October 26, 2008

book trailer, take 2

To make it easy, here's the youtube book trailer The Compulsive Reader was inspired to make:


I love it!

book party, book trailer, book giveaway and more, oh my.

Readers,
On Thursday night, my generous friend, Peter, and the fabulous indie book store, Book Soup, hosted a book launch party for me at Peter's house. It was such a great night, and I felt so lucky to be surrounded by so many supportive friends. I loved seeing people from different parts of my life together in one room. It was also great to see some of my fellow LA-based YA authors, whom I know as a result of a fabulous group called the LAYAS (Los Angeles Young Adult Authors). Paula Yoo, the author of the acclaimed debut YA novel, Good Enough, blogged about the party here.

Here are a few snapshots of the night:
this is me with my husband, Alex:


friends Sean and Miranda with their signed copies
group shot, including one of my teen readers
More friends showing their support
Aliza & Thomas. Aliza is like my sister, only we're not related.
hubby Alex with friends Melissa & Alex
As you can see, it was a most excellent night, and I've been in the happiest mood since. Having a book out really is just like having a birthday, and I do love birthdays.

In other exciting news, The Compulsive Reader had the greatest surprise for me last week. In addition to posting a Q&A with me, she also made a book trailer for In Your Room. An actual video, with the most appropriate song she could have chosen, too ("Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service, featured in the book.) Can you believe it? I was so impressed and flattered. You can check out the interview and video here.

As the featured author this month for Harmony Book Reviews, we're doing a giveaway of a signed copy of In Your Room through her site, here.

I had a lovely afternoon yesterday with Jay Asher, author of the gripping Thirteen Reasons Why, to plan the reading we're doing together at Vroman's on November 24. You can find out all the info for the event here. He showed me the new, re-released hard cover of his book, with some really cool added features. I'm really excited about our reading, and hope you can make it.

Alright. It looks like it's that time. Off to watch some Sunday night television.

J

October 21, 2008

This and That

Good afternoon!
I'm sitting on my patio, taking a break, in a spot that just a few weeks ago would have been fully, rather than partially, in the blazing sun at this hour. Sometimes, the position of the sun is the only way you know the seasons are changing in LA. There's a really cool thing outside at the Griffith Observatory. They have sunset and moonset lines engraved in the cement so that you know where the sun and moon are going to set in the sky, depending on the time of year (for those of you who've already read the book, you know what I'm talking about).

Thank you to Harmony Book Reviews for this fantastic review and for featuring me as the author of the month! Stay tuned for more...

Thank you to Book Chic for featuring me as the Fresh New Voice of YA. If you're interested, check out the guest blog and interview I did.

I'm having a little book party on Thursday, so I have to go out and do a few things for that, but before I do, check out this cool new book, Who By Fire, that I read about today in Seventeen Magazine, here. Doesn't it sound great? I can't wait to get a copy.

J

October 20, 2008

the monday warm-up

Good Monday morning to you, readers!
I hope it's the start of a great week for all of us. I had a lovely tour of some book stores on Friday. A confession: I was a little apprehensive about doing this exercise. I know it's a rite of passage and all, but I also know that books can take a while to ship and that they may not even be on shelves right away. Thankfully this did not happen and our little tour was so much fun, especially since we had a surprise addition to our merry expedition, my other good friend, J.
some pictures of the adventure, for your viewing pleasure: at Portrait of a Bookstore
and look! The lovely folks at B&N at the Grove put my signed books in prime viewing position. Side note: the Grove makes an appearance in the book, too.Now, what's this warm-up all about, you ask? It's a way for to me to sit down at my desk, get all my things and thoughts in order before I dive in to book 2 for a few hours. Today, these "things" included:
1. checking email.
2. drinking tea
3. checking email again.
4. lighting candle
5. moving things around on desk.
6. brushing dog's teeth. okay, before you start mocking me, which I fully deserve, you would brush his teeth, too if YOUR dog tried to eat what MY dog tried to eat this morning. Note: it's a special tooth brush for dogs, not a recycled human toothbrush, with special "poultry" flavored dog toothpaste. yum. see for yourself:
I can't really beat that on my list. Suffice it to say that Rocky and I are both much happier after said teeth brushing (he actually likes it). I'm now at my desk, and he in his usual resting position on the couch next to me, awaiting his next beauty regimen.
In the meantime, I'm going to get to work, now adequately warmed-up.
Thanks for stopping by!
Jordanna

October 17, 2008

the day after

Yesterday was a brilliant day. I woke up to so many great emails that kept pouring in throughout the day, and are still streaming in. Thank you to everybody for all your support! And it's been great hearing from eager readers who've already got their copies.
I wrote about the path to publication day here, as a guest blogger for The Compulsive Reader. I'm so grateful to all you book bloggers who've become fans of the book. You guys are amazing!

I have a guest blog appearing today on Book Chic's blog. I'll post it when it's up.

In a few minutes I'm heading out with my good friend R. to sign some books at some local indie book stores around LA. First, we're going to Portrait of a Bookstore. I love this adorable store, nestled among fruit trees and an outdoor cafe. How perfect is that? I used to escape here to read and write when I was at my old job during lunch sometimes. Then we're going to Book Soup. Book Soup is the first book store I went to in LA. It has the most amazing intimate feel, like you're always about to discover the best book. We'll finish up our tour at the Grove, featured in the book. They have a B&N and I gotta see if it's there!

I have to go get dressed before R. gets here. See? I do get out of PJs sometimes. But I'll leave you with this: I came home yesterday afternoon to the best gift from my husband. To celebrate my book launch he bought me a potted lemon tree. Not only that, it grows Meyer lemons!! My absolute favorite kind (a cross between lemons and oranges. tip: amazing freshly squeezed mixed with sparkling water. delight!). It's also symbolic, you know, the fruit bearing tree, like creativity...ok...I'll stop now.

Happy Friday everyone!
J

October 15, 2008

The Warm-Up

hello readers:

I'm back.
I'm sitting on my couch with my favorite fancy tea (green tea blend called The du Hammam), just brewed, within arm's reach, and my dog, Rocky, also within arm's reach.

I decided to start my day with a post, to, you know, get the juices flowing so to speak. My book comes out tomorrow and I'm a bundle of nerves. I also have to write my very first guest blog post today. So, you see, this post is a warm-up for the following:

1. acknowledging the day has started and must.get.out.of.pajamas (ok. maybe not right away. But before leaving the house. who knows? that could be never. side note: I've waited many years for this so-called luxury of living in your PJs)
2. pay bills. TODAY. must avoid late fees!
pause. ok, back. had to put music on surround sound. this talk of bills is stressful! Nothing like some Broken Social Scene to bring tranquility to the day.
3. write more pages of new book. ok, this really should have been numero uno on the list, but who's counting? If a girl can't hide on her blog, where can she hide?
4. write a fabulous guest blog for the compulsive reader, to be featured tomorrow.
5. errands. I'm the worst with errands. the worst.

Ok, that list is long enough. You know what I want to do soon? Visit the Los Angeles Zoo. I've never been, and I think it's time. This non-sequitur brought to you by Jordanna's brain.

Oh, I forgot to mention. For those of you who've read my bio on my website, you know I want to get another cat eventually. Well, one showed up in our driveway a few weeks ago and has been happily living there ever since. We call him Scraps. He's kind of filthy and loves nothing more than to sleep on greasy oil stains under the car, but I love him anyway. Even if I have to scrub down after cuddling him, or disinfect my clothes (I had grease tracks all over my white sweatpants after letting him sit on me), or clean up his poop droppings in the middle of our walk way. Ok, that part is kinda gross, and I don't really enjoy it, but, the scrappy old guy is worth it.
And, Rocky, former cat-terrorizer, has been reformed and even kisses Scraps on occasion.
Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks. See for yourself:

I'm fully warmed-up now, friends. Thanks for the help and perhaps you will be hearing from me again tomorrow, publication day!!
Until then, enjoy your day whether in PJs or real clothes.
Jordanna

October 2, 2008

early mornings

I woke up before the sun today.
This never happens to me.
Just wanted to share.
In more exciting news, the fabulous Story Siren has posted an interview today, as promised, avec moi, right here. So, for the curious, go on over and check it out.

While we're on the topic of book bloggers, here are a couple of links to some other reviews that have come in over the wires in the lead up to the big release. woo hoo!
I'm so grateful to all you book lovers out there for your interest in my book. So, without further ado, here they are:
Book Chic
The Compulsive Reader
Tempatt
The Book Girl
Reading Keeps You Sane
The Page Flipper
Book Junkee

The sun is up and shining.
I'm listening to "Ghost Under Rock" by Ra Ra Riot for the millionth time this week.
And I leave you with this, my boy Rocky next to the beautiful plant my mom sent us for Rosh Hashana (the Jewish new year). I made him wear that pink ribbon all day and he got all sorts of compliments when we went out for a smoothie break. doesn't he look pretty??!!

Happy Thursday people!
x J

October 1, 2008

A new review is IN!

It's October today, readers.

While I might be stating the obvious, I definitely needed to check the calendar because it's going to be 100 degrees today in Los Angeles. That's right. ONE HUNDRED DEGREES. I mean, what is that? In October? I guess I should be kind of used to it by now, but I guess you can take the girl out of Canada, but you can't take Canada out of the girl. All this to say that I miss the leaves changing and the brisk, chill in the air that "should" come with October.

Alas, you don't hear many complaints from me in deep winter when my mother tells me it's minus thirty degrees in Montreal (ok, that's celcius, but doesn't it sound more dramatic that way?) and it's a comfortable seventy or so here in these parts. Therein lies the trade-off.

But I digrees. I woke up today to find the most delightful review of my book from The Story Siren! What a great way to wake up and start the day (and give me that extra little motivation to get right to work on book 2, aka, the work-in-progress.)

You can read the review here, but here's a little excerpt to whet your appetite:
I can’t really pinpoint one thing that made me like the story so much, I think maybe it was a combination of the characters and just the whole premise of the novel itself, but I just picked it up and I just had to know.... are these two ever going to get together!

And believe me, you’ll want to know too!

My only complaint..... I want more!


Visit The Story Siren again tomorrow for an interview with me!
Thanks for stopping by,
Jordanna