Ask Anything

If you could ask your favorite author anything, what would it be? Maybe you've wondered whether your fave story will have a sequel or why a character made a particular choice. Perhaps you've always been curious about how authors work. Now's your chance to get those questions answered!

From March 14-27, nearly 100 Simon Pulse authors will be participating in the Simon Pulse Blogfest. Readers submit questions, and for two weeks, those questions will be answered by your fave authors, such as Scott Westerfeld, Jennifer Echols, Avi, Ellen Hopkins, and many, many others (and yes, I'll be there, too!)

To submit questions, get updates, and see the full list of participating authors, check out the official site:
Simon Pulse Blogfest.

Heath

As many of you know, Val Winslow, the main character in Royally Jacked, Spin Control, and Do-Over, has a serious Heath Ledger obsession.

She's seen all his movies multiple times. Her entire theory of male/female relationships is based on Heath's actions as William Thatcher in A Knight's Tale. According to Val, a cute guy will pick the Shallow Princess ("if you love me, you'll lose") over a practical, hardworking Armor Girl every time. Suffice it to say, somewhere in the fictional world, Val is in a mighty funk.

The world is worse off for having lost Heath Ledger. Greatest sympathies to his family and friends.

Cover Girl

Check it out! This is the official cover for the paperback version of Goddess Games, which comes out in May:



Doesn't it make you want to spend a weekend at a spa?!

Peace Works

Last night's Golden Globe press conference was a yawnfest, but the night wasn't a total loss. My favorite team, TK and Rachel, managed to make up a three hour deficit to advance to the last leg of The Amazing Race.

Unlike other teams (coughNateandJencough), TK and Rachel managed to keep from sniping at each other, even when they were under stress. In a tight race, that ended up being the difference.

Lesson learned: Peace Works. I'll be cheering for them to do well in the finale!



In the meantime, anyone know if Nate and Jen are still together? They fought like mad, but seemed to want to make it work away from the intensity of the Race. I'll admit that as awful as they sometimes seemed on the show, the romance sucker in me wants to see them kiss and make up.

A Day of Mourning

Tonight, the Golden Globe winners will be announced at a press conference. As in, no show, no dresses, no blingy shoes on pedicured feet for Joan and Melissa Rivers to ogle. With the writers' strike still on, the show is off. (Anyone else want to join me in a community "Waaah!"?)

As a writer, I'm all for it. Hollywood's writers work hard to create the storylines that keep us talking...how much time have you spent debating the plot twists on Lost, Heroes, Desperate Housewives, or Gossip Girl? The DVD sales from those shows stand to earn studios a lot of money, and writers deserve to earn a reasonable piece of that pie.

However, cancelling the ceremony means the actors and shows that win won't get their moment of glory--which is a big career boost. This year, it also means Steven Spielberg won't have an audience as he picks up a well-deserved Cecil B. DeMille Award. And it's not just the award winners who lose out. Calling off the show means a huge hit to the the L.A. economy. Given all that, I hope the strike ends soon, with all sides feeling the conclusion was reasonable, to prevent the same thing happening with the Oscars.

I'll admit, even though my writer side supports the strike...as an awards show fan, I'm in mourning. (I swear, the fact I'm wearing black today is a total coincidence. Really.) I mark the ceremony date on my calendar and even get up early on the day nominations are announced to find out who's up for which award. I enjoy it so much that I decided one of my characters, Val Winslow of the Royally Jacked books, should have an awards show addiction just so I could write about it.

Most years, I have friends over to watch the broadcast with me. As the stars make their red carpet entrances, we discuss their outfits (usually predicting who'll end up on Go Fug Yourself the next morning) and fill out ballots, trying to see who can pick the most winners. (Tip to those of you with awards show pools: nailing the documentary and music categories is what makes the difference!) But who'll be this year's fashion Cher? Who'll be this year's Halle Berry? Hopefully, we'll find out come Academy Awards night. I want to see what Amy Adams, Jodie Foster, and Keira Knightley wear this year.

What about you? Are you in mourning, or is the lack of an awards show no big thing to you? Are you in it for the fashion, the awards, or the speeches? Whose dress did you want to see? Me, I most want my regularly scheduled house party!

Worse Than Jonny Fairplay

Yesterday I said that Survivor's Jon "Jonny Fairplay" Dalton is unwatchable. However, today I realized there's someone I find far more appalling. As in, I can't even stand to watch commercials for his show:

Dr. Phil

Survivor "Favorites"

CBS just announced the cast for the upcoming "Survivor Micronesia: Fans vs. Favorites" season. Here's the list:

• From the just-completed Survivor China: James Clement, Amanda Kimmel
• From Survivor Fiji: Yau-Man Chan
• From Survivor Cook Islands: Ozzy Lusth, Parvati Shallow, Jonathan Penner
• From Survivor Panama: Cirie Fields
• From Survivor Vanuatu: Eliza Orlins, Ami Cusack
• From Survivor Pearl Islands: Jonny "Fairplay" Dalton

There's an article about the new season at the Entertainment Weekly website.

James--yay! Ozzy and Yau-Man--yay! Jonny Fairplay--YURK. Seriously, why?! Maybe the producers thought it'd be good to have a most-hated in there, but I'm telling you now, when he's onscreen I'll be getting up to make popcorn or grab another Diet Coke. He's unwatchable.

So what do you think? Who are you looking forward to seeing? Who do you think will win? AND...do you think the "faves" have any advantage over the "fans" who'll make up the opposing tribe?