The Spring Book Giveaway Begins

As promised, Yvonne and I will be moving some books off our crowded shelves and onto yours in the coming weeks.

We’ll work through them in the order we wrote them. That means we’ll be able to give away copies of our eighth book by the time summer rolls around, because Girl v. Boy comes out in July! Plus, we'll pass along the new paperback version of The Black Sheep in its bright new cover.

Without further ado, I invite Dexter the Book Hound to present our first giveaway.

Totally Me: The Teenage Girl’s Survival Guide is the first book we wrote together and we’re still proud of it—partly because we weren’t exactly sure we could write a book at all, let alone as a team. This is how it’s described on the back cover:

Navigating today's complex world can be tough for anyone, but there's a survival guide to help you find your way with sass and style. Funny and insightful, Totally Me gives you all the information you need to master the girl world—and have a great time. With Totally Me at your side, you'll learn the real deal on boys, parents and friends.

Short on boring lectures and full of fun quizzes, stories and advice, Totally Me is the ultimate guide to finding the real you.

Yvonne and I have been dispensing words of wisdom to each other since we were teens ourselves. I can prove it! Here we are below at our lockers at R.H. King Collegiate in
Toronto.

Yvonne has just advised passersby: “Never share your ChapStick with anyone who has a cold sore.”

Right after that, she turned to me and advised, “Never let your dad cut your bangs again.”

It was excellent advice that I have followed religiously ever since (although sometimes I cut my own bangs against her advice and suffer the consequences).

Eventually, we became so full of good advice that we had to share it with the rest of the world. In Totally Me, we compiled our very best insights on boys, parents, boys, friends, boys, self-esteem and of course, boys. These were the subjects teens told us they wanted to know more about and we had plenty to say.

To win a copy of Totally Me, all you have to do is leave us a comment here telling us the best piece of advice you’ve ever heard.

I’ll start us off by sharing something a friend told me long ago when I confessed I didn’t know how to talk to guys. “Ask questions,” she said. “Guys love talking about themselves.”

I tried it and it worked! Furthermore, it will work on pretty much everyone. Get people talking about themselves and they’ll think you’re the best conversationalist ever.

So here’s your chance to pass along your good advice. We’ll run it by our judge, Dexter the Book Hound, and the best tip wins.

Team Virgo

Ever wonder how two Virgos manage to work together when both apparently prefer to be in the driver’s seat?  It’s all about respect, and giving each other space. 

To illustrate, I present a recent e-mail exchange.   Note that Yvonne is currently “between films.”  That means she is more or less off work, while I have to spend my days in an office.  With other astrological signs, that might cause jealousy, but not with us.  We are a team.

Me:  So, what are you doing?  Working on the website update? 

Yvonne:  Yep.  That’s what I’m doing. 

Hmmm…  Is that her don’t-micromanage-me tone already?  It’s the first time I’ve asked.  Today.

Me:  Good.  Because we promised to give away some books soon. How many do we have? 

Y:  Lots.  I’m just counting now. 

She’s not counting.  I bet she’s surfing the net.  Or flipping through décor magazines.  Or walking the dog.  All the things I’d like to do if I weren’t working.  Except for the décor mag part.  Plus I don’t have a dog. 

Me:  Okay, well, let me know when you have an update. 

 

Later…

Me:  How’s it going with that web update?

Y:  Coming along nicely.

For a writer, she’s quite stingy with her words.  Would it kill her to toss a distraction to an old pal whose job can be a little dull sometimes?

Me:  So, when you’re done, how about starting to write a new book?  Just asking.

Y:  I already did that, Ms. “Just Asking.”  I sent some stuff to you and now it’s your turn.

Me:   Okay, right.  But I’m working.  Anyhow, I meant another book.  You can’t have too many irons in the fire.

Y:  I beg to differ, my friend. 

Me:  Well, got any new ideas? 

Y:  No. 

Me:  We could just toss a few around.  For fun. 

Y:  I’m already having fun.  I’m not working.

Me:  So, what exactly are you doing?

Y:  Ignoring your e-mails from now on.  It’s not my fault you’re bored. 

 

Later… 

Me:  By the way, did I tell you I’m buying a Big White Car?  It’s not cool, but it does have seat warmers.

Y:  We could drive it across Canada and sell books out of the trunk.

Me:  Margaret Atwood invented that automated signing machine so authors don’t have to tour anymore.   The country is just too big.  Anyway, how’s the web update coming?

Y:  [sigh] I can’t wait till I’m working. 

Me:   I can’t wait till I’m not. 

 

Later…

This arrives in my inbox. 

So while I've been working for the man, Yvonne's been playing with her iMac. 

In case you haven’t noticed, she stuck a dog on my head.  That’s a totally passive-aggressive Virgo thing to do, don’t you think?  Especially when you know she wants to drive that car.

When I finally get to work on that new book, the villain will have blond hair, a cruel wit—and a hairy back.  

 

And that is what happens when two Virgos work together. 

The Big Thaw

It’s been a long cold winter here in the great white north but spring has come at last.

We came out of hibernation to find our website seriously needs updating. But we're on it.

Give us a week or two and check back for news and photos, and best of all, book giveaways!