GCC Presents: Teri Brown and the return of Women Who Rock Wednesday!

Okay, so I'm still behind on getting Women Who Rock Wednesday back on track. I'm behind on everything actually. BALLADS really took a lot out of me emotionally and it's been a rough couple weeks period. My dad had surgery for prostate cancer (the surgery went well, but he's going to have to get blood tests every three months for the next couple years to make sure the cancer is gone). My mom got into a car accident (she's totally fine, the car isn't and we share it, it's in my name and insured under me so I have to handle all of that stuff). One of my dearest friends' husband had a scary bike accident and is in the hospital and I just wish I could be in Seattle to help them get through it. My best friend's kitty is sick. Ack! A lot of stuff to cope with, so if I haven't responded to your email/comment/message on facebook/myspace/twitter please don't be insulted. I'll get to it all some time soon!

As for Women Who Rock Wednesday, it will be back officially next week with one of my author BFFs, Alexa Young. Her latest book in the Frenemies series, FAKETASTIC, is out now and she'll be giving out both FRENEMIES and FAKETASTIC. So there will be TWO prizes next week to make up for my slack!

However I still have an awesome interview with a kick-ass female writer to share with you today as part of the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit. You may have already heard about Teri Brown and her book READ MY LIPS. It's an awesome read and I think the subject matter is quite unique since I haven't read any other books about deaf teens, but here's the story on READ MY LIPS for those of you that don't know about it:

Popularity is as easy as a good secret.

Serena just wants to fly under the radar at her new school. But Serena is deaf, and she can read lips really well—even across the busy cafeteria. So when the popular girls discover her talent, there’s no turning back.

From skater chick to cookie-cutter prep, Serena’s identity has done a 180…almost. She still wants to date Miller, the school rebel, and she’s not ready to trade her hoodies for pink tees just yet. But she is rising through the ranks in the school’s most exclusive clique.

With each new secret she uncovers, Serena feels pressure to find out more. Reading lips has always been her greatest talent, but now Serena just feels like a gigantic snoop…

Now meet Teri:

Teri Brown turned to writing in a desperate attempt to keep from having to get a paying job at her local McDonalds. Fortunately, she's been successful, and her debut young adult novel, Read My Lips (Simon Pulse), came out June, 2008. She is also a contributing editor for iParenting Media, and her magazine credits include Writer’s Digest, Women’s Health and Fitness, Dog Fancy, and Oregon Coast Magazine, among others. Teri lives with her husband and children in a dilapidated 1969 ranch style house in Portland, Oregon.

And of course, the interview:

Q: Please list five songs that would be on the soundtrack to your book and explain how they relate to your story or characters.

Teri: Shake it by Metro Station. She loves to long board to upbeat music.

Don’t Want to be In Love by Good Charlotte—She has a tough time communicating.

I’m just a Kid by Simple Plan because she thinks the lead singer is Hot!

Q: Name some of your main character's favorite musicians or bands.

Teri: Metro Station, Good Charlotte, Simple Plan, 30 Seconds to Mars, and to get in touch with her gangsta side, Lil’ Wayne.

Q: Who are some of your favorite musicians or bands?

Teri: Gavin DeGraw, 30 Seconds to Mars, Queensryche, Ludacris.

Q: Even though music plays in so heavily into my storytelling, I rarely can actually listen to it while I'm writing. Can you? How does music fit into your writing process?

Teri: Honestly? It rarely does. I love music, but have to be in the right mood to listen, otherwise my brain computes it as noise and noise irritates me. When I listen to music, I pretty much just want to be listening to music. When my brain is working it wants quiet.

Q: While music is my muse, I know other writers find their muse in theater, sports, art, the great outdoors, etc. What is your main muse?

Teri: I get fed by reading. Other people’s prose inspires me to be better with my own. Not change my voice, just improve how I use words. I don’t know that I would go so far as to say that books are my muse, but they definitely inspire me.

Reading feeds my soul, too, and I can definitely tell you that Teri's book will feed yours, so I hope you'll check it out. And please come back next week to learn all about Alexa Young and her books and win prizes!!!