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Debbie Reed Fischer

There's something fischy going on here . . .

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debbierfischer
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July 7th, 2008

Recent Article in Miami Newspaper

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I'm a big fan of group promotion. I'm a member of the author Class of 2k8  and I recently joined forces with local young adult authors Dorian Cirrone and Gaby Triana for some panel signings. Here's the article in a Miami newspaper, written by none other than our SCBWI regional advisor, Linda Rodriguez Bernfeld (by the way, I'm the one making a strange face in the photo): 

 AUTHORS OF YOUNG ADULT BOOKS SPEAK TO TEENS
By Linda Rodriguez Bernfeld   
Jun 10, 2008 at 10:00 AM
 
Pictured during a book signing at the West Kendall Barnes and Noble are (l-r) Debbie Reed Fischer, Gaby Triana and Dorian Cirrone.
Young author Gaby Triana from Country Walk, who often goes to the Barnes and Noble in West Kendall to write her novels, returned to the book store on May 21 to speak and sign her latest book, Temptress Four.

But Triana didn’t sign alone. She was there with Prom Kings and Drama Queens author Dorian Cirrone of Davie and Debbie Reed Fischer of Boca Raton who wrote Braless in Wonderland. The three young adult (YA) authors have known each other for years. They also have the same literary agent who suggested that group signings makes sense.

“I like to think that we are capturing each other’s audiences, allowing them to see two other options similar to what they already like,” Triana said. “Most people tend to pick up all of our books, not just one.”

Plus, they each have readers in all three counties, Fischer said.

Triana said it’s too early to know if the co-signings have affected sales but they do draw more attention than a solo signing might. Book signings also create excitement about a book or, in this case, books. All of the books are set in South Florida and they all have strong tropical glamour themes.

Braless in Wonderland is centered on Allee, a brainy small-town girl who gets discovered by modeling scouts and is whisked away to Miami Beach to model. Fischer said Braless in Wonderland is a crazy adventure full of transformation and self-discovery but with glamour and fun along the way.

Triana’s book, Temptress Four, is about four best friends who graduate from high school and go on a cruise. But before they go they visit a fortuneteller who tells them they are going on a voyage that will be filled with storms and strife and one won’t come back. Cirrone’s book, Prom Kings and Drama Queens, set in Fort Lauderdale, is about Emily who wants desperately to go to the prom with Brian, the hunk next door, but he doesn’t know she exists. Things change because of a class cruise, and then Emily finds herself having to decide whether she should go to the prom with Brian or to the alternative prom she’s planned with Daniel.

Each author read a chapter from her respective book. After the readings, they took questions from the floor and then signed dozens of books. An inevitable question for authors at signings is “when did you know you wanted to write.” For the YA trio, they each knew early on this was a path they needed to take.

“I sleep, I eat, I walk and talk, and…I write,” Triana said. “It’s always been a regular part of my everyday life.”

Fischer said she always has loved creating her own world with her own characters. “Writing is great therapy for me and a fun escape from day-to-day life.”

Cirrone said she knew in third grade she wanted to be a writer.

“Even when I was as young as 6 years old I loved words — their sounds, their meaning, their music. Writing was a natural progression for me.”

Braless in Wonderland is Fischer’s first book. Triana has two already in print, Backstage Pass and Cubanita. Cirrone is the author of Dancing in Red Shoes Will Kill You and the Lindy Blues middle grade series.

Next>
Favorite Weird Line at the mo: "I sing country western in the great residence of my shower stall, with the great freedom that being naked gives me." ---George Takei 

June 29th, 2008

Sobe Weird and Enjoy the Re-View . . .

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Check out this dude strutting around South Beach. Take a number, ladies. 



Now that I have your attention, look at what School Library Journal wrote about BRALESS IN WONDERLAND:

" . . . Allee learns that modeling isn’t so easy, people aren’t always who they seem, feminism is more about empowering women then it is being dismissive and self-righteous and she, more than anyone, needs to quit judging a book by its cover. Debbie Reed Fischer takes a fun, in-depth peek into the modeling world. With its catty glamour, larger-than-life personas and Allee’s painfully real journey from naïve to self-assured and geek to chic, Braless in Wonderland is a rabbit hole you’ll enjoy getting lost in. "

I heart SLJ. I also heart librarians and have had the pleasure of meeting many lately. If I ever become one, I will wear twirly tweed skirts and wicked stillettos like this librarian:





Favorite Lines today consist of the top 5 questions I get asked by well-meaning people. 

5) When are you going to be on Oprah?

4) Is that you on the cover? Well, who is it then?

3) Braless in Wonderland is a children's book?

2) Call me when you're on the best seller list, OK?

And the number one, most unhelpful question asked by well-meaning people is:

1) So . . . may I borrow some money now that you're so rich from your book?  

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA 

June 20th, 2008

Best Medicine Ever

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And now I feel like pretty good! Amazing how that works, isn't it? Congrats to fellow 2k8er Brooke Taylor, author of UNDONE, who also won. And thank you Flamingnet.com! If you'd like to read the review and check out their website, click HERE   

So there you have it, the best medicine ever. Hopefully, now I'll feel well enough next week to get busy promoting this:



SWIMMING WITH THE SHARKS comes out in 3 months! I can't help but feel this release is pretty timely, what with all the news about girl bullying lately. Remember the teen girls who beat another girl to a pulp, then posted it on YouTube? Guess what I just found out? When they were arrested, there was only one thing they complained about:

They were missing cheerleading practice. 

Favorite line today: "It's sad to see the commander in chief not being able to play golf." George Dubya Bush.

June 12th, 2008

A Role Model

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Check out TV anchorwoman Robin Roberts strutting down the runway at NYC's Fashion Week, bald




When Roberts  was diagnosed with breast cancer last July, the last thing she felt was beautiful. But the folks at Good Morning America dared her to be a model, and she seized the opportunity. It was a perfect way to push herself outside her comfort zone. 

One of the ideas I wanted to convey in BRALESS IN WONDERLAND is that of looking at beauty a different way. Owning who you are - including the way you look, flaws and all  - is empowering.  Roberts ditched her wig for the Isaac Mizrahi show because, "This is who I am." 

Now that's beautiful.  

Bravo to Robin Roberts AND Isaac Mizrahi for inspiring us. Mwah.
 

Favorite Lines today:  "What do you call that?"
                                       "Wicked." 
                                        -- From the movie Fame
 

May 21st, 2008

Pics from booksigning

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    Here are some pics of the book signing I had last week for Braless in Wonderland. It was a dream realized and a memory I'll hold onto forever. I don't think I've ever loved my friends more for showing up to something!  I feel busy and blessed. I also had a signing with YA authors Dorian Cirrone and Gaby Triana a couple of weeks ago and I'll have another one with them tomorrow evening down in Kendall, Florida. Check my website if you're local: www.debbiereedfischer.com   More photos from other book events to come . . . 

The beautiful lady in black on the right is a famed supermodel's mom. Can you guess which one?




Favorite quote at the moment: "I love South Africa and Africa. They are both great countries." Paris Hilton. Tee hee.

May 2nd, 2008

Thank you Internet

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The internet is an amazing thing. Since Braless in Wonderland came out last week, I've been getting really kind e-mails from adult readers of teen fic (my peeps), friends and fellow writers.

But today's letter was really special.

Behold, my first letter from a kid:

Debbie,

I just wanted to sent you a quick note and let you know how much I enjoyed your book.  I'm 13, and after reading about it, I was excited to read it.  It took me one day, and that includes sneaking in extra pages under the covers with a booklight to find out how it ended.

I've already talked to my YA librarian and asked her to order more copies and to tell kids about it.  I can't wait to read your next book!

Thanks again for creating such a wonderful book!

I've read it about five times. OK, ten. When I think of the rejection letters, the self doubt I had when I started this journey, some of the disappointments that came along - and still come along  once in a while even after getting published - I remember that my ultimate goal was always to connect with teen readers.

So that's why today is pretty special, at least to me.

Favorite Line right now: "Every struggle you have is just preparation for the success to come." ---Lisa Lopez, from the documentary
The Last Days of Left Eye  

 

April 21st, 2008

One More Winner (because I'm spacey)!

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A reader just gently reminded me that in a recent post, I extended the deadline for the contest until Monday, April 28th. 

Which I plum forgot about.

I blame wearing platform heels in this Florida heat for these little lapses of memory. It can make a girl dizzy, believe me.

So I'm happy to announce I'll be picking another winner next week. And yes, I have yet another pair of brand new silver hoop earrings to give away along with BRALESS IN WONDERLAND. One can never have enough earrings. It's a rule.

Keep those entries coming . . .

Favorite Line right now: "You know I love you more than my luggage." Clarisse, my favorite Steel Magnolia 

Congrats and Braless Sightings

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Congrats to:                                                               
http://cyn2write.livejournal.com/ (as chosen by random number generator) who gets a pair of gorgey silver hoop earrings and a signed copy of BRALESS IN WONDERLAND (just as soon as I receive my author copies, any day now . . .). Cyn, please send me your mailing info, or if you're not comfortable with that, you can send me the mailing info of your groovy local library and I'll send it there. Congrats and enjoy!

For those of you who didn't win, thank you so much for entering and stay tuned! I'll be having more contests in May involving Braless sightings and prizes. 

Speaking of Braless sightings, muchas gracias to all of you who have written to me telling me you've spotted BRALESS IN WONDERLAND on store shelves. It fills me with joy! Some of you have also let me know you've visited the bookstore to buy it and my book  wasn't there. PLEASE ORDER IT!!! This way, it will be there soon. And then more people can dare to go braless . . . by the way, the word "braless' in the title refers to feminism and 'smoke and mirrors' type undergarments such as chicken cutlets. "Chicken cutlets?" you ask? The answer is revealed in the book . . .

Please stop by HERE
 for some virtual champagne to celebrate.

Have a great week, everyone!

Favorite line today: "Ooh, look, how nice. Delish. Mmm." Martha Stewart, to her cat as she's brushing its teeth with a human toothbrush. Weirdness.

April 17th, 2008

YAY Release Day and Rock the Drop

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Today is going to be fabulous on many levels. First, I will be hitting a few select bookstores with my camera, hoping for Braless Sightings (and by Braless Sightings, I'm referring to my book, not German tourists in South Beach).



 Next, I'll be donating a few books mysteriously in the manner of a teen lit tooth fairy . . . If you don't know what I'm talking about, you need to go to http://readergirlz.com immediately and join the divas!



There has been a lot of fabulosity lately. Great reviews, meeting new friends and teen readers in cyberspace, no cavities AND Passover is coming and I don't have to cook! Not to mention I get to see my book on a store shelf today. Does life get any better? I think not.

Contest Update: I am extending the deadline until April 28th, Monday, so keep spreading the word. :)

Favorite line: I ROCK THE DROP!     

April 16th, 2008

CONTEST! WIN EARRINGS & A SIGNED COPY OF BRALESS IN WONDERLAND!

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Release date is tomorrow, April 17th! To celebrate, I'm giving away a brand new pair of silver hoop earrings, the same style worn by Allee, my main character in BRALESS IN WONDERLAND. They are muy South Beach and perfect for hot summer nights. Plus you'll win a signed copy of BRALESS IN WONDERLAND. Woo hoo!

All you have to do is tell a friend about the book, then leave a comment about it on this blog or on my Myspace page.

Winner will be announced Monday, April 21.

Lots of luck! 

Favorite line today: "Let the competition worry about the competition." - my dad

April 15th, 2008

Dream Cast for BRALESS IN WONDERLAND

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Hey, a girl can dream, can't she? Here is my dream cast for Braless in Wonderland, the movie. (When I worked in casting, I thought it would be as easy and fun as writing this post. It wasn't.)

Allee, the main character, would be played by Emma Roberts. She has those full lips modeling agents love, and she's a terrific actress. Or possibly Miley Cyrus because Allee has to be funny too, and Miley can pull off comedy. Amanda Bynes I love, but she's too old for the part.



Emma Roberts


Summer, the stunning, blondy-licious model from Georgia would be played by new Australian supermodel Gemma Ward (she'd just need a dialogue coach - no biggie). If the accent is too big a prob, Dakota Fanning always delivers.


Gemma Ward


Monique, the aging, faded glam agency owner, would be played by Cher, natch. Also, Brigitte Nielsen would have the right combo of scary and chic. Yep, she would if you put her in the right suit. Trust me on this.





Claudette, the sexy, wise and maverick model, would be played by Rihanna.



Allee's parents would be played by Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas.

Zach Ephron would be Allee's gay friend Miguel. Oh, come on, people. This is not a stretch.



Sabrina, Allee's little sister, would be played by Ellen Page. Momma, Allee's tough-yet-maternal booker would be played by Camryn Manheim.
 
OK, full disclosure: this photos for this blog were pulled and posted by none other than Teri Brown, author of READ MY LIPS. See, I "borrowed" this entry from our 2k8 blog. If you want to find out more about Teri, the author class of 2k8, and the fabulous M. P. Barker, click  here:
http://classof2k8.blogspot.com/

3 DAYS UNTIL RELEASE DATE . . . 

Favorite line today: "I like to dance around in my underwear. That doesn't make me Madonna." From Working Girl.


April 6th, 2008

Good stuff happening these days . . .

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Congrats to  [info]mandymorgan on being the lucky winner of my very first contest!


                                                                         

Mandy will receive a pair of Haviana flip flops ( a summer essential), plus a signed copy of BRALESS IN WONDERLAND! Hugs go out to Mandy, as well as to Jessica Burkhart, author of the middle grade series TAKE THE REINS (2009), for running the contest and for interviewing me. Check out Jess's blog if you haven't already: http://jessicaburkhart.livejournal.com

In other news, I went to my friend Dorian Cirrone's booksigning last week for her latest YA release, PROM KINGS AND DRAMA QUEENS.


 Here are some highlights:



Dorian with Mindy Alyse's two gorgey daughters. Inside scoopy: the one in the mauve sweater is a mini-me for Mindy. I would also like to point out that Dorian's bangs always look perfect like that, sans cowlicks or anything sticky-uppy like my bangs. 



Like her book, Dorian is funny, riveting and socially conscious. Note the donation box for the Cooperative Feeding Program. Read the book and you'll see why she chose to incorporate community involvement with her launch signing.    

This is the last signing I'll attend until my very first signing, which I'll be doing with Dorian and Gaby Triana, author of THE TEMPTRESS FOUR on May 8th at Borders in Boca. Wow, that is coming up soon.

Maybe because my book comes out in 5 days. 5 days. 
GASP
That is crazy.

Go read Prom Kings and Drama Queens. It's a really great, enjoyable read. Promise. 

Favorite Line today: "If Hillary was so pro gun, she would have shot her husband a long time ago." Joyce Behar, defending Hillary Clinton on The View. 


  

[Bad username: ]

March 21st, 2008

Just Shut Up and Write!

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I want to stand on a rooftop and shout: 

I'M TIRED OF MYSPACING AND FACEBOOKING AND BLOGGING AND LIST SERVING AND CHATROOMING ALREADY! WILL WE CYBER FRIENDS EVER MEET IN PERSON? IS THIS ALL A FUTILE WASTE OF TIME? ENOUGH TALK ABOUT WRITING! JUST SHUT UP AND WRITE! 

Does anyone out there feel this way?

I'm feeling the same way about promotion in general. Why does promoting suck so greatly? I'm frantically sending out postcards, giving bookmarks away left and right, sending emails to 'Save the Date" for my signings, organizing a contest I can do in the next few weeks, and a milion other promotional tasks, yet the one thing I'm NOT doing enough of is writing.  Does any of this promotional stuff really work? Or am I a big sucker? And isn't it nauseating for people to constantly hear/see you promoting your book?

By the way, BRALESS IN WONDERLAND comes out on April 17, in 3 and a half weeks. 

Favorite line at the mo is from Jack Nicholson: "I'm voting for Hillary because I think she's the best man for the job."

March 13th, 2008

Appearances/ favorite Q & A questions

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Here is the lovely Class of 2k8 chairwoman Jody Feldman, author of THE GOLLYWHOPPER GAMES, and I presenting at the Florida SCBWI conference. Note that, unlike me, Jody has mastered the art of holding your book cover without ruining the shot by catching the glare of flourescent lighting. This is something the models never taught me.

Another author appearance I just did was at Olympic Heights High School in Boca Raton, Florida. It was arranged by the most accomplished eighteen-year-old I have ever met, the incomparable Ilana Jacqueline.   She has already been published in an athology and is halfway through writing a novel. What were you doing when you were eighteen? I was busy watching the Arsenio Hall show and Bedazzling my T-shirts with rhinestones. 

Anyway, I love talking to high school kids. Here were my favorite top four questions, followed by my answers:

Do you ever hate your own writing?
Omigod, yes. A lot of writers have a hard time reading their own work because all you see is what you want to change. You feel like your book is never truly finished.

I read your ARC of BRALESS IN WONDERLAND and I want to know what happens to Allee next. Will there be a sequel?
I'd love to write a sequel if my publisher requests it. I want to know what happens next for Allee too.

Is there a dragon in your book?
No. 

What do you think about the idea of BRALESS IN WONDERLAND being made into a movie?
I'm all for it. In fact, I think we should all join hands and say a prayer right now for this to happen. 

Any questions you all love from students?

Favorite line at the mo comes from Christopher Knight on My Fair Brady: "Let your past support you, not haunt you." Wow, Peter from The Brady Bunch is pretty deep. Who knew? 




February 19th, 2008

Reasons for a Happy Dance

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 I feel a happy dance coming on. 
              
                                                                          


1) I just realized BRALESS IN WONDERLAND comes out in exactly two months. 

2) I also just realized I have enough in my budget for some kind of swag giveaway, as long as it's cheap reasonable .     

Which means . . .

3) I can order promo goodies!  It's like shopping, but even better, because it's sort of like shopping for accessories. Only they're accessories that just happen to have my book cover on them.

This makes me want to happy dance to a Rick James tune, much like Olive in Little Miss Sunshine.  I am positively giddy.  

Even though I know these giveaway thingies don't really sell books. I may as well be tossing my moolah down the loo. But it's my first book and I really, really want to have something to give away besides bookmarks. Is that so wrong?

It's just that I can't decide what to get. It has to be something useful for both adults and teens, which is why the only thing I can come up with is sticky pad Post-it type thingies. That seems pretty good, but I keep thinking there must be something better out there . . . Or should I go with magnets? Stickers


Any suggestions, people? Help me waste money shop! Just remember it has to be cheap reasonable.

Favorite Line today:  "101 Things Removed From Human Bodies" - the title of a program on the Discovery channel. The Discovery channel has a surprising number of gross-out shows they always broadcast during dinner time. Thanks, Discovery channel, for ensuring my gag reflex works perfectly. 

                                               





 

January 15th, 2008

Braless in Wonderland Picture Book?

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Here's a little convo I had yesterday with an orthodox Jewish woman (very religious) at my son's school:

Her: I hear you're an author. Mazel tov!

Me: Thank you

Her: Who's publishing it?

Me: Dutton Children's Books

Her: A children's book, how wonderful. What's it called?

Me: Braless in Wonderland

Her (pause - confusion all over her face): Is it illustrated?  

Favorite line: see above

January 13th, 2008

First Blog Review & First Conference Gig :)

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I know tomorrow everyone will be blogging about the ALA awards, and believe me, I too am more excited than Tom Cruise on the mother ship to  find out who will be honored. But I'm also excited about this! My first blog review! If you're too giddy from ALA madness to read it now, it'll be posted on Teens Read Too  in March or April, closer to the release of Braless in Wonderland! And if you want to read other YA reviews, beautifully written by Cana, check out her blog at [info]candycana. 

In other spine-tingling news, this weekend I'll be a faculty member at the
SCBWI Florida conference, presenting a panel workshop with fellow member of the Class of 2k8, our lovely and talented chairwoman, author of The Gollywhopper Games[info]jodyfeldman.  My first SCBWI speaking gig! I can't believe it's real! I've marked up my conference notes with key points, such as Don't interrupt Jody. I'll also get to see Cana in person - woo-hoot! (We met last year, chatting by the doors as I was timing the critiques, but um . . . I don't think Cana remembers me. I always like timing the critiques. Is it wrong to keep asking, "How'd it go? How'd it go?" to each person as they walk out? Just wondering). Here's the description of our workshop:  

Jumping Into Bed with the Competition: 
Can 28 Authors Plan a Mass Promotion and Sell Happily Ever After? 
With publicity departments at publishing houses stretched so thin these days, it's often up to authors to make their own marketing plans. Two members from the Class of 2k8 -- a PR/marketing collaborative of 28 debut novelists -- discuss how such a collaboration works and gives you 28 ideas you can use to promote your book or publicize yourself as an author or speaker ... whether you choose to be part of a bigger group or decide to fly solo.

Speaking of promotion, how do you all still have time to write books and blog as well? Not to mention Myspace, Facebook, and Blogger, oh my. I really like you guys, but we may have to stop spending so much time together here on LJ. There's that whole 'writing another book' thing getting the way of my socializing  networking in the writing community.

How DO you balance it work and play (I mean, you know, promotion)? 

Favorite line today: Christian from Project Runway says, "I think proms are tacky and gross and disgusting." Omigod, where were you when I was in high school, Christian? I needed you. 

                      
                            
Mwah.

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