CHATTERBUZZ: Welcomes...*LAUREN MECHLING*

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Welcome to the very first edition of CHATTERBUZZ which will feature interviews, writer tips and the usual chatter from writers far and wide, published, upcoming and soon-to-be-published.
Today, I'm really excited to present the fab...

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....*LAUREN MECHLING*

She co-wrote the 10th Grade Social Climber Series and is the author of the upcoming DREAM GIRL series. DREAM LIFE comes out in January 2010.


So, hold your breath. Lets hear it straight from Lauren.

The Book we so HAVE to read...

"Dream Girl" is a delicious tale about a half-French girl detective who discovers that her dreams might be worth listening to. In the sequel "Dream Life," Claire gets tapped to join a very fabulous secret society.But it's not just clubhouse pajama parties and inexplicable traditions--thanks to her dreams she sniffs out that she and the club are both in quite a bit of trouble. It's all very action-packed, a la James Bond, except instead of a craggy-faced villain named Demetri or Nubius, the villains come in slightly more interesting--and slippery--forms.

And you are...

I am a newspaper editor by day, teen fiction writer by night. Well, early morning if you want to get technical about it.

What sparked off the inspiration for Dream Girl? 

"Dream Girl" is really a love letter to New York. I imagined what it would be like if all of my favorite places--the Waldorf hotel, the tea shops in the East Village, Green-Wood Cemetery, etc--were actually important places in somebody's daily life. I'm so jealous of Claire!

  

What has been your 'Eureka' moment so far?

I wrote Dream Girl when I was a full-time writer. Now that I have a day job, it's been fascinating to discover that I can write about half as much as I was as a "full-time writer"  in a fraction of the time. It's all about making the most of the tiny parcels of free time you do have.

Your website says that in fifth grade you whipped up a home-made pencil costume for Halloween. Was it any different in your teens?

Did I get my sexy on, you mean? Sadly, no. My 12th grade Halloween costume involved wearing an ET nightgown and elaborately teased hair.

Why write YA? You look very much like an adult.

It's true--I'm an old lady. I like to write YA because of all the roller coastery twists and turns it allows for. The stuff I've written for grown-ups tends to be slower and, well, not as good. Plus, I was a more passionate reader as a teen than I am now and I like to think I'm writing for people who love books harder than any other readers. I love love my readers.

If you were marooned on an uninhabited island and had the option of taking one book along (barring your own), which would it be?

Ooh! Can I say my Kindle, which has Edith Wharton's "Old New York," "Alice and Wonderland" and "Vampire Academy" on it? If not, I'd say my favorite book of all time: "Quartet in Autumn" by Barbara Pym. I should warn you, it's very weird.

The Golden tip for the writers. Okay, one that you feel aspiring writers should keep in mind.

As I said above, slow and steady wins the race. You don't have to despair if you can't write a book in a few months--however long it takes is fine. I take yoga classes, and the teachers are always talking about "my practice," meaning their daily commitment. I'm not sure I could handle pretzeling myself for 90 minutes every day, but I do like the idea of having "a practice" if it's writing. It centers me, to sit at my desk every morning. I'd recommend any aspiring writer try to write for ten minutes a day, just to see what it feels like to be committed to something for the long haul.

Five random things about yourself in the next thirty seconds.

I nervously twiddle my hair.

I always buy too much cheese at the supermarket even though I don't really like cheese.

I like the Twilight movies a lot more than the books.

I have dreams about people that change the way I feel about them.

I believe in wearing perfume at all times.

Okay, now spill a secret. *Grins*

Sometimes I go to the movies by myself and don't tell anybody.

Thanks, Lauren!

It's been great talking to you.

We wish you lots of bestsellers and a totally fab writing career.

To know more about Dream Girl or Lauren check out her website.

And go purchase the book on Amazon. 

~xoxo