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CSI: Malibu

emily-with-book

Sometimes as a freelancer, you get the coolest gigs ever.  Such was the case for me when I got to travel to Malibu to interview Emily Procter, star of CSI: MIAMI, for the August cover of GUIDEPOSTS magazine.  We did the interview the same day as the photo shoot, and let me tell you, everyone there was completely taken with Emily.  She is unbelievably sweet and fun to be around–plus, she had a really great story to tell.  She’d really spent a lot of time thinking about how she wanted the story to take shape, which made my job a breeze.   I thought you might enjoy some behind-the-scenes pics from the shoot.  Read Emily’s story at http://www.guideposts.org/celebrities/csi-miami-star-emily-procters-inspiring-story

Southern girls represent!  Stylist Lauren Sample is from Mississippi, Emily's from North Carolina, and I'm from Alabama.

Southern girls represent! Stylist Lauren Sample is from Mississippi, Emily's from North Carolina, and I'm from Alabama.

 

Emily overlooking Malibu Beach

Emily overlooking Malibu Beach

Shooting on the beach

Shooting on the beach

Photographer Jack Guy is amazingly talented.

Photographer Jack Guy is amazingly talented.

Cheers for BRAND-NEW EMILY!

hillcrest-cheerleaders3

 

A couple of weeks ago, I hung out with the cheerleading squad from Hillcrest Middle School in Tuscaloosa.  All the girls had recently read Brand-New Emily as sort of a team book club selection.  I signed books, met all the great girls, and ate a cinnamon bagel…I’d say that makes for a pretty fun time!  Thanks, girls, for inviting me!  Go Pats!

Springville Road Library with Irene Latham

Irene and I, many years after high school!
I returned to my old stomping grounds this weekend to do a writing workshop with Leaving Gee’s Bend author Irene LathamSpringville Road Library in Birmingham is where I looked up everything for my senior research paper on how The Great Gatsby was influenced by The Waste Land (I still think it’s a fascinating topic to this day!).  Irene and I went to high school together and were even in the same service club, but we never knew each other very well.  She graduated a year ahead of me, even though I’m actually a year older than she is (she’s one of those grade-skipping smartypants types!).   I do remember a service club slumber party at her house where we toilet papered the yards of new members, which was so much fun!  Then, what do you know, twenty years later, we both had teen novels come out within a few months of each other!  It’s so great to be back in touch with Irene; she’s such a sweet person and so generous about helping aspiring and emerging writers. 

Adding to the fun was the fact that I brought along two of my best friends, Jody Evans and Cita Smith, who are both excellent writers.  I fully expect to be posting info about their debut novels someday.

Thanks to (unfortunately camera-shy) librarian Rochelle and the book seller from St. Vincent’s Hospital for putting together an event that I hope was inspiring and educational for those who attended.

Jody gets down to business.

Jody gets down to business.

Jody, Me, and Cita

Jody, Me, and Cita

Workshop participants hard at work

Workshop participants hard at work

A good crowd!

A good crowd!

Embrace Your Inner Geek

L-R:  Ellen, Amanda, Tami, Chris, Barry, Me, Angie, Martin, Chandra, Rochelle

L-R: Ellen, Amanda, Tami, Chris, Barry, Me, Angie, Martin, Chandra, Rochelle

Had a fantastic time this past Saturday at the first-ever Gadsden GeekFest!  The festival, dreamed up and brought to life by Gadsden Public Library’s Tami Brooks, was a day of author talks/signings/panel discussions, comic book exhibits, video game tournaments, rock-n-roll, and of course, fried snack foods.  I know what you’re thinking:  can all this much fun under one roof possibly be legal?  But I assure you that no arrests were made.  However, the American Heart Association will probably not be sponsoring the event anytime soon considering that much damage was done to the arteries of those who consumed fried Oreos, Reese’s cups, and Moon Pies.  I am officially ruined for life.  Darn you, fried Oreos, for being so magically delicious!  Stop haunting my dreams and tantalizing me with your deep-fried, powdery, at-once-crispy-yet-soft scrumptiousness!

I had fun getting to know authors Chris Crutcher, Angela Johnson, Barry Lyga, Ellen Schreiber, Chandra Sparks Taylor, and Martin Wilson.  I now have even more books I’m dying to read!  Also, hats off to Mr. Blackwell’s Petty Thieves, who rocked the house between author presentations. 

Thanks to librarians Tami, Amanda, and Rochelle for all your hard work on a fantastic event.  I can’t wait to wear my GeekFest tee with pride!

Ellen, Chris, and Me.  Ellen is so super stylish and cute, and Chris is so funny--love his wry sense of humor!

Ellen, Chris, and Me. Ellen is so super stylish and cute, and Chris is so funny--love his wry sense of humor!

Chandra, Me, and Martin.  I love these two!

Chandra, Me, and Martin. I love these two!

If this is what being a geek looks like, sign me up!  What a great-looking bunch of kids!

If this is what being a geek looks like, sign me up! What a great-looking bunch of kids!

with Barry and Chris at the book signing table

with Barry and Chris at the book signing table

Tuscaloosa native Martin Wilson is a fantastic writer and an awesome person!

Tuscaloosa native Martin Wilson is a fantastic writer and an awesome person!

Had to get a pic with GeekFest mastermind Tami Brooks!

Had to get a pic with GeekFest mastermind Tami Brooks!

Cross-section of fried Oreo.  Yum!

Cross-section of fried Oreo. Yum!

Barry signs books as the rest of us plot to steal his iPad.

Barry signs books as the rest of us plot to steal his iPad.

Getting Schooled

Northside Middle.  Check out the pink tee:  "Sometimes sassy, mostly sweet"

Northside Middle. Check out the pink tee: "Sometimes sassy, mostly sweet"

It was school visit week this week!  On Monday, I hung out with the very nice kids at Northside Middle School all day long.  Their parents would be proud about all the number of “yes, ma’am” and “no ma’am” responses I heard.  Then, on Thursday, I visited Hillcrest Middle School, where we kicked out all the boys and had some serious girl talk!  Thanks to all the students for your great questions and attention!  Next stop:  Gadsden GeekFest!

Northside Middle.  The girl on the left is a future celebrity publicist...get ready, Hollywood!

Northside Middle. The girl on the left is a future celebrity publicist...get ready, Hollywood!

Hillcrest Middle.  The blonde next to me said I was her favorite author!  :)

Hillcrest Middle. The blonde next to me said I was her favorite author! :)

In case you didn't know, wearing your visitor badge on your thigh is the in thing at Hillcrest Middle.  (Actually, I had no choice b/c the sticker kept catching my hair.)  Inside joke to HMS girls: insert sticker joke here!

In case you didn't know, wearing your visitor badge on your thigh is the in thing at Hillcrest Middle. (Actually, I had no choice b/c the sticker kept catching my hair.) Inside joke to HMS girls: insert sticker joke here!