Think of the last time you ravaged your closet trying to find the perfect outfit. You tried a million things on. You took a million things off. Each time you whipped a failed piece of clothing across your bedroom, you hated yourself and your tragic wardrobe a little bit more. And then, just as you’re about to roundhouse your mirror…you nail it.

Writing is a lot like that. You try on, you whip off. You try on, you whip off. You try on, you whip off. And then, finally, YAS!

Don’t believe me? Here is the scary-bad list of titles Daniel Kraus and I tried on—and whipped off—before we landed on Graveyard Girls.

Bad Scare Day, Little Bo Creeps, The She-mons, Ghouls’ Night Out, Silent But Deadly, The Ghostest with the Mostest, The Exor-sisters, The Fear-leaders, Fright Bulbs, 

Fright Light, Night Frights, All-Frighter, Saturday Fright Live, Fright as a Feather, The Sick Clique, The Sin Sisters, SpongeBob Scare Pants.

Like most things in life, getting it right the first time is rare, but each failed attempt gets you one step closer to where you want to be. And when you finally nail it, you can look back on your graveyard of failures and cringe with the rest of us. Welcome to humanity.

xoxo Lisi

The post Here Lies a List of Rejected Graveyard Girls Titles. appeared first on Lisi Harrison.

I come to you today with a spoiler. Sort of. Awkward Stuff, the third book in my Girl Stuff series, comes out Tuesday (7.26), and if you find first-kiss-pacts-gone-horribly-wrong even mildly entertaining, this is the one for you!!

I’m not about to summarize the plot. Plot summarizing is right up there with conversations that begin with, “I had the craziest dream last night.” Suh-noooozer.

What I am going to do is leak the dedication in Awkward Stuff because it sums up the comedy of errors that is my life.

First: Allow me to present the dedication in Crush Stuff, the book that came before Awkward Stuff.

For my crush, Wyatt, who fed me, loved me and supported me while I wrote this novel. (I hope we’re still together by the time this publishes. If not, I might have to name book three Awkward Stuff.) 

Do you see where I’m going with this? Now for the dedication in Awkward Stuff:

As some of you might have gleaned, I dedicated Crush Stuff to my crush, Wyatt. Cute, right? Wrong. In said dedication, I wrote, “I hope we’re still together by the time this publishes. If not, I might have to name book three Awkward Stuff.” And, well, see the title of this book?

YOU: Does this mean you and Wyatt broke up?

ME: That’s so sweet of you to ask. And, no. We’re still going strong.

YOU: So what gives, Lisi? You wrote—

ME: I know what I wrote. My editors and I ended up liking that title, so we went with it.

YOU: Well, that’s awkward.

ME: Sure is. No one does awkward like I do. I literally wrote the book on it.

Enjoy!

Xoxo 

For those of you who care about my personal life (shout-out to my stalkers), Wyatt and I are still together. Does he appreciate it when I dress like my characters?

Me as Massie Block.

Well, that’s a whole other story.

xoxo – Lisi

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Hello friends and potential stalkers,

School is out and the sweet smell of SPF is in the air. This means two things:

1. Some people will not get sunburned.
2. Summer crush season is AWN!!!

In The Pack, Sadie Samson’s crush on Beak is instant. The moment her inner lion picks up his scent in the woods, she knows he’s the one.

“It was an inviting smell. Sensitive and smart, friendly but serious. It was like a grape scented eraser.”

And Sadie hadn’t even seen him yet!!! (#Pheromones)

When she spots Beak’s sun-bleached hair, ketchup-colored lips, and the c-shaped scar on his cheek–BAM! Sadie feels her attraction.

“He made her insides feel bubbly and animated, like the mist that dances over a freshly poured soda.”

How would you describe the crushing feeling? Post your answer in the comments section below. The best one will win a signed copy of Claw and Order.

For those of you opting out of crush season in pursuit of personal development, take this quiz from Girls’ Life to find out what kind of pack leader you are. And if you’re not interested in crushes OR personal development, put on some mirrored sunglasses, tape a Do Not Disturb sign to your forehead, and listen to the Claw and Order audiobook.

Should you choose to reject all of my offers, well, you’re on your own.

xoxo Lisi

The post What Is Your Crush Language? appeared first on Lisi Harrison.

GET YOUR PAWS ON THESE TODAY!

Hey, Packmates!

Claw and Order drops today and it’s action Pack’d!

Hearts are broken, wild girls are tamed into submission (or at least pretend to be), and Sadie is on the verge of being expelled from Charm House. Is starting a cheerleading squad a good way to make Miss Flora give her another chance? Obviously, not. But it’s a great way to spend more time with Beak, her football-player crush. For a little while, at least. Before long, reality returns with a roar, and Sadie, once a mighty pack leader, finds herself frizzy-haired and alone.

Here’s an excerpt of a LONGER EXCERPT :

(Wait, before you get started, is it me, or does the word “excerpt” look Russian right now?)

Sadie gazed beyond the metal-framed windows. Those smoke-gray clouds were still hovering. Oppressive and suffocating, they loomed above the private grounds of the Charm House boarding school like an overbearing parent, there to put a damper on her plans and, even worse, her new hairstyle. Hair that Sadie spent most of the day admiring in the reflection of her dead laptop screen.

She’d meant to charge her computer the night before, but…

STOP!

Why am I doing this when you can get the actual book?!

Buy it, download it, listen to it, or hack my computer and steal the manuscript. I don’t care how you get *it* as long as you enjoy it.

xoxo Lisi

*Fine, I do care. I don’t want to be hacked.

The post Action Pack’d! appeared first on Lisi Harrison.

Find your pack.

Even though The Pack series is about a private boarding school for girls with fabulous animal powers, dark secrets, and deep crushes, there’s wayyyy more going on. At least, that’s what I’m starting to realize.

I intended The Pack to be about self-esteem, individuality, and agency. Now, as I’m halfway through writing book 3, it’s become a series about girl power. Not inspiring it, we’ve seen tons of that over the years, but rather, accepting it. Because powerful girls are less accepted than we choose to believe. They are seen as bitchy, controlling, pushy, bossy, rude, self-serving, conceited, and full of themselves.

So what’s a powerful girl to do? Downplay her strengths to fit it? Silence herself to make other people feel comfortable? Forgo ambition in the name of love?

I’ll tell you what not to do: Don’t post you-do-you-who-cares-what-other-people-think words of encouragement. Because most people DO care what other people think. So, in addition to feeling ostracized, we will also feel pathetic for wanting fit in.

I wish I could help powerful women feel as appreciated and respected as powerful men. I wish I could obliterate terms like Girl Boss because ‘Boss’ should be enough. And I wish I could magically stop women from caring what other people think. I can’t.

The best I can do is help my characters accept the things that make them different, and even learn to love them, while also accepting that not everyone will appreciate them. But a few people will. Their pack will.

And maybe that is enough.

xoxo Lisi

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Me, looking at you with childlike innocence, hoping you’ll forgive me.

OKAY, SO…

If you have been following my blog, which I referred to as a Blah-g, which is now called a newsletter because blogs and blah-gs are no longer a “thing”, then you probably have abandonment issues.

Yes, I took a massive leave of absence, but to my credit, I’ve been busy.

[Insert me cupping my ear, straining to hear if you’re asking what I’ve been doing.]

[Insert me not hearing you.]

[Insert me realizing that you’re feeling the icy sting of my abandonment.]

[Insert me not blaming you.]

[Insert me hoping that you’ll forgive me once you understand how busy I’ve been.]

In addition to updating this *website*, I’ve been writing three different middle-grade series’: The Pack, Girl Stuff, and Graveyard Girls. Installments drop this summer and can be pre-ordered by clicking on the links.

Tuesday, June 21, 2022.

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Tuesday, September 6, 2022.

AND NOW MY PLEDGE:

From this moment forward, I, Lisi Harrison, promise to offer you more than purchasing opportunities and tired excuses.

You’ll get:

• Newslettery news.
• Sneak peeks and previews.
• Quizzes.
• Musings.
• Giveaways.
• Takeaways.
• Shameless attempts to win back your trust.

So, sign up for weekly updates and get ready to feel the love.

*The first person to name 5 things I’ve changed on the website in the past year gets a signed copy of all three books in the Girl Stuff series. 

The post The Abandonment Issue appeared first on Lisi Harrison.

Last week I had a very honest conversation with author Jen Calonita about navigating middle school. We talked about our new books, our fantasy do-overs, and how the struggles we had as 12-year-olds haven’t gone away. We also explore my new favorite question: Is it possible for friends to grow up without growing apart?

Well? Is it? What do you think?

Enjoy!

xoxo Lisi

The post Lisi Harrison Talks Middle School Struggles with Author Jen Calonita. appeared first on Lisi Harrison.

Valentines are so pre-pandemic, am I right? It’s all about Galentines now. You know, those girlfriends who kept you smiling and laughing over the last year without judging you for carb-loading, binge-watching, and wearing the same pair of sweats three days in a row without underwear. Yeah, them.  If you want to show your special gal pal how much you ah-dore her, enter the Girl Stuff Galentine’s Day Sweepstakes for a chance to win two copies of Girl Stuff and a ton of bestie points. You’re welcome.

Happy Galentine’s Day!!!

xoxo Lisi

The post Happy Galentines Day! appeared first on Lisi Harrison.

That’s right, my friends. You can win a free copy of Girl Stuff and a ton of bragging rights by entering the giveaway from YA Books Central. Details are at the end of this interview. Yep, you have to slog through my words of wisdom first. You didn’t think I’d make this easy, did you?

YABC:   What gave you the inspiration to write Girl Stuff?

When I began developing this series I had two sons in middle school. I was surrounded by inspiration, growing pains, and serious B.O. (still am.) I realized I didn’t need to create a fantastical world to deliver drama. Puberty is dramatic. Maintaining old friendships while you’re discovering new things is dramatic. Crushes, peer pressure, school pressure, style pressure, and academic pressure are dramatic. All I had to do was pay attention to real life. It was all there.

YABC:   Which came first, the title or the novel?

The novel came first. It usually does. Titles are hard. But my favorite part about this one? The red period at the end of the title. You’re welcome.

YABC:   Do you have a favorite writing snack?

I chew disgusting amounts of gum while I write. My dog finds it off-putting, but it helps me think and she respects that. In 2019 I read a study in Psychology Today magazine that said gum chewing improved cognition. It was very validating.

YABC:   Thinking way back to the beginning, what’s the most important thing you’ve learned as a writer from then to now?

I learned that each time I revise, the work becomes 200% better. Keep this in mind if your computer ever crashes and you lose chapters. It’s happened to me several times. Of course, I had a complete breakdown, but my rewrite was always better than the original. I’ve also learned that when you ask someone for their opinion they will give it to you. Be your own editor for as long as possible. If you get people to weigh in too early it can be a huge confidence killer.

YABC:   What’s on your TBR pile?

I’d really love to get to the stack of Writer’s Digest magazines on my coffee table. I’m obsessed with them. I have a giant binder full of writing articles I’ve clipped and highlighted over the years. When I’m stuck or uninspired I look to my binder. There’s always something in there that digs me out of my hole.

YABC:   What’s up next for you?

I just finished Crush Stuff (the second book in the series) and I’m about to start writing the third. I also have another middle-grade series called The Pack that comes out later this year. It’s about a private school for girls with secret animal powers.

YABC:   Which character gave you the most trouble when writing your latest book?

To be honest, none of the Girl Stuff characters gave me trouble. They all came very naturally to me. That said, Drew and I are very different. She’s blonde and athletic. I’m a brunette spaz.

YABC:   Which part of the writing process do you enjoy more: Drafting or Revising?

Revising, by far! I’m a huge outliner so the first draft is like building a house. I’m concerned with strong foundations, solid structure, and flow. Snoooooozer!  Revising is like decorating the house. It’s all flourish and fun. The hardest part is over.

YABC:   What would you say is your superpower?

My writing superpower is character development and dialogue. I hear voices very clearly. In fact, they never shut up! I can also find humor in dramatic situations. Maybe that’s less of a superpower and more of a survival skill.

YABC:   What advice would you give to new writers?

The first question I get from new writers is often, “How do I get published?” My advice is don’t ever ask that question again. If you’re just starting out you should be focused on finding your voice. Journaling is the best way I know how to do that. I have hundreds of journals in my garage and they’re filled with embarrassing, tear-soaked rants that are teeming with grammatical errors and run-on sentences. They’re not about perfection, they’re about imperfection—connecting with the parts of yourself that make you unique and human. I spent decades working through my feelings and hearing the sound of my own voice. It’s how you discover your point of view, values, and cadence. It’s how you hear the sound of your own brain. Start there. Oh, and chew lots of gum.

*GIVEAWAY DETAILS* 

One winner will receive a copy of Girl Stuff (Lisi Harrison) ~ (US Only)

*Click the Rafflecopter link below to enter the giveaway*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

The post Words of Wisdom and a Free Book! You’re Welcome. appeared first on Lisi Harrison.

1. You’re starting seventh grade and want to make it the best year ever. Do you:

   • Clarify your goals by making a vision board. If you can’t see them, you can’t manifest them.
   • Seventh grade will be the best year ever (as soon as my crush starts paying attention to me.)
   • Insist on total togetherness. When that bell rings, you and your besties will sit together, study together, and take pee breaks together. Probably even take this quiz together.

2. My back-to-school outfit must include:

   • The color of the day. The C.O.D. is a color we all agree on the night before. I want people to know we’re a group–a group they want to be part of. Red is ideal for back-to-school because it symbolizes passion and fire. Red also stops traffic. Literally.
   • Sweats, sweats, and sweats. If my pants are tight, I’m not alright. If my shirt has a collar, you’re gonna hear me holler. If my bra is lace, I’ll make an ugly face. (Fine, I don’t need a bra yet. But when I do, it will be the sporty kind.)
   • A cute romper with an inviting cherry print. I want my outfit to say, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I would say it myself, but I don’t want to talk during class in case I miss something important.

3. When you hear “Period Purse,” you think:

   • Every girl needs one so she can be prepared. It should contain sanitary napkins, a change of underwear, and essential oils to calm my cramps. Oh, and a bag of Reece’s Pieces because they’re the best and I deserve the best.
   • My period needs a purse? How fahn-cy.
   • Which period is the purse from? I hope it’s the Elizabethan period (1558-1603). Everything was so ornate back then.

4. When my best friends aren’t around, I like to:

   • Um, is it me, or are the next two answers incredibly depressing?
   • Skateboard, surf, or snowboard. I’m never bored when I have a board.
   • Puzzle, read, watch foreign movies, and do nightly news broadcasts for my stuffed animal. My stuffy loves current events.

5. I’d rather get donkey-kicked in the throat than:

   • Not feel special.
   • Have my heart crushed by my crush.
   • Get left behind.

6. You might see me at a boy-girl party wearing:

   • A silk kimono over shorts and wedge sandals. You might not remember me, but you’ll remember my outfit.
   • A helmet and skate-pads. If you have a problem with protective outerwear, then I have a problem with you.
   • EyeClops Infrared Stealth Goggles and a black unitard. I want to guy-spy with my little eye.

7. If I’m in a fight with my besties, I will:

   • Do whatever I can to make things right. My apology will probably come with a gift bag and a new friendship bracelet, you know, to remind them how much we mean to each other. (And how irreplaceable sweet I am.)
   • Ignore them in public. Mope in private.
   • What besties? I’ve already moved on. (Fine, I didn’t. I can’t. But I want to. Fine, I don’t want to. I’m just going to make them think I do.)

THE RESULTS…

If you picked mostly A’s, you’re a Fonda. You’re creative, loyal, and determined. You must be taken seriously by the people you admire, and you will do whatever you can to make that happen. You also want to help your friends become their best selves, but your good intentions sometimes come off as bossy. Sigh. You’re so misunderstood. A little advice for Fondas: It’s okay to push yourself, but don’t push your friends. Understand that your goals are, well, your own. Other people may not want the same things you do, and you have to accept that, even when it messes up your brilliant plans. Which it often does. (Ugh. Annoying.)

If you picked mostly B’s, you’re a Drew. You’re athletic, adventurous, and a real what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind of girl. Typically, you’re low maintenance and easy-going, but when you’re testing positive for the Crush Virus, managing your mood swings can be a full-time job. Yes, infatuation is consuming. It fills bellies with butterflies and hijacks hormones, but keep your sneakers planted on the pavement, or you’ll lose yourself. A little advice for Drews: Try not to give the object of your desire too much power. Stay connected to the people who know how amazing you are, and don’t share your happiness password with anyone. You are the only one who gets to control that. Got it? Crushes come and go, but besties are forever. Be your own bestie.

If you picked mostly C’s, you’re a Ruthie. You’re curious, quirky, and in love with learning. Yes, you’re afraid of the ocean, and you’d wear a bodysuit made of bubble wrap before riding a skateboard, but you’re big-time brave. You don’t follow trends or give in to peer pressure, which takes courage. A little advice for Ruthies: Keep your sneakers planted firmly on the ground. Stand-out girls don’t always fit in, and that can feel lonely and isolating. It’s tempting to change who you are so those feelings go away. DON’T!  Do not lower your freak-flag and never hide your individuality. Instead, choose friends, crushes, and stuffed animals who value your unique perspective and accept you for who you are. You’re different for a reason. Find that reason and do great things.

The post Which Girl Stuff Girl Are You? appeared first on Lisi Harrison.