Trashionista

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Teen Fiction Cafe

I love young adult fiction probably even more than adult fiction (and not just because I write it). Probably my favourite books of the last couple of years have been young adult (like this one and this one) and there are some great YA blogs out there too.

Teen Fiction Cafe features this week's author interviewee Sara Hantz, along with a host of other amazing authors including Bev Katz Rosenbaum and Lauren Baratz-Logsted.

(And don't forget Chicklish for all your British YA author news and reviews!)

Pushing Daisies

Pushing Daisies is a romantic black comedy with a fantastic premise. It features Ned, a man with a gift; his touch brings the dead back to life. Problem is, his next touch kills them again... Permanently.

PI Emerson Cod convinces Ned to help him by bringing murder victims back to life - briefly - so that they can name their killers.

It's airing on ABC in the US at the moment and since I don't live there - and it isn't on DVD, yet - I haven't seen it. I am, however, going to go right out on a limb and recommend you look out for it.

Why? Because Jennifer Crusie loves it and that, for me, is enough.

(FYI: Things I have watched and loved on Crusie's say-so: Buffy, Angel, Firefly, 10 Things I Hate About You.)

So. There you have it.

Related posts: Chick Lit author's favourite TV | Reading Buffy the Vampire Slayer

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: The Never Ending Story

The Never Ending Story is a website that allows you to write the next page or verse of stories and poems started by famous people and other members from around the world. The best stories are selected for printing as actual books, featuring the names (and photos if uploaded) of all the contributors.

So far, famous contributors include author Isabel Wolff (look out for an interview with Isabel on Trashionista next week), Joanne Harris and Limahl. Yes, Limahl. There's also a story by Jeffery Archer entitled Womens' Rights. Does it say something about Jeffery Archer that the apostrophe in the title is in the wrong place...?

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TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Magical Musings

At Trashionista, we love us a good group blog. So I was delighted to stumble across (seriously - who knows what I clicked to get there, I'm just glad I did) another one: Magical Musings.

Bearing the tagline "Five writers who believe no story is complete without a little magic", the bloggers write novels ranging from historicals to fantasy to romantic fiction, and you can find out more about them all here.

They have some really interesting book-related blog posts on the main page, such as what happens when one of your must-read authors falls off your must-buy list (Adriana Trigiani, I'm looking at you!) and how much sex is OK in YA? (Read it and see!)

Great. Just what I needed: another must-read bookish blog... pretty soon I'll have no time to write anything myself!

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Bookarazzi

You know how we love blogs to books (and, for that matter, books to blogs) here at Trashionista? Well, now there's a website especially for bloggers with book deals.

Bookarazzi features almost 50 authors, including Caroline Smailes, Lucy Diamond, Kate Harrison and Sarah Salway. There's a group blog, plus articles about writing, publishing and books. Regular posts will include 'Where I write' and 'How I got published'.

Trashionista Recommends archives

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Writers Revealed

Writers Revealed is a live weekly podcast hosted by HarperCollins senior online marketing manager and editor and publisher of the literary magazine Small Spiral Notebook, Felicia Sullivan.

The show features live discussions, book giveaways and author interviews. Leslie Bennetts (author of The Feminine Mistake), Joshua Ferris and Michelle Goodman, and John McNally have already appeared with Julianna Baggott, MJ Rose and Curtis Sittenfeld coming up. You can listen to previous shows online.

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TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Spirited Woman Circle

The Spirited Woman Circle gives readers a chance to participate in a series of one-hour phone "telechats" with famous women authors and industry insiders.

For the first half hour Spirited Woman's Nancy Mills interviews each guest and in the second half-hour you're able to ask your own questions.

Forthcoming authors include Hillary Carlip (curses - that was today) and Carly Phillips and previous authors have included Janet Fitch and Fannie Flagg.

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TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: The Idea Boutique

Now here's a good idea: a blog where authors answer the age-old question, "Where do you get your ideas from?"

So far, The Idea Boutique's respondents have included Lois Winston, Lauren Baratz-Logsted and Carly Phillips, although Lani Diane Rich's answer ("Target.") is still my all-time fave.

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TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Dogs & Goddesses

We love Jennifer Crusie. We love Lani Diane Rich. We even love books about dogs (like this one and this one). So how excited do you think we are about Dogs & Goddesses, a new group blog by Jenny, Lani and Anne Stuart (who we don't know yet, but are sure we'll also love)?

Once upon a time, three writers decided to do a novel about three ordinary women who meet at a dog obedience class and discover they’re descended from ancient Mesopotamian priestesses. Well, you had to be there.

Plus there are nine talking dogs. What's not to like? [via Nicola Pedley and Argh Inc]

Related posts: New Jennifer Crusie collaborations |  Will Write for Wine

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Snowbooks

We don't usually recommend particular publishers, but Snowbooks is definitely worthy of a special mention. They're a small press, so turn out just a handful of books each year - but they're all of very good quality. So far we've reviewed Taking The Plunge, Drugs are Nice, Mama Lama Ding Dong and one of my favourite books of last year, Plotting for Beginners.

Not only that, but Snowbooks have a beautifully designed website, with a very interesting blog.

And you can catch up with them on Myspace and Twitter, too!

Related: Literature... on Twitter? | Trashionista Recommends.

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: The Jane Austen Centre

The Jane Austen Centre is a permanent exhibition in Bath, England, telling the story of the effect that living in Bath had on Jane Austen and her writing.

The website features an online Jane Austen magazine with over 500 articles, a giftshop - where you can buy the Jane Austen Ink (£3.29) and Elizabeth and Darcy soaps (£6.59) pictured - information about the Jane Austen Festival, Regency tea rooms, Jane Austen's Regency World magazine, an online quiz plus a comprehensive list of research relevant Jane Austen related links. Phew.

Related posts: Austen Week archives | Literary Luminaries book bags

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Teach Me Tonight

Following Diane's Guardian book blog in defence of chick lit, it was suggested (by a commenter) that there is no academic writing about Mills & Boon. Like many of the points made in the comments (read them at your peril), this is incorrect. Not only does academic writing on Mills & Boon and romance exist, there is also academic study of chick lit.

You could take a course at Harvard or Indiana University South Bend, or you could read Teach Me Tonight, an accessible and entertaining group blog focussing on romance fiction from an academic perspective.

The latest post mentions the following paper given by Lesa Smith, Wilfrid Laurier University: "Emailing Romance: Epistolary Form in the Modern Romance Novel" - Smith examined the conventions used in Meg Cabot's The Boy Next Door, a novel told entirely in emails and attachments, against the epistolary conventions used in Fanny Burney's Evelina.

Which I think you'll find was a link made by me (well, not quite, but close enough that I'm claiming it) in our Top  10 chick lit precursors list last year. See, I knew my English Lit degree hadn't been wasted!

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TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Little Black Dress

We're big fans of the Little Black Dress series here at Trashionista. We've loved Singletini and Pick Me Up, hugely enjoyed Step On It, Cupid and, um, read The Bachelorette Party (ahem).

But what we (or at least, I) hadn't realised is that Little Black Dress has a jam-packed website and a blog. With competitions, extracts, a newsletter and even dating tips and recipes, there's plenty to keep you occupied until next month's books - including The Men's Guide to the Women's Bathroom, which I've heard great things about - come out.

And look out for loads more Little Black Dress book reviews here at Trashionista over the coming months.

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Will Write for Wine

I am very excited. Very, very excited. Because Lani Diane Rich has a new podcast! Starting this Saturday (10th March), Will Write for Wine features Lani and her fellow author and friend, Samantha Graves, talking about "Wine, writing and song. But mostly wine and writing".

Not only that, but they're looking for questions to answer. So if you've ever wondered "how writers plot or how books get to the shelves or what the heck a print run is" then drop them an email and not only might you get your question answered on the podcast, you could win a fabulous prize.

Related posts: Lani Diane Rich interview / Amazon.com launches a podcast

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Holly's Inbox

Are you ready for the "Bridget Jones's diary of the digital age"?

New website Holly's Inbox is a real time novel set in the reception area of a city investment bank. When you go into the site it is like you are accessing Holly's actual inbox and reading her emails as they come in.

I've just read week one and I can see it could become totally addictive.

Related posts: Horizons Past: free online novel / Read The Mummybiz online ... as it's written / Five Chapters

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Oneword radio

Oneword Radio is a digital and online radio station featuring "the best in books, drama, comedy & discussion" and includes serialisations of bestselling books read by great actors.

On Tuesday, 26 December you can catch the first of nine episodes of Allison Pearson's I Don't Know How She Does It, read by Samantha Bond and Gary Armstrong and also Jane Eyre (the first of 52 episodes!) read by Juliet Stevenson. Plus every weekend you can enjoy extracts from Mills & Boon novels.

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: To the Best of Our Knowledge

To the Best of Our Knowledge is a show on Wisconsin Public Radio in the US and is described as "two hours of smart, entertaining radio for people with curious minds." I've subsribed to the podcast and yesterday listened to the show Brazen Women which I think will appeal to Trashionista readers. (You don't have to subscribe, you can listen online.)

There's a discussion of the Nancy Drew phenomenon including an interview with Girl Sleuth: Nancy Drew and the Women Who Created Her author Melanie Rehak and also Chelsea Cain talks about her book Confessions of A Teen Sleuth: A Parody.

The show also features an interview with Ariel Levy, author of Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture. Nuala O'Faolain talks about her book, The Story of Chicago May, the true story of a 19th century Irish immigrant who became a con-woman and crook and Ann Blackman discusses Wild Rose: Rose O'Neale Greenhow, Civil War Spy: A True Story, about a woman who became a social power in Washington and ran a successful spy ring for the Confederacy.

But it's not just this one episode, authors are frequently featured. Lions, Witches and Wizards features Geraldine McCaughrean and Eoin Colfer, Fictional Fun features Jennifer Weiner, in The Book Business, Zadie Smith talks about the authors she admires and YA author Lauren Myracle appears on Speech Rules!

Trashionista Recommends: Book Reporter

Book Reporter is a site with author interviews and book info that's a great read any time of the year, but especially at Christmas! (Can you tell I'm in the seasonal mood? I love me some Xmas, and it's December this week so there's no excuse not to join me!)

Check out Book Reporter's "What to Give/What to Get" (I like the way that's phrased!) guide to Christmas new releases/old favourites for all the family... and look at the homepage, too.

Trashionista Recommends: Fresh Yarn

You know how much we love Hillary Carlip here at Trashionista, so we were excited to discover Fresh Yarn, a site she set up to feature personal essays by some great memoir/essay writers. (The current issue includes a very timely essay, The Federlines and Us by Elizabeth Crane). Hillary edits the site and it's updated with six new essays every month with past issues still available to read in the archives. If you're already up to date, the new issue will is due on 1st December.

TRASHIONISTA RECOMMENDS: Hags, Harlots, Heroines

Hags Harlots Heroines is a tongue in cheekily named site dedicated to women's storytelling. It's free to join and you can submit your own stories or read other people's. There's also a book club, book reviews, a handy links section and lots of writing advice. The website blurb says that HH is,

"The site where you can explore and develop your creative writing skills, get your short stories and poems published online, receive feedback and writing tips for fiction and non-fiction, with particular support for writing about women, and where you can meet fellow writers."

Not bad for nothing!

Trashionista Recommends: Buzz, Balls and Hype

Buzz, Balls and Hype is author M.J Rose's regular update on the world of books and publishing, and it's always fresh, fun and interesting. A PR specialist as well as author, M.J has an interest in both sides of the book world.

I loved this blog by guest author Josie Brown on the right name for your book. (No, not the title, the author needs the right name!- You can vote for the one you like best). And last week, M.J linked to this video which conveys those rough times all writers have... (but don't watch it if cartoon violence freaks you out!)

Trashionista Recommends: Heart of Tartness book club

The five romance writers who blog collectively at The Lipstick Chronicles have started a "Heart of Tartness" online book club.

Their first book is The Cinderella Pact by Sarah Strohmeyer (one of the five bloggers, funnily enough!) and the focus of the discussion is Women and Self Worth:

"Are we, like the hair color urges, worth it? What keeps us from accepting and loving ourselves just the way we are? The Pact in the book is made by three friends who vow to change their weight. Do they lose anything with the weight? Do they gain anything in return?"

Read the book, drop by, leave a comment. You know, just like you do here.

Trashionista recommends: Zinio

Occasionally - and you'll be shocked by this - occasionally, I don't want to read a book. Sometimes I just want to sit down with a cup of tea and flick through a glossy magazine. But I favour American magazines. I don't know why. They just seem somehow more glamorous, more stylish, more grown-up than the British ones. But they're also more expensive and harder to get hold of.

Except they're not. Because at Zinio you can subscribe to US magazines and read them online. Unlike me, you may not be sad enough to get over-excited at being able to turn the page just like a real magazine, but perhaps you'll be excited about a year's worth of US Elle for $12.00. That's about £6.50 or 50p per issue! (If you are in the US, it's pretty cheap for print mags too, e.g. $15.00 for Vanity Fair for a year.)

Check out a free sample issue of Seventeen (chosen for the Justin Timberlake cover) here.

Trashionista Recommends: LibraryThing

All the cool kids (if book obsessives have a "cool kids" section) are joining LibraryThing- an easy to use, online way of keeping track of your book collection.  You can list up to 200 of your books for free, or pay $10 for a year's membership, $25 for lifetime membership (which works out at about £13- bargain!)  Keep your list private, or get a link (with or without pictures) for your blog, Myspace page, etc.

When you've added your books to the site, it will look a little something like this- although presumably with a few more interesting titles!

Trashionista Recommends: Conversations With..

Conversations with Famous Writers is such a fabulous resource for readaholics like me, I can't believe I've only just discovered it!  Containing reviews, books news and as the title promises, interviews with famous writers- with the emphasis on women's books- it's a brilliant site.  Recent 'Conversations' have included Stephanie Klein, author of Straight up and Dirty, Bridget Harrison of Tabloid Love fame and Lolly Winston, author of "Good Grief" (in the U.S- "Sophie's bakery for the Brokenhearted" here- but let's not go into that again!)

Also, check out her blogroll- one of the best I've ever seen: it's chock-full of great blogs and reading/writing-related sites.

Trashionista Recommends: NPR

In Britain, the initials NPR don't mean much to most people, but in America they mean a lot: they stand for National Public Radio, a much-loved radio station similar in tone to the BBC -except perhaps a little more exciting, sorry BBC!- which produces intelligent and thought-provoking programmes.  And of course, some of those are about books...

There's a huge book section on their website, including summer reading recommendations  (I couldn't agree more with their choice of "Who Will Run the Frog Hospital?" by Lorrie Moore- it's a fantastic book about teenage friendship and growing up) and books so good you'll skip work!
You can read the recommendations online at the links above, or better yet, listen to clips via the site.