Girlfriends Cyber Circuit presents… Wendy Toliver!

It’s GCC time! This week, I’m delighted to bring you the awesome, charming, talented and all-around FABULOUS…

Wendy Toliver

Welcome, Wendy!

The Girlfriend

Name:

WENDY TOLIVER

Short Bio:

Born in Texas, raised in Colorado, and now living in Utah, Wendy Toliver has successfully eliminated “y’all” from her vocabulary. However, she still managed to marry a pickup man. They have three young sons and an assortment of furry, scaly, and slimy pets. She is the author of three novels for teens: The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren, Miss Match, and Lifted.

Visit her online at wendytoliver.com where you’ll find more great YA books from Wendy plus links to all the fun places where you can find her blog musings.

The Book

Lifted
June 8, 2010
Simon Pulse
**On shelves now**

Being Bad Never Felt So Good.
 
Poppy Browne had never stolen anything in her life before moving to Pleasant Acres, Texas and meeting Mary Jane and Whitney. But when Poppy walks out of the mall with her two new friends and her first pair of stolen jeans, she’s hooked.

Before long, Poppy is lifting whenever she gets the urge—it’s never about the merchandise, it’s always about the thrill. But when her secret gets out, the girls in Poppy’s clique turn on one another. As she watches her life collapse around her, Poppy must decide where her loyalties lie … and how far she’ll go to protect herself.

Up Close and Personal

1.   PURSUING YOUR DREAMS: Everyone has the ability to be extraordinary, they just have to embrace what makes them unique and special and pursue their dreams with passion and confidence! Was being a published author a dream of yours? If so, how does it feel to have achieved your dream?

Though I only came up with it later in life, yes, being an author was a dream of mine. I realize how lucky I am to be able to say I’m a published author because there are so many talented writers with extraordinary stories to tell who never get this far. How does it feel? Crazy. Exhilarating. Mind-boggling. Surreal. Fantastic.

2.   CHANGING YOUR WORLD: Changing the world doesn’t have to mean finding a cure for cancer or creating lasting world peace (though it definitely can!). It just means finding a way that you can make the world a little better off for having lived here, whether it’s making a difference to one person or a million, to the earth, to animals… whatever is important to you. What is one way you would personally like to make the world a better place?

I agree that it can be something simple, something that’s true to your heart. I’d have to say that children’s health and well being is my life’s focus, especially right now. One of the things I do is support my local Junior League, and one of its projects is providing free healthcare (dental and medical), haircuts, socks and underwear, haircuts, and books to uninsured children in the community (Children’s Health Connection).

This year is especially wonderful because my publisher, Simon & Schuster, donated thousands of dollars’ worth of books to this great cause. Another charity I recently helped out with (in a small way) is Aveda’s clean water campaign, which was brought to us locally by Free Spirit Holistic Mountain Spa. I love how simple it is: People in the world need to have clean water, right?

3.   GRATITUDE: Gratitude is a huge part of the You 2.0 life. Taking a moment to count our blessings is the best way to remember what’s truly important (especially when life is hectic and crazy!). What are you grateful for?

I am thankful for the health of my family. With three little boys we rarely have a “blood free” day, but when we do we have a little celebration.

Author Fun!

4.   SECRET SQUEE MOMENT: What is the coolest thing that’s happened to you since becoming a published author?

I have so many! One that comes to mind was when I was in Hastings and this lady was in line buying Miss Match and she overheard the bookstore manager mentioning to an employee that I was in the store (just shopping with my kids) and the lady ran over to me and asked me to sign the book. It was just so unexpected and she was really cute about meeting “a real author” and it also had a big impact on my boys who see me as “famous.” LOL

5.   ALL-TIME MOST MEMORABLE BOOK: What book had the greatest impact on you growing up?

I loved A Wrinkle in Time and I think the reason is being able to read about an imaginary place and feeling like I was there.

6.   THE REAL DEAL: If you could go back in time and give your teen/tween self one piece of advice, what would it be?

I’d tell myself to quit wasting so much time being boy crazy and just concentrate on having as much fun as possible.

Thanks to Wendy for a terrific interview.   Be sure to pick up your copy of Lifted today!

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