tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5069723451934358912024-03-13T04:32:49.133-07:00Justina Chenauthor | strategista | storytellerJustina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.comBlogger344125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-85283387636822361532014-03-04T22:35:00.001-08:002014-03-04T22:35:05.661-08:00A Blind Spot for BoysA Blind Spot for Boys by justinachen on PolyvoreFALLING IN LOVE WITH Kayturekayture.comClipArt | Shareapic.netshareapic.netJustina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-89927147053563435192013-05-28T16:00:00.000-07:002013-05-28T16:00:02.217-07:00Top 15 Tips for Media InterviewsAfter
being interviewed by the truly remarkable MomsRising radio show for
RETURN TO ME and WHAT NOW, here are some crowdsourced
top tips for conducting a radio interview. All of this is gleaned from working with marvelous PR experts over the years, from Waggener Edstrom to Edelman. As well, media trainer and radio personalities have added to the list. (Thank you, Dave Yewman, CJ Liu, Cathy Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-84266626335485346242013-05-14T16:00:00.000-07:002013-05-14T16:00:05.771-07:00Modern Mom: 5 Survival TipsAfter I finished writing RETURN TO ME, I
realized I had *much* more to say to women. So in three fast-and-furious
writing days, a slim self-help companion guide poured out of me. WHAT
NOW: SURVIVAL GUIDE FOR THE BLINDSIDED AND BROKENHEARTED is a sister-to-sister manual detailing what to do in the first thirty
days after a relationship falls apart. The survival guide is, above
all, about how Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-57294536390162426552013-05-06T17:00:00.000-07:002013-05-06T17:00:03.099-07:00Why I Write for TeensWriting for teens certainly has its perks...like being on panels with wonderful authors, including the likes of Stacey Jay (Juliet Immortal), Mary Lindsey (Ashes on the Waves), Jennifer E. Smith (The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight), Tamara Ireland Stone (Time Between Us).
And meeting tons of authors...
But the most meaningful interactions are with readers... MeetingJustina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-59564454213559490512013-04-20T06:00:00.000-07:002013-04-20T06:00:10.656-07:00Houston TeenBookCon38 authors, Blue Willow Bookstore, and Houston. We're talking about TeenBookCon on April 20! I'll be speaking on a couple of panels on looooooove.
To read about the entire line-up, check it out here. And if the link doesn't work, look here: http://bluewillowbookshop.com/event/houston-teen-book-con-2013.
Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-77684505983951331782013-04-19T09:00:00.000-07:002013-04-19T09:00:05.051-07:00Rock the Drop! Some of my favorite Tweets from Operation Teen Book Drop 2013. How did you Rock the Drop?
Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-84597412139596235712013-04-18T12:16:00.003-07:002013-04-18T12:16:48.550-07:00The Atlantic: Rocks the Drop!
Love it! The Atlantic covered our Operation Teen Book Drop taking place TODAY, April 18, around the world. It really is one of the most "charming" ways to support Teen Lit Day. So get out and rock the drop...and leave your favorite YA novel out in the "wild" for another reader to find.
For the full article, read more here. And if the link doesn't work, try this: http://Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-12870280018200738862013-04-09T22:39:00.000-07:002013-04-09T22:39:46.871-07:00Operation Teen Book Drop: April 18!
From the readergirlz blog:
We're so excited to be rocking Operation Teen Book Drop '13! You guys
know The Drop is one of our favorite days of the year -- what better way
to get on board with Support Teen Literature
day? This year, in addition to rocking out and dropping our favorite YA
titles in public spaces for lucky readers to discover, we're also
directing supporters of teen fiction Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-58295424480032320942013-04-01T07:34:00.000-07:002013-04-01T07:34:00.094-07:00Library LoveOne of my favorite librarians announced that RETURN TO ME is a featured April pick at my local library. Let me tell you how much I love my local library: these librarians promised me that they would find any fact I ever needed for my novels. Even when I moved to China and was thousands of miles from them, they vowed to even scan pages from research materials, whatever I needed.
LOVE my library. Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-27474999568298592102013-03-22T08:04:00.000-07:002013-03-22T08:04:09.579-07:00Blogger Extraordinaire: JeanBookNerd!If you want to know how to interview in an engaging way, look no further than Jean Vallesteros, a devoted book review who maintains a fantastic blog, JeanBookNerd. (How would I describe Jackson in RETURN TO ME? My answer: He drives at one speed: sexy.)
Suffice it to say, I was thrilled when Jean asked for an interview. PLUS, she's giving away a few copies of RETURN TO ME. Visit her now to win Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-152432789768348712013-03-14T14:07:00.000-07:002013-03-14T14:07:29.959-07:00Happy Pi Day!So honored to be part of YA Reading List's celebration of Pi Day along with John Green and Danica McKellar. There she is, Patty Ho, the protagonist of my debut novel, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH (and a few white lies).
So strange to think that I wrote that book over 6 years ago: buildering (rock climbing on buildings) at Stanford, learning about the fine art of tea drinking (caffeinated, anyone?), Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-52760734140965704422013-02-28T15:50:00.000-08:002013-02-28T15:50:00.253-08:00Blast from the Past: Hannah Teter + Girl Overboard!For the launch of GIRL OVERBOARD--featuring a snowboarder--Burton Snowboards and my publisher put Olympic gold medalist Hannah Teter and myself on a tour. I was tickled to see The Ultimate YA Reading Group include a photograph from one of our pit stops in Vermont before we climbed on Santa's sleigh to participate in a small town parade.
You can check out the full article here. Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-57234104144407486242013-02-26T16:44:00.000-08:002013-02-26T16:44:00.122-08:00The Science of StorytellingA number of corporate storytellers have asked me for further information about the science of storytelling. Here's a great article that encapsulates some of the research:
For the full article, click here. Or go to: http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?sid=394
Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-91323501564420866232013-02-24T15:00:00.000-08:002013-02-26T15:54:49.452-08:00Creative Process: Vision BoardingSo curious about other people's creative process: how do you take your ideas and see them to fruition? One of my favorite exercises is to create a vision board of my new work. Essentially, I map out the character, journey, goals, and mood in a collage. And use that piece of handmade art as my north star from discovery draft to final manuscript.
On NOVL, my publisher's Tumblr that celebrates YA Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-59380612322426405912013-02-19T18:44:00.000-08:002013-02-26T15:52:44.239-08:00Books YA LoveSuch a lovely review for RETURN TO ME from a librarian blogger over at BooksYALove.
My favorite line: "Separation and reunion, perception and reality – Justina Chen
once again brings readers a story with the right ending in a complex real world." She really understood that the book was about transforming dust into stardust. And that for me makes it worth the over two years it took to write Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-60120057321407759412013-02-17T07:59:00.000-08:002013-02-26T15:53:47.279-08:00Storytelling: Social Media + LeadersOne of my all-time truest passions is storytelling--whether researching, writing, rewriting, rewriting, rewriting, rewriting...or teaching about story.
I had the privilege of keynoting a social media conference co-hosted by Disney and Ragan Communications. Here's what one of the attendees picked up about storytelling. (For his complete article filled with great nuggets, click here.)
To storyJustina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-33630414186971773702013-02-15T15:00:00.000-08:002013-02-26T15:55:36.831-08:007 Fun FactsLooking for a way to get to know someone? Take note of what the gals over at the Ultimate YA Reading Group do when they feature an author. Ask them for 7 fun facts about themselves.
Here's what I said:
For the full post, click here. Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-42011997251309592112013-02-14T21:00:00.000-08:002013-02-26T15:56:03.184-08:00Art Project a la Return to Me
How fun that RETURN TO ME has inspired an art project. In the book, Reb creates fairy houses from found materials. One of the librarians on the Teen Librarian Toolbox blog created one with her daughter. Check out the instructions to make your own fairy house here.
Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-10459901306735318432013-02-12T22:13:00.000-08:002013-02-12T22:13:00.896-08:00Cover Story with Melissa Walker
Melissa Walker, novelist extraordinaire and former editor of Elle and Seventeen, invited me to share the inside scoop on the gorgeous, atmospheric, and moody cover for RETURN TO ME. You can read about it here. Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-73384006528676329132013-02-10T13:46:00.001-08:002013-02-26T15:56:37.362-08:00Disney's Social Media Conference
When Disney says, Be Our Guest, the company isn't kidding! 400 communicators from Marvel Comics to Whole Foods and Zappos to NASA descended on Disneyworld on Feb 6-9 to attend a Social Media Conference, co-hosted by Disney's Social Media Team and Ragan Conferences.
Among some of the many wonderful projects that Disney's team spearheads, one of my favorites is their Disney Park blog with postsJustina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-27579426810284457052013-02-09T22:04:00.000-08:002013-02-26T15:57:06.571-08:00Dear Teen Me
When my publicist asked if I could write an essay for Dear Teen Me, I immediately said, YES. I've been a fan of the blog since the original book was published. And then...I found out that I had to post a few photos from my high school years. Why the pixie hair cut? Why the permed hair phase? Why?
Here's an excerpt of the letter:
Dear Teen Me,
You are sitting in front of a typewriter, Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-8675520487026478682013-01-28T22:19:00.002-08:002013-02-26T15:58:17.948-08:00RETURN TO ME: Book Party Photo EssayMy thanks to everyone for celebrating RETURN TO ME at the book launch party on Sunday at the University Bookstore. There, for two hours, we celebrated the transformation of dust to stardust in stories and lives.
After laboring over RETURN TO ME for the better part of two years, it was utterly surreal to see the book on the shelf...
and to be signing copies for all the special Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-82427277363926727072013-01-25T05:00:00.000-08:002013-02-26T15:58:45.780-08:00Return to Me: Pinterest For those of you who are Pinterest addicts, my board for RETURN TO ME includes images capturing the inspiration behind the novel! For instance, here's a photo from a mud bath near Taos, which inspired Reb's dream of opening a treehouse sanctuary.
Check the Pinterest board out here. Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-67741445119760275412013-01-23T05:00:00.000-08:002013-02-26T15:59:10.801-08:00Return to Me: FacebookLittle, Brown Books created a Facebook page for RETURN TO ME. Check it out here!
Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-506972345193435891.post-50440187224501119722013-01-21T09:00:00.000-08:002013-01-22T12:56:12.135-08:00Kirkus: Feature StorySo honored that Kirkus asked me to write an essay about RETURN TO ME.
Here's an excerpt. Click here for the full essay.
You receive the call.
“We need to talk,” says the voice that vowed to love you until death do you part. “I’ve been seeing someone for awhile.”
Suddenly you find yourself the unwitting co-star in a midlife cliché.
Far worse, you watch helplessly as your kids fall Justina Chenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11410003395988711694noreply@blogger.com2