DIANA RODRIGUEZ WALLACH

I’ve been a little slow with the blog updates recently, but hopefully that’s going to change soon. I’m in the process of updating my website, and transitioning to Tumblr—so stay tune for a whole new look. And I have even BIGGER news to report! I inked a new book deal! Whoo hoo! I have a […]

What could be worse than having your plane crash? Forgetting everything you ever knew. That’s the premise of GCC member Jessica Brody’s latest novel, UNREMEMBERED, out this month through Farrar, Straus, & Giroux. As always, here’s a little bit about her books to get you hooked: The only thing worse than forgetting her past…is remembering […]

So you may not believe this, but I just joined Facebook. Like just joined—as in, last week. My dad has been on Facebook for about a year now. (Of course, my parents also went to Mardi Gras this year, so I might not want to compare coolness.) It wasn’t that I was anti-Facebook or anything. […]

Don’t you just love it when you get a second chance to discover an awesome book? For those who didn’t get the opportunity to read it in hardback, Melissa Walker’s fantastic YA novel, SMALL TOWN SINNERS, just came out in paperback. And it’s got an amazing review from The New York Times! “Walker has written […]

What’s better than a supernatural vampire story set in Salem, Mass. with a murder mystery mixed in? I don’t know about you, but I’m sold. I can’t wait to read GCC member Lucienne Diver’s latest installment in her Vamped series, FANGTABULOUS, out this month through Flux. As always, here’s a little bit about her books […]

Hope everyone had a Happy New Year and a great holiday season! My little one is a year-and-a-half now (can’t believe it!), so while she still doesn’t really grasp the whole Santa-thing, she did catch on to the present-thing really quick. And of course, there were a lot of books under her tree. Now, Juliet […]

If you’re looking for a great last-minute gift for a teen in your life, look no further than the latest amazing YA title from LaurieFaria Stolarz. Her books are fabulous and I can’t wait to read her latest installment, Deadly Little Lessons! Here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked: Camelia Hammond’s trying […]

So the house is decorated for Christmas and Hanukkah, and as I look around I can’t help but reflect on Chrismukkahs past. Yeah, I’m sappy like that. But it’s more that I remember where each of our decorations went in each of our old houses.  For example, I have a few Christmas decorations that my […]

Some teenage girls work at the mall to earn extra cash, others learn to run a con. But if you choose the latter, make sure you don’t fall for your own lies. At least, that’s the case in GCC member Eileen Cook’s new YA novel, THE ALMOST TRUTH. It sounds like a great read and […]

Not long ago, Bret Easton Ellis, the author of AMERICAN PSYCHO, had publicly stated his desire to write the screen adaptation of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY. As someone who just recently finished reading all three FIFTY novels (oh, yes, I read all three of them) can I say that Ellis would have been a perfect […]

My daughter, Juliet, turned one in April. I thought I had been working during the first year of her life. I mean, I tried. I sat in front of my laptop during all of her naps, neversleeping when she was sleeping, instead dedicating one eye to my manuscript while the other was locked on the […]

Just in time for Halloween “something wicked this way comes,” or so said Shakespeare in MacBeth. You know who else is talking about SOMETHING WICKED? The authors of this spooky new YA anthology featuring GCC member Kelly Parra. So if you’re looking for something to give you goose bumps this season, check out SOMETHING WICKED […]

What teenage girl doesn’t put on a façade for the world? Try to convince everyone, including herself, that her life is perfect? Well, that’s the case in the emotionally-charged new YA novel by GCC member Mindi Scott. Learn how far the girl-next-door will go to protect the truth about her life in Live Through This, an amazing […]

It’s all fun and games until someone gets dead, right? Just in time for Halloween is a spooky new YA Horror by GCC member Gretchen McNeil. Take your coolest high school party, set it on an island, and toss in a murderer and you’ve got the start of TEN, an amazing new book out this […]

What teenage girl hasn’t wondered what it would be like to be someone else? To be more popular? Now imagine you’ve figured out the secret to actually do it, to change your life. That’s the concept behind GCC member Elise Allen’s new book, Populazzi, published this month through Harcourt. As always, here’s a little bit […]

Ever wish you could just fly off and leave everything behind? Now imagine you’re a teen who actually can fly her own plane, only she’s stuck doing the bidding of two teen brothers who may not have the best intentions. That’s the intriguing concept behind GCC member Jennifer Echols’s fun new book, SUCH A RUSH, […]

Can you crush on your sister’s boyfriend and not piss her off? It seems like it would be long road back to sibling bliss, and that’s exactly what you’re going to find out in GCC member Denise Jaden’s new book, NEVER ENOUGH, published this month through Simon Pulse. As always, here’s a little bit about […]

The second book in GCC member Myra McEntire’s Hourglass series is out this month, and I have to say, it has one of the prettiest covers I’ve ever seen. Love it! (The wallpaper in the background almost looks like the stencil on my bedroom wall.) So if you’re looking for a book with a great […]

GCC member Amanda Ashby has two books debuting this summer, and both sound absolutely adorable. I mean, what preteen wouldn’t love the power to grant wishes? Check out WISHFUL THINKING and UNDER A SPELL, two books in her new series published by Puffin. As always, here’s a little bit about her books to get you […]

Looking for a summer book with love, intrigue, and super powers? Look no further than SURRENDER by GCC member Elana Johnson, which just debuted through Simon and Schuster. As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked: Raine has always been a good girl. She lives by the rules in Freedom. […]

Summer lovin’ had me a blast… Unless your love is your best friend’s boyfriend and you’re spending your summer desperately trying to forget he exists. UNBREAK MY HEART is the latest by GCC member Melissa Walker and it’s the perfect mix of romantic drama, sailboats, and beaches. It just debuted this month through Bloomsbury and […]

How many of you played an instrument in elementary school? Performed in your school choir? Won an art competition? Climbed a rope in gym class? Well, consider yourselves lucky, because if Pennsylvania legislatures have their way, not too many students in our state will be able to say the same. A few weeks ago, the […]

Feels like every time you turn around someone is trying to censor YA novels. If they’re not banning them from school libraries, they’re protesting them for being too edgy, or now they’re trying to slap them with arbitrary ratings. US News and World Report recently ran article detailing a study that looked at a couple […]

For all those who lost someone in Iraq and all those who don’t even know someone who fought it in, get a glimpse inside military family with GCC Member Jessi Kirby’s new book, IN HONOR, out this month through Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers. As always, here’s a little bit about her book […]

So I’m a little behind on my Publishers Weekly newsletters—like say four months or so. Oops. But because I really do enjoy reading the Children’s Bookshelf emails, I’ve been perusing my backlist the past few days and I came across a YA hullabaloo I’d missed. I love a good hullabaloo. Turns out, a couple months […]

My little one is ONE! The big numero uno. No longer a baby. A walking, talking (well, babbling), toddler. And since this is a gigantic milestone for both of us, I thought I’d share some photos of the big event. It was really a whole weekend affair with a fun party on Saturday and then […]

I was recently a speaker at the State of Maryland International Reading Council Conference (SoMIRAC), and while there I happened to mention that I had a baby. (The girl just sneaks into conversations these days.) Anyway, being as though many of the teachers attending looked as though they had some very adorable grandchildren at home, […]

So the Hunger Games movie it out! My tweenage niece and nephew were at the midnight showing and I still haven’t see it! Oh, the horror of having a baby and having to work around a sitter’s schedule. But in preparation for my viewing next weekend, I’ve reread the book. Embarrassingly, I still cried at […]

In preparation for last night’s Oscars, I decided to watch a couple of the best picture nominees available on OnDemand. (I have a baby, unless the movie is from the TWILIGHT or HUNGER GAMES franchises, it’s hard to get me to the theater.) Anyway, the DH and I watched MIDNIGHT IN PARIS and TREE OF […]

So last week, I finished the latest rounds of edits on my never-ending White Whale. Sometimes, I swear that manuscript will be tossed into my casket as the ongoing, never-finished, constantly-tweaked, work-in-progress. But regardless, this latest bout of round-the-clock revisions is behind me, so I thought I’d celebrate by giving myself the week off from […]

If you miss Buffy (and who doesn’t?), then I have the perfect replacement to fill the void in your heart—the Vamped Series by GCC Member Lucienne Diver. Her latest installment, FANGASTIC, just came out this month through Flux, and it sounds amazing! As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked: […]

Why do all gothic mansions have to be haunted? Because they’re just creepy, that’s why—especially if you’re forced to live there with some creepy step-father. That is why you must read GCC Member Eileen Cook’s new book, UNRAVELING ISOBEL, out this month through Simon Pulse. As always, here’s a little bit about her book to […]

Seeing the future isn’t all it’s cracked up to be according to the latest installment in GCC Member Laurie Faria Stolarz’s YA series, DEADLY LITTLE VOICES, out this month through Disney/Hyperion Books for Children. I must say that the covers for this series are gorgeous! Love them, love them! As always, here’s a little bit […]

So it’s that time of year again when the coupons to Yankee Candle start pouring in and it suddenly seems like a good idea to buy your boss/friend/neighbor a giant glass jug that smells like cinnamon. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. (I’m talking to you, mom.) But in case you’re looking for alternatives, […]

How does a book get sold? I wish I knew, and I think most authors would agree. The acquisitions department at a publishing house is like a magical room draped with velvet curtains. You write a book. You get an agent. The agent sends the books to editors. Then. You. Wait. Everything is communicated via […]

I noticed something interesting recently. I live in a let’s-be-friends urban community that throws barbeques on Labor Day and has hayrides for Halloween. Everyone comes out, brings the kids, eats burgers, and meets the neighbors. Yet I find that when you’re toting a baby and go up to another mom toting a baby, inevitably one […]

As someone who just spent the weekend enjoying autumn in NY, I gotta say, who doesn’t love a good novel about changing leaf colors and rustic pumpkin patches? If either of these things makes you want to curl up with a steaming pumpkin spice latte, then check out GCC Member Kristina Springer’s new novel, JUST […]

Did you ever wonder what the parents of erotic romance authors think? Do they read their child’s graphic bondage scenes or do they politely chose not to purchase their sultry books? How about the parents of horror writers? Do they wonder how they raised a child who could so graphically kill a character in their […]

YA writers are smart chicks. We all knew that, but now a group have gotten together to create an anthology to build upon the “Smart Chicks Kick It” tour. GCC Member Jeri Smith-Ready has one of the more notable short stories in this paranormal anthology, titled ENTHRALLED: PARANORMAL DIVERSION, out this week through HarperCollins. As […]

So, if you’ve found your way to this blog, by now you know that I have an essay in the amazing anthology put together by GCC Members Carrie Jones and Megan Kelley Hall. Corralling 70 authors to put together a book of this nature is no easy task, and Megan Kelley Hall tells us exactly […]

So I’m about halfway through DEAR BULLY (the awesome anthology I contributed an essay to and that went on sale last week), and I commented to the DH about how many other authors have stories similar to my own. He says, “So you’re saying kids like to pick on future authors?” Huh. I’m not saying […]

So as many of you know, I have an essay in the soon-to-be released anthology, Dear Bully: Seventy Authors Tell Their Stories (available for pre-order now!). In it I discuss my bullying experience from the sixth grade. As we gear up for the launch of this awesome book, edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie […]

In three months, I’ve become an expert on nap analysis. For example, I’ve found that the little one’s morning nap is her longest and soundest of the day, so I’m now trying to cram in everything from showering to blogging to writing into a single nap. It’s amazing how productive you can be in an […]

So the baby is napping right now, which means I probably have another half-hour to work on the computer uninterrupted. (Dear Sleeping Gods, thank you for sending me a baby that is borderline narcoleptic.) I’ve decided to use this napping block to write a blog. Next nap, I’m gonna work on the book. The evening […]

So I saw this movie the other night and it was like watching my life on film, only my life five years from now—an almost an Ebenezer Scrooge moment where I was being shown what would become of me if I continued on the path I was on. The movie is called MOTHERHOOD and stars […]

If you’re looking for a good LOVE STORY to curl up with before Labor Day, then you have to try GCC Member Jennifer Echols’ new novel, LOVE STORY, out this month through MTV Books. As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked: For Erin Blackwell, majoring in creative writing at […]

So you know those fanatical religious sects always profiled on 20/20? Ever wonder what it would be like to grow up in one? Well, GCC Member Melissa Walker did and you can read all about it in her new novel, SMALL TOWN SINNERS, out this month through Bloomsbury. As always, here’s a little bit about […]

Who doesn’t love a rogue angel tempting fate? Because that’s exactly what you get in GCC Member Suzanne Young’s new novel, A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL out this month through Balzer&Bray/HarperCollins. As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked: We all want to be remembered. Charlotte’s destiny is to be Forgotten… […]

To think for yourself or not think for yourself, that is the question in GCC Member Elana Johnson’s new novel, POSSESSION out this month through Simon Pulse. Because really, who needs to pick their own husband anyway? As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked: Vi knows the Rule: Girls […]

Forget Tinkerbelle, the fairies in GCC Member Amanda Ashby’s new novel are evil and need to be slain. To make it worse, they’re sarcastic hipsters. Now tell me that isn’t a reason to read FAIRY BAD DAY out this month through Puffin/Speak. As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked: […]

So can you remember that really horrible decision you made in high school? Yeah, so can Brooklyn Pierce, the main character in GCC Member Jessica Brody’s new novel, MY LIFE UNDECIDED out this month through FSG. But would you ever let the blogosphere decide your life for you? She did. And I can’t wait to […]

So a few weeks ago I warned that the blog might go silent when the little bundle I was carrying decided to make her appearance, and now I’m happy to report that Juliet Wallach is officially here! She arrived healthy, happy, and just in time for Easter weighing in at 7lbs 11oz. She’s already tall […]

So I was recently asked to write a synopsis for my WIP. My reaction? Oh, God, not that. Anything but that. It’s hard enough for writers to condense the plots of their 300-plus page novels into two paragraphs when they’re querying, but at least then, you know your goal—get in, get out, whet their appetites. […]

So there’s something I’ve been keeping under wraps for, oh say about nine months now. I just wasn’t ready to announce it to the blogosphere, but I’ve hit the point where there’s a part of my brain constantly thinking about it, so I have to say something or I’m going to explode (which I’m scheduled […]

So one of the problems with writing in the YA genre is that you have to keep your books succinct. This is a good and bad thing. On one hand, you won’t find a bunch of purple prose. (“Her flaxen hair flowed like dried wheat in Kansas on a sultry summer day with the sweet […]

Happy National Grammar Day! What? You didn’t know? It’s not on your calendar? Hallmark doesn’t have an aisle of cards? Well, grammar’s not all that exciting, but that doesn’t mean it’s not important. So in honor of this little known holiday (is it really a holiday? or just a day of recognition? a made up […]

So this is something I’ve been keeping under wraps for awhile. Around the holidays, I decided to end my five-year working relationship with my former agent. It was a difficult decision and something I had been considering for a long time now. (Hint: That’s your first clue. If you start repeatedly thinking you might need […]

So a few days ago, a very popular feminist magazine, Bitch: Feminist Response to Pop Culture, put together a list of 100 Young Adult Books for the Feminist Reader on its website. It’s got everything from Judy Blume to Laurie Halse Anderson and was originally heralded by many commenters as a tremendous resource for teens. […]

So you may remember last spring when I first told you about Young Adult Authors Against Bullying (YAAAB), the ingenious organization starting by authors Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones. Well, these authors have taken it one-step further and put together an anthology that’s been garnering quite a bit of buzz. DEAR BULLY: 70 Authors […]

Who hasn’t wished they could see the future? But if you really got your wish and every time you touched someone crazy images flashed in your brain, would you still consider it a gift? I’m not so sure, but I’d like to find out when I read GCC Member Laurie Faria Stolarz’s new novel, DEADLY […]

Isn’t it every over-achiever’s dream to just not over achieve for once? To do the wrong the thing? To be the bad girl? Well, that’s exactly what GCC Member Eileen Cook explores in her new novel, THE EDUCATION OF HAILEY KENDRICK out this week through Simon Pulse. As always, here’s a little bit about her […]

So Santa hooked me up this year! Well, to be more specific, my husband did. Yes, folks, I am typing this blog on my brand new MacBook Pro laptop! Jealous? I even got loaded up with all the software a girl could want—from Microsoft Office to the entire line of Adobe products (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) […]

So I was invited to speak at the Maryland TESOL (Teachers of English as a Second Language) conference over the weekend, presumably because my Amor and Summer Secrets series features a multicultural heroine who spends the summer with her Spanish-speaking relatives. They also wanted me to encourage the teachers attending to take their students to […]

I haven’t poetically opined on my reading lately, so I figured just in time for the Chrismukkah shopping season I’d give you a few fresh haiku reviews. Now, just to warn you, a few of these are from my summer reading and thus include a lot of blood sucking and child murderers. (What? Isn’t that […]

Just when schools are trying to cut funding for the arts, it seems it might be the hottest way for a teen to find herself in a love triangle. At least that’s the case in GCC Member Caridad Ferrer’s new novel, WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE, out this month through Thomas Dunne Books. As always, […]

So it is with heaviness in my heart that I confess to you that I have let down the NaNoWriMo Gods. I will not have a new 50,000-word manuscript completed by the end of the month. I tried, believe me! But circumstances got in the way. No really! I swear! I don’t want to get […]

Haven’t we all wanted to be in a secret society? Now imagine instead of that society seeking power and money, it seeks to right the wrongs of others. Cool, huh? That’s the premise in GCC member Daisy Whitney’s new YA novel, MOCKINGBIRDS, which debuted this week through Little, Brown. As always, here’s a little bit […]

So for those who might think I’ve turned into Dr. Seuss and am going around making up imaginary words (btw, my eggs have never been green), let me explain the madness that is NaNoWriMo. November is National Novel Writing Month (didn’t know that, did you?). And in honor of this obscure holiday, writers across the […]

I love a good mystery novel, especially when the stakes are high—like, say, avenging your sister’s death. That’s why I’m very excited for GCC member Denise Jaden’s new YA novel, LOSING FAITH, which debuted this week through Simon Pulse. As always, here’s a little bit about her book to get you hooked: When Brie’s sister, […]

Who hasn’t wished at some point that you could see the future? Well, would you still want that wish to come true if all you saw were the bad things in your future? That’s the issue tackled in GCC Member Linda Gerber’s new YA novel, TRANCE, which debuted this week through Penguin Speak. As always, […]

I’m sure there are a lot of teens out there who know first hand how hard divorce can be, especially if they have to move to a new town with the “other” parent. That’s the exactly the issue facing the introspective main character of Lauren Strasnick’s new YA novel, HER AND ME AND YOU, which […]

It’s that time of year again—Banned Books Week. And what better way to celebrate the narrow-mindedness of others than by picking up one of the most banned books of the year and giving a read. Call it our book nerd way of sticking it to the man. So, what are were the most banned books […]

So I was off on a post-Labor Day vacation in Florida and now that I’m back I thought I’d compile a list of the wisdoms I gathered during my travels. Because let’s face it, it takes a brave person to visit the Sunshine State during hurricane season, and an even braver one to spend early […]

Gotta love a vampire series where a fashion diva is cursed without a reflection for all eternity. How will she know which shoes go with this outfit? It’s an intriguing, and witty, twist on the vampire genre tackled by Lucienne Diver in the second book in her YA series, REVAMPED. It recently debuted through Flux. […]

A lot of kids have imaginary friends, but not all of them have imaginary boyfriends. Well, unless they live in Canada. Come on, all summer flings claimed to have taken place in Canada are fictitious, aren’t they? And apparently that isn’t the only land where fake boyfriends live, at least according to GCC member Kristina […]

So YA author Shannon Hale posted a blog questioning whether authors who write for teens are expected to lace their stories with a bunch of moral lessons. A few other YA authors weighed in on the subject, and I’m taking the opportunity now to say that I think the idea of expecting an after-school special […]

One of the great things about being a YA author is that we’re kind of a close-knit bunch. We don’t see each other as competition for readers/reviews/sales, because at the end of the day we’re all after the same mission: getting teens to love reading. This is why we blog about each other’s books, we […]

So anyone who reads the blog knows that I’m a big soap fan. I grew up on them like other kids grew up on Sesame Street. (Thanks, Grandmom!) Young & the Restless, ATWT, Days, AMC—at one point I’ve dabbled in them all, but lately I’m exclusively a GH fan. And anyone who’s been following the […]

Okay, I’m just joking. I don’t really think boy books are snail-like. (And you know what I never got about that offensive little rhyme? What’s wrong with puppy dog tails?) Anyway, there’s been a lot of debate in the blogosphere this week about boy main characters in young adult fiction. Specifically, two YA authors made […]

I’ve been asked a couple times in interviews whether I have any pre-writing rituals, like “lighting a candle” or “drinking a glass of tea” or something. I don’t do either of those things (though they do sound very romantic and “writely”). But I do have one tradition I break out whenever the revision/writing process starts […]

Just in time of Christmas in July (which I know you all celebrate because decorating a palm tree is awesome), I’ve decided to offer a few haiku reviews in case you’re looking for entertainment during your next vacation. I’m covering all age groups here, all reading levels, and even a movie. So without further ado… […]

So I recently saw an article on Galleycat that solves the publishing crisis in such a simplistic and obvious way that I can only call it genius. Anyone outside the industry may not realize this, but books aren’t doing so hot right now. The industry is sort of facing what the music industry did during […]

Oh, who doesn’t remember going down the shore and meeting a cute local (year-round resident), shoobie (one-week vacationer), or schlocal (full-summer vacationer)? The sand and surf really give “summer fling” a warmer brighter context. And GCC Member Jenny O’Connell is going to give you plenty of young summer romance in her two Island Summer novels, […]

Eclipse releases today! And if you don’t know what I’m talking about you’ve clearly been living in an Amazonian jungle with those strange vampires that show up in Breaking Dawn. But anyway, as the latest chapter of the Bella and Edward saga releases in theaters, it has me wondering about some key plot points and […]

So the first version of the White Whale, which I wrote about five years ago, had a massive prologue. We’re talking a ten-page info-dump. (It was my first book, I didn’t know any better.) And I’m not saying it was bad (okay, it was), but it was no way to start a novel. Yay, page […]

So we all know that girl in high school who got arrested for shoplifting. Now imagine her doing that perp walk in small religious town. That’s the world GCC member Wendy Toliver has created in her new novel LIFTED, which debuted this month through Simon Pulse. As always, here’s a little bit about her book […]

So I finished yet another round of edits to my White Whale, otherwise known as that darn-tween-novel-that-will-never-be-finished. And I got so wrapped up in it, I found myself mentally compiling the soundtrack to the movie that will be based on this novel, which is not yet published. The list has gotten extensive, so I’ve decided […]

This idea came to me in the shower (where all great ideas strike), the almighty television has given most other industries a shortcut to success. Singers have American Idol, America’s Got Talent, et al. Models have Tyra Banks. Fashion designers have Project Runway. There’s even Top Chef, HGTV’s Designer Star, Shear Genius, So You Think […]

So I’ve been in the Girlfriends’ Cyber Circuit (GCC) for more than a year now, and I think it’s about time I ask some new questions. So Jennifer Echols, the author of the fabulous new book ENDLESS SUMMER which was released this week through Simon Pulse, has agreed to be my guinea pig and test […]

I hated to see this “good book” come to an end. I’m sure we all did. But as a writer, I did not envy the LOST creators who faced the monumental task of wrapping this epic phenomenon in a way that would satisfy those who were dedicated the character’s (love) stories and those who were […]

I had an event over the weekend at Taller Puertorriqueno, a nonprofit community center and bookstore in north Philadelphia that celebrates Latino artists and authors. Lots of friends, family, and fans showed up and asked some wonderful questions, so I thought I’d give a recap of some of my (paraphrased) answers. 1. What am I […]

It’s official, “Those Who Will House Me ‘Til Then” have been relieved of their generous roof-over-my-head responsibilities. The DH and I are now, once again, housing ourselves. This of course means I am back in Philadelphia listening to construction crews and police sirens as we speak. Ah, home… So in honor of my last two […]

Sure, a lot of fictional characters claim to be able to talk to the dead, but how many of them have dated the dead. Adds a whole new twist to the after life, huh? And that’s exactly why I’m so intrigued by GCC Member Jeri Smith-Ready’s new novel, SHADE, just released through Simon Pulse. As […]

In the age of the THE SECRET, sometimes the universe is just too busy to send everyone everything they’re thinking of in a timely manner. That’s why GCC author Jessica Brody decided to find out what would happen if girls starting taking Karma into their own hands. Not a bad idea, right? And that’s why […]

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You gotta love an empowering twist on an old fairy tale, where instead of Cinderella stumbling upon her destiny, she’s asked to join a secret society and fight for it. Girl power! And that’s exactly why I’m excited for GCC Member Kay Cassidy’s (www.kaycassidy.com) new novel, THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY, which debuts this month through Egmont […]

This may come as a surprise to the folks over at the New York Times (I know they have their hands full trying not to become extinct and all), but really, if they’re going to publish essays about a genre of literature, they really should know something about it. And I don’t mean skimming the […]

I’m sure many of you have been following the tragic Phoebe Prince story, the smart, attractive teen who took her own life in response to, essentially, being bullied to death. Nine classmates have been charged with her death, and I can’t help but wonder how many of them were tormenting Phoebe with no real idea […]

To blurb or not to blurb, that is the question. You’ve probably noticed on the back of many books there are little excerpts from other authors claiming it’s “laugh out loud funny!” or “two tissue box worthy!” or “fun and full of heart!” Authors are usually responsible for asking other authors to write these blurbs […]

So you know how I’ve been blogging about my Adventures in Prequeldom? Well, I regret to inform you that prequeldom is on hold for the moment. But don’t worry, this is a good thing! (Though it’s not easy to stop when you’re 30,000 words into a novel. Insert sound of tires screeching to a halt.) […]

Ever have a crush on your best friend’s boyfriend? Of course not. Because even if you did, you wouldn’t tell me. It’s a blatant violation of Girl Code. And that is exactly the topic that our newest GCC member Elizabeth Scott tackles in her new young adult novel, THE UNWRITTEN RULE, which debuts today through […]

Well, you can thank the DH for the title to this blog because when I went into a rant yesterday on the flurry of rude emails I’d received he told me I was turning into “Old Lady Rodriguez.” Though I prefer to think of myself as Kramer in that Seinfeld episode when he puts in […]

I promised that I would blog about the experience of banging my head against my laptop…um, I mean writing my prequel. And since I am a glorious, fantastic, drop-down-on-my-knees-and-give-praise 20,000 words into the prequel, I think I’m ready to dispel with the words of wisdom. The process of getting from “staring at the blank page […]

I went antiquing over the weekend. Doesn’t that sound grown up? Like I should be sitting in front of a fire sipping a cup of tea from 18th Century china while resting my feet on an early American leather ottoman. Well, it wasn’t that romantic. Mostly because I was in Maryland. Not there’s anything wrong […]

During the Summer Olympics (God, I can’t believe I’ve been blogging that long), I wrote a blog comparing my writing style to water polo. It’s oddly, to this day, one of my most read blogs ever, so I’m taking it that I have a lot of Olympic fans out there. And since I’m obsessed with […]

I was born in a blizzard, and I have now come to realize that this was an omen for birthdays to come. I had many an elementary school party canceled because of snow. I was stranded in NYC once when my husband and I went to see Wicked. I got stuck shoveling my sister’s driveway […]

You ever wonder why in the world bizillionare George Lucas would create the mind-numbingly awful character of Jar Jar Binx? I think I know why. Not that I can relate to the mountains of cash Lucas sits on while drumming up these wild ideas, but I’m starting see how writing a prequel can make you […]

“Mashed potatoes and gravy!” I’m so excited to be talking about GCC member Suzanne Young’s new book, The Naughty List. I read an Advanced Reader Copy, so I can tell you it’s “Holy Canoli!” awesome. It’s written with a very cute and very funny YA voice that’s just going to make you love those cheerleading […]

So I’ve been brushing up on my mysteries as research for my WIP. Yeah, I know, tough work. I wanted to go with more of a “method” approach, but I thought committing a felony to determine how the cops would handle the case might be the long way to publishing a novel (though these days, […]

Well, if you haven’t read Carrie Jones’NY Times best-seller, NEED, rush out and buy it right now so you’re all caught up and ready to read its sequel, CAPTIVATE. It just debuted this month through Bloomsbury USA and it had one of the prettiest covers ever! Check it out! As always, here’s a little bit […]

Like most people with a pulse, I caught the hype and went out to see Avatar (in 3D Imax!) and I must admit I was pleasantly surprised. I’m not a fantasy person. I only watched half of the first Lord of the Rings movie and hated it. I’ve never read a Harry Potter (and I […]

So I’ve been beating my head against this book for so long, I’ve decided to break down and share a peek. It’s a blogging necessity really. When you spend so much time consumed by something, how can you not blog about it? So below you’ll find two snippets from THE EX BFF (as the book […]

So in the 48 days I’ve been living with “Those Who Will House Me ‘Til Then,” I’ve noticed some odd things. Not about my hosts, who are lovely, but about the world of picket fences and snow shoveling. You know, I’m a city girl. At least I have been since I moved out of my […]

Oh, I love a good mean girl story. Forget making sequels to Karate Kid and Fame, Hollywood should do a remake of Heathers. You can’t go wrong with Christian Slater and Winona Ryder offing the popular girls. Well, unless you’re reading the new YA novel, GETTING REVENGE ON LAUREN WOOD, by GCC member Eileen Cook. […]

So it’s Christmas week, and I know each and every one of you has your gifts wrapped in matching themed paper, your dinner menus planned with place cards scripted in Old English calligraphy, your cookies baked and covered in sprinkles, and your cards signed and mailed to everyone who attended your wedding (insert laughter here). […]

Oh, Chrismukkah! Oh, Chrismukkah! How lovely are your candles! For those who don’t know, my DH and I are rocking the interfaith marriage. He’s Jewish, I’m Catholic, and for the past 11 years, we’ve pretty much perfected the menorah/Santa hybrid holiday we call Chrismukkah. But this holiday season, we’re staying with “Those Who Will House […]

Ah, Manhattan at Christmas time, gotta love it. Of course when I lived in Times Square and my roommate worked at Rockefeller Center, she swore we “lived in Christmas hell.” The crowds can be rather aggressive, you know? But still, it’s very pretty. And I’m proud to report that I even got a little snow […]

I’m excited to introduce everyone to GCC member Debbie Rigaud, who has a breakthrough young adult novel debuting through Simon Pulse. PERFECT SHOT! marks the first book in the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies series to feature an African-American protagonist and to be written by an African-American. Talk about breaking down some barriers! And to make […]

It’s painful to admit it. And I know it’s unpopular. But I have chosen to confess publicly that I did not enjoy the big screen version of The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Like, I thought the special effects guys should get a raise and the director should have to sit in time-out and “think about […]

So back in May, I blogged about my White Whale. My first manuscript. The one that got away. The book that despite a heaping helping of rejection letters, I just can’t let go of. I told you I was going to dust it off, polish it up, and send it out into the world all […]

It’s been awhile, but the GCC is finally back in full swing. And I’m thrilled to kick off this new round of tours with Laurie Stolarz who is the author of not one, but TWO, great new young adult novels: Black is for Beginnings, and Deadly Little Lies. One is even full of pictures for […]

Okay, actually I’m not. I’m driving in a UHaul, but same deal. “All my bags are packed and I’m ready to go…” And the DH and I are moving to places unknown. You see, while we may have sold our house and purchased another, the new abode isn’t expected to be ready for habitation until […]

So I’m officially moving. The date is set. The truck is booked. And the inspection hoo-ha is finally over (finally!). Now I just need to put stuff in boxes, tape ‘em shut, fold some clothes, bubble wrap some wine glasses, take some pictures off the walls, clear some closets out… or, I could just ignore […]

I’ve always liked dressing up on Halloween. My earliest memory of the holiday is of wearing yellow footy pajamas with a Tweetie Bird mask in my old house. Ahh, memories. Years past I’ve gone as a genie, a witch, an M&M, a hippy, and more recently, white trash Britney. Usually I have to force my […]

So I did a workshop at the University City Arts League yesterday with my youngest group of students ever (8-12 years old). And I was a little nervous because when I visited a third grade class last year hands went up after every fifth word I said (“Do you have pets?” “Do you like the […]

So the day after Balloon Boy faked out the country and hid in his attic rather than floating dangerously in a balloon, my DH and I were scheduled to take a hot air balloon ride. No joke. It was our five-year anniversary and we were going to spend it cruising above the autumn leaves in […]

This week (Oct. 18th – 33rd) is Teen Read Week! What, you didn’t know? Let me explain. YALSA, the Young Adult Library Services Association, takes this week every year to try to draw teens away from their Nintendo DS and iPods and toward fun, awesome, page-turning YA novels. To help bring attention to their efforts, […]

Okay, so I followed the hype. I couldn’t stand “Paranormal Activity” being a trending topic on Twitter for the past umpteen weeks and having no idea what anyone was talking about. So I Googled and discovered it’s this low-budget, Blair-Witch-esque scary movie that supposedly gave Steven Spielberg nightmares. And since it rained all weekend, thus […]

Okay, I’m not supposed to say anything because, you know, things can still fall through, inspections can go wrong, locusts could swarm in, yadda yadda. But I prefer not to live in a Debbie Downer kinda world so I’m just gonna come out and say it….We Sold Our House!! Yay! Technically, we just accepted an […]

Lately, I’ve become an expert at finding “things to do” for short bursts of time. This isn’t by choice. It’s not like I was going around looking for a hobby or anything. But somehow my work-from-home, build-my-own-schedule lifestyle has been co-opted by a bunch of would-be homebuyers. Yeah, yeah, I know I’m the one who […]

So as many in the publishing industry know, this is Banned Books Week (Sept. 26-Oct. 3). And while typically bloggers and news outlets focus on the books that have been banned—everything from Judy Blume to Catcher in the Rye to Little Women—I’d like to focus on something else. Actually, someone else. The book banners. Because […]

I may be too stunned to write this. But I feel like I should. My editor at Kensington, Kate Duffy, has passed away. I knew she had been ill for some time, but I honestly never considered the possibility that she wouldn’t pull through. I guess maybe you would have to have known Kate to […]

In honor of National Punctuation Day (yes, it’s really a day and I was surprised too), I’d like to delve into the punctuation pitfalls that irk me most. Don’t worry!!! i wont go, crazy w/over-used inc’rrect punctuation; just to make my “point” so: let Me “get it” all/out NOW!!!?? Okay, that’s over. Whew. So let […]

It has officially been a year since Amor and Summer Secrets debuted. Can you believe it? Wow. The years shall run like rabbits as the poet W.H. Auden said (or more recently, Ethan Hawke in Before Sunrise). But coincidentally, my book birthday happens to fall right smack in line with Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15th […]

Call me a sap. But I find it sad when a long running television show comes to an end. I tuned in for the (bloody) last episode of E.R., though I hadn’t watched it in years. I still remember the lights going out on Cheers. And I got choked up when Monica packed up that […]

Seriously, we should have filmed this past weekend. It would’ve gotten more hits on YouTube than any cat playing piano. Because when you get a bunch of 30ish women together for two nights without the hubbies, reuniting down the shore at the scene where we spent a summer together after we graduated high school, antics […]

So this Sunday officially marks the first open house for the little place I’ve called home for the past six years. And so far I’ve learned that the process of preparing a house for sale, well, it pretty much sucks. There are rubber gloves involved. And paint brushes, and mops, and grout cleaner, and spackle […]

I’m a rather superstitious person. Not a “step on a crack, break your mother’s back” kind of superstitious, the kind that believes in “signs.” You know, when you have a dream about someone from high school, then you suddenly run into them on the street. Or when you make a hypothetical soundtrack for your novel, […]

So I was at a baby shower this weekend—my third this summer not including a Christening. (It’s what I do. Some people go down the shore on weekends, I go to showers and help with gift openings.) But at the shower I met a very cool girl who was getting ready to enter high school […]

I’m not a shy person. At least not in the traditional sense. I talk too much to be considered shy. My teachers used to move my desk around in middle school because I wouldn’t shut up (though I still got good grades). And by the end of the year, I learned what a 360-kick flip-shove […]

If this writing thing ever falls through, I swear I could have a killer career hosting HGTV’s Designed to Sell. Yeah, you heard me Clive Pearse. I’m coming for your job. Just because you’ve got a fancy British accent, doesn’t mean this Philly girl can’t do just as good of a job teaching desperate homeowners […]

So I was down the shore last week. (That’s what the Jersey beaches are called. The “shore.” Not the beach. You don’t have a beach house; you have a shore house. And you always go “down” there. Don’t ask me why.) Of course, there were a few highlights, like the sun, the sand, and the […]

Apparently, according to legend, 40 years ago Eagles fans threw snowballs at Santa. It’s a little piece of a folklore that has followed our fair team every time a player is (most often justifiably) booed. Then, about ten years ago, some Phillies fans threw batteries at an opposing player who had snubbed us. That same […]

I’m so thrilled to host my Kensington sister, Megan Kelley Hall, whose new book The Lost Sister just debuted! (Get it, sister-sister? Insert groan here.) The first book in Megan’s Sisters of Misery series released to wicked reviews, so I know you’re all dying to find out how these witches from Massachusetts get scared straight. […]

So despite Amor and Summer Secrets having been out for almost a year now (can you believe it?), I’m still thrilled to see reviewers who are just discovering it and discussing it now with their readers. Specifically, Renee at Book Girl Review did something I thought was particularly cute. She posted a two-sentence teaser from […]

If you grew up in the ‘90s or just want to be reminded of how awesome us teens were back then, you should definitely pick up a copy of GCC member Stephanie Kuehnert’s (www.stephaniekuehnert.com) BALLADS OF SUBURBIA http://www.amazon.com/Ballads-Suburbia-Stephanie-Kuehnert/dp/1439102821). It’s chocked for a piercingly honest teen angst and enough 90s music references to make me smile. […]

So I saw this article on important women of politics discussing their love of Nancy Drew. I think Sonia Sotomayor started the discussion, and it really got me thinking. You see, my mom used to own a volume of hardback Nancy Drew books that looked older than she was. And I never read them. I […]

Pedro Martinez has become a Philadelphia Phillie. Now, you may not think this is significant. But that’s because you don’t realize that Pedro and I have a long-standing history. When I lived in Boston, Pedro pitched for the Red Sox. I watched him in his prime, playing alongside Nomar (ah, Nomahh) and a team that […]

This is just a quick blog to thank all of you for entering the Madam Colbert Meets Stephen Colbert Contest. We had 51 entries in total! Thanks so much for spreading the word. I’ll have some exiting updates to my Colbert Campaign to share on Monday, but in the meantime, I wanted to announce that […]

So my “Campaign to Get on the Colbert Report” is still in full swing and it’s even taken a few giant leaps forward. I haven’t planted my flag (or books) in the studio yet, but I did find out that I’m only two degrees of separation from a Colbert Producer! That’s like a friend-of-a-friend connection, […]

Okay, a couple of weeks ago I told all of you about I how named one of the characters in my Amor and Summer Secrets series after Stephen Colbert. You know, the comedian on Comedy Central who has helped elevate spoofing the news into an art form. Well, I’m thrilled to report that Phase II […]

So it’s Friday, and it’s sunny, and it doesn’t exactly feel like a day for a serious blog entry. Lots of other bloggers post Friday Funnies and whatnot, and while I’ve never been one to follow the day-of-the-week blog rules, I do feel a need to keep it lighter. It’s summer! It’s beachy! It’s the […]

What better way to spend your time at the beach than immersed in the world of Manhattan drama and glamor? So come on Gossip Girl fans, if you like Chuck and Blair, why not learn a little about Casey and Drew, the stars of GCC member Jennifer Banash’s The Elite series? The final book in […]

My husband (coincidentally named Jordan) bought me the My So-Called Life box set for Christmas, and I just got around to finishing watching the DVDs this past weekend. Don’t get me wrong, this is probably the 1,234,868th time I’ve seen this show. But for some reason, the run through these last few episodes really got […]

As I write this I am watching the “Dirty Diana” video on VH1. I can not tell you how much this song ruined my life in elementary school. There were some tough playground moments. Even my teachers called me “Dirty Diana.” Couldn’t it have been “Pleasant Diana,” or “Awesome Diana,” or “Rockin’ Diana.” Nope, I […]

When you go down the shore during a period of continuous rain not since seen since the biblical days of Noah, you got to find some other stuff to do to fill your time. Like go to the Cape May winery, or take a tour of the town, or eat a lot, or rock the […]

There are lots of things writers do to try to promote their books. They send press releases, try to get blurbs from other authors, do interviews, write blogs, tweet. And all these methods work, relatively. But sometimes, you just got to think bigger. This is why I’m launching Phase I of my “Campaign To Get […]

So you know how I’ve been blogging lately about how fabulous the Latino community has been? It’s true. I’ve gotten tons of emails from multicultural teens, I won second place at the International Latino Book Awards, and Hispanic schools and organizations have helped me to promote my books. I even talked about how the Latino […]

‘Tis the season, right? In the winter, we’re all expected to be depressed under our wool sweaters snuggled up to fires and reading books of child slaughter games and morbid suicides. But once that sun comes out, bring out the suntan lotion and the rainbow covered paperbacks. Even the New York Times has caught the […]

Is it just me or are things in the publishing world actually starting to move even slower? I didn’t think it was possible. When I first landed my agent, I had come from the world of magazine publishing. Magazines as you know have a long lead time—they’re working on spring issues before the snow even […]

I’m admittedly ripping off another author here. Yes, you read correctly, I’m stealing inspiration. But if I come clean and tell you that, that makes it less wrong, right? You see I read a lot of blogs. I have dozens upon dozens of publishing-related blogs saved in my Bookmarks. I don’t read all of them […]

Not to get all “Secret” on you, but I will say that I’m a believer in the loosely interpreted Field of Dreams philosophy of “If you think it, it will come.” And I got to say, it can’t be coincidental that the week after I write a blog acknowledging my relief that the Hispanic community […]

So, no, I did not get to do a Creative Writing Workshop in a one-room schoolhouse in the heart of Amish country. Though I do think that would make for an awesome school visit. Imagine: I could teach them that there are books in the world other than the bible, and they could teach me […]

Memorial Day is just around the corner and I’m sure you’re all looking for a great beach read worthy of your beach chair and floppy hat. Well dust off your flip flops, bust out the sunscreen, and grab yourself a copy of GCC member Melissa Walker’s latest book, LOVESTRUCK SUMMER, which just debuted through HarperCollins […]

I came across an amazing new blog this week, The Worst Review Ever, and I’ve been shouting its praises because it’s so unbelievably cathartic and funny. Essentially, it’s a venue—created by Alexa Young, author of Frenemies—for writers to post the worst reviews their novels ever received with the intent being for all of us to […]

I think every author has a book tucked under a shelf (or these days, tucked in their hard drive). A book they wrote a while ago—maybe their first novel, maybe their first dip outside their genre, or maybe some unfinished manuscript that lost its plot. It’s our white whale. The book that despite the thick […]

Imagine a fashionista (à la Paris Hilton) gets bitten by the undead and turned into a vampire—Can she still go tanning? How would she do her hair and makeup without the aid of a reflection? And how do you keep your hot boyfriend vampire’s wondering eye from straying to the latest vamp bitten on the […]

I’m telling you, Philadelphia is turning into the writing Mecca. Not only does Jennifer Weiner live on my block and the Copy Store Man routinely tell me about the amount of local authors Xeroxing manuscripts, but now I’ve been asked to join the Advisory Board of this amazing start-up non-profit that’s opening a writing center […]

I love a good mystery. I’m even writing one, which makes me even more excited to host fellow GCC member Linda Gerber. Her “Death by” series is tons of fun, action packed, and filled with to-die-for settings (Paris, anyone?). So if you enjoyed the first two installments in her young adult series—Death by Bikini and […]

I miss Anguilla. I’ve been back from vacation for two days and not only is my heat still on, but it’s raining. There are no waves crashing outside my window. No one is bringing me a continental breakfast to my balcony. There’s not even a marble bathroom! (Insert pity party here.) But seriously, Anguilla is […]

I don’t think there’s a YA author out there who doesn’t bow down and worship Judy Blume. She’s our Yoda. (Good writer she is.) We not only grew up reading her, (I learned everything I needed to know about my period from Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret—except what a menstrual belt is), but […]

Happy Easter/Passover everyone! And in celebration of the holiest of holidays, we are going to discuss gay porn. Well, not exactly. But I got your attention, right? Truth is, if you hit Twitter on Sunday, you would have noticed a strange tag appearing every other post or so, #amazonfail. You may have thought, “Hey, what’s […]

I’ve been doing a lot of school events recently—both at high schools and colleges. And at a recent one, the organizer of the event said he was impressed that I had an answer for every question thrown at me. Nothing stumped me. Well, there’s a good reason for this. After a year of speaking engagements, […]

I think there is an epidemic of selective amnesia facing American parents—the inability to remember what it was like when they were under the age of 18. I’m serious. I think those “ice chips” they give mothers in labor are secretly laced with some mind-altering drug that erases their teenage years. Because it is the […]

I spoke at my old high school yesterday. Technically, it wasn’t my actual high school. They tore down the building I attended and replaced it with a shinier new model a few years ago. This one has a reflecting pond and parking. Nice. I gave the keynote for the Central League Writing Competition. Essentially, all […]

I’ve never seen the show Weeds with Mary-Louise Parker. Once we got DVR, we realized we didn’t need much more than basic cable to be satisfied (we record everything). So Showtime and HBO got the boot. However, I imagine that if Parker’s character were to be arrested, one of her family members could end up […]

So I had a wicked good time in Boston this week visiting my alma mater, BU. It was a lot of fun with a heaping dose of déjà vu mixed in. I sort of had that feeling you get when you visit your old high school or grade school and everything seems smaller than you […]

There are a few universal writing tips that most authors try to heed. Some signify lazy writing, like “the road to hell is paved with adverbs.” Meaning, don’t write he “ran quickly,” instead write “he ran/sprinted/darted,” you name it. Another good tip is to avoid “As you know, Bob” dialogue as a lame way of […]

Just as the buds are hitting the trees and the pollen is stuffing up our noses, I’m springing forward (okay, bad pun) with a new Adios to All The Drama contest! Right now, I’m giving away one free copy of Adios as part of my Ten Days with Diana Rodriguez Wallach Tour on Bronze World’s […]

I know a lot of authors get fired up about the book sections in newspapers being racist, sexist, ageist, whatever. And while many of their arguments are valid, I’ve never felt compelled to join the blogging masses and toss my complaints into the fire. Until now. The Washington Post ran an article recently criticizing young […]

Don’t look now, but I think zombies are about to invade the literary world. Forget vampires. Zombies are the new black. And amazing GCC author Amanda Ashby is making a zombie prom sound like a whole lot of fun—even if a few characters may get eaten in the process. This is why I’m thrilled to […]

Interestingly enough, Philadelphia hasn’t been all that slammed with the housing crisis plaguing the rest of the nation. Trust me, I would know. I wander through open houses on Sundays like other people wander through the mall. Recently, my husband and I have actually been looking to move. But we’ve been known to walk into […]

So I’m back from my weeklong break from reality—and no, I don’t mean that in the padded cell kind of way. It was merely my gift to myself for working like a crazy person to complete the latest draft of my new novel—a five (business) day mental vacation. Think of it as my Office Space […]

I’ve been a busy bee this February. I’ve had at least one signing or school visit every week this month. And I’ve been frantically (read: pulling hair out by roots while cursing computer) rewriting a manuscript I originally penned this summer. But I’m happy to report that the madness is over—well, almost over. Because I […]

Who doesn’t love a little glitz and glam? Come on, I think I’d make one heck of a BFF to Paris. Okay, probably not. I’d keep asking when she was going to work and why it’s necessary to spend all that money on fake hair when you can just grow it yourself. But that doesn’t […]

I have a list of 100 Things To Do Before I Die. I wrote it in the year 2000 after I saw this Oprah episode where a guy made a similar list which included wild dreams—like playing one-on-one basketball with Michael Jordan—and actually completed them all. Take into account he was filthy rich and able […]

I love the line of romantic YA novels Simon and Schuster puts out. They’re fun reads and perfect gifts for Valentine’s Day. ‘Cause really, who wants a box of chocolates from CVS when you could get a book that lasts forever? Isn’t that more romantic? Now, if you up the chocolates to Govida and throw […]

I’ve started celebrating my birthday early this year. You pretty much have to when it falls on a Tuesday (what a yucky day). So my husband and I hit up our old stomping grounds on the isle of Manhattan. Now, we haven’t lived there in a few years, but I’ve gotta say it’s nice to […]

I have to give a huge shout out to the fabulous young adult authors in the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit for touring me last week! You guys rock! If any of you missed my 20-plus interviews, check out my blog from last week for all the links to the Q&A fun. And of course, don’t forget […]

I know you hear a lot of writers talk about “deadlines.” It’s something I’m quite familiar with given that I once worked for a daily online magazine. Deadlines don’t get any firmer than having to produce at least one fresh news item by 5pm Monday-Friday. But as an author, deadlines are a bit more flexible. […]

When I was in college, I went to see the movie Scream twice in the theater. I loved it, still do. But not because I thought it was scary, because I thought it was hysterical. Some of the greatest quotes ever came out of that movie. You can recite them all day like, “There’s always […]

Wouldn’t it be cool if blog tours came along with roadies, groupies and a stage performance? Just to yell, “Hello, New York!” to a crowd at Madison Square Garden is an absolute fantasy of mine. But alas, blog tours are not as glamorous, but they are quite fun. And this week marks my first official […]

We have a new president! It’s almost hard to believe given how long the election lasted. We’ve been watching two years of campaigning, stumping, interviewing, debating, and it’s now actually over. And, even more miraculous, our guy won! (Sorry, McCain supporters.) But when you live in Philly and you just watched the Eagles lose yet […]

I’ve been conducing writing workshops at some local schools and I’ve noticed a trend, boys are pretty darn creative. And very clever. Now this shouldn’t come as a surprise to me. The bestseller lists are full of male authors (so is Oprah’s book club). But I guess since the young adult genre is so focused […]

I don’t want to jinx things, but man, ’09 is looking good. The Eagles beat the Giants! They’re going to the NFC Championship for the fifth time in eight years! And they didn’t even win 10 games in the regular season. This is a true Rocky saga if ever there was one. The veteran players […]

It’s official! The final installment of my young adult series is on shelves now! Adios to All the Drama debuted last week, and I hope all of you Mariana fans will rush out to see how her saga ends. (Just a hint: Alex isn’t the only teen who will be visiting the Ruizes. Expect some […]

A belated happy new year to all of you! I hope you all had fun rockin’ it in with Dick Clark, aka Ryan Seacrest. And while I’m a little sad to see 2008 pass (It was the year I published my first novel! And the Phillies won the World Series!), I must say that I […]

I’ve been taking a break from blogging the past two weeks to focus on the holiday festivities (Ho! Ho! Ho!). But never fear, I’ll be back next week with new blogs and new thoughts on the world of pop culture. In the meantime, I hope you all have a Rockin’ New Year’s Eve! Kick off […]

So I was recently invited to join a group of young adult authors called the GCC (Girlfriend Cyber Circuit). It’s an impressive group organized by Karin Gillespie (author of the Bottom Dollar Girl Series), and includes such fabulous authors as Melissa Walker (Violet on the Runway), Stephanie Kuehnert (I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone), and […]

You guys rock. I got so many entries for my Adios to All the Drama Text Msg Contest that I decided to give away an extra ARC. So there are now THREE lucky winners of an Advanced Reader Copy of Adios to All the Drama! And I can’t get over how many of you went […]

I don’t know how many of you watch Oprah. But even if you don’t, you should be aware that her “Favorite Things” episode is the hottest ticket in town. She once joked that Brad Pitt couldn’t get his mother seats to the gazillion-dollar giveaway show. But this year, Oprah cheaped out—something about how the economy […]

I swear I feel like every time I turn around lately, I’m launching another book. Crazy, right? I’ve had three books debut in five months. Even I’m at a loss as to how I pulled that off. Whew. And as the holidays approach, I’m happy to report that the final installment of the Amor and […]

My husband is a huge fan of commercials. In fact, he often requests that I rewind the DVR to watch one that caught his eye (he’s in marketing—it’s a sickness). So I’ve come to appreciate a good ad. And when you’re sitting at a bar on a Friday night talking about an ad you saw […]

I’ve been doing a lot of interviews lately for my young adult series, Amor and Summer Secrets. The second book, Amigas and School Scandals, debuted last month and the final installment is set to launch in January. That’s three books in five months, which means a lot of words and a lot of interviews. Typically […]

I love Black Friday. I really do. I go out shopping every year. And not to any old store—I go to the King of Prussia mall. A shopping mecca so large that Wikipedia claims it’s the biggest in the country. I usually go with my mom and my sister. And the weirdest part is that […]

For Christmas, some people want a Wii, or a diamond, or maybe even a Major Award Leg Lamp (no really, they sell them). Me, after the past few weeks, I think I would like a telemarketer to come over with a big red ribbon on her head so I can tell her to @#%! (insert […]

I haven’t seen the Twilight movie… yet. I’m planning on waiting until Black Friday—I’m going with my mom and my sister (it’s a family affair!). But that doesn’t mean I’m not pondering the movie’s important questions. So here it is… My Top Ten Twilighter Wonders That Make Me Say Hmm: 1. First and most importantly—will […]

I’ve found that a misconception exists in the young adult genre. Not from the writers who create it or the teens who read it, but from adults who think they understand it. Specifically, I’ve encountered people who think that “writing for teenagers” means dumping a bunch of cheesy morals onto a page as you step […]

Remember back when you were in high school, and you had guest speakers come into your classroom. You were like, “Jackpot, I don’t have to talk about Moby Dick today!” Not that there’s anything wrong with Mody Dick (ahem, I hate it). Well, did you ever realize that those guest speakers were scared of you? […]

On Friday night, I had my first signing for Amigas and School Scandals, the young adult sequel to Amor and Summer Secrets. I was hoping for a good turnout—the local paper ran an article on me that I received plenty of emails about, friends and family spread the word, and some educators passed out flyers […]

When the new mayor of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter, took office he inherited quite a budget crisis—currently tallied at $1 billion. And with the national economy being the disaster that it is, he couldn’t count on a boost in the local markets to give him the cash needed to improve our city. That’s not his fault […]

Wow. How about that election? The emotion spreading across not only America, but the world today, is inspiring. To all the teens out there, this is proof that you can be anything you want to be. You will not have the limitations that hindered past generations. You should not only aim high, but aim higher. […]

I lucked out. I scheduled my first book signing in Wilmington, DE months ago. I debated different dates, working around weddings I had invites to (as you know, I have many), family parties and anniversary celebrations. And the one thing I didn’t consider was, “Hey, if I book a signing for the end of October […]

The Phillies have won the World Series! The championship drought in Philadelphia is over. The curse is broken. And we were right there tipping cars with the best of them! Okay, not really. I didn’t break windows or light anything on fire, but I did hit the streets and it surprisingly was not nearly as […]

You know a game is going your way when the pitcher hits a homerun. Seriously. Could the Phillies have had a better night? Four homeruns in ONE World Series game! And we got to see it all live, because of karma. For those of you who don’t read my Twitter posts, let me bring you […]

Not too many people think of spending their anniversary at the local prison, but that’s exactly what my husband and I did. No, we didn’t get arrested (though that would probably make for a more interesting blog). We went to the Eastern State Penitentiary, now a historical landmark but formerly a maximum-security prison that was […]

There is now another reason to put Delaware on the map. Of course the tiny little state (America’s First State!) has tax free shopping—many of us Philadelphians commute across the border for our electronics and alcohol (is it illegal to bring liquor across state lines?). And then there’s Joe Biden, the potential vice president who […]

We went to a bar in Philly to watch the NLCS game last night (Let’s go, Phils! Only one more game!). It was a great crowd and we even won some free stuff (beer cozy and t-shirt), but we didn’t go merely to watch the game. We also went because I thought if I didn’t […]

“Hello, my name is Diana. And I’m a Philadelphia sports fan.” Those of you who follow sports, know that I am in a category worthy of a support group. Because Philadelphia is home to a sad bunch of fans famously devoted to teams who collectively haven’t won a championship in 25 years. It is the […]

In honor of the launch of Amigas and School Scandals in November—or October 28th if you preorder from Amazon–I’m starting an October Giveaway Extravaganza! Every Friday from now until November (Oct. 10th, 17th, 24th, and 31st), I will be giving away one free Advanced Reader Copy of Amigas and School Scandals, the sequel to the […]

Here’s a philosophical question for you: if a person has had a driver’s license since she was 17, yet hasn’t driven regularly since she graduated from high school, should the state of Pennsylvania really keep renewing her license unquestioned? Because they do. And for the past dozen years or so, my license has been decorative. […]

At the Baltimore Book Festival on Saturday, I fielded an interesting question I thought worthy of further blogification (yes, I made up that word). An audience member asked what sort of research we (the panelists and I) do for our novels. And given my current WIP, I actually have a lot to say on this […]

I was a panelist at the Baltimore Book Festival this past Saturday. Three other young adult novelists and I participated in the Book Divas YA Panel, which was held outside in a tent on the festival stage in the midst of other vendors, speakers and musicians. It’s a fabulous festival with a great reputation and […]

Readers of my blog should know that I have an odd fascination with elections. During the primaries, I was completely obsessed with CNN’s fancy touch-screen map and all those convoluted delegates. But since the primaries ended, Wolf and I haven’t hung out much. That’s not to say that I don’t care about the outcome of […]

We’ve all heard the horror stories. You’re asked to be in a wedding and agree to get your hair and makeup done. You sit down on the salon chair and show a strange woman a photo you clipped from a magazine. You say, “I’d like it to look like this. Soft, not too much.” Then […]

Thank you to everyone who entered the Amor and Summer Secrets Back-to-School Giveaway! After seven days, I received a grand total of 28 entries—14 on my Blogger blog, and 14 on my MySpace blog! Because of the fabulous response, I decided to increase the prize and give away two copies of Amor and Summer Secrets. […]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you to everyone who attended my Book Launch Party on Saturday. From former coworkers (thanks Ed Fund!) to family members, high school friends to college friends, industry colleagues to my former teachers—I hope you had as much fun as I did. I appreciate everyone who came out, especially those who […]

There are a lot of ways to sell books. You can wait for the reviews to roll in (hopefully, positive). You can pray to the Goddess of Oprah. You can run contests (bloggers, I’ve got author copies!). You can do interviews (check out my latest Q&A on The Five Randoms ). You can cross your […]