Interview: Mark from The Hawaii Project (A Really Cool Book Discovery Website)

Hi, friends! Recently I came across a really cool book website called The Hawaii Project. Mark, who runs the site, got to chatting with me and we decided to swap interviews. His interview of me is right here. And my interview of him is below. It involves cocktails, Hawaii, and obviously books. What better combination?!

Eye candy from the Paranormal Romance page on The Hawaii Project...

Okay, here we go:

Me: The Hawaii Project is such a cool website! Tell us a bit about it.

Mark: The Hawaii Project is a personalized book discovery service. It’s a great way to find books that match your personal interests, favorite authors and reading habits. You tell us a bit about yourself, your favorite authors and the kinds of books you read, and we recommend great books you’d never find on your own, and alert you to news about your favorite authors. We’ll deliver a personalized email once a week with personally relevant books, or you can explore via our website. It’s like a bookstore where every book in the store was chosen just for you. The more you use it, the more it learns about you and the better the recommendations.

Why is it called The Hawaii Project?

There’s nothing better than relaxing on the beach with a great book. That’s my “happy place”. We wanted to share that feeling with other readers.

Are you a writer yourself? Tell us how you came to love books and/or your inspiration for the site.

I’ve always been a reader. I was one of those kids who read the encyclopedia while eating Captain Crunch for breakfast. But I grew frustrated with Amazon and Goodreads and the like, who kept recommending me books that I had no interest in, but forgot to tell me when my favorite authors released new books. I am a technologist as well as a reader, so I decided to build something better.

I especially love the music playlist section you can add for specific books. Are you a music lover? Any specific background there?

I don’t think I could exist without music, and I am very omnivorous about music — I love Jazz, hard rock, classical, bluegrass, indie — almost anything. I do play the guitar (badly), but reading and music have always been together for me. Just as book discovery is hard, music discovery is hard too. Seeing what music people pair up with books is an interesting way to find new music, and add enjoyment to reading too! Your readers can see books with playlists here.

So, you live in Hawaii — totally jealous! What’s something we wouldn’t expect to hear about living out there?

Well, it’s hard to complain. But it’s expensive. A gallon of milk costs $8! And there’s scorpions! I found one in my sink a few days ago. Yikes!

I see you’ve started an in-person book and cocktail meetup (jealous, once again). Tell us about that.

Together with Hawaii-based author Stuart H. Coleman (who wrote Eddie Would Go and other books), we created Books & Spirits. We bring in authors who have local relevance, and get a local mixologist to create a custom cocktail for the event. We’re trying to get more people reading and help promote great books. Ultimately it’s about building community around books and reading. So far it’s only in Hawaii but we have hopes to bring it other cities as well.

How can authors best use your site — tips and tricks?

Authors can create an author account on The Hawaii Project. We’ll create a page for you and your books (for example here’s Alexia’s page). We add your blog to our index of book-oriented blogs, and readers who “follow” you on The Hawaii Project will be notified when you post.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Our basic service is free, and you can sign up here: The Hawaii Project. You can save 25 books and follow 10 authors, and get all the recommendations you want. There are premium accounts for people who want more. Those have a unique “pay what you think it’s worth” annual subscription (you decide), and we donate 10% of our revenue to 3 literacy oriented non-profits, because we believe Books Change Lives.

Hope you enjoyed our interview swap! I love so many things about this website - and donating to charity is awesome! Authors, if you don't have an account, Mark can get you set up (it's free!). And check out my rad playlist for Martinis with the Devil on my page over there :)

TTFN!

A Super Fun Chat with Novelist Lisa Ann O'Kane

Today I am so excited to share my blog with my writer friend Lisa Ann to talk about her new book deal. Here's a bit about Essence, being released in June of 2014 by Strange Chemistry:

Neutrality is the key to longevity.

This motto has governed 17-year-old Autumn’s life in the mid-21st-century Centrist cult, which believes that expressing emotions leads to Essence drain and premature death.

But Autumn’s younger brother’s death casts her faith into question. While sprinting through a park in violation of Centrist teachings, she encounters Ryder Stone, an Outsider who claims Essence drain is nothing more than a Centrist scare tactic. She agrees to join his Community, a utopia of adrenaline junkies living in the abandoned remains of Yosemite National Park.

Autumn learns about sex, drugs, and living life to the fullest. But as she discovers dark secrets beneath the Community’s perfect exterior, she realises that this illusion of paradise could be shattered…


Cool, yes? So stoked for it to come out! And without further ado, here's the interview:

AC: I understand that camping out in Yosemite for the summer was part of your inspiration for Essence. What would you say inspired the unique rules and concepts of the Centrist cult in your book (the concept of Essence, etc.)?

LO: I have always been intrigued by the psychology of cults, so I jumped at the chance to create a main character whose entire upbringing was shaped by one. I picked San Francisco as the hub for my Centrist cult because I remember the public outcry that ensued in the aftermath of the Northridge Earthquake in 1994. Some groups actually believed the earthquake was a manifestation of God’s anger, and they said San Francisco was targeted because it was a haven for perversity.

I wondered what would happen if a group of San Franciscans actually took this message to heart. I drew from Theravada Buddhism and the concepts of the Four Noble Truths, and I created the Centrist cult and its Essence theory—which advocates living a life of neutrality and warns that your emotions have a finite limit. Once you use yours up, they’re gone. You’re gone.

Imagine how scary it would be to believe you might run out of Essence and drop dead at any moment. That’s what my main character Autumn faces when she finally decides to break free from her Centrist upbringing.

AC: Super cool! Love the tie to Buddhism. Okay, so who is your favorite character in Essence, and why?

LO: It’s hard to choose, but I’m pretty partial to Ryder Stone, the Outsider who first convinces Autumn to leave the Centrists and join his community of free spirits and adrenaline junkies in Yosemite. He’s a very complex character, and he fought me every time I tried to pigeonhole him. (I literally had no idea how the story was going to end until I finally gave up and let him lead the way!)

AC: He sounds fun! I love it when characters are bossy like that :) Next: what has surprised you most about your publishing journey so far?

I am finally beginning to see the publishing industry for what it is: an industry. When I first started this journey, I pinned all my self-worth on the success of my novel. If an agent or editor liked it, that meant I was a good writer. If they didn’t, I questioned my entire identity.

Nowadays (thanks to time, experience, and many, many rejections), I understand that agents and editors can like my work—sometimes even love my work—and still reject it. Maybe it isn’t a good fit for their list, or maybe they already have a similar novel. Maybe the market is saturated, or maybe it isn’t saturated enough. Maybe they love my novel but realize it doesn’t have mass appeal, or maybe they just don’t love it enough to stake their reputation on it.

Regardless, rejections are often far less personal—and far more subjective—than I would have ever imagined. This is good news, and it’s bad news. When agents and editors say, “It’s not you, it’s me,” they usually really mean it.

AC: Excellent point! Now, tell us something fun and/or random about yourself that has nothing to do with writing.

In the past thirteen years, I have lived in sixteen different houses in ten different cities in five different states in two different countries in two different hemispheres. I have accidentally surfed with great white sharks in Australia, and I have been stranded on a cliff in Death Valley and marooned in northern British Columbia when my truck hit a patch of black ice and flipped six times. Despite this, my three biggest fears continue to be Ferris wheels, odd numbers and wooden utensils. (Sad, but true…)

Thank you so much for taking the time to interview me, Alexia, and thanks to everyone for stopping by to visit. I had such a blast writing Essence, and I still can’t believe I get to share it with you!

AC: I have mega wanderlust, so that sounds amazing! Thanks so much for stopping by today! So, to learn more about Lisa Ann and Essence, check out the links below. Her Pinterest board for Essence is super fun, so don't miss that!

Website

Blog

Twitter

Pinterest

Special Guest Interview: Eric from Pimp My Novel!!

I am totally stoked guys!  Today we have Eric from Pimp My Novel, which is like the goldmine of publishing blogs.  Eric works in the sales department of a publishing house and always has awesome, palatable advice. 

I think a lot of the time we get so hung up on getting an agent that we don't think about what the heck happens afterwards (sheepishly guilty as charged).  Kind of like a house cat that gets outside, and finally catches a bird, then doesn't have a clue what to do next.  So, when I first discovered PMN, it was really exciting.  And continues to be invaluable.  It is overflowing with all the stuff us writers need to know, with lots of Eureka! Jackpot! OMG! moments.  Go check it out!  After the interview...

What aspect of the publishing process most often takes first-time authors by surprise?

I think it's probably the fact that publishing a book takes a long time. A really long time. This is likely exacerbated by our growing preference for e-books over physical media, since most people imagine it takes almost no time at all to generate an e-book from an electronic file.

Physical books generally take up to a year (sometimes more) to progress from acquisition to publication, and since most publishers that produce physical books and e-books try to release the two formats simultaneously, the e-book usually takes just as long to appear. Even e-only titles or electronic titles put out by presses publishing predominantly in electronic formats can't be made available instantly—copyediting, formatting, and exporting files to various retailers takes time. Just as a printed-out Word document isn't immediately ready for publication, neither is an electronic Word document fit for immediate release as an e-book.

What can a new author realistically expect to have control over in the publishing process? And is it solely the agent's job to champion the author's rights, or should the author take initiative to be more involved in the process?

This generally depends on the size of the publishing house with which the author has signed. If an author is self-publishing, (s)he can theoretically control all aspects of publication, but almost universally at the cost of having a professional cover designer, editor, marketing team, and sales force on board (all of whom are virtually certain to want to make changes). Smaller publishing houses usually allow the author more latitude with things like the title and the cover image; larger houses will entertain some input, but almost always have the final say in these matters. Authors signing with large houses like these generally won't be able to select their cover image, on-sale date, and so on, and may even be asked to change their titles (if, for example, a given title is too similar to that of another well-known work).

While the agent is certainly a champion of and for the author's rights/interests, I absolutely think authors would do well to take active roles in the publishing process. The agent/author relationship is unique to each agent and author, however, so I'd encourage any author who wants to get more involved in shepherding his/her book through publication to talk to his/her agent first. Poor communication between agent and author leads to missed opportunities/duplicated work at best, and outright conflict at worst.

What are the smartest marketing moves an author can make to increase their sales, aside from blogging, Facebook and Twitter?

In my opinion, an author needs a solid website. In the age of social networking, blogging, and micro-blogging, we often overlook the simple website: a place for readers to learn about authors, read about their other/previous books, view a schedule of upcoming readings, book signings, and events, and find out how to get in touch with them. A good website serves as an author's digital hub, and accounts with services like Facebook, Blogger, and Twitter serve as great peripherals to that hub.

It's also important for an author to be easily found on the Internet. It's worth looking into methods of search engine optimization (SEO) to figure out 1.) how search engines like Google and Bing actually work, and 2.) how to create a site and link to it in such a way that it shows up earlier on a list of search results for a given set of terms; for an author, this is usually his/her name or the title(s) of his/her recent book(s). Websites, blog posts, Facebook events, and Tweets all provide searchable content, so authors should keep this in mind when producing on-line promotional content.

Finally, it's essential for authors to maintain their on-line presences—that is, regularly update websites, write blog posts, actively participate in social networking sites, and so on. While it's by no means necessary for authors to participate in all available social media, it is important for them to consistently use those in which they choose to participate.

Eric, you rock! Thanks so much for taking the time for this interview!!

Seriously, writer friends, follow his blog if you are not already.

Other quick news - Colene at The Journey and I are hosting a St. Patrick's Day blogfest!  A round of green beer for everyone!  The linky thing is over at her blog.  So go check it out, sign up, be happy, spread the Irish love!

The P-Word Part Two

I talked about procrastination a few weeks ago, and today I'm going to talk about a great procrastination buster I made up.  Well, I'm sure many people have tried this before me, but I can't remember anyone mentioning it, so I'm claiming it :~)  But first, some brief bits of news.

If you missed any of the lovely ladies I interviewed earlier in the week, please pop in and take a peek at the new interviews page which you should see at the top of the page.  Jen, Jennifer and Talli are all so awesome and talented and cool, so I don't want you to miss out. 

Also, a reminder that I am giving away two $15.00 Amazon gift cards.  Just be a follower and leave a comment on this post to be entered.  Easy, right?

A quick look into the future reveals that my interview with Eric from Pimp My Novel on Wednesday is going to rock your socks off!  Don't forget to stop by, because he's an amazing source of information for all things publishing. 

Almost to the p-word stuff, but first, one more update.  I know a lot of you have been waiting to hear what happened with the second partial request I got from an agent.  Alas, I got the bitter R-word.  Yes, that one deserves a capital letter.  Double alas, I got no feedback on this rejection, which to be honest bummed me out tremendously, as this is kind of the silver lining of a partial request rejection.  So, my gameplan now is to resume querying next month after I get my agent critique at the writer's conference I am attending.  That way I can get a professional opinion and make any necessary changes before exhausting my list of agents to query.

Okay, procrastination buster! Share my secret I will (hehe, I sound like Yoda now).  Actually, this is a procrastination buster and writer's block buster.  See, my biggest excuse for procrastinating is that I don't have enough time.  Really, I might have 30 or 45 minutes, but I tell myself it's not enough time to really 'get into it'.  Also, I write really slow, agonizing over every word, sort of editing as I go.  This can lead to writer's block if I feel I can't find the right words.  So, this is what I did the other day.  I decided to write as fast as I could, whatever came into my head, for 15 minutes, not worrying about whether it was total dreck.  I made it sort of a challenge, which was fun.  Now, this isn't something I want to do all the time, because I like to take my time and write the way I like to write.  But when I'm feeling unmotivated or blocked, it does the trick.  I've been making good progress on the first draft of book number two, which I hope to have finished by the end of April.

I hope that was helpful to you guys, I hope you have a great Monday, and I definitely hope you stop by and say hi to Eric on Wednesday!   

Friday with the Fun and Fabulous Talli Roland!

Today we have bestselling author Talli Roland! Talli's book, The Hating Game, came out on December 1st and made quite a splash on the Amazon Kindle bestseller list.  It continues to rock the charts; Talli reported that it sold 1,400 copies in January alone! 

Talli lives in England (dreamy sigh - how fun would that be?). She loves coffee and wine just like me, so I knew she was a cool gal instantly!  If you don't know Talli, you definitely want to.  Go check out her awesome blog, or you can purchase the e-book version of The Hating Game on Amazon.  The print version will be available next month, for those of you (like me) that don't have an e-book reader yet.  Oh, and Talli also has an official website!

Okay, so read this yummy description of The Hating Game:

When man-eater Mattie Johns agrees to star on a dating game show to save her ailing recruitment business, she's confident she'll sail through to the end without letting down the perma-guard she's perfected from years of her love 'em and leave 'em dating strategy.

After all, what can go wrong with dating a few losers and hanging out long enough to pick up a juicy £200,000 prize? Plenty, Mattie discovers, when it's revealed that the contestants are four of her very unhappy exes.

Can Mattie confront her past to get the prize money she so desperately needs, or will her exes finally wreak their long-awaited revenge? And what about the ambitious TV producer whose career depends on stopping her from making it to the end?

What is your writing story?

I’ll sum it up in almost 140 characters, just like Twitter: Three years, five (or six?) unpublished manuscripts, lots of rejections - then acceptance! Now I've had two non-fiction books published, as well as my debut novel.

The Hating Game has a rather untraditional publishing story. Since I already knew the publisher, I just wrote up the synopsis and the first three chapters and it was accepted (yay!). I wrote the first draft in about two months, then spent another few months revising and editing.

What was the most exciting point in your writing journey?

Definitely the release day for the Kindle version of The Hating Game. I had so much support from bloggers, Tweeters and Facebookers around the world -- it was overwhelming.

How did you get The Hating Game to be in the top 25 Amazon Kindle downloads, and number 1 on the Amazon Kindle Movers and Shakers list?

It only takes a few sales over a short period of time to rise in the rankings on Amazon Kindle. So, I thought how great it would be if I could get as many people as possible to buy my book on release day, and see how far up the rankings it could climb! I started my campaign about three months before my release day, and over time more and more people signed up. The results definitely exceeded my expectations!

What was the first thing you did when you woke up on the day The Hating Game was released?

Cursed my husband’s snoring (a typical morning)! I remember waking up super early that day, because I was so excited and nervous that I’d made a big deal out of it – what if no-one bought it and the whole thing tanked? The first thing I did was fire up my trusty little laptop and check the sales rank on Amazon!

Did you have a book release party or other celebration?

Not for the Kindle release, although I did take my husband out for a no-holds-barred Chinese dinner (you don’t even want to imagine the amount we ate!). I’m debating whether to do one for the paperback launch in March.

What are you working on next?

I’m just about to start working on Watching Willow Watts, about a country girl whose life is transformed when she becomes a YouTube sensation. It’s due out for release in November – I really must get my butt in gear!


Thanks so much for stopping by, Talli! You are awesome and I can't wait to pick up a copy of The Hating Game when it comes out in print. 

Free stuff people!  Don't forget about the Amazon gift cards I'm giving away.  Leave a comment on this post to be entered.


Wednesday with the Wickedly Witty Jennifer Hillier!

Happy Wednesday, writer friends! Today I welcome Jennifer Hillier, whose thriller Creep is being released by Simon & Schuster in July. Jennifer was another one of my first followers, so I feel like I’ve known her a long time though I only started blogging seriously in September.

It’s been soooo fun getting to hear Jennifer’s journey and find out what happens after you get an agent and a publisher. She spills it all on her blog, so you should definitely check it out! I’m a regular stalker. And what’s mega fun is that you can pre-order Creep on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Chapters Indigo. Jennifer also has an official website (don’t you love the sound of that?), which you should visit, too.

Okay, so read this deliciously tantalizing description of Creep:

Dr. Sheila Tao is a professor of psychology. An expert in human behaviour. And when she began an affair with sexy, charming graduate student Ethan Wolfe, she knew she was playing with fire. Consumed by lust when they were together, desolate and depressed when they weren't, she realizes the three-month fling with her teaching assistant has to end. After all, she's engaged to a kind and loving investment banker who adores her, and her life is about to change for the better. But when she attempts to cut the affair dead in its tracks, Ethan Wolfe won't let her walk away.

Ethan has plans for Sheila, plans that involve posting a sex tape that would surely get her fired and destroy her prestigious career. Plans to make her pay for rejecting him. And as she attempts to counter his every threatening move without her colleagues or her fiancé discovering her most intimate secrets, a shattering crime rocks Puget Sound State University: a female student, a star athlete, is found stabbed to death. Someone is raising the stakes of violence, sex, and blackmail . . . and before she knows it, Sheila is caught in a terrifying cat-and-mouse game with the lover she couldn't resist — who is now the monster who won't let her go.

Interview time!

What have you experienced thus far in the publishing process that you didn't expect?

I honestly didn’t expect things to happen so quickly! I was prepared for it to take years to see a book in print, and I was prepared to write lots of books before even getting close. I spent fourteen months total writing and revising CREEP. I signed with an agent three months after I started querying, and I was submission for only two months (which, admittedly, felt like an eternity at the time) when my book sold. When I look back at 2010, I can’t believe so much happened within such a short time frame. I feel very lucky, and very blessed.

When might we see the inevitably awesome cover for Creep? Do you get any input in this process?

I haven’t heard anything about the cover art yet, though the cover copy (the back cover blurb and opening pages) was sent to me back in November. I wake up every morning expecting to see the cover art in my inbox! I don’t get any input in the graphics or design, but I definitely trust my publisher to know what will best sell the book. In my head I picture it being very edgy, very slick, very broody, with giant letters that shriek “CREEP”! It’ll be interesting to see how far off the mark I end up being.

**Editorial Note: since the interview Jennifer has gotten her cover art! She can’t let us see it yet, but read all about her initial impressions here.

What do you have planned for Creep's release date? Will there be a book release party?

I actually don’t have anything planned at the moment. I currently live just north of Seattle, WA, but most of my family and friends are in Toronto, Canada. So I might do something back in my hometown to celebrate, since I know way more people there than here.

Now that you have an agent, how you do propose future projects? Do you just shoot her an email, or call her up and share your ideas? Does she give you timeframes for when she'd like to see your next book?

My agent and I have already had a few discussions about my current work-in-progress, and she’s ready to see it whenever I’m ready to show it to her. Which I so am not! It’s a first draft, and like most first drafts, it’s in rough shape. I’d be embarrassed for her to read it as it is now. Most of our discussions are via email because with the time difference (she’s in New York), it’s just easier, and she’s always lightening fast with her email responses. We’re hoping to submit a proposal for the first book to the publisher (who has first right of refusal) before CREEP is out, but I want it to be the best it can be before anybody sees it.

If you were in one of your books, what would be your weapon of choice?

Ah, my favorite question! Definitely an ice pick. You can buy one for $2.99 (very practical for this economy) and for just a bit more, upgrade to one with a rubber handle (which of course I would do – who wants calluses?). In my stories, my villains are always hands-on. Death is always personal to them... and messy.

Thanks so much for the awesome interview, Jennifer!  I'll definitely be in line to get Creep in July (for my birthday!).
 
Don't forget to drop in Friday for my interview with Talli Roland! And, if you want to enter the drawing for a $15 Amazon gift card, go to this post and leave a comment.

Monday with the Marvelous and Magical Jen Daiker!

So, when I started planning my 100 followers celebration, I knew I wanted to interview Jen.  She was one of my very first followers - like, literally, I had 5 or something when suddenly she popped up.  I was so excited! Over the last few months I've met lots of other awesome folks and learned to navigate the waters of the blogosphere, but I'll always remember how she befriended me when I was brand spankin' new!

I imagine you already know Jen, because she has an awesome blog and I see her comments on blogs all over the place.  But, in case you aren't already acquainted with her, she's got a really fun, cool and addictive blog, so stop on by Unedited!

Let the interview begin!

What is your writing process?

For me it's simple. I get an idea and I write. I know several people outline, learn about their characters, make road maps. I'm not that way. A panster through and through. I write fast, but I revise slow.

Share a writing ‘aha’ moment with us, when you experienced a breakthrough or lesson of some sort.

The day I started blogging. I thought getting published was simple. Write a book, call a publisher. The aha moments have been each time I talk to a fellow writer and several authors. They always say it's tough, but they wouldn't change it for the world. Those are the moments I cherish.

How did you gain 1,000 followers in one year?

Everyone asks me that! They're hoping I have a secret, I often tell people it's the sparkle dust that's spread all over my blog, it's like a drug, draws you in and captivates you. Really I suppose it's hard work and dedication. I keep the blog 100% me, what I'd want to read, no matter how random. It seems to be working so far.

Which industry professionals are you most addicted to and why?

I'm not one that really follows the professionals, I ask those who are new in the industry what it's like. Fellow writers trying to get their big break, authors who've done and are to be published within a year or two. They seem to have a great understanding of the NOW. I heard them for it.

Tell us about your current project.

My current project is titled In The Mind of a Celebrity Stalker. It's about a 24 year old girl named Jules who has a complicated life, to cope she journals and since she is so ecentric she decides to talk to celebrities in which often times she takes things a little too far. There's love, hate, and just some outrageously fun moments in her life.

What is your MC's favorite cocktail (or other beverage)? Dessert?
 
For Jules she loves herself a martini, any flavor, all depends on her mood. Her dessert of choice would be Paula Deen's Apple Pie.
 
You rock, Jen! Thanks so much for stopping by and spreading the love.

The interviews continue on Wednesday, so pop on by to hear the latest from Jennifer Hillier!  Happy Monday, writer friends!

Let's Get It Started!

Welcome to the grand revealing of the previously top-secret and greatly anticipated (right?) lineup for my 100 followers celebration!!



You have your choice of a martini or some bubbly:

But first, before I blow your minds with all the fun we’ve got planned, let’s toast to you! Because without all of you awesome peeps that stop by, we wouldn’t be having this super cool mega rad party. You guys rock!

So, without further ado, I give you the schedule:

(Do you hear the angelic voices singing in the background over the Black Eyed Peas?)

Monday, January 31st – The ever fabulous and amazing queen of the blogosphere, Jen Daiker of Unedited!

Wednesday, February 2nd – The release of her thriller Creep is swiftly approaching, and the super cool Jennifer Hillier is going to tell us all about it!

Friday, February 4th – She knocked the socks off the Amazon sales charts with her book The Hating Game. Yes, I’m talking about the delightful Talli Roland!

Wednesday, February 9th – A very special guest from the other side of the writing spectrum - publishing professional Eric from Pimp My Novel!

And! And! Prizes?

Yes, of course, writer friends. You guys are just that totally awesome. There will be two $15.00 Amazon gift cards awarded by random draw. To be entered in the contest you must a) be a follower, and b) comment on this post. The contest ends Wednesday, February 16th, and I will announce the winners that weekend!

Now, I also want to pass along the Stylish Blogger Award! This was awarded to me by Lindz of Rapturous Randomocity, a really cool blog which you should definitely check out.

I am supposed to pick 15 bloggers to pass it along to, but since this is a party and I always have a hard time choosing amongst my awesome bloggy friends, I would like to award it to all of you. The award rules are that you share 7 things about yourself. Since we’re having a party here, I’m going to list my 7 favorite things to nibble or gulp at a party:

1) A fruity cocktail
2) Cheese
3) Mini quiche
4) Spinach artichoke dip
5) Tomato tartlets
6) Mini desserts (key lime pie, petit four, etc)
7) Black bean salsa

So, I will see all of you on Monday (hopefully your hangover will be gone by then) for the start of the interview extravaganza! Have a great weekend!