Mortal Instruments; The Movie!

Who is excited about The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie! Me, me, me! I love Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunter series. The movie hits theaters August 23rd. Check out the trailer below:

Reality TV--Yes!

So...in case you didn't know, I love me some good reality TV. Every now and then I may skip a season but I'm pretty faithful. Big Brother---Yes! Real World---Yep! The Voice---Uh-huh! Dancing With the Stars---Totally! And I just finished Halloween Wars on The Food Network, that was fun.

Right now, I am totally hooked on Dancing with the Stars! It has drama, humor, and entertaining dances! Anybody else watching?

So the dancers in the lead are JR Martinez and Ricki Lake (Totally watched her show everyday after high school). Of course, I love them.

I have to say, the celebs I look forward to watching are Rob Kardashian and David Arquette. They've been improving each week and you never know what to expect from them.

Do I have some reality TV friends out there?

She's All That!

One of the joys of the holidays for me is catching up on books and movies, either finding the time for new ones or revisiting old favorites.

Last month I did some of both--in addition to catching a 1999 teen movie on a cable station that I’d only vaguely heard of. Called She’s All That, it stars Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook, with the premise being: “A high school jock makes a bet that he can turn an unattractive girl into the school's prom queen.”


RIGHT up my alley! How had I missed this?

A hot guy, a bad boy, some snooty girls (look for a real young Anna Paquin from True Blood!), and a slightly-nerdy-we-can-all-relate heroine. Plus, a fun dance scene! While I will admit that a few times the dialogue was so predictable that I was able to speak the response before the on-screen character, consideration must be given to the fact that I am, of course, a teen romance writer!

So put this one on your next holiday list...a fun way to relax and get some smiles and “aww” moments.

And please tell us if you have any favorite books or movies that you like to rewatch when time permits!

Let's Talk Teen TV Shows (Giveaway!)

I was watching GLEE the other night (yes, I am a Gleek) and thinking back on various TV shows featuring high school and teens I’ve seen over the years. I thought it would be fun to mention some "oldies but goodies" here for those of us who have down-time over the holidays and feel like going back...

Gidget (1960’s)

A one-season wonder featuring life on the beach (and around town) starring Sally Field!


Welcome Back, Kotter (1970’s)

A former student becomes a teacher at the inner city school he'd been so happy to once leave. And check out John Travolta in one of his earliest roles.


Square Pegs (1980’s)

About misfits in high school. I recall the tag line being “One size does NOT fit all.” And notice a very young “Sex and the City” Sarah Jessica Parker.



Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990’s)

Tagline (thank you, Netflix): A Kansas family relocates to Beverly Hills, where their two children adapt to the infamous social drama of West Beverly Hills High.


So now it’s your turn, and I purposely left the door wide open! Tell us some other TV shows that featured teens in high school that you think others might enjoy tuning into it. One winner will be randomly chosen and can pick between a signed copy of Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress by Tina Ferraro, and a signed copy of Her and Me and You by Lauren Strasnick!

Giveaway ends--and winner announced--on Monday, December 13th!

The Last Song

Ronnie and her little brother have been shipped off for the summer to her father in Georgia. Ronnie has serious anger issues with her parents for divorcing and against her father for leaving, who was also her piano teacher. The day he left, she took a bat to the piano and hasn't played since.

The thing is Ronnie has an extraordinary talent for her age. She's recently graduated from high school and has been invited to Juilliard. But she's not going. Her anger and betrayal for her father runs too deep.

When Ronnie meets Will, she begins to open herself to young love and to forgiveness towards her father. Only to discover a heartbreaking secret that rocks her world.

The Lost Song is a touching story that will seriously make you cry buckets! You'll want a tissue box nearby as you follow Ronnie's emotional and entertaining journey. :)

OVERTONE Giveaway!

So the other night I was in a club in Hollywood...wait, that sounds like an opening to a joke, huh? Me, Tina Ferraro, in a club in Hollywood? I’m the lady who lives in front of a computer in cat-hair covered sweatpants.

But no, really, I was all dressed up and in a club in Hollywood, because members of my family were congregating to hear the terrific a cappella band from South Africa, Overtone.


If the band’s name is familiar to you, it’s probably because they did the soundtrack for Clint Eastwood’s movie, Invictus. Maybe you even saw them perform on Ellen?

In any case, they were great fun to see in concert, super-talented, and really got the crowd going--clapping, singing, dancing. All seven of them are between the ages of 20 and 25, and bring some real powerful energy to the stage. And I must name-drop to say that the audience members included Clint Eastwood himself, as was Invictus’s star, Morgan Freeman!

I understand that Overtone is about to embark on an American tour, and while I don’t have that schedule, thought it would be fun to do an Overtone CD giveaway.


All you have to do is leave a comment telling us your favorite
Clint Eastwood movie. (For teens who aren’t familiar with his films, or those who need refreshers, click on his name for a link to his movie data base.)

Good luck! The winner will be announced here on Monday.

GLEE is back!

Lots of people were excited to see a new episode of GLEE return this week, but I have to admit that I am all new to the show. I just started watching it on DVD...but have already gotten the bug.

For those who have not seen GLEE, it is in its first season, and centers around a Glee Club at the fictional William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio.


The writing is crisp and funny, the actors are talented, and it’s so fun to watch the singing, dancing--especially the “mash-ups” where they join two unlikely songs together. And I’m pretty crazy for the boy band, Acafella.

Among my favorites characters is cheer coach Sue, whose take-no-prisoners attitude knows no boundaries, and sweet Emma, the lovesick guidance counselor with germ “issues.”

How about you? Are you a GLEE Geek (or Gleek)? Who are your favorite characters?

And as a P.S., I just learned that GLEE is holding an open casting call for new cast members on Myspace! If you want to check it out--either to enter or vote--go to www.myspace.com/gleeauditions.

Playing the Silent Piano!

It's always a little unnerving to revisit a favorite place, book or film from your younger days because so often, our "more mature" eyes see them differently. Classrooms look smaller, amusement park rides seem slower, and often--well, at least for me--books and movies don't have the same sparkle.

But during a recent reviewing of an old classic (and old favorite of mine), The Trouble With Angels, my fears were almost immediately put to rest.


I saw that while yes, it had the occasional "groovy" earmark of its era and its share of predictable moments, more importantly, it was still very funny and endearing. Not to mention remarkably fast-paced for those days, when films generally went at a much slower clip. Finally, as an adult, I was able to better relate to the struggles of both the teachers and students, to see many more "gray areas" and root for their individual journeys as never before.


And funny...I had forgotten about "the silent piano," which Rachel (June Harding) tells Mary (Hayley Mills) that she studied in her previous school. Does anyone else remember what the silent piano was?

And let us know if you are a fan of The Trouble With Angels, too, or any films from your younger days that you've recently watched and enjoyed again.

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!

Confession Time...

Okay, so I have a fresh confession to make.

I'm over 30 and I'm an iCarly fan.

You see, it started off innocently, sitting with my children as they watched an episode or two.

I mean, Carly's a sweet girl. Sam's tough side is adorable. Freddie is too cute. And Spencer always cracks me up.

Who doesn't love Random Dancing?? Or shirtless Gibby?? And a web show that's fun all the time??

So I've confessed...I've watched episode after episode. Twice.

♥ Like when Freddie makes a bet with Sam and loses then has to have Sam tattooed on his body...
♥ Or when Carly starts dating a bad boy then discovers he loves Pee-Wee babies and isn't so bad after all...
♥ Or when Spencer thinks a girl only likes him when he's wearing his tuxedo and goes jogging with it on under his sweats??
♥ Or when Freddie and Sam share a first kiss--then in a later episode Carly finds out they never told her!

And still I LOL!

I don't care if it's aimed toward young kids, I shall forever be young at heart. :)

So...my name is Kelly. I watch iCarly, and I'm proud of it!

Did You See...

My latest teen DVD rentals have included Hannah Montana: The Movie and 17 Again.

I have to say, Miley Cyrus and Zach Efron are not my generation of teen entertainers. I was more of the age of Kids Incorporated! :) But I really enjoyed these talented actors in these films.

Hannah Montana: The Movie was fun, sweet, with music and dancing. The young starlet has to choose which life she will lead--the secret identity of the popular Hannah Montana or her real hometown girl persona as Miley, weaved in with a sweet, budding romance.

17 Again had a hip/modern slant with lots of humor. A former high school basketball star and unhappy adult is sent back to when he was 17 to relive his wonder years to see if he made the right decision 20 years ago. Mike may look 17 yet still with the wisdom of his adult life and sees his teen years in a whole new light. Will he make the same decision as he did all those years ago?

Out of the two, I have to say my favorite was Hannah Montana: The Movie!

Have you seen either of these movies yet? Which do you prefer best?

Another Look at Mean Girls!

Last weekend, I watched the movie, Mean Girls, for the second time. The first was in the theater, as the chaperone to a car full of middle school girls. I thought it was cute, but I was more interested in the girls’ opinions about mean girl realism in their world than I was my own take. I wasn’t even seriously writing YA.

But this time was different. For Kirkus Reviews made a reference to it in their review of The ABC’s of Kissing Boys. Here’s the last line:

“...This is familiar territory for anyone who's seen Mean Girls, but Ferraro's protagonist is resilient enough to withstand and prevail over her tormentors.”

I wanted to see the movie again, to refresh myself with the story, and to see if I agreed that the goings-on in my DeGroot High School had similarities to their North Shore High School.

Also, since becoming a fan of the Thursday night program, The Office, I’ve been staying around for 30 Rock, as well, and admiring Mean Girl screenwriter Tina Fey’s comedic and writing talent. (And on a totally superficial note, her name and mine are so close--just ask Google!) So I planned to watch it with an eye toward her, too.

And I must say, Tina Fey and the screenplay did not disappoint! She made me smile, and much of the writing made me laugh. And even gave me a couple, “Man, I wish I had thought of that line!” moments. (“It’s like I have a fifth sense, like ESPN,” and “Made out with a hot dog? OMG, that was one time!”)

And I tapped into the same sense of powerlessness under Mean Girl leader Regina George that I'd felt when writing Chrissandra Hickey, that fear of saying the wrong thing, wearing the wrong things, doing the wrong thing, that would result in my banishment.

And so bottom line?

Do I see the connection between the mean girls in Mean Girls and in The ABC’s of Kissing Boys? Yep! Chrissandra and her minions could stand tough against Regina George and her girls. (Although Mean Girl Karen--the airhead--is likely to get the biggest laughs!)

Am I flattered that Kirkus Reviews made this connection? Absolutely. In fact, I think they are totally...FETCH!

So tell us, are you a fan of the Mean Girls movie? Have a favorite scene or line you want to share?

17 Again--Who’s Seen It?

I’m going to admit when I first heard about 17 Again, I mentally dismissed it. I mean, Zac Efron from High School Musical coupled with yet another back-to-high-school plot? I imagined food fights, bad dialogue and a totally predictable plot.


Then I saw the trailer. And I gotta tell you...Matthew Perry and his hound-dog face (and boyish grins) drew me in. I guess I’d forgotten how much I’d missed him from “Friends.”


And then Zac came on the screen, looking older and broader. And even (okay, I'll admit it), little bit hot.


My interest was piqued. So I paid attention to the headlines here in the L.A. papers, which read like, “Who Knew The Kid Could Act?” Not to mention the Facebook statuses of my friends, saying things like “Going to See ‘17 Again’ Again...Does This Make Me 34?”

And realized I'd been waaay too quick to judge. In fact, this movie might be one of those return-to-teen movies that I absolutely adore like 13 Going on 30 and Peggy Sue Got Married.

So I'm going to see it...soon.

In the meantime, I'd love to hear your thoughts about movies you've been too quick to judge, and/or 17 Again. (But no plot spoilers, please!)

I finally went to see the film adaption of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight...



I enjoyed Stephenie Meyer's novel Twilight. I sighed at the romance, smiled at Bella and Edward, and shivered during vampire violence, so I definitely wanted to check out the movie.

And I believe this movie was made for the fans.

With very minor changes, the movie followed much of the major scenes of the book. I love when that happens.

I dragged my husband along to watch with me, what a great guy, huh? He liked when the action picked up, but he hadn't read the book! He didn't know all the scenes that made it to the movie. He couldn't compare novel Bella to film Bella or novel Edward to film Edward.

But I could, and it was fun. I'm going to share a bit about the movie that I enjoyed without giving too much away!

Scenes that made me sigh:

When Edward saved Bella--twice.
The scene in the forest.
Edward and Bella's first kiss.

Scenes that made me smile:

Edward's first reaction to Bella's scent.
Jasper's painful expression.
Vampire baseball.
Bella and her father's reactions to boys.

Scenes that made me shiver:

Edward and Bella's first kiss.
The scary vampires.

Would I have enjoyed the book less without having read the book...maybe, so I'm glad I introduced myself to the novel Edward and Bella before the film Edward and Bella!

So have you seen it? Share your thoughts or your blog links? If you haven't seen it, do you want to?

:)

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist

First the book, and soon, the movie!

The authors of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, have both spoken at Los Angeles SCBWI conferences--Rachel Cohn, in fact, just this past summer, where she delivered a keynote speech about reconnecting to her inner teen.

Here she is signing for fans on the last day.


My conference roomie, Paddy, read Nick and Norah, and enjoyed it so much that she passed it on to me. Although I am on deadline and not officially reading anything but my own draft pages (a-hem), I have been sneaking in chapters...

It’s a fast, edgy story, told in two first-person narratives (Nick by David Levithan and Norah by Rachel Cohn), with sharp dialogue and realistic characters.


And I am very interested in how they are going to bring this to life on the screen, being that so much of the book is in, as I said, first-person narrative form.


I know some people have been lucky enough to see sneak previews. And many have surpassed me and actually finished the book. Fill us in on what you’ve heard and what you know. For the moment, this will be the unofficial Nick and Norah Headquarters!

Twilight Trailer

We interrupt our current contest to share the sneak peek trailers to TWILIGHT, spotlighted on Yahoo movies.

If you've seen them already great, if not watch with fascination here.

Wow, they look good!

Okay, back to the giveaway! Winner announced Sunday night! :)

Summer Flicks

Finally, the new television episodes are getting back on track! I have been seriously TV deprived for months. It's been DVD city here, and of course books galore.

But what about the 10 most anticipated summer movies?? Is anyone else excited about this year's summer flicks?

I'll let you know which ones I can't wait to watch:

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
The four Pevensie children return to the magical world of Narnia to find 1,300 years have passed and an evil king rules the land. They will need the help of the mighty lion Aslan to restore the young Prince Caspian to his rightful place on the throne.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Harrison Ford, Steven Spielburg and George Lucas reunite to bring legendary archeologist and adventurer Dr. Henry Jones Jr. (better known as "Indiana") back to the big screen.

WALL-E
From the director of Finding Nemo, Pixar's next groundbreaking animated film tells the story of a little robot who spends centuries cleaning up garbage all by himself who finally gets a chance to see what excitement the galaxy has to offer.

They are going to be good! *rubbing hands together*

Which summer flicks are you looking forward to??

December is here!

And besides the decorations, the shopping, and the fun gift-giving, do you want to know what else I enjoy about this month?

The Holiday movies are back! Here are a few of my favorites that I love watching year after year…

Rudolph, The Red-nosed Reindeer


A Christmas Story


How The Grinch Stole Christmas



So tell me, which are your favorite Holiday shows that you love to see return each year?

I heart Veronica Mars

Yes, sadly Veronica Mars is gone, but the DVDs are not!

I have soaked up each character and episode like you don’t even know. VM has been added as one of my favorite shows in history, Folks. And since I’ve been watching TV for a loooong time, that’s saying a lot. Hah.
And this week, Veronica Mars - Season 3 is releasing and I have already ordered my copy. *rubbing hands together* I just had to share my excitement with you all.

So here’s a little Veronica Mars quiz for you to take, if you are a VM fan like me. :) :) (Don't forget, Season 3, out Tuesday!)



Which Veronica Mars Character Are You?
created with QuizFarm.com'

You scored as Veronica Mars

You used to be really popular, but now you are the school outcast. You are really smart and somehow have all the answers... and you can snark like no other.

And the winner of JINX is Nate! :) Thank you to each of you who commented! Please email me, Nate, with your mailing address!

Are you prepared for the new TV season??


I don't know about everyone else, but I’ve already got a schedule noted down of dates I don’t want to miss. Haha!

Heroes is returning on 9|24.
NCIS on 9|25
Ghost Whisperer on 9|28.

And there are, of course, new shows I’m eager to see:

Gossip Girl on 9|19
Bionic Woman on 9|26
Moonlight on 9|28

Yes, my week will be filled! *rubbing hands together*

Any shows you’re eager to return to or new ones you’d like to check out?