Author Archives: Melissa

Q&A/YA Chat

Interested in writing for a young audience? Have questions about the biz? I’ll be doing a Q&A/chat about YA lit next Wednesday, the 21st, at the Penn Bookstore (36th and Walnut) at 6pm. Free admission. No purchase required.  I’d love to see you there.

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Real Life Truth or Dare Game

It’s time. Here’s how it’s gonna work. Every few days, we’ll pick a Truth and a Dare. You’ll answer or act, whichever is required. Then you’ll Tweet your answer to the truth and/or a photo (even better, a video!) of you being daring to Twitter. Respond to both the truth and the dare if you [...]

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ToDAY

Finally! The Fine Art of Truth or Dare has arrived. And, of course, ToDay’s post has to be a playlist. So, here it is, for Ella and Alex… Must I Paint You a Picture – Billy Bragg It’s Only Time – The Magnetic Fields Mambo Italiano – Dean Martin Let My Love Open the Door [...]

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On Valentine’s Day: Things That Make One’s Heart Beat Faster

At the turn of the 11th century, Sei Shonagon was an attendant to the Empress of Japan. During her time in court, she wrote a Pillow Book, a sort of poetic journal comprised of musings, gossip, and lists. We don’t know much about her–no one is even completely sure of her real name. But the [...]

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“80s” Playlist Winner

Finally. Two of my mad panel were temporarily unavailable. But here we have it, the winner. From Jess:    A Short Tribute to the Immortal Joe Strummer White Riot Train in Vain Should I Stay or Should I Go Love Kills Unknown Immortal Burning Streets Johnny Appleseed   I gotta say, this would have been [...]

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“Truth” Playlist Winner!

So here’s the winning list, chosen by my fab mad panel of experts (on me, at least; their musical expertise has been called into question). It was almost unanimous. One voice called for the list with the Kates (Nash and Bush) which was great, but I gotta say, this one was creative– from the song-per-decade [...]

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New Playlist Contest

So this is a day late, but…the theme for this week’s giveaway contest is “Best of the 80s”. Send me a playlist of fab 80s songs and, if you win, I send you an ARC of The Fine Art of Truth or Dare. Some people think ToD is like a contemporary “Pretty in Pink”. Maybe [...]

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New “Fine Art of Truth or Dare” Giveaway

So. Here’s the thing. I am notoriously cyclically fickle when it comes to music. Which means several things. One, I have beloved faves that I come back to again and again. And again. Two, my playlists tend to look like they were made by four completely different people with completely different tastes. Three, I often [...]

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11 Things I Discovered in 2011

11. My interest in mummies and bog bodies as possible book subjects is slightly disturbing. 10. Bjorg jewelry. 9. Research proved that I am, much to my distress, not yet the geeky girl I hoped I had become. 8. G-Side, Lindi Ortega, Blitzen Trapper, Renato Carasone, Grouplove, Gyptian, Melody Gardot. 7. Laura Mercier Creme de Pistache Souffle. 5. I [...]

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New Contest!

In anticipation of February and the release of The Fine Art of Truth or Dare, I’m starting a new ARC giveaway contest* on Twitter, and it’s an arty one…

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