Cyber Launch Party Day 4: The Ballad of Sara Hantz

Welcome to Day 4 of the Ballads of Suburbia Cyber Launch Party! For all of the details on the party including guests, the daily contests and the grand prize drawing be sure to read the information at the beginning of Day 1's blog.

Here's some quick Ballads of Suburbia news before we get to the guest blog.

Thao of Serene Hours reviewed Ballads here.

I did an interview with the Oak Leaves, an Oak Park newspaper, one that my characters in Ballads got written up in when they got into trouble so I think they would be proud. The article is here and features a picture of me at the Beacon Pub where I work. They also asked me some silly desert island questions here.

Now, today's guest blogger is author Sara Hantz!
Sara Hantz started writing when she ran out of degrees to study and decided it was much more fun to make things up than to comment on dry academics. Born in England, she moved to New Zealand a few years ago with her husband and two children. They own a motel and when she’s not working or writing Sara enjoys talking on msn to her writing buddies, walking on the beach, going to the movies and watching endless TV – especially anything with an ‘Idol’ in the title! You can visit her at sarahantz.com.

Here's Sara's ballad:

I’m thrilled to be here celebrating Stephanie’s new book BALLADS OF SUBURBIA, I’m hanging out to read it, and if it’s anything like I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone it’s gonna be awesome.

In keeping with Ballads, I’m blogging about a song that really got to me when I was younger, at a time when I was at a point in my life where I was beginning to drift. Life seemed to be passing me by and the only things on my mind were boys, clothes and going out. After I finished with a boy I’d been seeing for several months I knew I needed to do something. This song got me thinking. It’s DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING TO? the theme from the movie Mahogany, and sung by Diana Ross. Even today when I hear it, it really touches me. The words are awesome. Here’s a little excerpt:

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you
Where are you going to?
Do you know...?
Do you get
What you're hoping for
When you look behind you
There's no open door
What are you hoping for?
Do you know...?

Today's Contest:
Sara was kind enough to offer a copy of her book, THE SECOND VIRGINITY OF SUZY GREEN, as a prize today. To enter just leave a comment about Sara's ballad.

And you'll earn additional entries by blogging/tweeting/etc about this blog or the cyber launch party. Just note your additional entries in your comment. Winner will be chosen at random on Thursday, July 23.

Tomorrow's Guest:

Wendy Toliver, author of The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren and Miss Match, will be guestblogging tomorrow so please come back and visit then!