FLASH BURNOUT is here and it’s fabulous. L.K. Madigan has written one fine book. It’s funny. It’s poignant. It’s a “connect-with” kind of story that teens will love.

Having the author here today is a special treat because I was one of the fortunate members of The Garett (a group of fine YA writers) who read Flash Burnout as it developed into the novel you’re going to love.

Here’s a little bit about the story.

Fifteen-year-old Blake has a girlfriend and a friend who’s a girl. One of them loves him, the other one needs him.

When he snapped a picture of a street person for his photography homework, Blake never dreamed that the woman in the photo was his friend Marissa’s long-lost meth addicted mom.

In a tangle of life, death, and love, Blake will emerge with a more sharply defined snapshot of loyalty.

So who is this author?

L.K. Madigan is a writer living in Portland, Oregon, who finds it odd to speak in the third person. Therefore:

Hi. I am married with one son, two big black dogs, hundreds of books, and a couple of beaters, I mean vintage cars.

While you’re hanging out here, give us a little insider stuff about the person, L.K. Madigan. Tell us of all your favorite books, which one do you wish you had written?

I’ve been sitting here staring at the blank screen for a long time … which must mean I can’t think of a good answer.

So what I’ll say is that I wish I could write a really excellent mystery someday, like FINGERSMITH. I admire the gorgeous prose and the many deep, dark secrets, and the satisfaction of the ending. I’d like to be able to knit together that many plot threads so neatly, and create the kind of tension that makes readers fear for the well-being of the characters.

Here’s one that may be easier . . . or not. What fictional character do you wish you could be?

Hermione Granger. 🙂

I’d like to be Hermione too, just to have people call my name. Now here’s a deep, deep secret kind of question. After chocolate, what do you eat to make the writer-block pain go away?

It’s not food, it’s drink that helps with writer’s block … strong drink! No, I’m kidding. I drink coffee or iced tea while I write.

Whatever works. And what you’re doing seems to be doing the trick.

Be sure to visit L.K. Madigan’s web site to find out more about the author and her work. Whatever you do pick up your copy of Flash Burnout today. It’s on Amazon or at 
Indiebound.




In SHINE, COCONUT MOON Samar-a.k.a. Sam-is an Indian-American teenager whose mom has kept her away from her old-fashioned family. It’s never bothered Sam, who is busy with school, friends, and a demanding boyfriend. But things change after 9/11. A guy in a turban shows up at Sam’s house-and turns out to be her uncle. He wants to reconcile the family and teach Sam about her Sikh heritage. Sam is eager, but when boys attack her uncle, chanting “Go back home, Osama!,” Sam realizes she could be in danger-and also discovers how dangerous ignorance is.

The author,NEESHA MEMINGER, was born in India, grew up in Canada, and currently lives in New York City with her family. All of her writing explores the inner landscape of her characters, and how it merges or conflicts with the outer. She writes stories of women and girls defining themselves and shaping their own destinies within the confines of their day to day realities.

I feel so close to this book and this author because I was very fortunate to read it during its development. Right from the beginning I knew it was a winner, a book I’d tell friends to read. How much fun it has been to connect with NEESHA MEMINGER along her creative path to publication.

So trying to be as creative as Neesha, here’s the interview I conducted. Already I wish I had oodles more time to do this. This writer bubbles over with enthusiasm and her responses only bring more questions to mind.

COCONUT MOON does Sammy’s struggle for a big, loving family stem from your personal experience?

Yes and no. I had a pretty large extended family and a medium-sized immediate family. But we are an imperfect bunch and when I was in high school, I probably bought into the Hallmark commercials and television families and thought I wanted what was depicted. My poor, flawed, family didn’t stand a chance next to those picture perfect ones :). So maybe that was part of the experience I drew upon when I wrote about Sammy’s longing for a big, beautiful, perfect family.

Since your story is about such universal issues–search for love and belonging, family half-truths, breaking from tradition–I’m thinking a mom /dad/grandmother/grandfather would find it a fascinating read. Can you comment on this observation?

Actually, the relationship between mothers and daughters is what I initially wanted to explore when I began writing SHINE. That includes Sam’s relationship with her mother, and her mother’s relationship to her own mother. Then, of course, Sam’s relationship with her grandmother. I loved being witness to the complexities in those relationships — what made them work and what made them fragment. I also wanted to look closely at how these relationships and generational rifts fare when issues like immigration, displacement, and migration are thrown into the mix.

So, to answer your question, I think mothers, fathers, grandfathers, uncles and aunts would find this a terrific, perhaps insightful read :).

Okay, Neesha those were fabulous answers. Here are some sorta not so book-specific, but maybe a bit self-revealing questions, things your readers just might find fun to know about you.

Of all your favorite books, which one do you wish you had written?

Wild Seed, by Octavia Butler

That’s an interesting choice, Neesha. Sci-Fi.

What fictional character do you wish you could be?

The main female character in Wild Seed — I can’t remember her name right now, but it became Emma toward the end of book two.

Was it Anyanwu? No wonder you couldn’t remember it. I can barely spell it. But I did admire her power and her generousity in using it for the good. Says something about you Neesha.

After chocolate what do you eat to make the writer-block pain go away?

Cheese, or something creamy. Or caramel.

Yeah! My kind of writer.

Order your copy of Coconut Moon from Amazon, U.S or Amazon, Canada now, and visit Neesha at her website to see what’s up with this writer-diva.

AND . . . there’s more to come. Check out what Neesha and Cindy Pon talk about on March 31st.

MODELS DON’T EAT CHOCOLATE COOKIES by ERIN DIONNEis here and ready to treat you to a great story about thirteen-year-old Celeste Harris. This girl is no string bean, but comfy sweatpants and a daily chocolate cookie suit her just fine. Her under-the-radar lifestyle could have continued too, if her aunt hadn’t entered her in the HuskyPeach Modeling Challenge. To get out of it, she’s forced to launch Operation Skinny Celeste—because, after all, a thin girl can’t be a fat model! What Celeste never imagined was that losing weight would help her gain a backbone . . . or that all she needed to shine was a spotlight.

Our author in the spotlight has lived on two coasts and in four states. Her debut novel, MODELS DON’T EAT CHOCOLATE COOKIES, was inspired by events that occurred in seventh grade, when she wore a scary peach bridesmaid dress in her cousin’s wedding and threw up on her gym teacher’s shoes (not at the same event). Although humiliating at the time, these experiences are working for her now.

Now Erin lives outside of Boston with her husband and daughter, and a very insistent dog named Grafton. She roots for the Red Sox, teaches English at an art college, and sometimes eats chocolate cookies.

Hi, Erin and welcome. It’s always fun to talk to writers and let their readers get a better idea of who they are. Hope my questions will give people a brief glimpse of the person behind the “pen.”

Of all your favorite books, which one do you wish you had written?

So many choices…ummm…I’ll have to say THE GIVER, by Lois Lowry. That book is simply amazing. AMAZING. I use it nearly every semester when I teach.

The story of Jonah is amazing. I remember how beautifully Lois Lowry revealed the truth to him. I can see why you chose this book.

What fictional character do you wish you could be?

I love villains, and was kind of a “good girl” growing up…so I’d like to be someone bad. Like Bellatrix LeStrange. Bad and crazy!

That’s very revealing, Erin. Now your readers have something to think about when they see your name on that book cover–a writer with an interesting “bad” side to her. My next question is kind of silly, but what writer hasn’t had THE BLOCK?” We have to talk about that.

After chocolate what do you eat to make the writer’s-block pain go away?

Chocolate chip cookies, actually…so a little chocolate in my baked goodness.

Now I have to ask this. What if anything about Celeste Harris, your overweight eighth grader, comes from personal experience? I feel I can ask this question because if anyone could have won the Miss HuskyPeach beauty pageant in high school, it would have been me.

So much of Celeste comes from me, in varying degrees. Like her, I was an outcast in junior high. Like her, at different times I’ve been “chubby.” Like her, I seek refuge in books and had celebrity crushes growing up (okay, maybe as an adult, too!). Like her, I’ve had to learn how to assert myself. The list could go on…

Some of the situations she finds herself in are also familiar to me, too, including the whole “puking on the gym teacher’s shoes” things.

I’d love to talk to your former gym teacher after she reads your book.

If there was one piece of advice you’d give to a “chubby” teen, what would it be?

Here goes…
I’d tell the teen to embrace what they like about themselves, and focus on those positive elements. What makes you feel good about yourself? THAT’S what’s most important.

Ignore other kids who are teasing or bullying you, but make sure to tell a trusted adult about their behavior. They need to be stopped. And never, EVER resort to drastic measures, crash diets, etc, to lose weight. They don’t work, they’re not safe, and the weight is just going to come back. Instead, if you’re after weight loss, be smart and make little changes that you can sustain for a long time.

Amen to all that you’ve said. I hope readers drop in here and have a look at this answer.

Great Questions, Lee!!

Thanks, Erin. Great answers too. Thanks so much.

And readers, you can findMODELS DON’T EAT CHOCOLATE COOKIES near you. Or look at Amazon.

Erin’s tour doesn’t end here. You can catch more about her and MODELS DON’T EAT CHOCOLATE COOKIES atR.J. Anderson’s Blog next week.