What I've Been Reading

Last month I rearranged my living room and finally set up the reading corner that I’ve always wanted. Actually, I consider it a “starter” corner. I’m hoping to get a nice comfy chair someday so I can really do it up fancy. Until then, I’ll make due with the IKEA special.

I try to read a few chapters of a book every night before bed. It’s the best way to take my mind off my own writing and lose myself in someone else’s world before I go to sleep. Otherwise, I'll keep working on my story idea in my head and spend all night tossing and turning.

The only problem with reading before bed is when I’m reading something really good I find it hard to stop and get out of the chair. Which is not necessarily a good thing on the nights I have to get up in the morning. Conveniently, since I work at home, I don’t always have to get up in the morning.

Here’s a list of the books I’ve read in my new reading corner. (Yes, I’ve read them all in the past six weeks. I read rather quickly.) I can honestly say that I recommend them all.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

The Spellmans Strike Again by Lisa Lutz.

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

The Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr (Just started book 3)

Non-required reading!

Hiya, Ro Com readers and writers! Long time, no post!

I could make a billion excuses, most having to do with deadlines writerly and decidedly-non, but suffice it to say:

it's been a big year for the Ostow-Harlans!

In addition to gettin' hitched, the hubs and I were lucky enough to be able to take an extended honeymoon: five weeks in Australia, Fiji, and Hawaii.

As you can imagine, I did plenty of reading while we traveled.

The pic is a shot of N flashing a triumphant thumbs-up as our plane taxies to the Sydney runway after a marathon flight. Those seats were actually comfy enough that I did manage to get some sleep, but you may note in the foreground that I was able to make some headway into a totally gripping book, too.

The title on my tray table is IN THE WOODS by Tana French, a thriller that's kind of like the best "Law & Order" episode, ever (that happens to also be set in the UK). I started the book on the flight at a friend's recommendation and finished it four days later in Sydney.

Yeah, if you're into that kind of stuff -- it's that good.

French's THE LIKENESS just arrived from Amazon and I'm actually holding off on starting it because I know once I do, it's pretty much ALL I'll do until I've torn my way from cover to cover.

While I was away, I made it a point to read "grown-up books" for a change, but since I've been home, I've been back in a YA groove-thang again. Most recently, I finished Lauren Oliver's BEFORE I FALL. People have described it as "Mean Girls" meets "Groundhog Day," but neither of those comparisons adequately convey the emotional resonance and authenticity of Oliver's voice.

Highly recommended.

So, what about you -- what sort of books do YOU save for your vacation reading?

What am I reading?

This topic came up at a good time because I have been reading more than usual lately. Right now, I'm reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett, which was recommended to me by my mom. I've read 6 chapters and am eager to read the rest but life (usually in the form of a 36, 10, 7, or 3 year-old boy) keeps interrupting my reading time. I brought The Help (even though it's huge) with me on my vacation to Hawaii last week, as well as Sweethearts by Sara Zarr. If you want to see a photo of it on a Maui beach and the brief review I posted this morning, click HERE. Right before these 2, I read Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey. It was cute, and I loved the concept of how an American farm girl (think could really be a Romanian vampire princess.

I'm also in the process of writing a proposal for a new book, so I'm reading my own writing (over and over again). I even worked on it a little in Hawaii, as you can see in the photo. :)

So ... have you read any good books lately???

What are you reading?

Right now, I'm devouring, for the sixth or seventh time, The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. I've been noticing how many similarities there are to her short-story collection, Interpreter of Maladies. It reminds me of how often writers will use short stories as kind of a warm-up for a novel--exploring different characters and themes that are built on later. I also just finished (also for the sixth or seventh time--noticing a theme here?) Cat's Eye, a novel by one of my very favorite writers, Margaret Atwood. All of this sounds great, but the truth is that many weeks, all I manage to read is the New York Times Magazine. Maybe a few of Somerset Maugham's short stories. That's about it. I'll blame it on my toddler son for now. Sure, the kid goes to bed at 8:00, but by the time I myself climb between the sheets, I can usually only keep my eyes open for about twenty minutes. The long-ago days when I read Anna Karenina and The Brothers Karamazov are gone forever--or at least until I'm not toting a 25 pound toddler on my hip all day.

What are you reading?

I am so thrilled that my novel Going Too Far is a finalist in a Fancy Award, the RITA. The contest is judged by other writers, so it's a huge honor to be a finalist. And if I were to be lucky enough to win, I would join another RITA-winning Simon Pulse Ro-Com author, Niki Burnham. Remember this pic Niki posted a while ago of her Extremely Neat Office?



Yes, the RITA statue looks like an Oscar statue, except Rita is a chick and she is writing. There is even a Fancy Oscar-like Awards Ceremony to which everyone wears an evening gown, or perhaps Bedazzled sweatpants with a cape, because we are writers and you are likely to see just about anything at one of our conventions.

But before the ceremony, there's a huge (and free) book signing that you can attend if you like. This year the "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing will be held in Nashville on Wednesday, July 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel, and it is one of the coolest things I've ever been a part of as a writer. Publishers donate their books, and about 500 authors are on hand to sign them. You buy the books, and all of the proceeds are given to literacy charities. The complete list of authors will be posted later at the link above, but some of the usual suspects are big names like Nora Roberts, Jennifer Crusie, and Sherrilyn Kenyon. I cannot begin to describe to you how huge this event is. Here's a pic I took last year that captures about a fourth of the room.



Now, if you are a RITA finalist, the super-cool thing about the book signing is that you get a huge flag on your table that says RITA FINALIST--in other words, CHECK OUT THIS CHICK SHE IS AWESOME. That is, you are SUPPOSED to get a flag. Last year there were no flags. I asked my RITA finalist friends Tina Ferraro and Rosemary Clement-Moore WHERE ARE YOUR FLAGS and they said WE DON'T KNOW!!! so I made them both flags out of pens and post-it notes.



I am going to try to make sure I have a proper flag. I am contacting the flag police as we speak.

Anyway...what I'm reading is the other books that are finalists in the YA category of the RITA:

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Nothing Like You by Lauren Strasnick

The ABC's of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro, who is a finalist for the second year in a row because she is THAT AWESOME.

See you in Nashville!

The No Bully Zone

There has been a lot of discussion about bullying in the blogosphere lately. And two concerned YA writers, Carrie Jones and Megan Kelley Hall, decided to do more than blog, so they started a Facebook page called Young Adult Authors Against Bullying.

I started to think about bullying, which is a topic I've thought about quite a bit throughout my life. It seems to me that one of the things that YA books deal with -- maybe not as an "issue" but as a part of life -- is bullying.

I certainly have. In my RoCom, Kaitlyn is bullied by readers who do not like her column. And, in some ways, her column is a way for her to bully the very people who write in to her for help. Sure, maybe their dilemmas seem silly to her, but that doesn't mean they really are silly.

Name calling. Labeling. Can anyone get through school without having experienced bullying of some sort? If you want to know what you can do to make the world a little more bully-free, stop by the Facebook page and read some of the great suggestions for how to cope. Offer some of your own.

Even though YA authors might have fewer easy conflicts if we really did manage to create a bully-free world, we'd cope (there are always unreasonable parents and high-stakes tests...and romance is never conflict-free).

Kelly

What I'm Reading

Hi all...I'm writing this on a very cold and and even rainier spring day in Seattle while apparently my friends and family back on the East Coast are in the middle of a heat wave. What I wouldn't do for sunny and 85 right about now.

So to answer this month's question, I'm actually reading three books right now. The first is a book of short stories by this guy named Wells Tower, called Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned. I heard him read a piece on my favorite radio show This American Life and I was blown away by his writing and storytelling. I figured if I read more of his work, I could absorb some literary brilliance by osmosis. So far, it's not working, but I'm enjoying the read.

I also just picked up The Lightning Thief a few nights ago. I saw it on the library shelf while picking out chapter books for my avid reader son and I thought I should check it out and see what all the hubbub is about. It's feeling very Harry Potter-esque to me so far, but am curious to see where it goes.

Lastly, I'm reading an adult nonfiction book by Gretchen Rubin called The Happiness Project that is all about finding ways to bring more joy and happiness into everyday life. I'm all for that. I've picked up a few tidbits here and there, but haven't had an earth-shattering a ha moment yet. I'll let you know if I do!

XOXO Deborah

What are you reading?

I have to admit I felt a pang of longing or maybe even nostalgia when I read this question. At one point in time I was a voracious reader. In my pre-babies life I used to average two books a week. These days, the stacks of books ordered and neglected are growing by the week. However, when I'm not writing and editing my own books, I still do manage to squeeze in a good read. Thank God for long waits at the car wash, dentist and doctor when I am by myself. One of the last great books I read was Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. I couldn't put it down. I read it in about 2 days. So amazing and so relevant in today's world. Far From You by Lisa Schroeder was another wonderful and recent read. Couldn't put that one down either. I am halfway through When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris (not a YA book). He is one of my all time favorite authors. I don't think I've read many authors with the exception of Laurie Notaro who can match his humor. I alternate reading David Sedaris with my rose books. I know that books on growing roses would be a total snoozer to most but it's my new hobby. My other guilty pleasure -- People magazine. The subscription my in-laws sent me for Christmas is the perfect escape. I live for the short, juicy articles. Looking forward to seeing what everyone else is reading. Who doesn't love a good book recommendation?

Where have you set your books and why?

I had a hard time deciding where to set my Ro Com, Love, Hollywood Style. At first, I figured—sure—it made sense to set it in Hollywood since it does take place at a Hollywood movie studio. But so many movies and TV shows are being filmed in other parts of the world these days because they get tax breaks that make it cheaper. There’s even a term for it: “runaway production.” Losing all this production is actually a serious problem in Los Angeles, because entertainment is a big part of the economy out here. But it was tempting to consider writing a book about Hollywood and setting it somewhere else.

Initially, I thought Vancouver would make for a nice setting. So much production is being done in Vancouver these days, like the TV shows Psych, Smallville, Life Unexpected, and Supernatural. But then I realized they were going to have the Olympics, and really Vancouver had enough going for it already. They didn’t need me to set my book there. So, I stuck with Hollywood. You know, for realism.

As I’ve mentioned before, I used to be a tour guide at a Paramount Pictures. The Hollywood studio in my book, Sovereign Studios, is modeled after my old workplace, though I changed it around considerably to make it fit into the needs of my story. But still, no matter how much I pictured Sovereign Studios while I was writing, memories of Paramount kept pushing into my mind. For instance…

The scene in the cafeteria reminds me of the Paramount cafeteria, which used to be the old RKO Studios rehearsal hall, where Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers came up with all their dance routines for the RKO movies.

The infirmary reminds me of the one on the Paramount lot that is in what we used to call “Star Trek Alley” because that’s where most of the Star Trek TV shows were filmed.

And the soundstage where I set the big finish will, in my mind, always be Paramount’s Stage 5, which is where they filmed The Brady Bunch in the seventies and Angel more recently. (Wouldn’t you have loved it if Angel could have gone back in time and staked cousin Oliver?)

Right now, I’m working on a couple projects that are set in San Francisco. As the other Ro Com authors have noted, it’s useful to have firsthand knowledge of a place you’re setting your stories. I’ve been to San Francisco twice since moving to California. Unfortunately, my visits don’t come in too handy for one of the projects because it’s set over two hundred years in the future. The challenge then becomes for me to decide what’s still there and what is brand new to the city.

The other project set in San Francisco does take place in the current century, and it’s the project that I’ve been teasing in this blog for months. I’m co-writing a new line of comic books based on the TV show Charmed. It’s my first time ever writing comic books, and I’m very excited about it. Though I am considering moving The Charmed Ones to Hollywood, just so I have a shorter commute to work. Driving to San Francisco every time I want to write a scene is murder.

Where Have You Set Your Books and Why?

I set my first YA, Getting to Third Date, in an anywhere college town, mainly because I wanted it to be universal. Ever since I went to college at 17, I have lived in a college town. First University of Delaware, and then -- when my husband got his Ph.D. and a "real" job -- the University of Maine. I've taken classes on both campuses, but only earned a degree at University of Delaware. My first job, before I even began classes, was working at the University bookstore during textbook rush. Since then I've worked at both universities in many capacities (one day I'll write my memoirs, which will include my interesting stints working in various University offices at two big state universities).

I set my Salem Witch series (The Salem Witch Tryouts, Competition's a Witch, and She's a Witch Girl) in Salem. Duh. That was incredibly easy to decide, because the first thing I had for that book was the title. Of course, I had read about the Salem Witch Trials, and we'd read The Crucible aloud in high school English, but that was all I knew of Salem. So I had to do research and find out about the modern Salem. Which is awesome, of course. I recommend visiting in the fall -- they really do it up for the tourists. Just be prepared to be touched and a little shocked at how the witch burning craze touched so many innocent lives back in the day.

Must Love Black, my most recent release, is set in coastal Maine. I love coastal Maine, though I don't live there. One day, on a sailboat excursion with DH, I saw a house on a cliff and said, "That's where Philippa goes." There are many beautiful places, but the coast calls to me. The ocean that breaks against the jagged slabs of granite makes me feel like I've come home.

The manuscript I finished recently (title still in flux, though I think I may have hit upon the right one two days ago -- at last!) is also set in Maine. There's something about magic and New England that just go well together.

Of course, I may just hop across the sea to England for the book I'm in the process of drafting. But don't tell anyone I told you so. It's still a secret.

Where have you set your books and why?

Ask me why I don’t have a Jersey Girl accent. Really—you’d be the first! *smirk* But please don’t expect me to do the “fist pump” on the dance floor. That’s not gonna happen.

While I may disappoint some expectations, I really am a bona fide Jersey girl. (I even graduated from Rutgers University.) We are some dynamic, colorful people. And from the woodsy Bear country counties to the more NYC-borough-esque region, our geographically diverse state makes for an awesome setting for a story (or two).

Perfect Shot is set in a fictional town that sits in the shadow of that towering Manhattan island where I was born. A trendy shop like Chic Boutique (the modeling contest’s headquarters in PS) would easily fit into the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the real Bergen County towns that inspired me. And ambitious young ladies like London Abrams and her bff Pam are found in abundance all throughout the garden state.

London’s town is the type of neighborhood I moved to as an adult. But I was raised in East Orange, NJ, the city I wrote about in Hallways Diaries. Here I am with my godmother (great aunt/soulmate) “Dada” outside of our East Orange home.

Ever see that “30 Rock” episode when we learned that Ken the Page sees the world as one big puppet show? Well, my hubby likes to tease that Ken and I are kindred spirits. (Of course, you know that’s an exaggeration--in my mind, the world is more like a Broadway musical.) But so what my POV is a little rose-colored? I know a lot of folks consider New Jersey to be more of a punchline than a home state. That doesn’t bother me. I can’t deny the great memories of growing up there. Like with everyone else, sure there were some off moments, but they certainly don’t come close to outweighing the bad. And at this point in my career, I find myself wanting to write more stories about colorful characters in this colorful region of the country.

But just don’t expect any of my characters to bust out with the “fist pump” dance, either. Not gonna happen.

Where have you set your books and why?

I love this question because I think where a story takes place is very important. You want the story to feel real, and one of the ways to do that is to describe the place authentically. Of course, you can make up a place and as long as you stay consistent, that works too. But with my published novels, I chose places I knew well. Then, I build upon those settings and use fake high school names, street names, etc., to build the perfect setting.


The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren takes place in the Denver suburbs, where I moved in the second grade and lived until college (but I went to Colorado State, which is only an hour and a half north). I enjoyed writing about a place I know inside and out, putting in little shout-outs to the Broncos, the Rocky Mountains, etc.

My second Ro-Com, Miss Match, is set in Salt Lake City. There don't seem to be very many books set in Utah, and I wanted to shed light on the amazing place I live in now. Right after college, I got married to a Utah native and now we live in a beautiful town about an hour north of SLC. We're surrounded by 3 ski resorts, a lake, and a river. I put some local tidbits in my story, and it's been fun getting feedback from the people who live here. (The photo to the left shows some of the scenery I enjoy every day.)


As for my third novel (not a Ro-Com, but still with Simon Pulse), I needed a setting that was steeped in religion--the Bible Belt. I was born in Houston (where I lived until 2nd grade) but I wanted a smaller town setting, somewhere where everybody knew everybody's business. So I decided to set it in East Texas, where my parents are from and where my dad and other relatives still live. I was there a couple of years ago so to make sure my settting details rang true, I ran them by my relatives. The main character, Poppy, and her mom move from Boulder, Colorado to Pleasant Acres, Texas (I made up the town name, but it looks a lot like this photo from a real East Texas town) to start a new life, and I think (I hope) it works well. You'll have to let me know! Lifted comes out June 8! (Click HERE to learn more about this book.)

Basically, I choose settings that work best for the story I'm telling and that I can write about with a sense of authenticity.

As a reader, I think it's fun to read a book that is set somewhere familiar to me, such as Nicole Burnham's Scary Beautiful (Colorado), but it's also fun to read a book that takes place somewhere I've never been or somewhere that doesn't really exist. What about you?

We've got the scoop!

Look for these new Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies in 2010! ♥

***COMING APRIL 6***

At First Sight
By Catherine Hapka

Sometimes The One is right before your eyes. . .

Lauren and Riley first meet under the stars, and instantly know they are destined to be together. Okay, so maybe it was on a lame school trip to the planetarium, and maybe they didn't get each others' names, or even a good look at each other. But for the brief moment they are together, the sparks are undeniable.

So when Lauren finds a post on Facebook that a guy named Riley is searching for this amazing girl he met at the planetarium, she feels like the stars have finally aligned in her favor. That is, until Lauren sees that Riley is being pursued by hordes of Planetarium Girl imposters! Will Lauren and Riley be able to find each other again, or will these star crossed lovers remain in the dark?

 

 

 

***COMING MAY 25***

Endless Summer
By Jennifer Echols

Includes The Boys Next Door

Two irresistible boys. One unforgettable summer.

Lori can't wait for her summer at the lake. She loves wakeboarding and hanging with her friends--including the two hotties next door. With the Vader brothers, she's always been just one of the guys. Now that she's turning sixteen, she wants to be seen as one of the girls, especially in the eyes of Sean, the older brother. But that's not going to happen--not if the younger brother, Adam, can help it.

Lori plans to make Sean jealous by spending time with Adam. Adam has plans of his own for Lori. As the air heats up, so does this love triangle. Will Lori's romantic summer melt into one hot mess?

 

 

 

***COMING DECEMBER 21***

Love, Love, Love
By Deborah Reber and Caroline Goode

Two sweet stories about finding your one true love.

In Language of Love, by Deborah Reber, Janna is quickly adapting to life in Seattle as a high school exchange student from Hungary. Or at least Julian, the cute boy she met in a coffee shop, thinks she is. The truth is, he overheard Janna using a phony accent, and now she’s stuck playing the part….Will Julian want to be with the real Janna? Or will she discover that lies don’t always translate to love?

In Cupidity by Caroline Goode, high school is the single worst place to find a boyfriend. And Laura Sweeney is no exception. She hasn't had a date since...well, ever. So Laura needs guidance. A proven "get the guy" strategy. Luckily she knows exactly the expert to call. He's a matchmaking mastermind who actually has the bow and arrow to prove it. Let's just call him...Cupid.

Where have you set your books and why?

I'm a little more limited than most with regards to this question: the setting for most of my fiction books has been decided by my editors. This has resulted in some interesting scenarios: for instance, having to write about California, when I've never been to California. I had to set an entire book in a vineyard in Napa Valley. Not only have I never been to Napa, or a vineyard, I didn't even know what grapes looked like when they were growing. Thank you, Google Images. I also got around this particular problem by renting old Rick Steves Travel DVDs of Napa and looking through big coffeetable books about life on a vineyard.

Then there was the book that was supposed to be set in Palm Springs, CA. Fine, no problem, I told the editor. I've got it under control. Off I go, writing the manuscript. I was used to writing about California by now, and my characters always spent a lot of time at the beach. So I wrote in several key beach scenes, as usual. Oops. I later was informed that Palm Springs is like miles and miles from the beach. It's in the middle of the desert. If this isn't a testament to the value of research, I don't know what is. I had to rewrite every d**n one of those scenes.

That's a big reason why setting Hard to Get in the Midwest was such a relief. At last, I could write about a terrain I was familiar with: daffodils in spring, changing oak trees in fall, cornfields, soybeans. The book I'm working on now is set somewhere in upper Michigan. My best friend's family once owned a vacation house there that had been in their family for generations. I only visited the place once but I've never been able to get it out of my mind. Something about the loons. . .

Where have you set your books and why?

Have you ever watched a movie set in a place you love, only to think, "That's not right!" For the next five minutes, all you can think about is how the filmmakers had the traffic going the wrong direction on your town's main street, past a governor's mansion that's actually located fifty miles away.

As an author, I never wanted to fall into that trap. A perfectly good story with riveting characters, one that has readers flipping pages as fast as possible, can come to a grinding halt when the reader finds an obvious error. To avoid that, I'm very careful when choosing the setting for each of my stories.

In Sticky Fingers, I created a fictional high school in a real town (Framingham, MA), that's not far from where I live. Before the book went to print, I double-checked every fact in the story, driving past each of the locations to ensure that the traffic flowed a certain way, that the views from inside stores matched up with what I wrote, and that the spelling of each street was correct.

I went one step further in both Scary Beautiful and Goddess Games. Because I needed weather, stores, and streets that suited each story, I made up the towns of Vista Verde and Juniper. However, I set them in my home state of Colorado, because I knew it'd be easy for me to describe everything from local plants and wildlife to the real towns located near my fictional settings with accuracy. Anyone from Colorado would recognize the "feel" of the two towns, even if they don't exist.

Finally, in the Royally Jacked series of books, I created an entire fictional country. You'd think a fake country would give a writer unlimited freedom; however, as with my fictional Colorado towns, I spent a lot of time ensuring that the "feel" of the country would resonate with readers. I set the country in Europe, where I lived for six years. Buildings, public transportation, and even the names of secondary characters all came directly from things I experienced while living in southern Germany. Best of all, I was able to incorporate the food! (Strudel, anyone? Gelato?)

Where have you set your books and why?

Endless Summer, the sequel to The Boys Next Door, will be published on May 25--and The Boys Next Door will be reprinted in the same volume. I'm so excited about the perfect pub date because it's just a few days shy of the start of the action in The Boys Next Door, around Memorial Day. And that is a beautiful time of year on Lake Martin, Alabama, where I grew up.

It was not my choice to set a book here. I think Lake Martin is paradise, but it's not for everyone. For instance, country singer Alan Jackson played a concert there for Aquapalooza last August. You could only see it by boat. If I had been 16, all of my friends and I would have been there, believe me. However, before I wrote this book, I assumed New York editors would turn up their noses at a setting like this.

Here's what happened. I wrote a proposal for a book about a girl torn between two adorable brothers who live next door. I wrote another proposal for a book with a suspenseful treasure-hunting plot set on a lake. My editor did not like either proposal, but she told me to take the love triangle plot and set it on the lake.

So I did. But I took out any references to the fact that the lake was in Alabama. It was Lake in a Nameless State so it would have the broadest appeal to the most readers. But in the edits, my editor kept asking me weird questions: Why are you calling their lake cabins houses, as if they live there all year? Why aren't the girls cold at night in their Slinky Cleavage-Revealing Tops? It became apparent to me that when I said "lake," New York heard "Lake Placid." So I revised the book to make it clear that this lake is in Alabama. It is hot as hell in Alabama in the summer, even at night, even in a Slinky Cleavage-Revealing Top, and if we have a house on the lake, we tend to live there all year because there are no blizzards to close the roads in the winter or anything like that going on.

For your enjoyment, here is a beautiful pic my dad took of Lake Martin for a photography class recently. And here is a pic of me waterskiing on the lake when I was 18, because I never get tired of proudly telling people that I did not fall after that shot.

Favorite Couples

Because I like to be different, I’m going to tweak this month’s question and tell you about some of my favorite couples that have graced the small screen over the years. Starting with Buffy and Angel. OR Buffy and Spike. Yes, I’m one of those rare Buffy, The Vampire Slayer fans that could have gone either way on her love life. There is nothing better than an “opposites attract” love story and you can’t get more opposite than a slayer in love with the vampires she’s supposed to slay. Their relationship(s) had heavenly highs and demonic lows and one of the best uses of a cookie as an analogy for being ready to fall in love that I've ever heard.
Opposites Attract Hall of Fame: Sam and Diane from Cheers, Maddie and David from Moonlighting, Vicky and Ryan from Another World, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.

I was also a big Joey and Pacey shipper in Dawson’s Creek. What I loved most about this couple was that the writers let the characters (and the chemistry between the actors) dictate this relationship. Clearly, when the Creek began, we were supposed to want Joey and Dawson to get together. He was her first love. The boy she pined after for years. Too bad the audience didn’t buy it. Thankfully, the writers actually watched their show and said, “Hey, why don’t we try this instead?” And it worked. Because no matter how much we all love a good “first love” story, the reality is those couplings don’t always last.
First Love Hall of Fame: Kevin and Winnie from The Wonder Years, Pebbles and Bam-Bam from The Flintstones.

As for married couples, no characters currently on television come close to the bond shared between Eric and Tami Taylor from Friday Night Lights. They are most realistic married couple ever on TV in my opinion. They have a genuine marriage with real problems and a true love for one another. I cannot wait for the new season to begin airing. It kills me that I don’t have direct TV and I’m behind. (Shhh. No spoilers!)
Married Couple Hall of Fame: Cliff and Claire Huxtable from The Cosby Show, Steve and Elyse Keaton from Family Ties, B.J. and Peg Honeycutt from M*A*S*H (bonus points for B.J. and Peg since we never actually saw them together onscreen and yet their love was undeniable).

Obviously, I left a bunch of favorites off the list, so feel free to add your own.

While on the subject of TV, a few weeks back I very cruelly teased you all by saying absolutely nothing about the projects I’m working on for 2010. Well, I’m still not allowed to say anything, but I’ll give you a teeny, tiny little clue about one of them. It has me writing for another one of my favorite TV couples. A couple that does not appear on this list.

Okay, I know I’m horrible. And I’m sure when all is revealed it will be terribly anti-climactic. But I don’t want to take up this space anymore by being a tease stringing you along forever. For those of you who still care, you can follow me on Twitter @paulruditis where I hopefully will reveal the mystery project before we all die of old age.

In honor of Valentine's Day, who are some of your favorite book or movie couples?

Valentine's Day may be behind us, but love is definitely still in the air. Is there ever really a bad time to watch When Harry Met Sally or to gush about your fave romantic comedy leads? FYI, Mark Ruffalo is one of my favorites. I like that he’s not your typical leading man. He was so adorable opposite Jennifer Garner in 13 Going on 30 and I loved him with Reese Witherspoon in Just Like Heaven. Mark’s character didn’t even have a romantic storyline in You Can Count on Me and yet he still had me blushing.

On the romantic fantasy level, of course I was rooting for Aragorn and Arwen in The Lord of the Rings. And yes, Katsa and Po in Kristin Cashore’s awesome book, Graceling had my heart racing.

And if you haven’t seen it yet, you have to check out the movie Love and Basketball (2000) starring Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps as Monica and Quincy. Such a swoon-worthy couple! The film follows Monica and Quincy from their first meeting at age 11—when Quincy and his parents moved in next door to Monica—through high school and college. Both kids are wild about basketball with dreams of going pro. Their shared passion for the sport brings them closer, but also makes them deliciously competitive.

I’ll stop now so as not to give anything away. Happy viewing!

Odds n' ends

Hello! A lot has happened since my last post and there are so many things that are making me happy.

1. Writing. I'm working on a new book idea and it's coming along swimmingly. It's still early days and I haven't even shown it to my agent, but as writers out there are sure to know, it feels great to have an exciting new project going.

2. Good health. I've been sick as have my kids and husband, so I'm just now getting back into working out. I love doing yoga and spin class and the combination does wonders for my body and mind.

3. School Visits. The latest two schools were elementary schools, a little younger than I'm used to, so I put together a new presentation called "Imagine the Possibilities!" where I show funny pictures of myself and how many times my dream has changed. It's fun for me to talk about this because it relates to everyone, young and old, and it reminds me just how far I've come as a writer and as a person.

4. Coaching boys' basketball. I've coached soccer and it was such a wonderful experience, and since I actually played basketball once upon a time, I was really looking forward to trying my hand at coaching it. The boys keep me on my toes and it's so amazing how far they've already come.

5. Skiing and snowboarding. Here in Utah, we've had lots of snow which means great days on the ski hill. My youngest is loving the sport so far!

6. Hot air balloons. This is really random, because while we have hot air balloons floating around quite often in the warmer months, it's not every winter day we get to see one.

What has you in a good mood today?

Hard to Get and Favorite Movie Couples

First of all, Hard to Get will be out on Feb. 23rd! I have already seen a few advance copies and it looks marvelous. But I haven't had the nerve to actually read it. Something cringe-inducing about reading my own words in print. Like those actors you hear about who've never watched any of their own movies. Just ogling the cover is enough--and fielding my family's comments. ("Were you thinking about Aunt Mildred when you wrote that scene?")

Second question: favorite movie or book couples. I have so many, including Alvy and Annie from Annie Hall, which has already been written about, but probably my number one favorite couple is Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester from Charlotte Bronte's novel, Jane Eyre. I know, I know, I'm a huge nerd. I can't help it. When I was in junior high, I used to dream about having a boyfriend just like Mr. Rochester. (I can't believe I'm writing this in a public forum.) Okay, yes, the language in the book is hopelessly old-fashioned, yes, the book takes forever to read, yes, Jane can come across as a pious little priss and Mr. Rochester as a weird creep, but it's so romantic! (Have I sold anyone yet?)