Freebie Friday with Melissa de la Cruz and Ally Carter

First of all... HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my sweetheart, Aaron. Mwwwwwaaaaaaa!!!!!

And now, I have to tell you about my geek out moments last week while I was at RWA... So, Wednesday evening, I got to party with the YA Golden Heart finalists before the Literacy Signing. Very cool group of ladies. I had to leave early to go get set up for the signing, so I leave them to their margaritas, and step onto the elevator, and right there in front of me is Melissa de la Cruz! I do the complete geek thing and gush to her about what a fan I am. Yes, I am smooth like that. Anyway, Melissa walks to the signing with me. Such a genuine and nice person.

And then! I've known Tera Lynn Childs online for forever, but never had a chance to meet her in person until this conference. Again, nicest person alive. I love her.

And I got to hang out with Marley Gibson and Wendy Toliver and Rosemary Clement-Moore and meet Tina Ferraro and hold Simone Elkeles's Rita statue, and... it was so cool.

Oh! And I met Meg Cabot!!! She's one of my most favorite authors ever. I am completely in love with Jesse, the hot Spanish ghost in her MEDIATOR series. They gave copies of her new book, INSATIABLE away at the conference and I devoured it in like two days. Anyway, I got my picture taken with Meg Cabot!!! Yes, I am such a geeky fangirl.

But back to Melissa de la Cruz... she and Ally Carter did a workshop about author branding. Afterward, I went up to talk to Melissa, and... she remembered me from Wednesday and greeted me warmly. Can I just say what a thrill that was? As was meeting Ally Carter for the first time. My daughters and I have read every one of the GALLAGHER GIRLS books as well as HEIST SOCIETY and we all just love her.

Both Melissa and Ally were kind enough to sign copies of their books, THE VAN ALEN LEGACY and I'D TELL YOU THAT I LOVE YOU, BUT THEN I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU for our Freebie Friday giveaway, which means... two winners!

To be entered to win, leave a comment below, telling me... have you ever totally geeked out when meeting someone famous? (Or even someone you really liked, or were crushing on?) This drawing will remain open until Wednesday, August 11.

And don't forget this month's TRANCE Countdown Drawing. Up for grabs is $160 in CSN Store money. Be sure to spread the word and enter below. Or click here.

Let the TRANCE begin

Shhh... I'm not really here. I'm at RWA Nationals in Orlando and I'm ditching one of the workshops to use the Internet when it isn't subdivided by two thousand other attendees...

By way of a heads up - watch this space starting Monday, August 2, when the countdown for the official launch of TRANCE begins. For the next three months, in addition to our regularly scheduled Freebie Fridays, we will be giving away a bigger, monthly prize to celebrate the upcoming release.

August's prize is brought to you by the good people at CSN. They carry awesome things like home decor, bookshelves, and lights. (You'll want to browse the site, because the giveaway in August is an $80 giftcode for use at CSNstores.com) Come on back Monday for the kick-off, and I'll tell you how you can enter to win.

Also... I just met Melissa de la Cruz and Ally Carter here at RWA, and they have each offered signed copies of their respective awesome books, I'D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU, BUT THEN I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU and THE VAN ALEN LEGACY.

Be sure to hang out with us in August for chances to win these and other phenomenal prizes!

And now... I'm slipping back into the workshop...

Oh, yesss! The Fan Girl in Me Does the Happy Dance*

On the iPod - Crayola Doesn't Make a Color for Your Eyes by Kristin Andreassen

And the winner of Jen Nadol's THE MARK swag pack is: kathleenliz

Please send your mailing instructions to gerb (@) lindagerber (.) com and we'll get that send out to you. Everyone else, please come back on Friday for another freebie with debut author Julie Kagawa and her new book THE IRON KING.

What's up?

My sweet friend and amazing author Kate Coombs nominated me for the Prolific Blogger Award. Thank you, Kate! I'm going to pass along the nominations in a couple of weeks - as soon as I meet my current deadline!

Snowpocalypse has created a winter postcard outside my office window. Very pretty, but not so fun to drive in or shovel. The kids are on their second snow day from school. Have I mentioned how hard it is to get any writing done with the kids home? *grumble, grumble* Oh, um... hi, kids. I love you! : D

Ellen DeGeneres made her American Idol debut last night. I really liked her. Yeah, yeah, I know. But I love that cheesy show. Anyone else watch it? What did you think?

*Huge week for fabulous YA new releases... HAPPY RELEASE WEEK to Lisa McMann (GONE: WAKE), Heather Brewer (ELEVENTH GRADE BURNS: THE CHRONICLES OF VLADIMIR TOD), Ally Carter (HEIST SOCIETY), Kristin Harmel (AFTER), Jillian Cantor (THE LIFE OF GLASS) and Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (TOKEN OF DARKNESS)!

And finally, today's video link: My friend Nikki Stone was on the TODAY SHOW on NBC! Go, Nikki!