iClue Made Easy: WIN AN iPOD TOUCH!

So, we've been blogging about iClue all week, but most of you guys haven't entered yet. We couldn't decide if you're too busy or we're boring, so we decided to assume the former and make it SUPER easy for you to solve The Case of Seth and the Secret Admirer.

Happy Friday super sleuths!

***

I shoved the last of a king-sized Snickers bar in his mouth as I wrapped up our weekly Northern Ohio Association of Conspiracy Theorists online chat. Kate thinks it's hilariously appropriate that a group of guys who spend the majority of their time debating whether or not the moon landing was a hoax goes by the acronym NOACT because we get NO ACTION. Get it? Yeah, Kate might be hot but I'm not giving her any points for originality.

I was just about to log out of instant messenger when a new chat popped up.

SethFan#1: Hi there!
SethaSaurus: Very funny, Kate.
SethFan#1: This isn't Kate.
SethaSaurus: NOT funny Liam.
SethFan#1: It's not Liam either.
SethaSaurus: ...ok? So who is it then?
SethFan#1: Someone who has a thing for you...
SethaSaurus: Yeah, sure. Logging out now.

My finger hovered over the logout button but I saw that SethFan#1 was responding to my message and I couldn't quite bring myself to log out without seeing what they said. I mean, what if it wasn't a joke? What if some girl actually had a thing for me. I grabbed the bag of Cool Ranch Dorritos shoved underneath my desk and tore it open with my teeth. Something told me this was about to get interesting.

SethFan#1: Meet me at Farrow's Arches at midnight and I'll explain.

My Cool Ranch Dorrito crusted fingers hovered over the keyboard, but I had no idea how to respond. It was 11:38. That gave me 12 minutes to get to the arches to either be humiliated or meet my dream girl.

SethaSaurus: Not sure this is a good idea.

I polished off the last few chips in the bag and poured the crumbs down my throat. There's no way I wasn't going to the arches, but I had to figure out who was going to be waiting for me.

My phone buzzed on the desk next to my computer. I had a new text.

Right. So apparently my secret admirer was into riddles. Not gonna lie, that's kind of a turn on for a guy who's been known to spend entire weekends trying to break a code created by someone named ConspiracyLuvR. I looked at the clock on my phone, only 10 minutes till midnight if I was going to get there in time I had to get going. I peeked my head out into the hallway, the house was silent and dark. My parents had a strict 9 PM bedtime routine and I could hear my dad snoring loudly behind the closed door of their room. It was now or never.

I fired up my mom's minivan and crossed my fingers that the sound machine in my parents' room would drown out the noise of the garage door opening. My stomach grumbled as I pulled out of the driveway. All this stress was making me hungry. Thank God my mom kept snacks for me in the car. I grabbed a package of Oreos and stuffed a few in my mouth. By the time I pulled up to the school I had finished half the package and it felt a little like all the cookies had congealed together in a giant cookie cannonball in my stomach. Not. Good.

The clock on the car radio read 11:58 PM. I threw open the car door and made my way through the shadowed gardens to the arches. Out of nowhere two hands flew around my eyes.

"Guess who?" The voice sing songed softly while someone else slipped a worn piece of paper into my clammy hands.

Honestly, I had no idea.

But when I opened my eyes and saw three girls staring back at me, I knew this was going to be more complicated than I ever could have imagined. Especially after I read the note.

Standing in front of me were three of the hottest girls in my school. I had to pinch myself to make sure this wasn't one of those dreams they teach you about in health class.

Pain shot up my thigh my bicep and I had to bite back the urge to yelp. Yep, this was actually happening. I grinned from ear to ear. I just couldn't help it. Three hot girls waiting in the garden for me? This was awesome.

"Eeew, Seth! You have all this black stuff in your teeth. What have you been eating?" Kate looked totally disgusted with me as usual, but she slung her arm around my shoulders and gave me a little squeeze. I don't even think she realized she was doing it. Typical Kate. Liking people in spite of herself.

Taylor hung back a little from the rest of the girls. Her icy blue eyes looked even more haunted than they usually did in the moonlit garden. She offered me a small smile and I had to wonder if she was the one who came here to meet me tonight.

Meanwhile Maddie stood next to Kate, pulling down her t-shirt and tugging at jeans that looked too tight now that she was eating again. Her eyes flicked onto my face and then flicked back to the ground.

All of the sudden I knew exactly who had called me there tonight. At first my jaw dropped in shock but then I felt my lips turn up into a smile when I noticed the tiniest pink flower embroidered on Maddie’s shirt.


So....now that you have all the clues, who do you think Seth's secret admirer is? Click here to enter and if you guess correctly you'll get an entry to win the iPod Touch loaded with 6 AMAZING books!

Do You iClue? The Case of Seth Allen's Secret Admirer Part #4

Kate Who? It's time for an iClue Mystery Featuring Our Favorite Binge Eating, Conspiracy Theory Obsessed, Ginger. Click here to read Part #1, Part #2 and Part #3.

It's Day 4 of Liar Society iClue week over here and The Reading Room has posted our final clue! Check it out and CLICK HERE to solve the mystery and enter to win an iPod Touch! Happy sleuthing! 

Do You iClue? The Case of Seth Allen's Secret Admirer Part #3

Kate Who? It's time for an iClue Mystery Featuring Our Favorite Binge Eating, Conspiracy Theory Obsessed, Ginger.

Click here to read Part #1 and Part #2.

It's Day 3 of Liar Society iClue week over here. SO sorry that we left you hanging yesterday regarding Seth's secret admirer. Lucky for you, you can see what happens next and get a clue to solve the mystery by visiting A Good Addiction. Happy sleuthing!

Do You iClue? The Case of Seth Allen's Secret Admirer Part #2

Kate Who? It's time for an iClue Mystery Featuring Our Favorite Binge Eating, Conspiracy Theory Obsessed, Ginger. Click here to read Part #1.

It's Day 2 of Liar Society iClue week over here. So sorry that we left you hanging yesterday regarding Seth's secret admirer. Lucky for you, you can see what happens next and get a clue to solve the mystery by visiting Mundie Moms. Happy sleuthing! 

Do You iClue? The Case of Seth Allen's Secret Admirer Part #1

Kate Who? It's time for an iClue Mystery Featuring Our Favorite Binge Eating, Conspiracy Theory Obsessed, Ginger

If you've read The Liar Society you probably remember Kate's dedicated sidekick Seth Allen. Well, those of you on Team Seth (and really who isn't?) are in for a treat this week because our iClue mystery is all about Seth and a Secret Admirer. What? You didn't think you were the only one with a massive crush on the pocket sized ginger, did you?

Click here to read the first installment of the mystery and check back every day this week to see where you can find clues that will help you channel Kate Lowry and solve The Case of Seth Allen's Secret Admirer once and for all. 

Every day this week we'll be posting more of Seth's mystery, so stay tuned!

Enter iClue NOW!

Have you entered iClue? No? STOP MAKING EXCUSES AND ENTER RIGHT THIS SECOND!

Click here to read Lee Nichols's amazing mysteries including a never-before-seen excerpt of SURRENDER.

Click here to read Kimberly Derting's fabu mystery featuring the always engaging Violet.

Click here to read Beth Revis's awesome Across the Universe themed mystery.

And after you've solved the mysteries click here, enter your personal information and the solution to the mystery. And VOILA, you now officially have one entry to win an iTouch loaded with 6 fabulous books. Stay tuned on Monday when we'll be posting our super-secret Seth-themed iClue mystery.

Happy sleuthing!

Friday Five: Television Intervention

1. The other day, I watched an entire season of 16 and Pregnant in one day including the Reunion Special. I cried multiple times throughout. I went to bed feeling hungover and dirty.

2. Income Property on HGTV makes me want to remodel our basement so we can reduce our mortgage to $300. Granted, we'd also have to share our house with a complete stranger, but a part of me thinks it might be worth it. Maybe they could help with childcare.

3. I will always turn on Little Bear if the show is requested. The reason for this is because on one episode, Little Bear wanted his mom to play with him, but she explained that it was time for her to read a book and continued to rock in her rocker. A good lesson for all wee ones.

4. I bawled my eyes out during the last two episodes of Parenthood. I'm talking lump in your throat kind of tears. All I could imagine was Lydia falling in love with some guy and not wanting to talk to me anymore. It was devastating.

5. I've watched the first three episodes of Pregnant in Heels more times than I care to admit. Someone needs to block the show from my TV. This might be a cry for help.

Please, dear God, someone cancel my cable. Happy Friday!

The Booksanistas: SPOILED

Once upon the time, back when I had a desk job and no kids and an entire lunch hour to kill on the interwebs I discovered blogs. I have no memory of how I found these blogs (Probably I was bored enough to spend my time googling things like "hilariously bad celebrity fashion." Yes, seriously.) but eventually I ended up with a file of 30 or 40 bookmarked blogs that I scanned during boring conference calls. At some point along the way, bloggers became my rock stars. They were funny, entertaining, witty and amazing writers to boot. The Fug Girls were (and are) at the very top of my list of blogstars (see what I did just there?). 

I love them. I aspire to be as funny as they are. I want to skin them and wear them as last season's Versace. Ok, maybe not that last part, but The Real Housewives of New Jersey premiers next week and I couldn't resist.

Just when I thought I couldn't love La Femme de Fug any more than I already do they went and wrote a YA book called SPOILED. My worlds collided and my brain exploded with awesome when Gretchen McNeil sent an ARC my way. 

Here's what the back cover has to say:

Sixteen-year-old Molly Dix has just discovered that her biological father is Brick Berlin, world-famous movie star and red-carpet regular. Intrigued (and a little terrified) by her Hollywood lineage, Molly moves to Los Angeles and plunges headfirst into the deep of Beverly Hills celebrity life. Just as Molly thinks her life couldn't get any stranger, she meets Brooke Berlin, her gorgeous, spoiled half sister, who welcomes Molly to la-la land with a smothering dose "sisterly love"...but in this town, nothing is ever what it seems. 

Set against a world of Redbull-fuelled stylists, tiny tanned girls, popped-collar guys, and Blackberry-wielding publicists, Spoiled is a sparkling debut from the writers behind the viciously funny celebrity blog GoFugYourself.com

Lila's Take:

I predict SPOILED will be the book to be seen with on the beach this summer. I mean, Midwestern gal + Hollywood Celebutante in Training ÷ Fug Girls humor = WIN. The characters are engaging, the plot zips right along and nothing is what it seems in Hollyweird. I spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out which celebrity the unintentionally hilarious Brick was based on and I adored the many celeb cameos and asides. Molly is relatable and engaging while Brooke is flat out hilarious. But what I loved most about SPOILED is that it's not a book about superficial mean girls and it's not a book about a girl falling head over heels for a boy. It's a book about sisters and friendship and figuring out that people aren't always what they seem. Fug Nation fangirls are going to flip for SPOILED. Pick up your copy June 1st!

Check out what the other Bookinistas are up to this week:

Click here to join The Bookanista Book Club at The Reading Room where you can check out all the books we're buzzing about! 

Elana Johnson visits Dark and Hollow Places

Christine Fonseca has a passion for Possession – with giveaway

Shannon Messenger marvels at Moonglass – with giveaway

Jamie Harrington adores Invincible Summer

Shelli Johannes-Wells is in the grip of Possession

Scott Tracey bathes in Blood Magic

Carolina Valdez Miller interviews Invincible Summer author Hannah Moskowitz

Jessi Kirby praises Playing Hurt

Bethany Wiggins delves into Divergent

Shana Silver presents a Guestanista gushing over Between Here and Forever

Carrie Harris sings out about Shift

Rosemary Clement-Moore applauds Abandon

Sarah Frances Hardy enjoys Me Jane

Matt Blackstone loves Like Mandarin

Corrine Jackson delights in The Duff

Stasia Ward Kehoe discusses Displacement

POSSESSION: Control or be controlled

Look what popped up in our inbox yesterday from Publishers Weekly. YUP. Our friend is FAMOUS. And we couldn't be more proud. Soak it all in, Elana. You deserve everything coming your way!

	“Possession held me completely captivated from beginning to end. And what an end! I fell in love with the characters and had countless moments of ‘Wow.’”
	—JAMES DASHNER, bestselling author of The Maze Runner
		For more, visit possessionthebook.com

P.S. Sorry the image is wonky. Click here to request an eGalley!

P.P.S. The winner of ALICE-MIRANDA AT SCHOOL is #4, Sarah Frances Hardy! Congratulations, Sarah Frances! Also...once the book makes its rounds throughout your household, you might consider forwarding on to Jen Daiker. We were pulling for you, Jen!

Tell The Truth Tuesday

1. I've watched Megamind five times over the past 48 hours. That's right, it's Spring Break and all bets are off over here.

2. Do they really expect me to believe that Bimbo Bread is pronounced Beembo? Nice try ad wizards.

3. An actual conversation at 7:17 PM EST at my house:

4-year-old: Mommy!
Me: WHAT!?! It's bedtime!
4-year-old: I sick.
Me: Duly noted...Goodnight!
4-year-old: My tummy hurts. I'm going to throw up.
Me: Just lay on your side! Nighty night!

4. We had a Skype chat with an awesome group of girls in Tampa, Florida yesterday and one of the kids escaped from the closet woke up from their nap in the middle of the chat so these poor adorable girls had to witness my patented DON'T-YOU-DARE-MAKE-A-SOUND-I'M-ON-THE-PHONE-look. Complete with a very stern finger point. Not. Pretty.

5. Another birthday that never ends has begun at my house. Made Dora cake on Friday--really, Dora? Pink shirt, orange shorts, purple backpack, yellow socks? That's a LOT of color changes and also explains why Dora was looking a bit more monochromatic than normal. Rice Krispies treats for school tomorrow, party on Saturday for actual birthday and mega Bowling Bash combined cousin party next weekend. Wowsa. That's a whole lot of birthday.


We're doing something a little different this week. We love reading your Tuesday Truths so much that we want you to post them on your own blog! Link up here and we'll swing by your neck of the woods.

Our Blogging Manifesto

At approximately 10:00 PM the night before a weekday, either one of us will ask the other the same question.

Any ideas for the blog tomorrow?

We usually (unless Laura breaks it) have an unspoken rule about having a blog post scheduled/edited before turning in for the night. And, we're not gonna lie, sometimes the posts flow freely, must-be-written type of writing, perfectly timely and witty and entertaining and enlightening, and others just...don't.

But we've been doing a whole lot of talking about the how and why behind our blog, so here goes nothing.

1. We're committed to random. Books? Check. Writing? Check. Kids? Check. Live-streamed thoughts on a crappy Lifetime movie? Check. We are incredibly random individuals (thanks primarily to our dad) and we love to share the random. No, it's not always going to make sense and yes, sometimes you will be offended (we're looking at you Regulator), but, hey, at least it's (sometimes) entertaining.

2. We're honest. We aren't known for beating around any bushes. If we're having a crappy mom kind of day, you'll be the first to know about it. If we cried when we saw our cover, yep, we'll let you in. If we think Gywneth would give the old D-Bag-O-Meter a run for its money, we'll put it out there. Honesty's the best policy, bitches.

3. We're not afraid to be the butt of the joke. We grew up with people making fun of us. Constantly. I have a memory of my parents joking around about how my braces and my general disdain for personal hygiene (In my defense I was 11! Ok, fine, it's still pretty gross.) wouldn't exactly earn me prom queen votes. It's kind of difficult to take yourself seriously after that although I made a valiant effort while dancing in a very unfortunate production of Swan Lake at Sharon's School of Dance. Yeah, I was the oversized swan in the back who was consistently five steps behind the rest of the class.

4. We try to admit when we're wrong. We make a lot of mistakes. Thinking about some of them makes us cringe. (Is it ever a good idea to give a book a thumbs down and TAKE A PICTURE OF IT??? Um, no. No, it is not.) We hope that when we make announcements about how we got rejected by 100 literary agents when we queried our first novel because we had no clue what we were doing and sent it out WAY too early that you'll learn from our complete lack of judgement. We're nothing if not a walking, talking cautionary tale about how not to succeed in publishing.

5. We're here because we love it. At the end of the day, we're not trying to be anyone except who we actually are. Some days we're rookie novelists launching our debut novel. Other days we're posting humiliating pictures to reminisce about the tragedy that was 90's fashion. And a lot of days we're hanging around in yoga pants wondering how people survive without Nick Jr. (aka preschool on demand). But mostly we're a couple of moms trying to have our cake and eat it too. Now, if we could just find that fork....