really a church go-er. Since sophomore year, when I took biology, I just knew the idea of Adam and Eve was no longer going to fly with me.

            But church…church is supposed to be a safe haven, like school or home. For those little girls, it wasn’t safe at all. I don’t understand how people can be so full of hate?

            I rub my eyes.

            At least, that stuff is history. All that racial stuff, it's behind us now. I'm thankful I didn't have to grow up in that era. What would I have done? Would I have protested alongside MLK, or would I have just sat back and done nothing? It was one or the other. There wasn't any in between. So many innocent people died, when they didn't have to. Sooooo depressing.

            I toss the red color back in my pencil bag.

            "Ay ay ay," I gasp, looking at the incomplete work. This drawing is sucking the life out of me and I'm nowhere near being done.

            "Dude, did you just say 'ay ay' something?" Ally asks.

            "This poem breaks my heart to read it," I cry, "and it's even worse to try and draw it." I rub my eyes again, and then stretch back in my seat, pushing away from my harsh portrayal of this emotional poem.

            "I told you it wasn't a good idea to put off PE 'til senior year," she scolds, "You've been hanging out with those homie chicks in there and now you're starting to sound all wetback."

            "You didn't just seriously call me a wetback right now, did you?" It wouldn’t have been the first time, so why was I surprised.

            "No Gabriela," she says, emphasizing the roll of the r in my name. "I didn't call you a wetback. But if you start painting on your eyebrows with a Sharpie…I'm so not going to be your friend anymore. I'm just saying." She pushes her glasses up on her narrow nose, and starts writing again.

            I have the itch to go all homegirl on her ass, but instead I take a deep breath and exhale slowly to calm myself. One of these days, she’s not going to be so lucky.

            This really sucks! If I'm not a white girl in PE, then I'm a wetback in AP Lit. Really…there is no winning for me this year. Maybe the days of racial crap aren't history after all. Forget these people, I'm moving to the Antarctic. Maybe I can fit in with the penguins.

 Disclaimer!!! This is very rough! Only my first draft! I haven't made any corrections, and NOTHING is set in stone!!!!!
            

            “So, how was it?” Alex asks. “Did I miss anything good?”

            “Nah,” I say, maneuvering my arms through each bra strap, without taking off my shirt, and holding the phone in the crook of my neck. It’s been a long night. I’m too lazy to change into pajamas. “Same as usual…just a different time, and a different place.”

            “Did you at least have a good time?” he probed.

            I thought for a moment. “Yeah…once Travis got lost, I danced a bit with everyone. But that’s about it.”

            “Travis? You’re not gonna dump me for that geek, are you?” Alex kids.

            “Not today,” I tease, “maybe tomorrow.”  

            “Ha ha.”

            “So, how about you? What’d you do tonight? Did you hit all the sorority parties?” I ask, half jokingly. Travis did make me think a little bit about all the older girls Alex is probably meeting. He’s gorgeous. Those skanks are probably trying to jump his bones already. I can just see them now…low-rise jeans with thongs hanging out the back. With my luck, all the Berkeley chicks playing peekaboo with their butt cracks probably have perfectly tanned, firm bottoms. I bet none of them sport a giant muffin top either.

            “Baby, I don’t have time to do the party thing,” he says.

            “Yeah right, that’s what all the college guys say to make their girlfriends and parents happy.”

            “Oh really…and how many college guys have you surveyed to come up with this expert opinion?”  I can picture his crooked smile right now.

            I giggle a bit before saying, “Too many to count.”

            Alex bursts into laughter. “You are such a goofball Meg.”

            “That’s why you love me…” OMG! I can’t believe I just said that. Silence. Dead silence. What’s the saying? I can totally hear a pin drop right now. Is he still breathing? We have never used the L word before.

            “Ha ha, you’re a goofball too,” I say, in a poor attempt to distract my soon-to-be-ex-boyfriend from the fact that I mentioned the words “love” and “me” in the same sentence. What the hell was I thinking?

            “Ahem,” Alex grunts, clearing his throat. Awkward! “Yeah…Megan…that’s one of the reasons I…I love you.”

            WHAT?

            Did Alex just tell me HE LOVES ME?

            Wait…did he stall before saying that? Is that a good sign? He just wanted to be sure, right? Or is it a bad sign? He felt obligated to say it? It has to be good. He has never lied to me before.

            OMG! Alex loves me! I’m in love!

            “Meg,” Alex says, with a chirp in his voice. “Did you hear what I just said?”

            “Yes, I dddid,” I stutter. “I’m just trying not to scream…or cry…or jump up and down. You just made me the happiest girl in the world!” I’m so giddy, I’m about to pee my pants.

            “So what have I been doing for the last couple months then?” he jokes.

            “Awww…you’ve been alright…you know, an average boyfriend,” I say, with a chuckle. I mean, we ended the school year with the possibility of “some day,” but as soon as he got back from grad night, he called me. And when I say as soon as he got back, I really mean it. My phone woke me from my sweet Alex dreams at seven thirty, as the buses rolled back in to school that morning. Alex said he couldn’t wait another minute to move on with our relationship. So I got dressed, he picked me up, we hit the Steel Grill, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. Until now, that is. But who cares, he loves me…

            “So I’m taking it that it was okay for me to tell you I love you?” he asks. He said it again. He loves me.

            “Of course, why wouldn’t it be? I love you too…I’ve loved you since I met you, but now it’s just so much better…” I pause. “It’s so much better when someone loves you back.” For most of last year, I was insanely obsessed and in love with Alex. There was just one small problem…he was dating my best friend. But that came to an end when she decided to start doing the nasty with my boyfriend. Dang, that sounds like a pitiful episode of 90210. It’s not bad to watch on TV when it’s these tiny rich stick figures who screw each other over every week, but it sucks ass to actually live it. Oh well…Alex loves me now. Amy who?  

            “Aww, Meggie, you know I’ve loved you for just as long,” he pleads.

            “Yeah, I know,” I reply, even though I’m not so sure. But, I’m not going to let last year get me down. This is now, and the past is the past. And I look forward to my future with my hot, sexy boyfriend.

            “Just wish I was there with you,” Alex tells me.

            “Why?”

            “Well, I always thought I would tell you in person and, at least, be able to kiss you.”

            “Something to look forward to the next time we get to see each other,” I respond, softly. That is going to be a long wait. “Are you sure you can’t come home before Thanksgiving? How about Columbus Day? Berkeley doesn’t give you guys a holiday for the guy who discovered the Americas?” I ask sadly, with a touch of humor so I don’t sound so desperate.  

            “No, we don’t get a day off for the guy who began the mass genocide of an entire ethnic group.”

            “Scary…college is already rubbing off on you,” I say, “You better not get arrested for protesting or anything. I don’t want the man I love to be a criminal.” Did you hear that? The man I love. This is so much fun.

            “I know huh,” he mutters through a snicker, “but I don’t think I will make it home before Thanksgiving.” I’m frowning. I’m trying not to say anything. I don’t want to make him feel worse than he does. “It’s pretty expensive to fly back and forth…but once school starts, time will fly by so fast…the next thing you know, we’ll be eating turkey together, watching the Cowboys kick some ass on the flat screen.”

            “Turkey sounds good. Seeing you sounds great. But, you can watch football with my dad, while my mom and I plan out our attack on the mall.”

            I hear a slight chuckle on his end. “Deal,” he says, “So, tell me more about everyone. How’s everything going? I miss all you guys.”

            “We all miss you too,” I respond. “I miss you.” I can feel my face burn with sorrow. I can’t get emotional. I’ve cried the last two times I’ve talked to him. It’s just hard, having him so far away. But I have to remember, it’s hard for him too. At least here, I have all our friends. He’s so far away, and he’s alone. “Everyone is doing great. Dom and Steph are just as cute as ever. Jonathan and Keesh are still nuts. They crack me up, they’re more like brother and sister than a couple. I don’t ever think I’ve seen them kiss, have you?”

            “I’ve never even seen them hold hands,” he chuckles.

            “’Yeah well, I’m counting on Josh to save me from gagging over all the PDA once school starts,” I mutter. “He’ll be a loser like me.”

            “Erika’ll probably sneak on campus and visit you guys. She’s so whipped. She could be hookin’ up with some college dude, but she’s…” Alex’s commentary comes to a screeching halt. Does he realize what he’s saying? He obviously stopped himself. He’s not any different than Erika. He could be hooking with some older bitches, and I wouldn’t even know about it. They’re in the same boat, mature college students going out with us scrawny high school peons.

            “But she’s what, Alex? What were you going to say?”

            “Nothing babe.” Really? Nothing?

            “Interesting,” is all I can think of to say. Do I really want to start this conversation? We just professed our love to each other. I don’t want to ruin it with any bull.

            Alex must feel the same way. All I hear is the low steady hum of him breathing.

            I’m first to break the silence. “Well, it’s getting late. I’ll take to you tomorrow sometime.”

            “Yeah, it is. I’ll call you.”

            “Whatever…sounds good. Bye.” I say, nonchalantly.

            “Bye Meg.”

           

            How do things change so quickly? Just five minutes ago, I could’ve done cartwheels across the football field. I was so excited about Alex telling me he loved me. But then, seconds later, he’s all, ‘Erika can have any guy she wants and she’s with this toddler instead.’ Well, he really didn’t use those words exactly, but that’s the way it sounded. He may as well have added, ‘What the heck am I thinking? I’m going out with this little girl, when I could have a hot piece of sorority girl ass.’

            Yeah…like I’m going to get any sleep tonight.

            Ugh!

            Boys are stupid!

            Meeting Alex at Steph’s a few weeks ago is probably the worst thing that could have happened to me just before school starts. I can’t stop thinking about him. His deep voice and gorgeous eyes are enough to make any girl crazy. And to top it off, he’s just so…nice. Every time I talk to him, he acts like he’s known me forever. He doesn’t talk down to me like I’m just some little kid, some little freshmen, like some of Lydia’s other friends do. It’s different with Alex, once I start talking to him, I feel totally comfortable, like I don’t have to try to be someone I’m not. I’m just me.

            Ugh! School hasn’t even started yet and I’m already googoo gaga over some guy. And not just any guy…a football player. A senior!

            Suddenly, I awake from my daydream and realize I’m all alone in a crowded party and start to feel like an idiot. Amy tagged along with her sister, Jen, and her group of friends almost immediately after we arrived. Keesh went to dance with some cute guy, and Steph had to pee. I stayed behind to save our spot, a tall circular table full of purses and cups of booze.

            I scan the doorway for Steph as I raise my cup to take a drink. Mid-sip I hear my name. I turn around to see Alex, strutting toward me.

            “Hey Megan, wassup?” He says, with a grin.

            Holy hotness! He’s here. Right in front of me. Talking to me.

            I set my cup down. “Hey, Alex!” I say, a little too excitedly.

            I pick up my drink again, trying to gather some liquid courage to hold a conversation with this deliciously steamy guy.

            “I heard you guys were going to be here. I was hoping I’d run in to you,” he says.

            This makes me even more nervous. My body starts to shiver while I struggle to hold my composure.

            “Really…why?” I ask, trying not to breathe on him. I know this beer has to make my breath stink!

            “I dunno…just to say hi, I guess.”

            I smile and I can feel my face turn red as it heats up. 

            “Oh. Well, hi!” I blurt out as I wave, like a dork.

            “Hey.” He smiles back and pauses, for several seconds. “So I hear you and your friends are gonna be in the ASB class this year.” He looks directly at me when he speaks, something I’m not used to. Middle school boys do not look you in the eye.

            “Yeah, we got lucky, I guess…Jen got us in.”

            “Are you gonna run for a student council position, or are you just a class member?”

            I haven’t thought about that. “I’m not sure, just happy we got in.”

            “It doesn’t matter. Either way, you’re a double threat.” He grins. If only I could take a picture of that grin, I would have it tattooed on the inside of my eyelids.

            Double threat? I’m confused. I turn my head sideways a bit, and crumple my brows.

            “You know…you’re in ASB and you’re in Honors,” he explains.

            “What’s that supposed to mean?”

            “Hmm…let’s see, ASB students can get away with practically anything and since you are in honors classes, no one would ever suspect that this sweet little girl with a 4.0 GPA would be at some party drinking…uhh, whatcha got in your cup?”

            I smile. I can see what he’s getting at. I put my cup down. I don’t need it anymore. Like usual, once we start talking, I’m fine. It feels natural. The shivers are long gone.

            “Uhh…just a little something.” I smirk, looking down into my drink.

            “Yeah…that’s what I thought,” he chuckles.

            “So what are you then? You’re not in ASB, are you?” I ask, trying to flirt but not so sure I’m pulling it off.

            “I’m on the football team…so I’m even more of a threat than you are.” He playfully nudges me in the arm. I feel like I’m in elementary school again and the boy I like is about to chase me around the playground. Alex is just so freakin’ cute!

            “So…dumb jock, huh?” I nudge him back. My elbow touches his arm and sends tingles throughout my body.

            “I didn’t say dumb, probably not as brainy as you, but…”

            Out of nowhere, Lydia and Steph walk up.

            “Hey babe, there you are,” Lydia says, wrapping her arms around Alex’s neck. My beer-filled stomach does a cartwheel. I think I’m going to puke. Nothing like a dose of reality to make me feel like I got punched in the gut.

            “Hey Meg!” Steph yells. There is only one volume with her. “The girls are  inside waiting for you…they’re doing this beer bong thingy. They tried to get me to do it, but hell nah! The last girl that tried it had beer gushing outta her nose…Keesh wants you to try it.”

            “Oh…that sounds like fun, sign me up right now,” I say, sarcastically.

            Alex chuckles.

            “Let’s go for it Alex!” Lydia grabs his hand and drags him away, taking with them her foul scent of liquor. It’s obvious that Lydia is drinking a lot more than just beer.

            Alex looks at me over his shoulder. “Later, Megan!”

            “See ya!”

            I continue to look at him as he walks away. He looks back again and raises one side of his mouth in a half smile. I quickly look away, trying to hide my giddiness.

            “Oh my gosh, did you slip something into his drink Meg?” Steph says, jokingly.

            “Shut up,” I giggle. “He just came over here and started talking to me.”

            “That’s cool Meg…but really, don’t even think about it.” She looks down at me like I’m a child who’s going to get scolded. “He’s a SENIOR!”

            “He’s a senior? Really?” I ask, kiddingly. “That’s all you’ve got, huh. How about the fact that he’s going out with your sister?”

            “Yeah…I guess I should have something to say about that but I don’t. Lydia is on her own when it comes to guys. Alex is way too good for her anyway,” Steph responds. “But Meg, he’s a senior. Let it go now, so you don’t get hurt later!”

            “Don’t even trip, Steph. Besides, who cares if he’s a senior. Look at us…we’re at one of their parties. We’re in high school now! We’re in ASB! We’re in honors! We’re DOUBLE THREATS!” I say, putting my hands on her shoulders and shaking her.

            “What? Huh? Double threats?” Steph questions, obviously confused by my new high school terminology.

            “Nevermind…let’s hit that beer bong.” I say, guiding her toward the house. “I bet I can win.”

            “The contest or Alex?” Steph asks, seriously.

            I glare at her, and declare, “BOTH.”

Hey Tigers!

I can't wait for tomorrow! I feel like it's the first day of school and I'm nervous. I speak in front of students everyday, but somehow this just feels different.

Anyway, I can't wait to share with you all the joys of writing, new books, fun reads, and other cool stuff.

So I'm going to post some blogs on here for a contest.

Here are the details:

1. Read one of the excerpts from So I'm A Double Threat, Double Threat, My Butt!, or You Act So White.

2. At the bottom of the blog, write a comment telling me what you think of the read. Be honest!!!!

3. On Monday, there will be a drawing. Anyone who leaves a comment will be entered into a random drawing for a signed copy of So I'm A Double Threat.

4. That's it! Enjoy the book!

I will explain this tomorrow at the book talk.

C-ya 2mro!

Hellur!

So in the last few weeks, I’ve read a bunch of books. But I'm going to do a quick review of two here. Don’t laugh when you hear them in the same sentence: Dear John by Nicholas Sparks and Snitch by Allison Van Diepen. Both were awesome!!!

Let’s start with Dear John. I must say that I probably would’ve never read this book, but since the movie is coming out and Channing Tatum plays John, I just had to read it. And I will HAVE to see the movie.

It took me awhile to get into it. At first, I felt like I was watching a Travel Channel advertisement for North Carolina. Really, I didn’t need all the commentary about the scenery, but whatever. Once John met Savannah, I was intrigued. Part way through the book, I found myself texting my mom to tell her that I was going to kick Savannah’s @$$ for messing with my Channing! OMG…this girl really pissed me off! My mom quickly replied to remind me that the book is about John and it’s fiction, it’s not really about Channing. LOL! But still!! It didn’t get any better throughout the rest of the book either, my feelings for Savannah hardly changed. But John is amazing. I also really enjoyed the unexpected storyline with John’s father. This is the part that I cried about. L Overall, I liked the book. I’ve already recommended it to friends. And some of my students want to read it too! That’s always cool.

SPOILERS!!!!! Do NOT read further if you plan on reading this book!! Skip to the Snitch review!

Okay, I couldn't let it slide. I just had to write about the ending. My best friend, Lyndsi, and I had a textcussion about this. Both of us created our own alternate ending where Tim dies, and John ends up with Savannah. So we may sound really mean. But oh well! John totally gets jipped in this book. Why did Tim even marry Savannah in the first place? He knew that she would always love John and she would never love him the same way. So he lives, Savannah as stuck with a man she loves kinda but she's not in love with him, and John is doomed to waiting for a full moon so he can remember his dear Savannah who he will never be with, and he will remain lonely for the rest of his life. 

My second ending would be the one where John forgets about the cheating witch and finds a woman who honor a man who protects the freedom of our country by patiently waiting for him and showing him some love when he gets back. John...you should have forgotten about her the moment you read her tired letter. 

But who am I to say? I'm no Nicholas Sparks. I should have expected a not-so-happy ending!!  

_______________________________________________________________________________________

As for Snitch, I was hooked from the first page. I have got to say, I am so thankful I didn’t go to a school like this one, or that my kids don’t have to deal with things like this. I was scared for the characters and it’s only a book. I’m not naïve so I know that things such as gangs, drugs, and bloody violence happen in schools, but this book puts them right up in your face!!! I would love to see this book turned into a movie! But for now, I think I will just have to read it again, and I never read a book more than once. WOW! I'm hoping for a sequel!!!

I don't want to give anything away with this one. So get the book! If you want to know what it's like to go to a school where there is a clear division: you are either a Blood or you're a Crip. And you have to make a choice because it seems like to only way to survive is to have the protection of a gang. Then read this book! The language is raw, the content real, and it's one of those books that even if you HATE to read, you just can't pry it out of your hands.

Get it! Read it! Love it!

See ya!