Keri Mikulski's Favorite Holiday Movie and Book

Today we are happy to host Keri Mikulski, author of Screwball, Change-Up, and the upcoming 2011 Pretty Tough series to talk about her holiday favorites.

"Ah.. The holidays," says Keri. " There is nothing better than snuggling up on the couch next to a sparkly tree and watching a movie or diving into an amazing book. Total bliss.

So, what’s my fave holiday movie? By far, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Even though I’ve seen it over a zillion times, I still come down with a serious case of the giggles each and every time I spend time with the Griswalds. Gotta love Grandma."


"And holiday books," continues Keri. "So many to choose from… Last year, I loved John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle’s Let it Snow. But, the holidays are my time to cuddle up with a cozy holiday-themed romance. My faves are the classic old lovers reunite during the holidays. A guy and a girl (went to the same high school, middle school, elementary school, knew each other from past, etc…) are stuck in their hometown for a White Christmas. They’re both seriously down on their luck and happen to run into each other at the grocery store on Christmas Eve. After chatting, heart flutters, and stomach swirls, they realize they’re soul mates and live happily ever after. Sigh.

Have a fabulous holiday, everyone! I cannot wait for 2010."

Thank you, Keri. And some of our YA Fresh readers might know that I consider Let It Snow to be my favorite holiday book, as well. In fact, I might just have to make a tradition of re-reading it each December!

We'd love to hear from readers about holiday books or holiday themes they enjoy reading!

Holly Cupala's Favorite Holiday Movie

Today we’re featuring debut young adult author Holly Cupala who I first met a couple years back as a reader here at YA Fresh. She won one of our giveaways, and when she passed me at a writing conference some months later, we both recognized each other’s names, and have been fast on-line friends ever since.

Holly’s first book, Tell Me a Secret releases on June 22, 2010 and has already received praise and wonderful blurbs from best-selling authors Ellen Hopkins and Deb Caletti!

So now tell us, Holly, what is your favorite holiday movie?

“Favorite holiday movie, you ask?” she says. “Well, there is really only one answer for me. In fact, it has to be sung (sounds of throat clearing, toe-tapping):

I'm Mr. White Christmas, I'm Mr. Snow...
I'm Mr. Icicle,
I'm Mr. 10 Below...

They call me SNOW MISER.
Whatever I touch...
Starts to freeze in my clutch!
I'm too much, da-dum dum dum, daaaa dum!


What, you've never heard of that one? Well, allow me to introduce you to THE
YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS, Christmas Special circa 1962 (long, looong
before I was born), in which two wayward elves and a heat-sick baby reindeer must make a bargain with Heat Miser and his icy brother, Snow Miser, to bring a blizzard to Southtown and convince the villagers that Santa does, in fact, exist. Hijinks and henchmen choruses ensue.

This is by far the best way I know to get my sister laughing uncontrollably and turning as red as her hair. Hmm, perhaps I've just found the perfect gift... Whee - you can buy the WHOLE CAST at Toymania. Then we'd never have a year without Santa ever again!”

I don’t know how I missed this one, Holly, but believe me, my eyes and ears are now open. Thank so much for sharing!

And please now, readers, tell us, do you know about the Snow Miser? Do you walk around singing that little ditty, too? Or maybe some other special holiday songs?

The Gift of Series Books!

Hey YA Freshers!

I thought I'd make a list of recommended YA series books that you might consider giving for a gift this Holiday season or even trying out yourself during the holiday, maybe? Here are the first books in these awesome series.

Glass House - The Morganville Vampire Series. That's right, Morganville, Texas where Vampires really exist along with humans, and four teen best friends are just trying to keep each other out of danger.

I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You - Spy Girl Series by Ally Carter! These are exceptional teen girls from Gallagher Academy who know how to take care of business.

Wake - by Lisa McMann. A girl who hops dreams like she hops classrooms. Fast-paced and suspenseful.

Deadly Little Secret - A Touch novel series by Laurie Faria Stolarz with mystery, suspense, and danger.

The Hunger Games - Set in a postapocalyptic world where kids have to fight for their lives. Intense and gripping.

Okay, these are my gift giving recommendations...do you have any other series suggestions for me?

;)

Amanda Ashby's Favorite Holiday Movie

Today we're happy to chat with New Zealand young adult author Amanda Ashby to find out which film she tends to watch again and again each holiday season...

"This isn't a seasonal one," Amanda tells us, "but for some reason I always watch it at Christmas: Clueless."


"Which is of course the best movie that has ever been made! Even my husband, who shies away from anything remotely teen or girlie, loves it. Such a perfect movie and of course it was a twist on one of my favorite books, Emma by Jane Austen!!! I still listen to the soundtrack all the time as well. Oh yes, I will live to be a major embarassment to my kids!!!!"

I love that movie, too, and still find the phrase "As if!" racing through my brain now and then. Weigh in and tell us if you have any favorite lines from that movie...or if you have a non-holiday movie as your holiday favorite, too.

Thanks for sharing with us, Amanda!

The Winner...

The winner of an autographed copy of Stephanie Hale’s book,


chosen at random from comments left on her favorite holiday movie blog is...

jpetrotroy!

Please e-mail me at admin@tinaferraro.com and we'll get the book winging to you!

And thanks to everyone who entered!

Stephanie Hale's Favorite Holiday Movie/Giveaway

Our good friend, Stephanie Hale, the author of the Aspen Brooks series, and the upcoming, The Alpha Bet, was kind enough to weigh in with us about her favorite holiday movie: The Family Stone.


“The movie I have found myself watching at Christmas the last few years is The Family Stone," says Steph. "It isn't really a 'holiday' movie but does take place at Christmas. Who doesn't look forward to spending the holidays with family only to have them driving you crazy five minutes later? It is my dream to write an adult novel someday that touches on the complexities of family so perfectly like this movie does. If you haven't seen this movie, I highly recommend it!”

Steph has been kind enough to offer up a signed copy of the third in her Aspen Brooks series, Spring Breakup,


which is of course about a holiday, just not the season we’re presently in. In order to be entered in her contest, simply tell us your favorite holiday. The winner will be announced on Monday!

Santa Amazon Brings Me A Gift

I am excited to share with all of you something I learned this weekend: the fact that Amazon.com put The ABC's of Kissing Boys on their holiday "Great Gift Ideas for Teens" list!


Click HERE to see the whole list. The placement of books tends to shift with sales (I think), but you should find my book on there somewhere!

That sure gave my holidays a happy kickstart!

Wendy Toliver’s Favorite Holiday Movie

First up of our author-friends to share with us their favorite holiday-themed movie is the sweet and funny Wendy Toliver. Who tells us she has two favorite movies, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation



and Elf.


“Because,” she tell is, “they are hysterical and movies the whole family, from babies to great-grandparents, can enjoy year after year.”

Sounds wonderful! I’m going to have to check them out. And at the same time, I encourage you to check out Wendy’s two latest books, Miss Match and Lifted, which comes out in June!

The Winner...

The winner of the $20 Barnes and Noble gift card (chosen at random from comments left on my favorite holiday movie blog) is...

MEREDITH

and her answer of The Santa Clause!

Congrats to Meredith (who needs to e-mail me at admin@tinaferraro.com with contact information) and thanks to all who entered!

Favorite Holiday Movies (& a Giveaway)

Kelly and I thought it would be fun to check in with some of our favorite YA Fresh author-friends this month and see what holiday films they’ll be watching (again) this year.

To kick things off, click here to see a trailer on the Turner Classic Movie station featuring my all-time favorite, Christmas in Connecticut.

Barbara Stanwyck stars as Elizabeth Lane who writes a Suzy Homemaker-type magazine column--even though she can’t boil water. The owner of the magazine invites a heroic sailor to spend his first Christmas back from World War II on the farm Elizabeth has invented for her column. She knows that her career is over if the truth comes out, and quickly has to invent a farm, a husband, a baby, cooking skills...and if that’s not bad enough, she and the soldier take one look at each other and hear bells...


Christmas in Connecticut is charming, funny, romantic...and a staple in the Ferraro household.

So now for the details on the giveaway! Share with us your favorite holiday movie and be entered to win a $20 Barnes and Noble gift card to use on purchasing that film...or whatever you’d like! Enter as often as you’d like (with a different title each time, please) and check back on Monday to see the name of the randomly selected winner! Good luck!

And remember to keep checking in here at YA Fresh this month to learn more about our author-friends' favorite movies, too!