Wagging on Wednesday--The Partay

And so it begins...The 1st annual
Wagging on Wednesday Slumber Party

WELCOME!

For the entire month of July, we'll feature pets with small introductions and great pictures, sent by awesome readers! Who's first to the party? My friend Beth and her three gorgeous cats. I've known Beth since I was about seven. She's been super to me since I've been back in the states and really supportive of this whole writing thing, because she's a writer, too. (She's also an animal lover who gives a lot of time and support to our local Humane Society. Rock on Beth.)

Beth wrote: Grace (aka Gracie Lovebug, Gracie Gubbguts, Gubba, Gubbers, Smoochie-face-Grace, Moose Paw) is a ~10 year old tabby cat that we adopted from the HSBC in 2004. Here she brandishes the Great Paw of Doom.



Devereaux (aka Devo, Queen Queenie [like Jean Genie], Queenie, B*tch Kitty, Clumpy McClumperson, Grumpy McGrumperson) is a cranky 16-year-old domestic short hair. Perpetually in a bad mood.



(Below) Maggie (aka Maggie Baggypants, Maggala Baggala, Little Maggie Peanut, Little Chunk of Chocolate) is a ~4 year-old tabby, also adopted from the HSBC. She was discovered trapped in a second-story rain gutter and was rescued by the HSBC. She suffered a trauma to her right eye so is partially blind. (As you can see from the attached, the nicknames "Little Maggie Peanut" and "Little Chunk of Chocolate" no longer apply.)


I'm so happy to meet your cats, Beth! Thanks so much for coming around with them! There are treats on the table for them--and treats in the fridge for you and the Mr. (See you tomorrow!)

Since we usually talk about books we're looking forward to here, I'm thinking we should do that in the comment area while munching on party snacks. I'll go add mine now...

Do you have a groovy pet you'd like to bring around?
Send a pictures/info to:

WOW@thedustof100dogs.com

PARTY GAMES TO COME!
CRAZY BIG PRIZE TO WIN. MORE DETAILS SOON.

Have you joined FAYAF yet? The Dust of 100 Dogs is the book of the month for July, so I'm going to blog there on Fridays, here on Wednesdays, vlog a little, and leave clues for a really groovy so-far-not-thought-up-yet party game. But the prize is big. (About $150 in books!) More details as I dream them up. (Or Friday--whichever comes first.) (My money's on Friday.)

And here's a random link for you--did you see the cover for Lisa McMann's GONE yet? Click here to see it! It's amazing!

ASK

ASK are my initials.

I always thought that was pretty cool. I didn't even think about it until we were on our way to the local courthouse to apply for our marriage license. I hadn't thought about anything, really, because our marriage process wasn't typical. The government gave us 90 days to get married. We did it in 88 days.

But anyway - ASK are my initials. And I tend to ask a lot of questions. I'm curious by nature.

Only slightly related to this is: Do you have any questions about me? If you do, you should click on this link and ask them. Feel free to ask personal questions or book related questions or writing related questions. Feel free to be outrageous! (But remember I'm human, please. Play nice.)

The other reason I'm posting today: Next week is JULY already. First, this makes me say: HOW IS IT JULY ALREADY? Second, I want to remind you that I am at Five Awesome YA Fans (Join!) as the book of the month for the month of July. I have decided to use my time there to conquer a rather large fear I have. There will be fun games. Join now!


Find more videos like this on FiveAwesomeYAFans

Bowing on Wednesday

Here's the deal. Being a writer is a great job. I love writing stories readers will enjoy, and so, there is nothing more awesome than hearing from readers how much they dig what I've written. D100D has been out 6 months now, and reviews have been trickling in, still, and I want to shout out to all bloggers who have read and reviewed and say a huge thank you!

But this weekend was just amazing. I got these FOUR reviews in the span of 3 days, and it blew me away that people are still reading and enjoying Emer's story. I bow to you, bloggers who blog! Some people may think reviewing is just throwing up opinions on paper. I know it's not. Reviewing WELL is an art & I really think these reviews ROCK.

So...thank you to:

Stop, Drop & Read

The Little Bookworm

Reading Junky

I Am Nonfiction

Wagging on Wednesday is on hiatus until the WAGGING ON WEDNESDAY SLUMBER PARTY which will coincide with my month over at FAYAF in July. Have a cool pet & want to share in the fun? Send your pet pictures and a brief description to: WOW (at) thedustof100dogs.com

Wagging on Wednesday with Coke

Wagging on Wednesday is brought to you by Catt the Dreamer Reader and her awesome dog Coke. Catt wrote: When I was a kid (which was not too long ago), I used to be OBSESSED with dogs. I would show off my supreme dog knowledge whenever I got the chance. Not only that, I used to make my mother take me to Barnes & Noble just so we could look at the doggy books... and because my mommy loves me so much (bless her soul) she would buy them for me.

Then, (two summers ago) my Dad and I went to Vietnam to visit his relatives. And lo and behold, when we got to my aunt's house... guess who was there? My own puppy! Apparently, my dad told my relative that I love dogs. And coincidentally, my other grandma (who's a monk, NO JOKE) had a dog who had just given birth to a litter of puppies and gave one to my aunt who then gave it to me. To say that I was bouncing up and down with excitement is an understatement.

I have no idea what breed he is (I know, I am a horrible owner) [Amy: No you're not!] so I'm just going to say that he's a mix. And my furry best friend's name is Cocca Coke. Yeah... like the soda. In my defense, I wanted to name him something more... non-beverage like but, there are only so little words that a Vietnamese person can say. So we christened him with the name Coke.

1) Does Coke have any quirks – or any particularly amusing bold moments?
He has a HUGE crush on Beyonce and Shakira. One time, I was watching MTV and the music video for "Beautiful Liar" was on, and out of the blue, he just starts dancing to it... on my arm. *sigh* Boys will be boys, I guess.

2) Look at Coke right now. Tell me what he's thinking.
Well, he's kinda in Vietnam right now (we have a long-distance relationship), but we have this super awesome pyschic bond between us so.... right now, he is asleep and is probably dreaming of frolicking in the countryside and then when he wakes up, the first thing that'll pop into his adorable doggy mind is, "What's for breakfast?"

3)What book/s is Coke most looking forward to in 2009/2010?
Well, he is really excited for Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, As You Wish by Jackson Pearce, The Dark Divine by Bree Despain, Sea by Heidi R. Kling, The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting, Hush, Hush by Becca Ajoy Fitzpatrick, and Never Slow Dance with a Zombie by E. Van Lowe, and almost anything with YA romance. He tries to act tough but underneath that, he's just a huge softie.

4) What do you think Coke would do if surrounded by ninjas? What about pirates?
Well, we watch a lot of Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Shrek 2 so, he would act all cute and cuddly and the ninjas and pirates would be like, "Awww." Then, using his superior intellect, he would pounce on the nearest person and attack. (And when I say attack, I mean fart in their faces).

Thanks again, Catt! You ROCK for being a part of Wagging on Wednesday!

Instead of Random Linkage this week, I'm going to announce the WINNER of the Who's Coming to Dinner Contest

First, a huge thank you to all entrants. Without you guys, life would not be fun.

WINNER: Grandpa Goose, with this entry: After sitting down to a weekly Sunday dinner of roast beef, boiled potatoes, carrots and bean salad, our guest asked, “Do y’all have any hot sauce?’ While not surprised such a request would be made by someone from New Orleans, I worried that lacking this condiment may begin a boring conversation about the superiority of Southern cooking. After Mom apologized for no Tabasco sauce, our guest drew out a small bottle from his jacket pocket. “I’m always prepared,” he grinned, and putting the neck into his mouth, sucked at it for thirty seconds. This was something we never expected!

My favorite line? ...I worried that lacking this condiment may begin a boring conversation about the superiority of Southern cooking.

Grandpa Goose, you didn't leave an email address, so please get in touch with me here or at asking (at) as-king.com so I can send you your book and a hand. :)

I'm going underground for a week or two to work my little bottom off, stay tuned for the July Wagging on Wednesday Slumber Party! Send us pictures of your weird pets! WOW (at) thedustof100dogs.com

Oh! I lied. HERE'S some Random Linkage: A great interview with A.S. King by Angel Young--complete with D100D Playlist!!

Who's Coming to Dinner? (A Contest )

Some of you who know me know that I'm presently enjoying a week of fun with my mother-in-law, who is visiting from Ireland. Times like these, I love to get away from my office and cook great food. So, while I'm off marinading and crockpotting and sipping the cooking wine, here's a fun contest to win a signed copy of The Dust of 100 Dogs and some groovy booty.

CHALLENGE: Write a story that is 100 words or less about a dinner with a dinner guest.

ADDITIONAL RULES:

1. The story MUST contain this sentence: "This was something we never expected."
2. The story must include a mention of something to eat. (Either "cheeseburger" or "lightly sauteed breast of chicken with Gorgonzola and pear sauce" will do.)

DEADLINE: Monday, June 15th 23:59 EDT (That's one minute to midnight.)

PRIZES: A signed copy of The Dust of 100 Dogs and a severed hand. (The book is real, the hand is not.) My daughter, who begged me for the other severed hand that I had, assures you that you will have hours of fun with this hand. Stuffing it into your cuff and shaking dinner guests' hands never gets old.

Winners will be chosen by two tiara-topped synchronized swimmers and the rabbit who's been eating all my gladioli. Please leave your entry in the comments area, along with an email address. If you don't want to leave your email address, drop me a line at asking (at) as-king (dot) com, and give it to me there, please. Thanks!

Good Luck!

Wagging on Wednesday with Jack

Wagging on Wednesday is brought to us this week by Lisa May from the awesome blog Look at That Book. Lisa May wrote: Jack is a cuddly little Jack Russell Terrier who's about to hit 100 in dog years, his black and brown patches are turning a distinguished grey in his old age! I've had him since he was a puppy and I thought of the highly original name of Jack (full name: Jack Russell Patch Pickle). He enjoys going for long walks with plenty of breaks to sniff at trees and especially likes running on the beach. He's turning into a bit of a diva in his old age and likes to sleep in so you won't get him up before it's well and truly light outside. Jack rarely barks and is actually afraid of cats and doesn't stand up to the birds who steal his food in the garden (he prefers human food to dog food). He always has one ear up, one ear down and his feet make delightful tinkly noises when he patters along the wooden floorboards :)

Where did Jack's name come from?

Jack's name is a testament to my lack of creativity. He's a Jack Russell Terrier so SOMEHOW the name Jack miraculously appeared in my head when we were naming him. It was an obvious choice but it suits him well!

Does he have any quirks – or any particularly amusing bold moments?
He is pretty clever, but that doesn't mean he does too much since he's old he likes to spend most of his time sleeping in front of the heater or in a nice patch of sunshine. Though if he is banging on the back door to be let in (he sort of pushes against it adorably with his paw) and you instead go to the front door to let him in there, he will somehow materialise at the front door as soon as you open it - he's a fast runner when he needs to be.

Look at Jack right now. Tell me what he's thinking.
He's probably thinking how cool his big, brown eyes are. And also 'where's the food at?'

What book/s is Jack most looking forward to in 2009?
Jack really wants to read the new book from Markus Zusak, Bridge of Clay. He's a big Zusak fan!
[Amy says: Still no cover art for this book! But YES--I'm really looking forward to it too!]

What do you think Jack would do if he encountered a ninja? How about a pirate?

It would all depend, Jack fancies himself as a bit of a pirate because he himself wears a patch over one of his eyes so he would probably do some plundering. But if he ran into a ninja he would either go into stealth-mode and play dead so the ninja left him alone. He would of course play dead somewhere nice and warm so he could get a good nap in :)

Thanks for bringing Jack around to meet us this week, Lisa May -- we love your blog!

Some random linkage:

My trusty assistant found three AWESOME reviews* for D100D last week! One at Biblauragraphy, one at Mrs. Magoo Reads and one at Life's a Story, Angel Young's blog. (And big woots to Angel for just graduating!) *If I missed yours, please feel free to send links!

Stay tuned for interviews at two of these three venues in the coming months. And stay tuned for the Wagging on Wednesday Slumber Party--where your other pets can come and meet us over the summer months. Do send pictures and a brief into to WOW (at) thedustof100dogs.com and get ready to meet some cool animals.

I still have bizarre booty sitting around here. I may, just to be a scalawag, throw a contest to win booty and books this weekend. I'm thinking we could use a break from being so serious all the time, eh?

Catching Up Blog (with BBYA News!)

I've been in and out of the office this month, so I haven't been the best blogger. Though tomorrow I will do the usual Wagging on Wednesday blog, I figured now is a great time to catch up with news and stuff. I have a few pictures I want to share, too! (Even some from Book Expo America!) So, I'm going to run at this chronologically backward and start with last weekend.

I was SO FORTUNATE to go on a fabulous writers retreat last weekend in the Catskills. It wasn't anything big--just five friends who needed to get away and have a working weekend. Writer-friends, if you haven't done this, I urge you to gather your few close writing friends and do this. Rent a house, split the cost and bring your most urgent projects. The five of us got more work done in a weekend than you can imagine--and the bonus? Hysterically fun conversation with fellow writers. Nothing beats it. In this picture are: clockwise from top left: Ty Drago, Brian Howe, Heather Brewer, Jackie Kessler & me.

(Have you bought Jackie's (and Caitlin's) awesome superhero novel, BLACK & WHITE yet?)

Shop Indie Bookstores

MORE NEWS: Right before I left for the Catskills, a friend informed me that The Dust of 100 Dogs was nominated for YALSA's Best Books for Young Adults, which made me do a very silly bottom-shaking dance. Needless to say, I am thrilled about this for a bunch of reasons. I'm especially stoked for readers like the teenage-me (in need of an out-of-the-ordinary read) out there, who might have a better chance of finding D100D on their library shelf because of this nomination.

And finally, a few stray pictures from BEA that I never got a chance to post. Did I mention that I had a brilliant time? That I went to Random House and met my new editor? That I had dinner with my very very hip agent, Gary Heidt who rocks more every time I meet him? Well, I don't have pictures of any of that stuff. But I do have pictures of me and some of my favorite Flux peeps & bloggers.

This is Lenore, Reviewer X and Me in front of the Firebrand booth on Friday.

This is the Llewellyn (& Flux) Booth, an alien offering free probings, and two very cool and mysterious publicists.

Disclaimer: This is an awful picture of me!! (I was squinting into the sun & my eyes were burning up, man!) but it's a great picture of the others, so I'm sticking it up here. From left to right, it's Reviewer X, Me, Adam, Genevieve, Devyn & Korianne.

I will end by saying-- I was thrilled to see so many book bloggers at BEA this year. I think book blogging is an awesome thing that has changed many aspects of the publishing journey. When I think about how this business of reviews and promotion used to work, and compare it to now, I feel very lucky to be around when so many interesting readers have an outlet to share their opinions. This doesn't mean we all agree on things, but it means that as authors, our books are reviewed by a wider scope of readers now, and word has more than a handful of ways to spread, and I love that. Rock on book bloggers & rock on BEA for showing appreciation to this online facet of the business. I can't wait until next year!

Wagging on Wednesday with Jersey

Wagging on Wednesday is brought to us today by Shannon and her dog, Jersey. Shannon wrote: This is Jersey! She is our rescue English Bulldog. She is almost 5 years old and is the bestest bestest bestest pet in the entire world! She is a cuddler, protector, snorer, and "I will kick the cat to the curb" kinda dog! She is there when you are upset and crying to lick your tears away (she loves salt water), jump around your feet when you are excited, and just chill with you when you need company! SHE TOTALLY ROCKS!

Where did Jersey's name come from?
Jersey's name came with her. She was a rescue dog and we loved her name because our family is from New York and some of our family lives in Jersey, so we kept it :)

Does she have any quirks – or any particularly amusing bold moments?
She is a VERY quirky dog. She has one tooth that sticks out. It is usually her lower left tooth. When she gets excited about something, her tooth comes out! If she wants pettings, she will stretch her paw as far as she can when she wants you. She is afraid of zombies. If you take out her leash, she jumps about a foot in the air and does a 360.

Look at Jersey right now. Tell me what she's thinking.
She is on the bed and the only time she is allowed on the bed is when we are one the bed. So she is probably saying, "Thank goodness mommy and dad are sitting on the bed so I can stay up here".

What book/s is Jersey most looking forward to in 2009/2010?
Jersey is looking forward to three books: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins-the sequel to Hunger Games, Fat Cat by Robin Brande, and Lips Touch by Laini Taylor

What do you think Jersey could teach alien species if, by chance, she were abducted by aliens?
First of all, she would teach them how to hunt, trap, and smack a kitty into a wall. [Amy: poor kitty!] She would also teach them cheese is the best food on Earth, especially Gouda cheese. She could teach them how to be adorable because she knows how to do that VERY well.

Thanks Shannon! You ROCK for being a part of Wagging on Wednesday!

Random Stuff

I found two really awesome reviews of D100D that I'd love to shout out.
One at The Epic Rat and one over at Emily Hainsworth's blog. Thanks, guys for reading and spreading the word. I really appreciate it & I'm so stoked you dug the book!

I had a smashing time in NYC and at Book Expo. I got to see and meet all sorts of groovy people. (Flux peeps Marissa & Steven, Bookavore, IndieRob, Harvey, Colleen Lindsay, Janet Reid, Reviewer X, Lenore, Genevieve, Devyn, Adam, Korianne, Mitali, Moonrat, My Friend Amy, Nicole, Erica, and so many more that I'm misplacing now due to the mental razzmatazz that is BEA.) Booth 4077 was really hopping with groovy bloggers and it was so cool to meet my favorite online people. (Missed Ron Hogan & Chris Brogan, and am bummed, but will live.)

I loved that Broadway was scattered with lawn chairs. I took a picture for you.

Now, I'm off for another adventure for a few days. This time to see some of your favorite authors, Heather Brewer and Jackie Kessler, along with some others. Have you guys heard about Jackie's YA that launched THIS WEEK? Check it out:

Shop Indie Bookstores

OOooo.

Oooo. How cool to find myself on the front page of one of my favorite blogs today!

Do have a look at this review of D100D at Pop Syndicate--it's awesome! Here's the conclusion: "The Dust of 100 Dogs is fast-paced and smart book that you will not want to put down." Yay! I think so too.

AND I totally forgot to link you to the new podcasts over at the EYE ON FLUX BLOG. Two new authors are interviewed, and yours truly got to be the guinea pig for a feature called 60 Seconds of Fame, which is a strange sort of word association game that I enjoyed playing very much...though I did repeat the word yellow a few times. (Yellow is my fill-in word, apparently.)

And finally-- here's an interview to get to know me better. WITH PICTURES!

Now--I've finally packed! I will return in two days with pictures. Promise. (Joanne, stop laughing. I am perfectly capable of taking my own pictures.)

Totally Slacking on Wednesday

Usually, I'm a very organized person. Not to the point of crazy, but to the point of functioning. I do quite well for the circus I run here. However, add in a trip to NYC, and I become completely flaky. I leave tomorrow, to see some of my peeps and check out Book Expo (BEA) on Friday.

• Have I packed? No.
• Have I pulled the suitcase down from the attic? Nope. Not yet.
• Have I scribbled down the cell numbers I'll need? No.
• Addresses? Nope.
• Do I know what time the bus even leaves? No.

And so, I hope you'll excuse the absence of Wagging on Wednesday today. But don't forget--tell your friends who have odd pets--there's a Wagging on Wednesday Slumber Party Summer coming! Send us a picture of your pet and a brief introduction, and I will get back to you with questions! Send to WOW (at) thedustof100dogs.com . Thanks!

Since today is usually for talking about upcoming books, I will tell you what book I am looking forward to in the coming months.
FAT CAT by Robin Brande. I was lucky enough to read the ARC of this book last month and I LOVED it. Like L-O-V-E-D it. You will too. It's coming in October! Here's the blurb from Indiebound:

"Cat is smart, sassy, and funny--but thin, she's not. Until her class science project. That's when she winds up doing an experiment--on herself. Before she knows it, Cat is living--and eating--like the hominids, our earliest human ancestors. True, no chips or TV is a bummer and no car is a pain, but healthful eating and walking everywhere do have their benefits. As the pounds drop off, the guys pile on. All this newfound male attention is enough to drive a girl crazy If only she weren't too busy hating Matt McKinney to notice.

This funny and thoughtful novel explores how girls feel about their bodies, and the ways they can best take care of their most precious resource: themselves.

See you next week!