www.debbierigaud.com

Ever since the earthquake hit Haiti on January 12th, my weeks have been a blur. Partly because of the shock of it all, and partly because of my involvement with organizing fundraisers to support local registered Haiti relief charities.

A little back story: My parents and their relatives left Haiti in the 1960s. Most of the relatives in my generation–born in the 60s, 70s and 80s–were born in New York City, and sadly, have never visited Haiti (including myself). But we speak the language, eat the food, dance to the kompas music and adore the culture. I mean, in the not so distant past, you could catch us at Brooklyn’s West Indian Day Carnival Parade, adorned with the Haitian flag and dancing all the way down “de Parkway” in celebration of our culture. One year, my cousin Jessica went all out and got a flag as large as a cape. Check her out! (Even though she doesn’t look it, I think she was about 18 years old at the time!)

So outside of one cousin, I don’t have any close relatives in Haiti. I am deeply grateful that my father wasn’t in Port-au-Prince at the time of the horrific event. He visits often, and and this past December, he booked a ticket for the Friday after the quake!

For the first week after the disaster, my family had not heard from my cousin Martine. We were especially worried because she has small children—including an infant. It was a huge relief when she finally called. I am happy to report that she and the kids are safe. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for other distant relatives. Jessica lost her uncle on her father’s side; another cousin lost his sister-in-law; and my great aunt in Brooklyn has so far counted 100 people that she’s known who have perished—including her own sister-in-law.

Times like this, it’s nice to be around family. But with no immediate plans to travel home, I discovered the next best thing. A church in Bermuda organized a prayer evening after the tragedy, and there, I met other Haitians on the island! I had only known of two Haitians around—one of whom was my French teacher—but six of us showed up! We were so thrilled to meet each other (and hear some good ole creole) that we snapped a quick group shot after the prayer service.

The following week, the Premier of Bermuda, Dr. Ewart Brown, invited all Haitians on the island to meet him. My supportive hubby came with. It was a cozy, informal meeting and the Premier offered us his condolences and his support. At times, the Premier was even moved to tears. He then invited us to share our thoughts and concerns, which we felt comfortable enough to do. I was especially touched (and a bit teary) when one Haitian man named Samuel stood up and said in a creole-kissed accent, “I used to always think, No one cares about us; no one cares about Haiti. But now I see the whole world cares about Haiti.’” He ended with a rousing message about building the country back up, “We can do it,” he chanted louder and louder, his fist pumping. “We CAN do it. WE CAN DO IT!” Wow.

Apparently there’s like 10 or 11 Haitians on the island! One of us, Wesly, was in Haiti at the time on a (heroic!) mission to evacuate survivors from Port-au-Prince and bus them to his unaffected hometown. Leyde, another member of our newfound community was planning to leave to Haiti the following week. Here we are at Camden House, the Premier’s official residence.

By the way, I adopted “We can do it” Samuel as my uncle. Here I am with mon oncle Samuel (a real-life Haitian Uncle Sam).

Eager to assist in the island’s relief efforts, we joined philanthropic Bermudians who have been active in Haiti for years in their work to bring medical relief to Port-au-Prince and neglected provinces outside of the capital. We formed an organization to recruit volunteers. And within a week, we held our first fundraising event in support of local registered charities Haiti Village Health and Feed My Lambs Ministry. Here’s a photo of one enthusiastic Bermudian volunteer who went above and beyond by decorating a poster for her Tag Day collection site. It’s incredibly heartwarming to see how everyone is pitching in the best way they can.

Thanks to all who have reached out to ask about my family. Please continue to keep Haiti in your consciousness as the struggles there have just begun. For ways in which you can help, please visit my Help for Haiti post.

The GCC author release dates keep on comin’! So do the GCC author accolades. Last week I was bigging up  Carrie Jones for making the NYT Bestseller List. Today I’m excited to extend a big congrats to Suzanne Young’s two-book deal for A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL. That means it’s time for Suzanne to do her book-deal dance (She has one, you know.). Head over to her blog to check it out.

I wonder if she has a book-release dance? Tomorrow kicks off  Suzanne’s  THE NAUGHTY LIST series, so beware cheaters everywhere. That means you, too, John Edwards! blech! Here’s why philandering boyfriends should be afraid…very afraid:

About The Naughty List:

As if being a purrfect cheerleader isn’t enough responsibility! Tessa Crimson’s the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn’t be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty!

When Tessa’s own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa’s sneaky ways end in catastrophe?

The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it?

Suzanne’s productivity as a writer is truly impressive. I couldn’t wait to pick her brain. Here’s what she had to say:

DR:  What’s your favorite stage of your work process?
SY: I think I like drafting the best. It’s like a first date—exciting, thrilling, scary. And you just don’t know how it’ll end.
DR. How do you get over a major bout of writer’s block?
SY: I usually go to the movies or take a quiet drive. My brain sometimes gets overwhelmed. And I definitely get off the internet. 
DR: What bad habit are you desperately trying to break out of?
SY: Other than biting my nails, I’m trying not to doubt myself so much. It’s such a
subjective business and I don’t want goodreads to take over my life. lol
DR: Think back to your sophomore year in high school. What were you like at
age 15?
SY: I was really into theatre/plays. I also loved reading—so yeah, pretty exciting, right?
DR: In PERFECT SHOT, London steps out of her sporty comfort zone to
participate in a modeling contest. When was the last time you ventured far out of your comfort zone?
SY: My comfort zone constantly changes. Going to the LA SCBWI conference for the first time was really scary for me. I didn’t know anyone and I was new to the business. Luckily, it turned out all right. Now I love the conferences. My new fear: book signings.

Thanks for chatting, Suzanne! Keep dancin’!

A huge congratulations to GCC author Carrie Jones for making the New York Times Children’s Bestseller List! Her latest, CAPTIVATE is sitting pixie pretty at #9. Yes, y’all. CAPTIVATE debuted on the hardcover bestseller list. And wait—there’s more! NEED, Carrie’s previous book, debuted on the NYT paperback list at the same time. I am in awe. A.W.E.

An unlikely feat for most authors? Carrie prefers not to look at it that way. She offers this pep talk on her blog: “So, any way, the point here is that you have to follow your dreams. You have to fight for them, scratch out people’s eyes for them, but you have to - YOU HAVE TO - go for them, even if it looks impossible. Believe me, I know about impossible and doing everything wrong. I know about crying because you think you suck. I know about feeling like everything you’re doing is pointless. But it isn’t. Not if you want it. Now go get it, because if I can get it you know - YOU KNOW - you can too.”

A little about CAPTIVATE:

In this NYT-Bestselling sequel to NEED, Zara and her friends knew they hadn’t solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king’s needs grow deeper every day he’s stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It’s made him vulnerable. And now there’s a new king in town.

A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he’s one of the good guys. Nick isn’t buying it, though Zara isn’t as sure — despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it’s a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It’s her life — and his.

Good thing I got a chance to ask her a few question when I did. Something tells me girlfriend’s schedule is going to be bursting with interviews.

DR:  What’s your favorite stage of your work process: researching, writing or editing?
CJ: Editing. It’s like putting the pieces of the puzzle together. You have something to play with and build on. I love the second and third revision the most. 
DR: How do you get over a major bout of writer’s block?
CJ: I just write. Even if it’s only 500 words, I write and I give myself permission for it to totally stink.
DR:  What bad habit are you desperately trying to break out of?
CJ: I sleep way too much. 
DR: What’s the craziest or coolest thing you’ve done in the name of research?
CJ: I rode around in a police cruiser. I once pretended to be a hooker.
DR: Think back to your sophomore year in high school. What were you like at age 15?
CJ: Goofy and smart and passionately in love with a gay guy who had a Flock of Seagulls kind of hair cut. I had no gaydar.
DR: In PERFECT SHOT, London steps out of her sporty comfort zone to participate in a modeling contest. When was the last time you ventured far out of your comfort zone?
CJ: Even doing these interviews is out of my comfort zone. I’m pretty shy and it just feels weird talking about myself. I’m not terribly comfortable with that. I always feel like I’m babbling or horribly boring.
DR: What’s your favorite spot to cozy up with a book?
CJ: Bed. I think it’s the whole ‘sleep too much’ thing again.
DR: These days, everyone and their pet pooch is a multi-hyphenate. What talents or professional titles would you include your multi-hyphenate profile?
CJ: Author/semi-pro sleeper/police dispatcher/contra-alto singer/strudel lover

Thanks, Carrie!

Now everyone, head over to http://www.needpixies.com and enter for a chance to win a computer! Lucky pixie dust to you all!

Devastation has hit Haiti. And when morning comes, the extent of the damage and the death toll will hit even harder. As a Haitian-American, I am deeply concerned. Haiti needs help. Here are ways you can donate:

-Text “Yele” to 501501 - $5 will be charged to your phone to assist Wyclef Jean’s Yele Foundation in their relief efforts. Donate to Yele online here.

-Fmr President Clinton’s foundation is dedicated to direct relief efforts. Text “haiti” to 20222  to donate $10 toward their efforts. You can also give online via this link.

-Head to the Doctors Without Frontiers site to make an online donation

-Donate to Unicef to help Haiti’s children recover from the quake.

-Mercy & Sharing is an organization we’ve donated to in the past. They work with neglected, ill, and handicapped children. Head to this link to donate. 100% of funds go directly to the children of Haiti.

-Oxfam (UK) provides “clean water, shelter and sanitation” to earthquake victims. Donate online here.

-Two organizations already on the ground and working in Haiti are the American Red Cross and Partners in Health.  Text “haiti” to 90999 to pledge $10 to the Red Cross.

-Fairfax County Fire & Rescue, the awesome team that’s in Haiti pulling people from the rubble is accepting donations. To give, please call them at 703-584-8442.

-In Bermuda, Feed My Lambs Ministry is accepting donations via wire transfers or mail.

For more info, CNN has a comprehensive list of ways you can donate.

Thank you, guys.

As celebrated Haitian-American author Edwidge Danticat likes to say, Kembe la.

There’s nothing like kicking off the new decade with a book release celebration for one of my Girlfriends Cyber Circuit sisters. I’m so thrilled to welcome GCC author Eileen Cook to this blog.

Eileen has just released her third book, Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood and I can’t wait to dive into it. In Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood, karma is a 17-year-old named Helen Worthington–and she’s coming for that Lauren. So, maybe one vicious turn doesn’t deserve another—but it makes for some awesome reading!  Here’s how the story goes:

Popularity is the best revenge.

In the final weeks of eighth grade, Lauren Wood made a choice. She betrayed her best friend, Helen, in a manner so publicly humiliating that Helen had to move to a new town just to save face. Ditching Helen was worth it, though, because Lauren started high school as one of the It Girls–and now, at the start of her senior year, she’s the cheerleading captain, the quarterback’s girlfriend, and the undisputed queen bee. Lauren has everything she’s ever wanted, and she has forgotten all about her ex-best friend.

But Helen could never forget Lauren. After three years of obsessing, she’s moving back to her old town. She has a new name and a new look, but she hasn’t dropped her old grudges. She has a detailed plan to bring down her former BFF by taking away everything that’s ever been important to Lauren—starting with her boyfriend.

Eileen certainly got my attention with that wild cover art. And she kept my adult ADD at bay during our recent exchange. Not surprisingly, considering Eileen is known for her witty storytelling. Her debut novel Undercover has already been optioned for the big screen, and Meg Cabot herself praises Eileen’s writing, calling it “sassy and sly and sweet.” Hope you’re also sassed by my interview with her. Enjoy.

DR: What’s your favorite stage of your work process: researching, writing or editing?
EC: I enjoy all of it to some degree. The research is always interesting and gives me such a great chance to learn about all sorts of random things. The writing is my favorite part. I love the creative process and the chance to get it all down on paper. I don’t mind the first round of edits, but by the time I’ve gone through it six or seven times I’m sick of it and ready to start a new story.

DR: How do you get over a major bout of writer’s block?
EC: When I’m stuck I have to get out of the house. It’s like my brain needs the fresh air. I also have to leave my laptop behind and go back to writing by hand.  I’ll go to a coffee shop, down the ocean or the library and write there. Something about being out of my usual space and using a pen and paper seems to shake things free.

DR:What bad habit are you desperately trying to break out of?
EC: Coming up with excuses to avoid the gym.

DR: What’s the craziest or coolest thing you’ve done in the name of research?
EC: For my first book, Unpredictable, I went to something like twelve different psychics. The main character in that book is a fake psychic so I wanted to get a sense of how readings were done.

DR: Think back to your sophomore year in HS. What were you like at age 15?
EC: I was a total dork. It was the late 80’s and I thought I was Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink with lace skirts and combat boots playing OMD on my walkman.  I worried too much about what other people thought- but I already had a sense of what I wanted to do with my life.

DR: In PERFECT SHOT, London steps out of her sporty comfort zone to participate in a modeling contest. When was the last time you ventured far out of your comfort zone?
EC: I like to travel because that tends to get me out of my familiar zone and trying something new. The food we ate when we visited Japan was definitely out of my zone. I think I ate something that had tentacles and eyes.

DR: What’s your favorite spot to cozy up with a book?
EC: I love to sit in my living room in front of the fire with my dogs. We can see the backyard which has a view of the Vancouver mountains. With the Olympics coming I plan to try and spot the ski races from home!

DR: These days, everyone and their pet pooch is a multi-hyphenate. What talents or professional titles would you include your multi-hyphenate profile?
EC: Author/friend/knitter/Martha-Stewart level entertainer/ultimate dog-mom

Congratulations and happy new year to you, Eileen! Continued success.

My first signings for PERFECT SHOT were held here in Bermuda and it was such a fantastic time.

First, I set up shop outside of Bermuda Bookstore one balmy Saturday afternoon flanked by an oversized poster of the cover on one side and my hubby on the other. In the two hours I was out there, a good number of people came by and picked up copies. I was grateful for all the support I was shown. Here’s a snapshot from my day.

Then it was off to plan my official release party. Held a week later at Bookmart in Bermuda’s Brown&Co. department store, the event would include a performance skit based on a scene in PERFECT SHOT. Patricia Nesbitt, the drama teacher at Cedarbridge High School held a casting call and selected a London Abrams look-a-like in 15-year-old Sarafina. Here she is with Raekwon, who charmingly portrayed hearthrob Brent St. John. Fantastic job, guys!

And a special thanks to the Cedarbridge students who volunteered to play extras for the juice bar scene.  That’s me surrounded by the cool cast and assistant director.

The fun evening kicked off with the “Spike a Pose” photo contest, which was a lot of fun. The participants with the fiercest pose (using the Xmas hat and tinsel “boa”) won a gift certificate graciously sponsored by electronics store P-Tech. Pretty cool. You’ve gotta see some highlights. One of my favorite was this Michael Jackson homage pose. And next to that is the winning shot (selected by judges from the Brown & Co./Phoenix Stores).

I had the best time and was so excited that everything went well. Party planning isn’t my forte because there’s always the worry that no one will show up—especially since I’m so far from home. But all of that anxiety melted away once I saw the hubby and all the friends and students that came out to celebrate PERFECT SHOT with me. Thanks to all who came out!

Sending warm wishes for a joyous holiday season to all of you. Thank you for all of your support and encouragement this year. The adventure continues. Looking forward to what good times the new decade will bring. Continued blessings and lots of love!

For the past week, I’ve been busy on a blog blitz.  It’s been amazing being interviewed by the fab authors in the Girlfriends Cyber Circuit. And I was especially excited to be featured on YA Fresh, one of my favorite YA sites! (Check out the interview here.) I can’t believe how much info I’ve divulged in these interviews. For instance, curious about how the original PERFECT SHOT cover looked like? Head over to author Melisssa Walker’s blog.

Readers are winning autographed copies of PERFECT SHOT all of the web—like at YA author Linda Gerber’s blog. In honor of London Abrams, my crush-struck main character, Linda invited readers to share stories about the wackiest things they’ve done for a crush. Some of the responses are hilarious—you can read them here. Congrats to Jenni for winning the first giveaway copy!

There’s still time to enter to win a copy over at Author’s Now and at Free Book Friday Teens. Just leave a comment and you’re entered!

This eventful week was topped off with a release-day gift from 19-year-old illustrator Jhenne (whose work is also featured on my website). I couldn’t wait to share it with you guys. Drumroll….check out this fan art of London Abrams, yall:

Is this not just the most fabulous portrait ever?!! Dope. Thank you so much, Jhenne!

I appreciate all the love and the supportive comments, guys! And thanks for the youtube views of the book trailer. We’re already at over 400 views in just one week! Not bad for a sporty-girl character from Jersey.

Today is the day PERFECT SHOT meets world. My debut solo book is now available at bookstores and I couldn’t be more excited. The first thing I’m going to do is grab my camera, head over to my local bookstore, and take a perfect shot of PERFECT SHOT.

But before I hit the streets like a wacky woman on a mission, allow me to introduce you to 15-year-old London Abrams, the main character of this story. London’s a special little lady, and not only because she’s a dope volleyball player—London is also the first African-American protagonist to be featured in this Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies series. I’m so proud of this. And I know readers of all backgrounds will connect with London and the rest of the multicultural cast of characters in this book.

On this thrilling day, I’m also proud to premiere the book trailer for PERFECT SHOT. It’s produced by my very own 15-year-old niece Ana. In fact, most of the trailer is a family affair. The featured song (“Butterfly”) was written by Ana and my cousin Maeva and is performed by Ana; my lovely goddaughter Amanda makes a cameo appearance as one of the fabulous models (she’s the first one, wearing a beret); and my cousin Junior is featured as the heartthrob character “Brent.” Take a look!

I’ll be on a Girlfriend Cyber Circuit blog tour all week, so check back with info on where to find my profiles. For now, I’ve got a bookstore to raid!

There’s a lot of paranormal activity going on. And I’m not just talking about at the movie theater! DEADLY LITTLE LIES, the second book in the chilling Touch series, is out now. So, this being my inaugural Girlfriends Cyber Circuit post, how excited am I to introduce you to the series’ author Laurie Stolarz? Very muy beaucoup! 

Laurie had us at the edge of our seats with DEADLY LITTLE SECRET, which introduced readers to 16-year-old Camelia and Ben, the dangerously mysterious cutie with the psychic touch. In DEADLY LITTLE LIES, just as Camelia convinces herself to let go and move on, Ben returns to town. Add Adam (her new love interest) to the mix, and the web of lies just get stronger.
Not familiar with the Touch series? Check out this awesome trailer for DEADLY LITTLE SECRET, made by film students at the University of Texas:

For the past few years, Laurie’s been busy building her popular BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES empire and weaving awesome supernatural tales like PROJECT 17. Still, she briefly allowed herself to get (happily?) distracted by my line of questioning. Read on for tidbits about Laurie’s writing process and writerly personality:

DR: What’s your favorite stage of your work process: researching, writing or editing? Why? 
LS: I really love the revision process.  I love reworking, reconsidering, making things tighter, better, and adding more twists.
DR: How do you get over a major bout of writer’s block? 
LS: I get away from the computer, grab a notebook and pen, and start taking notes on my book.  I’ll jot down what I know about the story, where I want things to go, what my character needs to learn, what the obstacles are, etc., etc. I also find it really helpful to talk through my block.  I’ll grab a friend and tell them about my story and where I’m stuck.  I don’t even necessarily need them to say anything, but I just find talking through the glitch usually helps me figure out what needs to happen.  
DR: What’s the craziest or coolest thing you’ve done in the name of research? 
LS: I had to figure out how to break into an abandoned haunted asylum in the middle of the night.  I did this for my research on PROJECT 17.  I connected with a group of urban explorers, and became so spooked by my research, I wasn’t able to sleep at night. 
DR: Think back to your sophomore year in high school. What were you like at age 15? 
LS: I think most would say I was pretty quiet – an observer – and I’d agree.  But, then again, I was a cheerleader.  (Don’t laugh.  It was militant – more like boot camp.).  I was hard working – like now – with big dreams and an even bigger imagination. 
DR: In PERFECT SHOT, London steps out of her sporty comfort zone to participate in a modeling contest. When was the last time you ventured far out of your comfort zone? 
LS: Just last week, I took the kids hiking through the woods.  I’m not a woodsy kind of girl, so this was a bit of a stretch for me, but they loved it and so I did too.
DR: What’s your favorite spot to cozy up with a book? 
LS: In my living room in front of the fire.
DR: These days, everyone and their pet pooch is a multi-hyphenate (or, as gory as it sounds, a “multi-slasher,” i.e. actor/fashion designer/stand-up comedienne). What talents or professional titles would you include your multi-hyphenate profile (starting with “author”)?
LS: Author/taxi-driver/chef/housekeeper/teacher/Lego-building assistant

And don’t forget to add “Giveaway Goddess” to that list. The latest prize: A character in Laurie’s next book DEADLY LITTLE GAME can be named after you! Check out the cool contest rules to enter before December 31st.

Laurie’s on a blog tour all week, so be sure to stop by all the GCC author blogs (see my links column) for more exclusive details about her and her books.

Thanks, Laurie, and continued success to you!