I’ll wait for you to pick yourselves up off the floor.

We good now? Okay.

So, I’ve had this thing that I’ve done, ever since I sold my first book (going on *gasp* seven years ago, now) and that’s find a charitable cause to which to contribute. It’s not something I tend to make a big deal of because like religion, politics, & birth control, I find it a sort of private matter (sorry Rush, you lard-assed windbag, no videos for you).

Some years, it’s been a big thing—remember my RITA gown from 2007? The Maggie Gyllenhaal Oscar gown?

As some of you know, I won that in a Clothes Off Our Backs (now sadly defunct) charity auction, with the thought that I might one day, if I was really, really lucky, be able to wear it to a RITA ceremony, you know, if I ever finaled. Little did I know it would be that year and it wound up being my lucky gown, since I, you know, won. *pauses to preen just wee bit*

Most years, though, it’s been little things—small donations to multiple organizations, usually to theatre groups like Red Dog Squadron a not-for-profit theatre company or my own local Seattle Theatre Group or, of course, supporting museums, like Seattle Art Museum or the Experience Music Project Museum (look, I live in Seattle- how can I not?).

Thing is, while donating to these causes are, indeed, charitable, they’re generally also to my benefit—having a beautiful gown to wear, having theatre and museums to attend with the rugrats—let’s face it, I definitely get a pretty good deal out of it.

But now, things is a little different, children…

(And this is where we come to the Power of Social Media portion of our program.)

I’ve mentioned lately that I’ve been hanging more on Twitter than blogging, mostly because I’ve been so buried in the writing that my attention span away from it tends to be better suited for short bursts of, oh, 140 characters or so. Actually, it’s been beneficial from other standpoints as well. With Twitter, I’ve been able to expand the scope of the creative folks I come in contact with, from artists (@loveandcapes) to musicians (@janicewhaley) to actors (@chris_gorham) to writers of many, many stripes, across varying genres and media (Mediums? Media. Whatever). It stimulates my own creative juices (which sounds vaguely naughty) and stokes the excitement I feel for my own work in addition to helping the plot bunnies procreate. Hey, I never said I was completely altruistic—I’m completely open about what I get out of this.

I’m rambling, I know. Okay, I’ll get on with it. One of the actors I follow, Timothy Omundson (@Omundson) from Psych happened to mention he was guesting on the Pop My Culture podcast (@pmcpodcast).

(Hilarious podcast, highly recommended, but if you have kiddies, I suggest listening to it after dark or with headphones, lest the little darlings overhear. Five minutes of PMC and they’ll wind up sounding like extras from Deadwood. You’ve been warned.)

Anyhow, Tim also happened to mention that oh, by the way, Vanessa Ragland (@vanessaragland), one of the hosts, has got a charity thing going on. Goes to show how buried I’ve been, lately, since I follow both the podcast and Vanessa on Twitter and this had somehow slipped past. *shamefaced*

End result is, I checked it out and this is where I get serious, folks—it’s a big deal. Vanessa is in the running for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Woman of the Year

And this is why:

Guys, you know me—inveterate smartass, can make a joke about anything, but you know, cancer is no joking matter to me. It’s an insidious motherfucker that has messed with my own family and has hurt way, way too many people who I love, taking their loved ones from them, far too soon. It even permeated my professional life in that I wrote Breathe, the manuscript nearest and dearest to my heart, in part to express those feelings of helplessness and loss that cancer can generate. It remains my biggest professional regret that it never found a publishing home; too many publishers scared off by the cancer-centric storyline. Too dark, too real, too… scary.

Too bad. Cancer is scary. It’s dark and it’s real and it can strike anyone, including little girls and their daddies. So yeah, I donated, immediately, to Vanessa’s cause. And now I’m asking you, my awesome friends, to help out. If not by donating, because God knows, I know times are hard across the board, then by at least spreading the word, via your blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Tumblr, Pinterest, whatever floats your boat. You wanna rent a plane and fly a banner over South Beach, go for it (although I think the money would be better spent on a direct donation).

Vanessa has until April 25th to raise lots and lots of money and even if she doesn’t win, which, of course, we want her to, she’ll win, because she’ll have raised lots and lots of money. You see where I’m going with this, y’all?

She also has another secondary, equally important, reason to raise lots of money: her dad. It’s a tragedy, really—Vanessa’s dad, Larry Ragland, for reasons unknown, decided to grow his hair. It’s apparently quite scary. Don’t believe me? Watch:

So there you have it. If Vanessa can raise $5K by the end of the campaign, then Dear Old Dad will have to part with his ponytail. If you don’t do it for the children, then do it for Larry.

Donate. Or pass the word.

Please.

Love you all.

LATE BREAKING ANNOUNCEMENT!

Okay, first things first: I know the Muppets are back in this year, but would designers please, please, please stop sacrificing their pelts? Nancy O’Dell and Viola Davis, come on down!

Like Paula Patton, Nancy felt the need to channel Big Bird while Viola… Dang, Viola, I really wanted to love on you and your gown. And I know a lot of people really seemed to, but… I just couldn’t get into it. First off the green was just so… Kermit-like. The satin was almost too too heavy and smooth (kind of rendering it with a pleather-like appearance) and the embellishments seemed as if they’d been applied with the leaf tip of a pastry bag. Besides, those of you who’ve been around these parts know how I feel about doing that to The Girls. They just didn’t look comfortable.

Channeling Elmo was Emma Stone. Actually, scratch that—while the color was quite Elmo-esque, most of my Twitter feed hit the nail on the head when they said she was auditioning for a role as a Lexus. Can’t say I disagree—I’m not a fan of bows in general and this abomination was just… well. Girl wore it with confidence at least.

As for the actual Muppet fashionista in the audience? Miss Piggy looked quite fetching in a custom Zac Posen with Fred Leighton jewelry. Girl’s been doing this a long time and it showed.
(Seriously ladies, when the Muppet outdoes most of you on the red carpet, it’s time to consider firing your stylist.)

I dunno, like I said, I was fairly underwhelmed overall. Like any year, there were a few actively bad gowns, but mostly it was a collection of meh with a side of “Really? Not that it’s bad, but you thought that looked good on you?”

White seemed to be fairly predominant last night with a range of va-va voom to “Oh, girl, no. Just.. no.”

Oh, J-Lo…

I’m just not even sure what to make of this. It might work on the ballroom floor (no, really, give it a more flowing skirt and strategic inserts in the bodice, and it wouldn’t be bad, for a white dress), but to present at the Oscars? Oh, and her stylist is claiming the gown had “special cups” to prevent any accidents, that the dress was a magnificent confection of nude and white fabrics (or summat like that) and the joke was on those of us who thought we saw something. Got news for you sunshine—there’s not that much nude fabric where most of us saw the slippage. I just couldn’t shake the feeling she was eyeing down Rooney Mara from the stage and thinking, “See, little one? I don’t have to pierce my Girls to get them international attention.”

The rest of the look? Eh—typical J-Lo. Shiny face, skinned back bouffant, blah, blah, blah. Whatevs.

Going on with the white theme:

Gwynnie was Gwynnie. Structured column, the cape was a dramatic choice and okay for the red carpet; thankfully she lost it by the time she presented. Her makeup was thankfully understated, although I wouldn’t have minded a bit of lip color and I actually really liked her hair for once. Sleek, but not in a face-pulling way, nor was it her usual loose style. Shailene Woodley, on the other hand… girl, I don’t know what you were thinking. I mean, if you’re planning on entering a cloistered order, the dress works. Or maybe doing some sort of cosplay for ComicCon, but not for the Oscars. Now, while I’m not fond of the all over sequins of Milla’s I have to say, she looked remarkably put together. Not crazy about the extreme shoulder pad look on the one side, but all things considered, it worked. Love the bold pop of red lipstick and the Deco-style hair. She did good, finding a look and working it without going to an extreme (Oh, J-Lo…)

Now, initially, I didn’t much care for Rooney’s look. I think I’m way over the bangs.

However. That said, the more I looked at it, the more it kind of grew on me. Makeup was über-simple, hair simple, and no jewelry, letting her hair, lips, and the gown take center stage. The gown itself? Not nuts about the structured booby arches and there’s something about where the bodice and the halter overlay connected that seemed off to me, but overall, not bad.

Unlike her sister, Kate…

Does this look not scream, “Yeah, my sister’s nominated, so fucking what?” The press called it romantic. I call it a bridesmaid’s worst nightmare.

Melissa Leo, whoever is dressing you, Make. Them. Stop. Immediately. More than one person on my Tweet Stream last night referred to this as “Bought at Chico’s.” Can’t say I disagree. Her hair looked pretty, though.

Angie, we get it. You have legs. Your gown is slit up to your coochie. You’re wearing black and going home with Brad Pitt. Is there anything we missed? Seriously, what was up with the 80s supermodel posing all night? Did she lose a bet or something?

In the close but ehhhhhh category:

Natalie Portman did okay. After the structured mess from the Golden Globes there was really nowhere to go but up. She went vintage (1953, I believe), lovely color, playful unexpected accent with the polkadots and it did absolutely nothing for her. *shrug*

This next one is tough if only because everyone kept saying how gorgeous it was and oh, Lordy, it is, but… but… dang it, the fit. Jessica, honey, there is no reason the boning should cut into your armpits. (Thing is, this gown wasn’t made for her. The bodice is too long.) I bet you had bruises by the Vanity Fair party didn’t you? The thing most people fail to understand about a structured fit is that it should mold to the body comfortably. Not be so structured it moves independently of the wearer’s body, nor be so tight it leaves bruises or welts. Yes, depending on the weight of a gown you may get some of it, but it shouldn’t be an objective. Otherwise… oh my word, I would so wear this bad boy if I were five inches taller. (I fear I’m too short for all the dramatic embroidery.)

Another close, but no cigar for me was Michelle Williams. At first, I thought it was red, but it was actually a deep coral/orange, which I actually really like. Especially for me. I honestly think it was a lovely dress save for one thing: that damned peplum. People the 80s called, they want their peplums back. (I didn’t care for the one on Tina Fey’s dress either, although I loved everything else about it.) Really, though, Michelle’s gown is rather magnificent in the majority of its construction. The waved organza pleating is masterful and in motion, was lovely. Ditch that damned peplum and give the bodice a slightly more sweetheart profile to accentuate that beautiful pleating even further and it would’ve been a winner for me. (We won’t talk about the bow brooch—what I have to say about that is not fit for polite company.)

Loved the back of Sandy Bullock’s dress—the front, on the other hand? Meh. Honestly, I think if it had had long sleeves rather than the cap sleeves, it might have fallen/looked a little better. I don’t know. This is one I’m going to have to keep thinking on. It’s a hard call for me because that blouson style isn’t one I can personally wear. I’m too short and too hourglass—I’d look like a gilt-encrusted tank. But I do love the back…

I honestly and truly loved Bérénice Bejo’s gown except for the color. Not even that it was mint green, even though it’s not my favorite color—I just wish it had been a shade or two darker, like Maria Menounos’ gown. But overall, I loved so much about it and would wear something in this style in a heartbeat. (See, Shailene? This is how we do long sleeves.)

Okay, into the home stretch.

A tale of How-To with respect to dressing the Big Girls.

Octavia did it right (and oh man, how charming and adorable was she?), Melissa McCarthy… did not. Admittedly, they’re both not built quite the same but Tadashi Shoji, who dressed Octavia, accentuated her positives (if you’ll forgive the pun) while whoever put Melissa in that mauve disaster needs to be taken out back and shot. She’s so pretty! She didn’t deserve to look like that.

Meryl.

It’s Meryl. She’s been wearing variations on a theme of the bathrobe look for years. Who fucking cares? She’s Meryl. It’s gold lamé, it’s a shapeless bathroom, but she is Meryl. Do we really think she gives a shit?

This is likely to be my controversial choice, with people falling on the side of either love it or hate it, but holy cats, I love Judy Greer’s gown. Sleek, simple, sexy, and her hair provided such a fabulous contrast. It needed to be hemmed, but beyond that, loved it.

And my winner (like this will come as any surprise) Penelope Cruz. Oh my stars and garters, y’all, how stunningly gorgeous was this gown and her in it? Armani Privé, custom made for her and it showed. A beautiful cross between periwinkle and lavender, fitted exquisitely, the hair, jewels, and makeup were gorgeous—the entire look just pure Old Hollywood perfection. I would so seriously mug her for this gown.

And finally… I said it on Twitter last night, but it bears repeating: I solemnly promise to y’all that if any of my books ever get made into a film that lands me on the red carpet of an awards show, I will a) work with a professional hair and makeup person b) wear proper foundation undergarments and c) for the love of all that’s good and holy, I will make sure I wear a gown that friggin’ fits.

Oh, and I’ll stand up straight.

I give you, Kaui Hart Hemmings, author of The Descendants. Girl, please…

Now, I know there are probably several of you who are new, maybe coming over here from Twitter or FB and you’re probably wondering what sort of credentials I have for offering a fashion round-up. Well, none, really. Other than I have a lifelong love of fashion and actually, did grow up around the industry, with my mother, in her day, serving as a production pattern maker for several high end sportswear and evening wear designers (if you ever watch pageants, you’ve definitely seen stuff she worked on– even now. Those patterns last forever.). She’s also quite an accomplished seamstress in her own right, making various gowns and dresses for me throughout my life, including the Edwardian-styled creation that was my wedding gown.

Twenty yards of silk taffeta, point d’Alençon lace, and over 10K pearls, y’all– the woman may drive me nuts, but that’s love, you know? Also, I have no idea who let me get married that young.

Needless to say, I still love fashion and adore dressing in red carpet style when the occasion demands (sweats the rest of the time, for I am nothing if not practical), and when awards season rolls around, watch avidly to see who’s wearing what and who pissed off their stylist. Seriously, you’d think Sarah Jessica and J-Lo would learn, right?

Anyhow– the Golden Globes.

*disclaimer: all pictures the property of their respective photographers/agencies. No infringement intended, no profit being made.

Huh. Well, dear readers, sad to say, I was seriously underwhelmed with a side of WTF were they thinking? on occasion. I don’t even know where to start, exactly, so I guess I’ll just dive on in.

First case of WTF, Paula Patton. Girl, I think it’s illegal to have skinned Big Bird and wear him as a dress. I’m sure he’s on the endangered species list. Seriously, very, very few people can wear that color (and I acknowledge my own bias against it, since I really do dislike yellow) but I think if you’re going to wear it, sleek and streamlined is the way to go, not misguided prom gown.

Speaking of misguided. And they presented together. Piper and Sarah Michelle… girls, did you consult with each other ahead of time? I think not.

Okay, Piper. You’re a lovely lady with a lithe figure. You also have no curves or chest to speak of. Whoever put you in a gown that has a bodice more commonly found on holiday dresses for toddlers needs to be spanked. Severely. Couple that with the skirt that nearly swallowed poor Peter Dinklage and we have an issue of proportions. Now, Sarah Michelle… sweetie, I actually did want to like your gown. I will admit to applauding the use of the fabric—I thought it was vibrant and different, but as I’ve said before and will probably say until the end of time, if one aspect of the gown really stands out, in this case, the pattern of the fabric, it’s best to keep everything else streamlined. There was just too much going on with the poofy skirt and the peplum. I applaud your hair and jewelry, however. They were simple and worked.

End result, Piper and Sarah Michelle looked like a pair of meringues.

There seemed to be a slight trend of video game screens doubling as dress bodices. Zooey, Salma, step forward, if you please?

Yanno, I kind of really wanted to like Zooey’s if only because it was a bold choice in a sea of blah. I just couldn’t get the Galaga sound effects out of my head every time I saw her. Salma, on the other hand… well, girl can wear her gown, rather than it wearing her. But again, very 80s-era video game, somehow.

Lea Michele is going the way of J-Lo. Her looks are starting to become more and more extreme, but unlike J-Lo, I don’t think she has the panache, quite yet, to pull those looks off—whether they look good or not, Jenny From the Block always commits and wears her outfits with an air of “Yes, bitches, I know it’s extreme, but this is me wearing it.” Lea, more often than not, looks as if the dress is wearing her. Also, Halle Berry pulled this look off far more effectively.

I wanted to love both Sofia Vergara and Emma Stone’s gowns and I almost did, but something small, in both cases, kept me from full-out love affair.

With Sofia, bless her, I love how she embraces her curves and works it. She has found her look and she sticks with it (although I confess to a desire to see her in something other than a mermaid cut). However, if she’s going to wear that cut, time and again, at least I give her props for finding unique versions of it and OMG, how I ADORE the detail work on the skirt, all those thousands of tiny, structured pleats, swirling around. It gives my detail-loving heart a major happy, in a “Oh yeah, I’d so wear that gown” sort of way. Executed in that color, it gave the impression of a stormy sea.

However… it was the color that killed it for me, on her. I never thought I’d see a color that didn’t look good on her, but that dark teal? Was kind of blah on her, sad to say. And I really, really wanted to love it. It was okay, it just wasn’t great. And from Sofia, I expect great.

Now, Emma. I loved the color of her gown. Bold choice considering she’s a redhead again, but the dual shades of red/burgundy complemented her beautifully. So what killed it? The shoulder pad, not-quite-cap sleeves. I’m sorry. It’s a personal preference, but I hated them so much. Coupled with the belt, which was okay, although I would have preferred if it had been fabric, rather than leather, she sort of looked like she was in some militaristic/dominatrix uniform.

Speaking of dominatrixes…

Madge. Really? The 80s called, they want their fingerless glove back. In another nod to the 80s, her designer clearly stole the fabric from bridesmaids dresses of the era. Also? It’s not nice to do that to The Girls. They’ll get you back. And yes, her arms looked trés scary.

Now, there was quite a bit of red yesterday. Let’s take a look at a few examples.

Reese. The dress was okay. Color was okay. Fit was okay (another mermaid *yawn*). Her hair on the other hand, was a disaster. She cannot do tousled “I just got out of bed with my new, sexy husband” hair. She just doesn’t have the demeanor for it, nor, more importantly, did that gown call for it. She could have kept her hair down, but it would’ve been better to do something sleek and elegant, like Sofia Vergara or Nicole Kidman. I wanted to attack the girl with a brush, I swear, and I suck at doing hair.

Dianna, on the other hand, was a close, but no cigar for me. I adored the intricacy of the bodice. Very Firebird-esque. (Yes, I know they were swans, just work with me here, okay?) But why in hell did the designer opt to use Grandma’s old lace tablecloths as a multi-tiered skirt? WHY?? If only it had been a simple, heavy silk satin skirt it would have been my clear winner. Period. Because yes, I love the bodice that very much but that damned fussy skirt killed it.

Of the three examples above, Stacy Keibler wins. She’s a tall girl with a bangin’ figure, so she went with a simple column in what looks like silk jersey, which has a fabulous drape but is otherwise unadorned, letting the color dominate. Hair and accessories are simple and unfussy and when your main accessory happens to be George Clooney, what else do you need, really?

All right. There were also a lot of nude shades on the carpet. Seems like the thing, when people don’t want to wear black and they’re afraid of color, they go for nude. So. Let’s look at a few.

Julie Bowen. Honey, I love you, but other than the hair looking beautiful, this was a total fail. There was no definition between you and the fabric, rendering you the approximate overall shade of an underdone piece of toast. Speaking of toast, you look a wee bit thinner than you did back in your Ed days. It could be you’re that thin naturally, but I can’t help but want to feed you a hearty bowl of oatmeal.

Charlize, Kate, and Diane, for all my grousing that people use nude as a fall back, y’all managed to pull it off, in its various iterations, quite, quite nicely. In fact, Kate and Diane both are doing the Women of a Certain Age who’ve also had babies look quite proud. Rock on, ladies!

Michelle, Michelle, Michelle… you’re such a pretty girl. Why did you let someone dress you in Grandma’s old burn-out velvet housedress from 1965?

And I never thought I’d say this, but Kate Winslet, you looked frumpy last night. And I so wanted to love how you looked, because damn, girl, you got hips and boobs and you usually dress them well.

Okay, now the two I’ve been most on the fence about. Nicole and Angelina. I know most people absolutely adored Angelina’s gown and in theory, I do too. Simple, beautiful vintage cut and the detail of the draping is sublime and appears to give her curves where she needs them and of course, I love the splash of color and that she matched her accessories so wonderfully. The one thing that kept me from all out true love was the height and width of the neckline. It was a scant inch or so too high for my taste, seeming to overwhelm her neck. And when you’ve got a swanlike neck the likes of Angelina’s you don’t want to overwhelm it. Otherwise, le sigh. I truly did love it.

Nicole’s: I like the contrast of her hair color with the gown and unlike so many of the younguns, Nic has her gowns fitted properly. I like a lot about this gown, including the Deco-style detailing. I just somehow don’t full out love it and it’s frustrating, because I can’t quite tell you why.

SWINTON. ‘Nuff said. She’s her own category.

Natalie Portman, what in hell were you thinking? Just because Marisa Tomei wasn’t here this year, you had to take up the avant-garde cause? That architecturally structured disaster probably weighed more than you do. Why yes, this is a case of the gown overwhelming its wearer. Do like the color, though.

Okay, on to the final stretch. (For a meh year, I was sure a Chatty Kathy, wasn’t I?)

Evan Rachel Wood. You know… props to the girl. This was easily the most unique gown on the red carpet and she wore it well. I love the color, don’t love the halter on her, love the details and how one embellishment flows into the next, rather than all of them fighting for space on the gown. Overall, I’ll call it a win, especially since she kept everything else relatively simple.

Octavia Spencer, girl, I bow down to you. You were beautiful, gracious, and at times, downright adorable. I LOVE that shade of lavender on you, as much as I hate you for being able to wear it when I can’t. (Turns me a lovely shade of jaundice.) You used a great fabric, it draped beautifully and your shoulders and décolletage are things of beauty, so props to you for showing them off.

Nicole Richie has come a long way and she has really become one of my style icons of late. She has learned what works for her frame and dresses it flawlessly in vintage silhouettes. She’s also clearly in tune with the details, well-aware that they contribute to the overall effect. She was a big winner for me last night.

Dame Helen. ‘Nuff said. Let’s just pause for a moment to admire and pray that we can be that fabulous one day.

I know you’re all thinking I’ve been relatively mild, for me, and that someone has been conspicuously missing thus far. Wait for iiiiiiittttttt…

Sweet zombie jaysus, Jessica, we know you just got engaged and all, but what in hell was up with the Bride of Frankenstein look? Okay, never mind, that’s an insult to the Bride of Frankenstein, because she at least brushed her hair. I just… y’all, I can’t even cope with this hot mess of lace tablecloth and hot pants. Did no one shine a light on the girl and make certain that we wouldn’t be able to see straight to Paradise when she was under the stage lights? And you just know she worked with a stylist who told her she looked, “FAB-ulous, darling!”

Feh. I’ve got better gowns in my own closet.

So. Who was my winner? Believe it or not, someone wearing a simple, black gown. Because she wore it oh, so very, very well.

Morena Baccarin, it should be illegal to be you.

I would wear this gown in a New York minute and young ladies on the red carpet, take note, this is how you walk and pose: back straight, shoulders back, poised, relaxed, elegant.

(The husband disagrees—he hates the front of the dress. Ah, well. I don’t expect everyone or anyone, really, to agree with me.)

Mila and Adam, the stars of the little tale, are both chefs. This story was huge fun to write since I got to use my favorite friends-to-lovers trope, plus incorporate my love of cooking with every excessive tradition I remember from holiday celebrations growing up in a large Cuban family in Miami. Each thing mentioned in the story—the pistols at midnight, the sparklers in a cake, the relatives who worry that you’re going to wind up an old maid, the food—oh boy, the food—that’s all from my childhood. It’s a wonder I turned out as normal as I did.

BONUS: If you retweet with the hashtag #SWEETFINISH by New Year’s Eve, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a signed copy my award-winning young adult novel, WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE.

So, without further ado, Sweet Finish: A slightly silly, somewhat sweet story of two best friends who really, should always have known better.

But then, isn’t that how it always goes?

DOWNLOAD BELOW

Anyhow, without further ado, this week’s tour: LOVE STORY.

From Jennifer Echols, the award-winning author of Going Too Far and Forget You, comes LOVE STORY(Gallery Books; July 19, 2011; $11.00), a provocative and powerful story of teen romance, set against the bustling world of a New York City university.

For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at the New York City college of her dreams is more than a chance to fulfill her ambitions – it’s her ticket away from the tragic memories that shadow her family’s racehorse farm in Kentucky. But when she refuses to major in business and take over the farm herself someday, her grandmother gives Erin’s college tuition and promised inheritance to their maddeningly handsome stable boy, Hunter Allen. Now Erin has to win an internship and work late nights at a local coffee shop to make her own dreams a reality. She should despise Hunter… so why does he sneak into her thoughts as the hero of her latest writing assignment?

Then, on the day she’s sharing that assignment with her class, Hunter walks in. He’s joining her class. And after he reads about himself in her story, her private fantasies about him must be painfully clear. She only hopes to persuade him not to reveal her secret to everyone else. But Hunter devises his own creative revenge, writing sexy stories that drive the whole class wild with curiosity and fill Erin’s heart with longing. Now she’s not just imagining what might have been. She’s writing a whole new ending for her romance with Hunter… except this story could come true.

“A tremendously talented writer with a real gift for developing relationships.”
– Romantic Times Magazine

So now, for a little more about Jenn…

Dark or milk chocolate? Milk!
Thin or thick crust pizza? Thin!
Lakes or oceans? Both! Heaven.
Ben & Jerry’s or Häagen Dazs? Häagen Dazs.
Lady Gaga or Katy Perry? (If neither, then who?) Katy Perry. Hilarious.
GLEE or Vampire Diaries? (Or whatever show currently has your fancy) Mythbusters. (Barb’s note: You and my kids would get along great. They have talking Adam & Jamie bobble head dolls.)
Ten or Eleven? (For the Doctor Who fans– if you’re not one, then has there ever been a show or film or book that turned you into a hardcore fan?) X-Files. I was an X-Phile back in the day.
Coke or Pepsi? Diet either.
Growing up, astronaut or supermodel? Astronaut. Our family togetherness TV program was Carl Sagan’s “Cosmos.”

Final question: If your book had a theme song, what would it be?
“The Only Exception” by Paramore.

Thank you, Jenn!

JENNIFER ECHOLS is the author of teen romantic dramas for MTV Books and teen romantic comedies for Simon Pulse. She lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her family. Please visit her online at www.jennifer-echols.com.