We made it to Friday. Whew! I could not have gone another day. Aren’t you glad the election is over? I will say that I was impressed with Obama’s acceptance speech. Did you see the part where he told his girls that they’d be getting a new puppy to take with them to the White House? How cool is that? So not only will Sasha and Whats-her-Name get to play hide and seek in the Lincoln bedroom and snacks anytime they want from the presidential kitchen, but they get a new dog. Luckies.

Don’t forget to go HERE if you want to be entered in the drawing for Chris Coppernoll’s book A Beautiful Fall. Simply leave a comment per directions on Wednesday’s post. Winner will be drawn November 10th. And the sweet thing is I’m not mailing the book out, so the odds of you actually getting it in this millennium–pretty good.

The November issue of Christian Fiction Online Magazine is up.

Just click on the magazine cover to take you there. I have an article HERE about a subject near and dear to my heart–Young Adult novels. Check it out.

This cracked me up a bit. This is comedian Brian Regan on flying, one of my very favorite topics.

Well, I’m out. I have had a week and then some, so it’s off to bed with a book and a fine vintage of Florida orange juice. See you Monday.
JEN

Today author Chris Coppernoll stops by and subjects himself to my in-depth, serious, uber intellectual Katie Couric-like Q and A. Read his fascinating answers, AND check out the directions at the end for winning a copy of his second novel A Beautiful Fall.

Question number uno, what is your most embarrassing junior high or high school memory?
In the 7th grade my music teacher, Mrs. VanConnet, had to tune my guitar for me - while I was on stage with my rock band - just prior to performing in the big talent show in front of the entire school.  I had
to hand my “Axe” over to the music teacher to tune because while I could rock out (well, a little), I hadn’t yet learned the fine art of tuning a guitar.   Oh, the humanity.

I gave a book report to upperclassmen on Heidi with my pants unzipped. I would’ve given all my AquaNet and Jordache jeans for guitar tuning moments to bemoan.

Okay, imagine for one night you must jump into a TV show. Which one is it and why? And know that if you pick Hannah Montana, we will still accept you as you are. We don’t judge here. Well, I do, but the others mostly don’t.

Probably one of those fast paced cooking shows on the Food Network.  I’ve always wanted to host a food show, zip around a big city buying all the freshest ingredients, then go back to my studio kitchen - which
is in an amazing Manhattan, Chicago, or London apartment to prep and cook the food.  Or just step in one week for chefs Jamie Oliver or Alton Brown.

In your book A Beautiful Fall, your characters were high school sweethearts torn apart by life. My first boyfriend was a lad named Travis in first grade who knew how to have a good time with crickets and a dirt pile. How about you? (Um, not first boyfriend. You know what I mean.)
I grew up in a small town like those in A Beautiful Fall.  Your question brings back pictures of walking to high school football games at dusk, the smell of burning leaves and a chill in the air, hearing
the announcer in the press box half a mile from the field, and wondering if I’d meet some “mysterious girl” at the high school dance after the game.  Which was totally a long shot and not going to happen
since I knew everyone in town.  I dated a lot, but I don’t think I ever had a first love until I met a woman in college.  Some of that experience was touched on in my first novel, Providence.

You totally missed out by not having someone to eat paste with. And I also grew up in a very small town too. LOVED the sound of the football field as I got closer to it. But our dances afterwards…super lame. Next question…What is a book in high school or college you had to read and thoroughly disliked?
Probably Lord of the Flies by William Golding.  An excellent book, but unbelievably sadomasochistic.  One wonders if there hasn’t been another book written since 1954 that high school freshman could read.

I hated Lolita. Made me mad and all icky inside. And somehow I managed to never read or teach Lord of the Flies. Moving on to less disturbing topics, do male writers also experience the phenomenon known as Writers Butt? If not, please tell me you have a low metabolism just to make me feel better.
Writing for ten years has given me a plethora of job related maladies including carpel tunnel, a sore thumb, bad eyeseight, coffee breath, and having cat hair on most of what I own, including sweaters, dress
shirts and pants, but thankfully the rest of me is doing alright.  Now that I know the alternative, I’m not complaining.

So that’s a “no” on Writer’s Butt. Chris, all inquiring minds want to know what’s in your refrigerator.
Two bags of apples, oranges, eggs, enough milk for tomorrow’s breakfast, teriyaki sauce, mustard from the brauts last weekend, a jar of dill pickles with half of the weird green water drained, 2 bag of coffee, some of that pre-cooked bacon, drinking water, and a bottle of Pepto.

I’m gonna let that Pepto comment go. But anything pink cannot be good for you. Now, my mom can tell you I was the perfect teen driver. I never had wrecks and NEVER took out a fence row then 4×4′d my way out of a ditch on my way to take the ACT. Describe your first car or your worst teen driving experience.
I wrecked my dad’s 1973 Buick on a winter road while racing another high school kid, about two weeks after getting my license.  Not good.  My parents were cool about it, more so than I expected.  I think I took
away from the experience an understanding of how immature teens can be and how sacrificial parents often are.

I know it’s hard to pick between books, as some have a hard time picking a favorite child, so tell us what you like most about your first novel Providence and what you like most about A Beautiful Fall.
Providence has 700 working parts that all had to be fit together to make the story snap open and shut for readers.  A Beautiful Fall has 5 parts, and all I had to do was invite readers to slow down enough to
enjoy that.  As for reactions from readers, people reported how Providence impacted them greatly.  I’ve been surprised and moved by the letter I still receive.  I think A Beautiful Fall has swept people up
in believing there is such a place where people care and love each other deeply.  That ideal has encouraged and given some readers a feeling of great hope.

As host and founder of Soul2Soul Radio, who is the most impressive celebrity you’ve ever met and can you get us their personal address and phone number?
Probably Amy Grant.  She does everything well, but just seems to have been born to be exactly who she is.  That’s impressive.  I’ve had the privilege of meeting many famous people through my radio show,
Soul2Soul and just living in Nashville.  Billy Ray Cyrus, Dolly Parton, Wynonna, Michael W. Smith, Point of Grace, Natalie Grant.  They’ve all been impressive in their own ways.

I LOVE Dolly Parton. She is so funny and well-spoken. Speaking of music, what is in your CD player in the car or iPod?

A Blues album by Peter Wolf.  I like to listen to 1970’s Pop and music recorded before 1964.  Also Jazz and classic Country, and contemporary Christian music.

It’s Friday night. After listening to your Merle Haggard and 70s Michael Jackson hits, what restaurant do you go to and why?
Chic-fil-a.  Eating there doubles as a church service.

Any guilty pleasures such as candy bars, MTV, or knitting toaster cozies with your grandma?
Sleep, although having a toaster cozy sounds pretty sweet.  I sleep about 5 hours a night, so on one of those rare travel days when I wake up in a hotel room and have a little before my speaking engagement
starts, I catch up.

Last book you read? 
I’m finishing Tribes by Seth Godin, T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton, and next up is probably The Shack since every other person in the country seems to have read it.

I notice you didn’t say In Between, On the Loose, or The Big Picture, but whatevs. You probably just didn’t want to suck up. Moving on…We share an agent in Chip MacGregor. Please share one random fact that only you know about him. For example, I happen to know he prefers his clients to yodel when talking to him on the phone. It’s a little straining on the vocal chords, but I do try to oblige.
A lot of people owe him big time.  That’s one random fact I’m aware of.   Chip is one of a kind and his clients possess fierce loyalty to him because he’s an agent for all the right reasons and does the job better
than anybody any of us knows.

What advice would you give to teens who are interested in writing?
Write.  (Almost) every other art form costs at least some money to produce––music, film & video, painting, etc.  The only thing a writer needs is solitude, a few sheets of blank paper, and a quiet place to think.

Obama has decided he would rather join his wife’s garage punk band and not be president, and America has decided to vote YOU in as C.E.O. of the U.S.A. Even though it was a close race between you and Paris Hilton, America has voted you in.  What’s the first thing you do as leader of the free world with all powers in the palm of your hand? (If you say something intelligent about foreign policy, I will be forced to delete your answer.)
Limit the election season to six weeks and no more, than cap campaign
spending at a million dollars.

Chris, thanks so much for stopping by and playing along. You can learn more about this author at his website. Guys, if you want to win a copy of A Beautiful Fall, please leave a comment for Chris OR answer one of the interview questions posed here, like what’s in your fridge. You have until November 9th. The grand prize winner will be announced on Wed. Nov. 12th. So comment away!

Have a great rest of the week.

JEN

Did everyone survive the time change? Nothing like it being black as bedtime at five o’clock. Doesn’t make me sleepy at all. Noooo…

So I saw High School Musical (Musi-cal) 3 this weekend. It was really good! Seriously great sets and choreography. I saw some nods to Michael Jackson, Singing in the Rain, and Footloose in there. Makes me want to watch it again, and see what other musicals are referenced in the dance numbers. I didn’t observe any references to the first musical I directed, Pom-Pom Zombies, a classic if there ever was one, but whatever. Anyway, go see it. It was a lot of fun. I could totally picture this show on Broadway.

Last weekend was my niece’s third birthday. She’s getting so big. She’s all about the princess stuff.

Sometimes a girl’s tutu rides up. It happens.That’s why it’s important to have on good underwear at all times.

Katie Beth has my (and my mom’s) love for shoes. Clearly it’s genetic.

One day I will introduce her to Zappos.com.  When the time is right and she doesn’t need Snow White’s face on her footwear.

Katie Beth also has my grace and keen social skills.

Sometimes you just want to stand on your head and break out a little kick, you know?

My niece kind of scares easy, and she really wasn’t into blowing out her candles. Her big brother Hardy was on hand to assist. And add his spit to the cake.

“Make the fire just go away.”

So her “printhess” party was a smash. And soon so was the cake–on her shirt. And face. And hands. And by the way, she ripped the tiara off my head as soon as the picture at the top of the blog was over and said, “That’s my crown.”  She is not really into sharing. She’s got the princess thing DOWN.

I got my Sam’s Club Christmas catalog today. Sadly, living in the home of Wal-Mart, we do not have Costco’s in the area. Just Sam’s. I wrote a few things down on my Christmas list. Like the “World’s Ultimate Electric Super Car Package” that can be mine for only $100,000. This includes travel and a luxury hotel stay to get the first electric Super Car off the production line. Then I get to drive it on a professional racetrack in LA. But listen up family and friends, you have to make your purchase by November 11th, so look alive and get that taken care of.

But if they miss out on that deadline then for 13,500 bucks they can purchase a speaking role for me on As The World Turns in NYC and a trip to the Critics’ Choice Awards. Wow. Just what I need–another event to have to buy a dress for and get all violently stressed out.

OR…for $9500 I can go to the Twilight world premiere and meet the cast!!! You KNOW some rich kid has already scooped that one up. If you have an extra 10k, then plan to be online on Nov. 7th. I think I’d rather have one of the diamond rings in the catalog for a measly eight grand.

Thanks to Rob, president and founder of the club “I’m a Coach and I Cried Like a Girl When I Read The Big Picture” for sending me this YouTube clip.

McCain was on SNL this weekend. I thought the Maverick did pretty good. The opening was kinda funny. You can check it out HERE.

As you might’ve seen on the clip, you can go to Starbucks, tell them you voted, and you get a free regular coffee. I’m not old enough to drink the stuff, or else I’d totally be bragging about my voting. I wonder what a girl has to do to get a free Mocha Frap?

Have a great week. The political craziness is almost over!

JEN

Happy Halloween for those of you who participate! Happy Day of Candy for those of you who do not. Either way, I like to reflect back on good quality art during this season.

And if you want to dance along to Thriller (and who doesn’t), you’ll want to check this out:

If you’re not down with Halloween, it’s okay. Because November provides a holiday for all of us. It’s National No Shaving Month! YAY! I think this was originally a festival for the menfolk, but why should they celebrate alone? Who’s in the challenge with me?

If you are a book reviewer and blogger (a blogewer), then check out the new program by Thomas Nelson HERE. I think this is an awesome idea. You know what else Thomas Nelson is doing that makes me green with envy? They have instituted a jeans policy. The idea is that it boosts morale and saves the employees time and money. I have been pushing this idea for over a DECADE!!! Sadly, people think teachers need to dress all professional and stuff. It’s so lame! I am totally going to fill out a job application for Thomas Nelson though. I would relocate to Tennessee and scrub toilets in order to wear jeans every day. I don’t know when I became such a (wannabe) lazy dresser, but I blame it on the grunge period of the nineties, which I embraced with my full being. In fact, just this week I tossed out my favorite XL quilted flannel shirt circa 1994.

I think I’m going to brave it and go see High School Musical 3 this weekend. Has anyone seen it? I heard it wasn’t that bad. I am hopefully taking my nephew, so in case anyone sees me I can say, “Oh, he wanted to see it. The sacrifices I make. . .” My mom wants to see it too, so we’ll suffer for my nephew together. But in even better movie news, Madagascar II comes out next Friday!!! And then in a few MORE weeks, it’s Twilight. What a great month November is. A whole month of hairy legs AND some good movies!

Thanks for the book recommendations, by the way. Right now I’m trying to read this one:

I want to like it. I really, really do. It has a great cover, and that has to count for something. It’s just not fast enough for me. Lots of pretty words and phrases, but like…too many, you know? And not one joke yet. Sigh. It’s a burden having immature taste in reading and entertainment. Did I mention the uneven socks on the cover drive me nuts? This is why I will never win a Pulitzer. Plus if I was nominated for one, I’d be at home in my jeans watching Ugly Betty and Dawson’s Creek reruns.

Congrats to my good friend Jessica and her husband Jason. They are the proud parents of Taylor Autumn. After a marathon-o-labor, they finally have their baby girl, who will join her two older sisters. Who are Labrador Retrievers. If Jason and Jessica can train the labs, I know parenthood will be a snap.

Have a great weekend. Eat some candy. Candy corn is never any fresher than it is in the month of October. For reals.

JEN

We have a winner for Murder on the ‘Ol Bunions. Congrats, Sherri, Queen Coupon Clipper! Just email me with your home addy, and I will get that book out to you.

I made it through another year of parent-teacher conferences and lived to tell about it. Actually I won’t be telling about it. But I did have one crazy moment. Which I can’t share because I’m all professional. And stuff.

Even though I’m a sports idiot, somehow I found this story. This is Mike Singletary, the 49′ers coach, who told a player to hit the showers during a game, refusing to play him anymore. In this age of indulged athletes (and ninth graders…and pop stars…and politicians…), I really liked what he said at his press conference. Skip to minute 1.50 and just watch for a minute or so.

Did you know Hilary Duff is making a new CD? It’s her greatest hits. Should be a short CD. But Eonline wrote an article about her new video, a cover of a Depeche Mode song from the 80s (No, Hilary! No! How could you?) and titled the article simply “New Hilary Duff Music Video is Really Uncomfortable.” And it is. I watched it, and it made me feel icky inside. I had to cleanse my mental palate with some happier, wholesomer things like this:

Did you know Obama is encouraging people to take the day off on November fourth to vote and work the campaign? McCain said that was a totally ridiculous idea, and that Americans should be all responsible and go to work and school. Is it just me or is somebody being a drag? I mean, I’ve already voted, but taking the day off…not a bad idea. Wouldn’t it be cool if we got a National Day Off to Vote (or watch TV)? That would be awesome. We could just vote and then spend the rest of the day reflecting on our liberties and freedoms. Just reflecting. Maybe at the mall. Or on the couch.

Have you ever read the book Walter the Farting Dog? Um, because it’s just about the best book ever. I don’t know why it hasn’t won a Pulitzer. In fact, I recently bought my nephew this book. My brother was really impressed with my aunting skills as usual. But it’s a great book. And now it’s gonna be a great movie! And if a movie about a dog–nay, a farting dog–won’t get you to this flick, how about adding in the Jonas Brothers? Because what’s the first thing you think of when you hear “farting dog?” The Brothers Jonas! There’s Nick and Joe. Jermaine. . .Tito . It’s a very short book, so I’m wondering how they are going to stretch that storyline into 90 minutes or so. Probably with lots of sound effects.

Have a great day. I’m totally burned out from conferences and a lack of real food, so I’m going to read my new Gluten Free cookbook (with recipes that will end up tasting like EATING the cookbook), and go to bed early.

Whether you take the day off or not (and I vote you do), be sure and plan to vote on November 4th. This is your PSA for October.

JEN