Jeri Smith-Ready

Blogtoberfest Day 13 - Alexandra Diaz

Sorry this is so late today! Maybe it's because it's the unlucky thirteenth day of Blogtoberfest, but Blogger was being very stubborn about posting this entry this morning, and then I had to leave all day for a librarians' conference. So I'm going to give readers an extra day to enter to win today's prize.

Speaking of prizes, the winner of the Nancy Holder five-pack is...Dawn M! Dawn, please send your mailing address to me at jeri AT jerismithready DOT com.

Today's Blogtoberguest is Alexandra Diaz, whose debut novel, Of All the Stupid Things, comes out this December.

Alexandra is in the Class of 2K10 with me, a group of debut YA/middle-grade authors who will knock your socks off next year (Alex's book comes out on December 22, so that counts as 2010 for our purposes).

When a rumor starts circulating that Tara's boyfriend has been with one of the guy cheerleaders, the innuendo doesn't just hurt Tara. It marks the beginning of the end for three lifelong friends.

Tara's training for a marathon, but also running from her fear of abandonment from her father.

Whitney Blaire seems to have everything, but an empty mansion and absentee parents leave her looking for her own value in the wrong places.

And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mama she's never stopped missing.

Then the new girl arrives in school and Tara starts to feel things she's never felt for before for a girl. Can the girls' friendship survive when all the rules have changed?


For today's post, Alexandra is sharing a glimpse of the past from one of her characters' perspectives.



As remembered by Pinkie D. Ricci from Of All the Stupid Things

Mama doesn’t have any hair. Usually she wears a scarf. A red one or a blue one. But not today. It’s Halloween and Mama says it makes her look scarier without a scarf. Silly. Mama is beautiful. She never looks scary. Even with no hair. But that’s good because I don’t like scary things.

Last year I was a princess. This year I’m a fairy princess. That’s much better. Mama made the costume for me. It took her ages. That’s because Mama gets tired easily and needs to sleep a lot. It’s done now and it’s beautiful. Pink and purple and silver with lots of glitter. It even has real fairy wings, but I haven’t learned to fly yet.

I’m going treek-o-treeking with my friend David. David is a knight. He has a helmet and armor all over his body and a shield with a lion on it and a real sword. I tell David that since I’m the fairy princess, he has to rescue me. He waves his sword and says he only slays dragons.

His mama takes us treek-o-treeking and my mama stays home. She’s going to give out the popcorn balls. Caramel and peanuts with lots of other yummies. I helped make them. They made my hands sticky, but I didn’t care. They still tasted good. Mama gives David two popcorn balls. One for him and one to distract the dragon. David says that’s a good idea. I think so too. Mama always has good ideas.

At first I hold on to David’s mama’s hand. It’s a bit scary. Some houses are dark and have spooky noises. Some people have faces with lots of blood and teeth and that’s not nice. But David keeps them away with his sword. And people that answer the doors are very nice. I get lots of candy and chocolate and even some real money from an old man. Everyone says my dress is the prettiest dress ever. I know. The other fairy princesses have pretend dresses, but I have a real one.

I have a full bucket when I get home. I show it all to Mama. I tell her that David forgot to give the popcorn ball to the dragon and ate it himself instead. She says that is ok. Then I tell Mama what people said about the dress. She hugs me and starts crying. I look down at my beautiful fairy princess dress. Her tears wet it. I say that she can be a fairy princess too. She can even borrow the dress when she makes her trip to Heaven. She kisses me and smiles and says that she would like that.



To enter to win an Advance Review Copy of Of All the Stupid Things, leave a comment below. For complete rules, read the introductory post.

Deadline for entry: Saturday, October 24, 11:59pm Eastern. NOTE: THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. The winner is Karen!

Kelly Parra and Invisible Touch
Lauren Baratz-Logsted and Crazy Beautiful
Amanda Ashby and Zombie Queen of Newbury High
Shana Norris and Troy High
Linda Joy Singleton and Dead Girl in Love
Linda Gerber and Death by Denim

Thanks to Alexandra for this fabulous post, and congrats on your debut!

Labels: Blogtoberfest, Contests, guests

• posted by Jeri @ 7:35 AM
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