Over at the Young Adult Literature Review, there’s a nice review of Geek Girl’s Guide along with an interview where Darcy and I answer some questions we haven’t before. And if you’re looking for something to read, be sure to check out the blog in general-lots of good reviews and book talk going on there.

Oh, and here’s a joke I thought up in the shower this morning (yeah, brace yourself):

Why is the manuscript cold?
Because it’s a draft!

Oh, I slay me. Seriously, though, maybe y’all should just ignore me and proceed with the Easter egg hunt.

Welcome Easter Egg Hunt participants from The Long and the Short of It!

Are you looking for the egg hidden somewhere on our site? We thought about putting it in our sidebar, but then it would be on all our pages–and that could get confusing. So take a look around. You might try the Read an Excerpt page.

I’m not saying it’s there or anything. But you could try.

Oh, and if you have no idea what Easter egg hunt we’re talking about, hop on over to The Long and the Short of It and take a look at the two prize packs up for grabs.

Need that end-of-a-good-movie uplifting feeling but don’t have two hours to spare? Got three minutes? In that case, I got your antidote:

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Yeah, I know. It didn’t work for us, either.

Actually, we’ve both been writing. But stay tuned. Starting this weekend, we’ll be participating in a huge Easter Egg hunt sponsored by The Long and the Short of It review site. Check out the contest page here. They have two prize packs (one that includes a ThinkGeek.com gift certificate donated by us).

It looks like fun and we promise, our egg will not be difficult to find.

For juniors and seniors in high school.

Sponsored by Washington University in St. Louis.

This competition is open to juniors and seniors currently enrolled in high school. Three prizes of $250 each will be awarded both in fiction and in poetry. Students may send a single entry in each genre (one poem and/or one short story or novel chapter).

All entries must be typed, with the student’s name, home address, telephone number, high school name and address, and the genre (poetry or fiction) of the work on the first page.

Entries must be postmarked by March 15, 2010. Awards will be announced May 15, 2010. Please keep a copy, as entries cannot be returned.

This competition will be judged by faculty in the Writing Program at Washington University, including fiction writers Kathryn Davis, Marshall Klimasewiski and Kellie Wells, and poets Mary Jo Bang and Carl Phillips.

See the website for complete rules and mailing address. Good luck!

Today we have the lovely and talented Stacey Jay visiting. We loved You’re So Undead to Me, and can’t wait to read Undead Much?

(Charity notes that a book title with punctuation make it difficult to write sentences proclaiming desire to read said book. That is not a question. We really do want to read Undead Much? Argh, there it goes again. Why don’t we just move on to the book?)

About Undead Much?

Even Zombie Settlers with Super Hot Boyfriends get the Blues…

A few months ago I was a normal girl with a normal life. But that was before my power to Settle the Undead returned and someone tried to kill me with zombies.

Now I work magic and practice kicking butt while trying to find time for pom squad and my boyfriend, Ethan, and trying NOT to think about how freaky my life has become. It can be tough. Still…things could be worse…

Oh yeah, right:

1. Feral new super-strong zombies. Check.

2. Undead psychic hottie predicting a zombie apocalypse. Check.

3. Earth-shattering secrets that could land me in Settler prison for life. Check.

4. Cheerleader vs. pom squad turf war threatening the end of the half time as we know it. Check.

I’m going to need therapy (and a cookie) if I live through the week. Unfortunately I’m learning that’s not something Zombie Queens can take for granted.

About Stacey:

Stacey Jay is a workaholic with three pen names, and a sick sense of humor. She loves creepies, crawlies, and of course, romance. What would a zombie novel–or any novel–be without kisses that make your toes tingle?

Stacey has been a full time writer since 2005 and can’t think of anything she’d rather be doing. Her former careers include theatre performer, professional dancer, poorly paid C-movie actress, bartender, and waiter.

The interview:

1. The future has arrived and geeks finally rule the world. You’ve been called before a council to establish your geek cred. What will you tell them?

I will confess that I know almost every line to “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”, that I’ve dressed up as a Conehead more than once, and that I have a vast collection of t-shirts with only words on them.

2. The Geek Girls are always armed with Nerds and Smarties at public appearances. What type of candy best represents your book?

Sugar skulls from a Dia de los Muertos festival. Scary, zombie-friendly, and sugary all at the same time.

3. It’s mash up time at cheerleading tryouts! What two songs would your main character combine to create the perfect dance performance?

The theme song from “Exodus” mixed with something from Eminem. I think it would work…maybe…lol…

Thanks, Stacey!

And … if you have a yen for zombies and fashion, head on over to Zombies in Tiaras, the very funny blog by Stacey and Julie Linker.

Yes, it’s an ad, but it’s also pretty funny. Not only that, it contains some valuable information. Next time you’re tempted or wowed by a profile pic, keep this in mind:

So … yeah, as my son would say. We got the word that The Geek Girl’s Guide to Cheerleading is a finalist in the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence contest, in the young adult category.

Since I put my home phone (and not my cell) on the contest entry form, the coordinator emailed me to tell us the news. This is maybe just as well, since for a few moments, I forgot how to type. On the phone, I would’ve been all: Dude, no way! (And really, I don’t think you’re supposed to refer to contest coordinators as dude.)

So, when I sent Darcy the news, I asked her for a squee. She saw my squee and raised me a woot.

Anyway, we’re stoked here at Geek Girl central, and check out the other YA finalists:

• Betraying Season by Marissa Doyle
• The ABC’s of Kissing Boys by Tina Ferraro
• Spring Breakup by Stephanie Hale
• Heartbreak River by Tricia Mills

That’s some fine, fine company to be in. Plus, I first met Tricia when we both were finalists for the Golden Heart waaaay back in 2003. It’s neat that both our debut YA novels are finalists together now.

(Oh, and to my horror, I’ve just done the 2010 – 2003 math. Oy. Apropos to yesterday’s post with Jasper Fforde.)

During the month of March, Simon and Schuster is giving away twenty sets of Deb Caletti’s books to celebrate the release of her new one: The Six Rules of Maybe.

The prize pack includes:

• The Secret Life of Prince Charming
• The Fortunes of Indigo Skye
• The Nature of Jade, Wild Roses
• Honey, Baby, Sweetheart
• The Queen of Everything

Visit the Simon and Schuster website for all the details and to enter the contest.

Good luck!