For Writers - Beating Writers' Block with Laurie Stolarz

Much to celebrate this week. My kids are home from college (hugs to Clark and Jenna!) It's my sister's birthday. (Happy birthday, Donna!) My daughter's best friend got married (joy and happiness, Rylee and Daniel!), my dear friend JA McAndrews's new book was born (congratulations, Jen!), I get to be part of a cover reveal tomorrow (not mine... see deets at the end of this post), and my GCC sistah Laurie Stolarz's book DEADLY LITTLE VOICES has hit the shelves! (Hooray, Laurie!)

Laurie was kind enough to stop by in the midst of launch madness to give us this week's writing tip. But first, a little about her and her newest TOUCH series title:

Laurie is the author of Deadly Little Secret, Deadly Little Lies, Deadly Little Games, Deadly Little Voices, Project 17, and Bleed, as well as the bestselling Blue is for Nightmares series. Born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts, Laurie attended Merrimack College and received an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College in Boston.

Deadly Little Voices:

Camelia Hammond thought her powers of psychometry gave her only the ability to sense the future through touch. But now she’s started to hear voices. Cruel voices. Berating her, telling her how ugly she is, that she has no talent, and that she'd be better off dead. Camelia is terrified for her mental stability, especially since her deranged aunt with a suicidal history, has just moved into the house. As if all of that weren't torturing enough, Camelia's ex-boyfriend, Ben, for whom she still harbors feelings and who has similar psychometric abilities, has started seeing someone else. Even her closest friends, Kimmie and Wes, are unsure how to handle her erratic behavior.

With the line between reality and dream consistently blurred, Camelia turns to pottery to get a grip on her emotions. She begins sculpting a figure skater, only to receive frightening premonitions that someone's in danger. But who is the intended victim? And how can Camelia help that person when she’s on the brink of losing her own sanity?

Praise for Laurie's DEADLY series:

"...lively first-person narrative.... CW-worthy dialogue, quirky secondary characters, romance and suspense: a winning combination" - Kirkus Reviews

"An engaging, eerie tale about the darker side of relationships - when it becomes a matter of life and death to know who your friends are." - KLIATT

“The book was full of shocking surprises and revelations, earning the book five stars. This is a must-read for fans of romance, suspense, and mystery because it won't disappoint.” – Teens Read Too (DLL)

"Laurie Faria Stolarz is a master creator of suspense and romance. Her words cause the heart to pound, the palms to sweat, the spine to shiver, and the stomach to flutter. The trepidation born from the anonymous threats will make the pages fly, and the palpable tension between Camelia and Ben as they attempt to ignore their hearts causes the fire to burn hotter." - TeenReads.com

You can Laurie online on her website, on facebook, and by following her on twitter.

Laurie says:

"I like to 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 wants, what my character needs to learn to get what he wants, and what the obstacles are. 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 find that just talking through the glitch usually helps me figure out what needs to happen."

This week's links:

YA and MG are hot! (LA Times) Yay!

Why Teens Love Reading Fantasy (WOW)

Interview with Agent Ginger Knowlton (Cuppa Jolie) SCBWI Pre-conference bonus

Interview with publisher Nancy Paulson (Lee Wind) SCBWI Pre-conference bonus

Interview with publishing director Jean Feiwel (Cuppa Jolie) SCBWI Pre-conference bonus

Feeding Your Reading Life (The Book Whisperer) Writers read. Feed your reading self.

Stop. Writing. Now. (Beyond the Margins) How to know when.

How do Writers Know When They Are Done? (Time to Write) More on knowing when

World building Checklist (YA Muses) Excellent

On Writing Sequels (The Sharp Angle) Good stuff

Tell Me About It (The Other Side of the Story) When telling is better than showing

Ignoring Everything but the Writing (Magical Words) Wise words.

25 Truths About Rejection (Janet Reid) More wise words.

How to Survive Waiting (Adventures in Agentland) What to do while you wait

Write Tight - 3 Things I wish I knew earlier (Jody Hedlund)

Laying Clues and Adding Twists (Paranormal POV) Sneaky ways to slip them in

How Does a Writer Plot Successfully? (Chatterbox Chitchat) ... by using checklists...

Things I Want Authors to Know (Publisher's Weekly) Perspective from a bookseller

Screenwriting Elements (The Script Lab) Helpful for novelists.

The Creative Process as a Board Game (Writing at High Altitude) LOL

Keeping Despair at Bay (The Other Side of the Story) Keep the dream alive.

12 Most Dangerous Words for Writers (Writer Unboxed) Choose the ones to make you succeed

**POV Cheat Sheet (DIYMFA) Love this. I will use it.

Getting the Characters "In" (YA Highway) How to set characters in your readers' minds

How to Show Feelings (Bloodred Pencil) Worthy repeat

Enthusiasm - bring it! (Julie Musil) 9 tips to keep you writing

On Reading One Another (Beyond the Margins) How to do it right

Best Gifts Ever for Writers (Beyond the Margins) #Gift Ideas

Top Ten Holiday Gifts for Writers (Roots in Myth) #Gift Ideas

Evolution of resolutions by J.A. Konrath(newbie guide to publishing) #NewYearResolutions

12 Must-Read Articles from 2011 (Jane Friedman) #year-end wrapup

My Best Advice from 2011 (Jane Friedman) #year-end wrapup

***BONUS: Be sure to check back tomorrow for a peek at the cover for Melissa Walker's upcoming book, UNBREAK MY HEART.

Now go. Write!

Winner and What's Up This Week

And the winner of Laurie Stolarz's DEADLY LITTLE LIES is:

Asenath

Congratulations! Please send your mailing instructions to gerb (@) lindagerber (.) com and we'll get that out to you. Everyone else, please check in on Friday, when we welcome debut author Scott Neumyer to the blog, with his new MG book JIMMY STONE'S GHOST TOWN.


What's up this week?

Happy Birthday, Edgar Allen Poe! (Anyone notice how much he looks like Bill Murray?)

Edgar Nominees Announced (The Edgars)

SCBWI NY Conference coming! (NY11SCBWI) <<< style="font-weight: bold;">

Don't miss the pre-conference info (Alice Pope) <<<< style="font-weight: bold;">Poor Borders (PW) Diamond won't play with them anymore, either.

Really? Snookie instead of Vanderpool? (PW) The Today Show has lost it.

This might help (FB) Join the FB Campaign to bring Newbery and Caldecott winners to the Today Show.

More E-book Challenges (Nathan Bransford) Charting new territory.

Whoa. I'm now a Gemini? (Gawker) Er... are my husband and I still compatible? : )

Just kidding (CNN) Whew. Because, you know, I was really worried. #thiswasreallynews?

No Name Calling Week next week (B&N) Check out the author message videos. Friends Lisa and Margaret join in the message. Love how Margaret kind of eases out of the frame at the end of hers. : )

Upcoming YA book to film adaptations (The Hub) Especially looking forward to WATER FOR ELEPHANTS.

More Animal die-offs! Panic! (Hispanically Speaking) I'm telling you, read THE THINGS THAT KEEP US HERE by Carla Buckley. Such a good book. And so much more satisfying that conspiracy theories...

The Benefits of Hideous Fonts (Salon.com) Huh. Who'da thunk?

Australian Flood Relief (Authors for Queensland)

Quora Questions and Answers (All Things Digital)

Kodak Panel on the Future of the Industry (PW)

Happy Release Week to: Paige Harbison (HERE LIES BRIDGET) , and Julie DeVillers & Jennifer Roy ( TIMES SQUARED)!

This Week's Video Link: (Thanks, Kate!)

FF - DEADLY LITTLE GAMES by Laurie Stolarz

The Author:

Laurie Faria Stolarz is the author of DEADLY LITTLE SECRET, DEADLY LITTLE LIES, DEADLY LITTLE GAMES, and the upcoming DEADLY LITTLE VOICES, as well as PROJECT 17, BLEED, and the bestselling BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES series. Laurie was born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts, attended Merrimack College, and received an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College in Boston. She loves Indian food, vegetarian cooking, aromatherapy, and The Black Eyed Peas.
You can read more about Laurie on her website, on her blog, or by following her on facebook and twitter.

The Book:

High school juniors Camelia and Ben have discovered a powerful bond: they both possess the power of psychometry, the ability to see the future through touch. For Ben, the gift is a frightening liability. When he senses a strong threat or betrayal, he risks losing control. Camelia’s gift is more mysterious. When she works with clay, her hands sculpt messages her mind doesn’t yet comprehend. Before either one has a chance to fully grasp their abilities, a new danger surfaces, but this time, Camelia is not the target. Adam, a familiar face from Ben’s past, is drawn into a puzzle he can’t solve. . . and his life is on the line. As the clues pile up, Camelia must decide whether to help him and risk losing Ben or do nothing and suffer the consequences. But in these games, who can be trusted?

TeenReads calls Laurie "a master creator of suspense and romance." TeenReadsToo agrees, and says the books are a "must-read for fans of romance, suspense, and mystery." Kirkus Reviews called DEADLY LITTLE LIES's romance and suspense "a winning combination." The books have been honored with several awards and selections such as the ALA 2010 and 2011 Reluctant Reader Quick Pick nominee, CBC 2010 Teen Choice Book of the Year nominee, and Teen Reads Too Gold Star Award winner.

The Interview:

Have you ever had your numbers done? Did they reveal anything about you?

Yes, they were done by the fabulous and talented Linda Gerber and it was fascinating and eerily accurate.

Are you superstitious in any way?

Yes, people have to leave my house the same way they came in, i.e. through the same doorway or entryway. If not, it takes the luck out of the house. I grew up with this superstition. I was also taught that birds in the house – either real or fake (including pictures of them) – is considered bad luck.

What inspired you to write THE TOUCH SERIES?

I wanted to write a story where the main character has to struggle with the idea of falling in love with someone who could potentially be dangerous. I tinkered with this concept in the first three books of my Blue is for Nightmares Series [(Blue is for Nightmares (Llewellyn 2003), White is for Magic (Llewellyn 2004), and Silver is for Secrets (Llewellyn 2005), as well as in Bleed (Hyperion 2006)]. In Bleed, in particular, there’s a young male character who was convicted for the murder of his girlfriend. His next relationship consists of pen pal letters he exchanges with a young girl while he’s in prison. Without giving too much away, the relationship is briefly pursued once he is released, but I wanted to bring this concept to another level.

Additionally, I wanted to continue experimenting with the supernatural (which I also use in my Blue is for Nightmares Series as well as in Project 17), showing how we all have our own inner senses and intuition, and how with work we can tap into those senses and make them stronger.

I started researching different types of supernatural powers and discovered the power of psychometry (the ability to sense things through touch). The concept fascinated me, and so I wanted to bring it out in a character, showing how sometimes even the most extraordinary powers can also be a curse.

Lastly, I wanted to apply these concepts to be part of a series. I love the idea of growing a main character over the course of several books.

Are any of your characters based on real people that you know?

No, though sometimes I’ll steal a character quirk from people I’ve known. For example, in the Blue is for Nightmares series, Amber carries around a pair of chopsticks for whenever she’s eating out. I once knew someone who did that.

What excites you?

Feeling like I’ve made a difference. Seeing people happy. Hearing success stories and stories of triumph.

What turns you off?

Narrow-mindedness, intolerance, ignorance, cruelty.

If you could invite anyone you wanted - living or dead - to hang out with you at a weekend retreat, who would you invite and why?

Gary Zukav. I find his insights and perspective on life fascinating.

What's your favorite quote?

Perseverance is key.

The Freebie:

To be entered to win a copy of DEADLY LITTLE LIES, leave a comment below, telling us - if you could have one supernatural power, what would you want it to be? This drawing will remain open until Wednesday, January 19.

Party with Laurie Stolarz

Next on the blog is party girl and GCC sister, Laurie Stolarz.

Laurie is the author of several popular young adult novels, including the bestselling Blue is for Nightmares series, Project 17, Bleed, and the Touch series, Deadly Little Secret, Deadly Little Lies, and Deadly Little Games (coming your way in December.) She loves Indian food and dark chocolate (we could so hang out!) and once broke into a haunted mental institution. (True story - while she was researching for Project 17.) The paperback edition of Deadly Little Lies was just released (and is our freebie today.)

About Deadly Little Lies:

Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, a new boy at school who had a very mysterious gift – psychometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry and experiencing strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow been transferred to her.

Ben returns to school, but he remains aloof, and Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Camelia makes the painful decision to let him go and move on. Adam, the hot new guy at Knead, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. But when Camelia and Adam start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events uncovers secrets from Ben’s past – and Adam's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out who – before it's too late.

Laurie's numbers and response:

Eighteen is an ambiguous number. It can be a warning of materialism striving to destroy the spiritual side of nature, but it can also indicate counsel and the promise of being led in the right direction if one listens to the guidance they are given.

Hmmm... Well, I'd like to think of myself as not materialistic, but sometimes, I suppose, I can get carried away. I love fashion and clothing, which is a complete contrast to the way I was when I was younger. Growing up, we didn't have a lot of money, so I never paid much attention to what I was wearing. Maybe, subconsciously somehow, that's why I'm so interested in it now. I do have a hard time buying the stuff though. I have a secret obsession (not so secret anymore) of shopping online, putting stuff in my cart, and then dumping it all. If and when I do buy stuff, I often feel guilty, and then end up donating other things (perhaps the “being led in the right direction” part?).

Twenty-seven is a fortunate vibration, symbolized as “the scepter”. This command number encompasses fairness and wisdom and empowers one to act on their productive intellect. Creative seeds sown will reap a good harvest. Twenty-sevens have compassion and the desire to work for humanity as a whole with an original approach to the solution of problems.

I do think this one holds true. I consider myself very fair and very compassionate. I try to consider both sides of a given situation, looking at the different perspectives. I also love contributing to the community and feel very grateful for how fortunate I've been. It's important to me to give back.

Your name number vibration is nine. Interestingly, nine shows up in your reading three times (as the first and last name compound numbers are reduced, and again as the name number.) Nine must be very strong with you.

The number nine is considered sacred by the Chaldeans. It contains the forces of all the other numbers and stands for a complete cycle of growth. Nines tend to be selfless, compassionate and tolerant. Many nines are blessed with artistic genius. Nines are independent and headstrong, and don’t like to leave things undone.

I think this one holds true as well. I'm very responsible and very deadline-driven. I never leave work undone. I consider myself very tolerant and compassionate. I'm very independent, having started working at nine. I can be headstrong, but I like to try and see things from different perspectives. And, as for artistic genius? Well, um, duh, have you read my work? (Just kidding:)

You can read more about Laurie and her books at lauriestolarz.com.

Today's daily giveaway is a signed copy of DEADLY LITTLE LIES.

Woot! Party additions!

Check it out - Vivavox USA has generously offered to kick in another gift for the grand prize giveaway list. Up for grabs is their Fun with Photos kit, which includes the coolest flexible "tripod" ever, and a choice of photo gifts. Way cool. Thanks, Vivavox!

Also, please welcome Laurie Stolarz to the guest list! She'll be making her appearance at the party in just a couple of days.

Welcome, Vivavox and Laurie!

FREEBIE FRIDAY with Laurie Faria Stolarz

Happy Friday! Who went to see New Moon last night? Some of the reviews have not been very kind and I’m hoping to hear from fans that it’s not so bad.

But we’re not here to talk about New Moon! We’ve got more than enough to fill the post with today’s guest, YA author and GCC sister Laurie Faria Stolarz. Laurie’s one busy author, with a growing list of popular YA books to her credit, including Deadly Little Secret, Deadly Little Lies, Project 17, Bleed, and the bestselling BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES series. Today we’re discussing her two latest releases, BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS and DEADLY LITTLE LIES, and the special paperback edition of DEADLY LITTLE SECRETS.

BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS is a companion book to the BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES series. Laurie has a background in screenwriting, so when her editor talked to her about the idea of writing a graphic novel, she was really intrigued. She said it gave her an opportunity to try something new and to picture her book as a movie. She wrote it in a screenplay format, including notes for illustrations and sidebars. “It was an absolute thrill to write,” she says, “to have the opportunity to work with an illustrator, and to see my work come to life in this way.”

DEADLY LITTLE LIES is the second book in the TOUCH series, and the sequel to DEADLY LITTLE SECRET (which is now out in paperback. See below how you can enter to win a B&N exclusive edition featuring bonus excerpts from Ben’s secret blog!*) “I’m really excited about (DEADLY LITTLE LIES),” Laurie says, “because I think it has even more suspense, romance, and twists than the first book. It starts up a few months after Ben’s departure at the end of DEADLY LITTLE SECRET. Camelia’s spent those months researching everything she can find on psychometry (the ability to sense things through touch).”

How cool is that? Here’s the official book blurb:

Last fall, sixteen-year-old Camelia fell for Ben, a new boy at school who had a very mysterious gift – psychometry, the ability to sense the future through touch. But just as Camelia and Ben's romance began to heat up, he abruptly left town. Brokenhearted, Camelia has spent the last few months studying everything she can about psychometry and experiencing strange brushes with premonition. Camelia wonders if Ben's abilities have somehow been transferred to her.

Ben returns to school, but he remains aloof, and Camelia can't get close enough to share her secret with him. Camelia makes the painful decision to let him go and move on. Adam, the hot new guy at Knead, seems good for her in ways Ben wasn't. But when Camelia and Adam start dating, a surprising love triangle results. A chilling sequence of events uncovers secrets from Ben’s past – and Adam's. Someone is lying, and it's up to Camelia to figure out who – before it's too late.

You can learn more about Laurie and her books, see the book trailer for Deadly Little Secrets and read up on Psychometry – and enter the TOUCH SERIES CONTEST** on Laurie’s website, lauriestolarz.com

And now for the interview:

Are you superstitious? In any way?
Yes, people have to leave my house the same way they came in, i.e. through the same doorway or entryway. If not, I’ve come to believe it takes the luck out of the house. I know, I know, but I can’t stop this superstition now. I’ve lived with it my whole life.

What songs would make the playlist for DEADLY LITTLE LIES?
**I actually have a contest going on that involves this very question. In celebration of the release of DEADLY LITTLE LIES, I’m launching a very exciting contest, the winner of which will have a minor character in DEADLY LITTLE GAME, the third book in the TOUCH SERIES, named after him or her. Please see the official rules here: http://www.lauriestolarz.com/news.html. I had a similar contest for the release of BLACK IS FOR BEGINNINGS. See the winning entry here: http://www.lauriestolarz.com/novels/black_is_for_beginnings.html

What inspired you to write THE TOUCH SERIES?
I wanted to write a story where the main character has to struggle with the idea of falling in love with someone who could potentially be dangerous. I tinkered with this concept in the first three books of my Blue is for Nightmares Series [(Blue is for Nightmares (Llewellyn 2003), White is for Magic (Llewellyn 2004), and Silver is for Secrets (Llewellyn 2005), as well as in Bleed (Hyperion 2006)]. In Bleed, in particular, there’s a young male character who was convicted for the murder of his girlfriend. His next relationship consists of pen pal letters he exchanges with a young girl while he’s in prison. Without giving too much away, the relationship is briefly pursued once he is released, but I wanted to bring this concept to another level.

Additionally, I wanted to continue experimenting with the supernatural (which I also use in my Blue is for Nightmares Series as well as in Project 17), showing how we all have our own inner senses and intuition, and how with work we can tap into those senses and make them stronger.

I started researching different types of supernatural powers and discovered the power of psychometry (the ability to sense things through touch). The concept fascinated me, and so I wanted to bring it out in a character, showing how sometimes even the most extraordinary powers can also be a curse.
Lastly, I wanted to apply these concepts to be part of a series. I love the idea of growing a main character over the course of several books.

Are any of your characters based on real people that you know?
No, though sometimes I’ll steal a character quirk from people I’ve known. For example, in the Blue is for Nightmares series, Amber carries around a pair of chopsticks for whenever she’s eating out. I once knew someone who did that.

What excites you?
Feeling like I’ve made a difference. Seeing people happy. Hearing success stories and stories of triumph.

What turns you off?
Narrow-mindedness, intolerance, ignorance, cruelty.

If you could invite anyone you wanted - living or dead - to hang out with you at a weekend retreat, who would you invite and why?
Gary Zukav. I find his insights and perspective on life fascinating. It’d also be fun to kick it with Oprah.

What's your favorite quote?
Perseverance is key

*To be entered to win a signed limited edition paperback copy of DEADLY LITTLE LIES, leave a comment below... about anything that interested you in this post. The drawing will remain open until Wednesday, November 25.

Freebie Friday - Laurie Stolarz

Happy Friday! Hope you all are enjoying your holidays.

Today I'm happy to bring you another GCC author interview with best-selling author Laurie Stolarz. Her new book, DEADLY LITTLE SECRETS was just released this week and already it's received great reviews. Teen Reads Too gave it five stars and Kirkus Reviews says says, "CW-worthy dialogue, quirky secondary characters, romance and suspense: a winning combination."

Intrigued? Check out the book trailer:




And now for the interview:

What inspired you to write DEADLY LITTLE SECRET?
I wanted to write a story where the main character has to struggle with the idea of falling in love with someone who could potentially kill her (and who’s already allegedly killed someone in the past). I also wanted to continue experimenting with the supernatural – showing how we all have our own inner senses and intuition, and how with work we can tap into those things and make them stronger.

Are any of your characters based on real people that you know?
No, though sometimes I’ll steal a character quirk from people I’ve known. For example, in the Blue is for Nightmares series, Amber carries around a pair of chopsticks for whenever she’s eating out. I once knew someone who did that.

What excites you?
Feeling like I’ve made a difference. Seeing people happy. Hearing success stories and stories of triumph.
What turns you off?
Narrow-mindedness, intolerance, ignorance, cruelty.

If you could invite anyone you wanted - living or dead - to hang out with you at a weekend retreat, who would you invite and why?
Gary Zukav. I find his insights and perspective on life fascinating.

What's one thing most people don't know about you?
I once used to want to be a potter. My mom used to work in a ceramics studio. She’d bring me there during some of her shifts and I got really into it.

What's your favorite quote?
Perseverance is key.

Milk Chocolate or Dark?
Dark.

And now for the Freebie portion of our Friday... up for grabs this week in honor of Laurie's new TOUCH series - to soften up your touch - is a Davies Gate Pure Essentials gift set. To be entered to win, leave a comment below answering one of the interview questions. This drawing is open until Tuesday, December 30.

P.S. In the meantime, check out Laurie's DEADLY LITTLE CONTEST: www.lauriestolarz.com/news.htm

P.S. More cool stuff to fill your vacation days:
Lisa McMann, author of WAKE hosting a crazy huge contest on her blog.
Tera Lynn Childs, author of OH MY GODS is bringing you The Twelve days of Stella.

LATTE 4 - LAURIE STOLARZ

Laurie Stolarz, author of a whole slew of YA novels, including BLEED, DEADLY LITTLE SECRET and PROJECT 17 is here to party!!!

Thanks so much to Linda for inviting me to her cyber launch party!!! I’m very excited about DEATH BY LATTE!

Okay, so here’s the story of how I learned that when it comes to BFF’s and their significant others, lying is sometimes the best policy.

Several years ago my BFF of ten years broke up with her boyfriend of six years after giving him an ultimatum – either he propose or it’s over. He, much to my friend’s disappointment (and mine as well – I really liked the guy), chose the “over” option. My friend was devastated at first, but got over it quicker than I imagined when she started dating this other guy.

Let’s call him Dick.

So, Dick is 30 years old, has never held a job, and is supported 100% by his parents.

We’ll let that slide.

He also likes collecting Nazi memorabilia, pays (or has his Dad pay) 10K so that he can shoot polar bears (a hobby of his, in addition to collecting dead animal heads), and calls certain females the most horrendous names that you can imagine.

We’ll let most of that slide, as hard as that is to imagine – and please know that it was EXTREMELY hard for me (a liberal-vegetarian-supporter-of-women’s-rights pacifist).

The unslide-able part? After three weeks of dating, Dick wanted to whisk my best friend away to NYC for the weekend. Pretty romantic, yes? It would’ve been even more romantic if he’d arranged for them to stay in a hotel. But, no, they’d be staying at his friend’s – a male prostitute’s – apartment. Though, according to Dick, the redeeming factor there was that his prostitute-friend had slept with Charlie Sheen.

My friend: So what do you think? Should I go?

Me: Run for your life. This is the beginning of the relationship, the “honeymoon phase,” when he’s supposedly trying to make his best impression. What kind of guy name-drops his prostitute-friend’s John (even if it is Charlie Sheen) as a way to impress you?

In other words, I told the truth. And it cost me my friendship. Not right away. But things were never the same after that, and eventually we stopped talking altogether.

I vowed not to do that again.

And so, years later, when something similar happened – a friend of mine broke up with his girlfriend and started dating someone new – I didn’t say anything when that new girlfriend made me cuddle with one of her four pet rats. Nor did I say anything about the fact that she liked to walk around naked in front of whoever happened to be in her apartment. I simply nodded, smiled, and agreed when he told me that she was the most amazing woman he’d ever met.

And, you know what? We’re still friends.

For more information about liars, like the characters you’ll find in my books, check out my website here: www.lauriestolarz.com. Leave me a comment below and enter to win yourself a copy of one of my lie-containing titles.