Here it is, the second official day of spring, and I’m feeling seriously pink. Just went out and bought random pink items—pink T-shirts, pink books, pink shoes. I’m not really a Barbie magic sort of girl most days, but something about March brings out the girly-girl in me; I’m drawn to every variation on the pink spectrum, from cotton candy pastel to rich raspberry.

I even bought a pink laminator, and I feel the urge to make bookmarks—something I’ve been slacking on lately. Oh, and to make me even happier, my editors sent me a box of books this week; I feel a sudden, overwhelming urge to put together pink packages of love.

Here’s what I’m thinking:  You tell me about your spring urges. Does March make you crave ice mochas? Does it make you flirtier than usual? Do you find yourself singing cheesy songs from Brigadoon?

Whatever it is, tell me about it in a comment here, and I’ll enter you in a drawing to win both of the betty books (Confessions of a Triple Shot Bettys and Triple Shot Bettys in Love).  Already read one or both? No worries—you can give them away to a friend. Not only that, but I plan to give away my first set of laminated bookmarks with my very own one-of-a-kind collage on them. They’re going to be lovely…I can feel it!

Okay, so time to dish: tell me what spring makes you want to do...

I interviewed Liz Funk about her brand new book, Supergirls Speak Out. I’ll let her explain the book—and her preternatural obsession with hair products.

1) Tell us about your book and what inspired you to write it.

I’ve been thinking about the pressure on girls to be perfect my whole life.  In high school, I saw that the girls who got the most attention—from boys, teachers, others girls, parents… everyone!—were well-dressed, pretty, skinny, self-effacing, mild-mannered girls who also got great grades and led clubs and school sports.  And these “Supergirls” made being perfect look effortless (although sometimes they would casually mention that they didn’t go to sleep until 2:30am, or that they woke up at 5:30am to curl their hair).  Obviously, this is a terribly high bar to set for all the other girls in school, and there was a ripple effect in that so many other girls made an effort to be Supergirls, too and tried to do everything but make it all look easy.  I wanted to see if this was a nationwide thing, and what this pressure to be perfect was doing to girls.  I found that the Supergirl drive was, unfortunately, a grave epidemic affecting girls everywhere, and it was so eye-opening and interesting to talk to girls from around the country and hear about the pressures that they faced and the consequences of their frightening drive to overachieve.  I met a lot of girls who, to put it plainly, hated their lives and didn’t see any way that they could be happy without being perfect.

2) Any advice for readers who suspect they might be Supergirls themselves?

In terms of the “big picture,” I think young women need to realize that they matter.  I think so many young women find their value in their looks and their clothes and their popularity and their grades… but, girls, you are special on your own!  As silly as this may sound, I think young women need to take themselves out to lunch, by themselves, with no cell phone or Blackberry or magazine, and find how lovely it feels to devote some time to themselves and listen to their thoughts.  I am a huge proponent of therapy, and I think it also helps to take up a therapeutic hobby like painting or journaling, but I think the best thing I personally have done for my mental health and recovering from my Supergirl self was taking myself out for regular lunches—sitting alone at a sidewalk café with a big salad, a cocktail, and my thoughts.  I think that many girls may find that when they stop berating themselves, start treating themselves, and make time to listen to their internal monologues, they’ll find that they have quirky, funny, vibrant personalities that have been suppressed by their trying to be perfect for years!

3) I hear you're obsessed with hair products. Want to talk a little about that?

Yes!  I love hair products!  I have really light blonde hair (which is actually sort of a Supergirl issue in itself, in that I’m obsessed with how my hair looks and feels, and so much of my identity is tied up in being a blonde, which is ironic because my hair is naturally brown) and my hair is totally damaged from years of dyeing it, so I love trying out new products.  The best shampoo I’ve found is Christophe Color Extending Shampoo, the best conditioner is Aveda’s Damage Remedy Reconstructing Conditioner, the best leave-in conditioner is this obscure spray called It’s a Ten, and the best protein spray is by Frederic Fekkai.  Seriously, these findings are from two years worth of research (and trying literally dozens and dozens of products), so take my word for it!

4) What tips can you offer for young writers out there seeking publication?

I think the most important thing for young writers out there to know is that they can be the experts on so many topics.  Sometimes the mainstream media gets things wrong: there have been a lot of media outlets reporting that Generation Y is overentitled at work and that Generation Y is lazy and that the boys today are “suffering” because of girls’ successes in school, and all of this is so obviously untrue, but because the media is mostly consulting adults to weigh in on these “phenomena” and not young people, there is no one to set the story straight!  So I think that young writers should feel completely shameless about writing opinion articles and submitting them to major newspapers, pitching columns on Generation Y issues to their local newspapers, or perhaps writing a book proposal!  Today’s young people need to be the spokespeople for Generation Y!

5) Anything you want to add?

Yes!  I’m doing a lot of events and readings and lectures for “Supergirls Speak Out” around the country, most notably, a reading at the Borders on Wall Street in New York City on March 10^th at 1pm.  I invite anyone who is interested to check out my web-site, lizfunk.com, to see if I’ll be coming to your town as part of my in-person book tour!  And I definitely invite people to shoot me an e-mail… I’m totally game for giving writing advice or Supergirl-to-Supergirl advice!

Thanks so much for having me!

I had a professor once who was an extremely controversial writer in his day. His debut was a reportedly autobiographical novel about a young male prostitute, so that gives you some idea of his milieu. It came out in the early sixties, a time when the drag queens and transsexuals he wrote about weren’t pop culture staples like they are now, but super edgy glimpses of subversive fringe culture.

We used to have class in his dining room in LA, even though it was a course offered through a prestigious (and somewhat stuffy) university. That was where he wanted to be, so that’s where we went—he was just like that.

Whenever someone became uncomfortable because of his liberal use of obscenities, my professor used to say in his flamboyant, ecstatic way, “People, language is meant to be free! That’s why I use all of it! Don’t be afraid!”

I love this attitude. I know lots of readers are offended when they see certain words on the page, though, which I guess I can understand. If you come from a religious background, especially, it can go against everything you’ve been taught. Still, I long to be as free and unapologetic about language as my professor.

In Young Adult fiction it’s particularly confusing, because the under-twenty lexicon practically revolves swearing, yet it’s still slightly taboo in print. I guess in part this is because parents flipping through the pages might find it inappropriate and hesitate to fork over bucks for their thirteen-year-old to read language they’re discouraged from ever uttering. Hence, substitutions like crap and friggin’ now abound, not just in YA but in the majority of commercial fiction, which I find deeply fuddy-duddy and offensive. I mean, if your characters don’t swear, then they don’t swear, but do they have to use those horrible little placeholders?

How do you feel about crap and friggin’? Do they make you want to retch, or am I just totally alone in my abhorrence?

It’s been so long since I blogged, I don’t even know if I remember how. Here we go: move fingers across the keyboard, letters form words…yes! I think I’ve got it.

Actually, I’ve been moving my fingers across the keyboard A LOT these days, just not for blogging purposes. I’m frantically trying to finish revisions on my next Young Adult novel (working title: Babe in Boyland). I go back to teaching at the end of this week and that means super long hours right here, working like hell to make this book shine.

Revision is always my manic time, during which I have two settings: “I’m a genius!” and “I suck and want to die!” Believe me, I’m not a fun person to hang out with during these periods.

But, revisions aside, we have several things to celebrate, and to do so I intend to give away some books. Here’s what I’m happy about at the moment:

1) Triple Shot Bettys in Love, the sequel to Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty, is out January 22^nd.

2) I installed a punching bag in my writing room. I even have real boxing gloves! It’s incredible. No better way to work out the old revision frustrations than shattering your knuckles on a seventy pound bag.

So here’s the deal: I’m offering free signed copies of the Betty Box Set: Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty and the sequel (not in stores for another week or so) Triple Shot Bettys in Love. All you have to do is leave me a comment here to enter. Any sort of comment will do, but I’d love to hear what you do to take out your frustrations.

Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty, my first Young Adult novel, comes out in paperback today. I'm turning to you, myspace comrades, oh readers of fiction and seekers of caffeinated adventure, to help me celebrate.

I actually haven't even seen the paperback version, so I can't give any away, but I do have some hardcover copies tucked away here and there in my little hidey-holes. If you want a signed copy and a custom bookmark, just leave me a comment here and I'll toss your name into a hat.

Thanks to everyone who left a comment on my latest blog. I felt completely reassured that I do not suffer alone. Post Halloween Dread Disorder is, apparently, fairly common (who knew?!).

As promised, I entered the names of everyone who left a comment and just now I pulled one out of a hat randomly.

And the winner is…

Faith!

Faith is, I might add, true to her name. She's been extremely supportive and sweet ever since I showed up here on MySpace, so thanks, Faith. Just tell me which of my books you'd like (Summer in the Land of Skin, Tart, Notes from the Backseat, Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty, or an Advance Reader Copy of my not-yet-released Triple Shot Bettys in Love).

Congrats, Faith!

I'll admit it: I'm currently suffering from PHDD (Post Halloween Dread Disorder). Seeing as October 31^st is the peak of my year, la crème de la crème of holidays, I can't help but sigh at the long string of…well, other holidays ahead.

The obvious heavy hitters coming up in a matter of months, Thanksgiving and Christmas, are just bloated, overdone affairs that must be endured. They're both riddled with family obligations, sentimentality, distorted religious themes, and zombie-like consumerism—not exactly my idea of a good time.

Halloween, on the other hand, is pure pagan fun. Give me a wig, a pot of glitter and some go-go boots over turkeys and creepy elves any day! I love the feast of the imagination, the witchieness, the indulgence in psychic shadows that dominates October. I guess I'm just a spooky little girl at heart.

In order to combat my PHDD I've decided to reach out to others who love a little ghoulish action. Sure, November's here, but why not cling to the ghost for one more day? To honor other pagan-hearted creatures such as myself I'm running a contest. Win a signed copy of any one of my novels, your choice (some are even available in Italian and French!). I'll throw in a custom made pagan-themed bookmark just for you.

All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment here about why you love Halloween. Come on now, don't be shy. Is it the hoochie mamas shaking what they've got? The glorious gender confusion? Do you love the blood and gore of it, the pumpkins, the sugar rush, or the tiny goblins running through the streets? Help me fight my PHDD by showing me I'm not alone.

First, thank you sooo much to everyone who entered my birthday giveaway. For those who missed it, I offered to give away the first Advance Reader Copy of my new book, TRIPLE SHOT BETTYS IN LOVE. All you had to do to enter was overwhelm me with hyperbolic praise about the miracle of my birth. Y'all totally gratified my need for flattery, and though the ploy was shameless on my part, the response was nonetheless lovely.

In the end, I was so happy and so full of myself, I decided to give away not ONE but THREE advance reader copies. See what happens when you butter me up? I'm putty in your hands. (Mixed metaphor alert! And she calls herself a writer?)

So I threw all your names into my favorite suede hat and pulled out three.

They are…

(Wait for it…)

LITTLE DEBBIE, TRISTA RANAE, and BANANAMANDA.

Congrats, chicas! Send me your addresses and then check your mailboxes for a little token of my love…

For those who leave here empty-handed, fear not; there may just be an ARC in your near future, anyway. If you're inclined to write a review of it on your blog or whatever, I could no doubt be persuaded to send you one. Just send me a note with your mailing address; perhaps the ARC Fairy will visit you soon.

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Okay, so this is going to be a super quick demi-blog. I feel so out of practice; between teaching and working on my newest book, there just aren't any blogging hours lying about any more.

Sigh…I miss summer! Oh, well, time marches on.

To be fair, I actually love fall and winter because then I get to wear boots, crunch leaves, and drink even more coffee since it tastes better than ever on a cozy, rainy morning.

But back to the point of this blog: tomorrow's my birthday, and I want to celebrate by giving away the very first Advance Reader Copy of my new book (hits stores in January) TRIPLE SHOT BETTYS IN LOVE, the sequel to CONFESSIONS OF A TRIPLE SHOT BETTY. Come on, you want one—you know you do! I'll even throw in a handmade bookmark especially for you and an inscription. How's that?

To enter the drawing, just leave a comment here telling me how glad you are I was born. I know, it's shameless fishing for empty flattery, but we 37-year-olds got to get our love wherever we can, know what I'm sayin?

About a week ago, I got the following message:

"jody, i've thought of something that needs a word, and for some reason i just can't think of anything that would fit. have you ever taken off your sunglasses only to find those little red indented lines underneath? horrifying, i know, but i think it's just about time that somebody came up with a word for them...and i know your the only woman for the job.

Signed,

i believe in you. we all do. don't let us down."

I feel so honored to be trusted with this charge. I have to admit, though, I'm stumped. I mean she's totally right; we really do need a word for this phenomenon. It's like discovering I'm a superhero, then failing miserably on my first mission.

So far I've come up with the following candidates:

Prong punctures

Shade marks

Sunglass hickeys

I don't know, though. Somehow none of the above quite satisfies my yen for the perfect neologism. Help me! We all know what she's talking about, we all know there should be a word, but what is it?