I'm a ROCK STAR!

I ... am ... a ... rock star!

Well, I felt like one.

I walked into the cafeteria and the room just erupted in cheers, people thumping on tabletops, teenaged girls screaming like at a High School Musical concert .. it was just weird.

I'm standing there, a tray in my hand, balancing chocolate milk, a chicken paddy and bun, some Cheetos, and all of these kids are cheering for me, trying to come sit with them at lunch.

I'd spent the entire morning at West Oak Elementary in Mundelein, yukking it up with the kids, picking on teachers ... they really liked that ... talking about writing and publishing to a very appreciative audience.

They bought a ton of my books, ordered a ton more, and I'll be going back next month to sign more books. It was very, very fun. The best part might have been the thank you cards I got afterward, and the sign welcoming me to the school.

School spirit, indeed.

Norm

(I'll post a pic or two later when the librarian sends them to me).

Speaking about biters

The cool thing about writing young adult is the opportunities for speaking at schools.

Think about it ... hundreds of kids looking at you ...

... a microphone ...

... all yours ...

... and the kids all wanting to know what it's like to write a vampire book.

They like biters, they like vampires and werewolves and creatures like that.

Why do they like them? I dunno, and as long as the kids don't turn into biters, I'm fine speaking to them.

But I'll bring some holy water and crosses, just in case.

Norm

http://fangface.homestead.com

Can't shut me up!!

Probably the coolest thing about having a YA (Young Adult for those who don't know) book out there is the reception by schools.

I'm a ...let's say 'lively' speaker .. I'm not shy, and I like to have fun, particularly when I get a microphone in my hands.

And schools like enthusiastic writers!

Think about it, most writers want to do just that ... write. Well, being ambidextrous, I not only write, but I right .. and, er, left.

(head scratching)

Where was I going with this?

Oh, yeah, writers can be ... well ... dull in person. No, not all of them, some are quite fun to listen to. But most of them are writers because they aren't speakers.

I, on the other hand, was a speaker before being a writer, and I love doing what my wife calls, 'showing off.'

So how does this relate?

It relates because I'm getting quite a few speaking engagements with schools. I'll be doing two Chicago writing fairs in the next two months and speaking over the next few months with (as of today) seven schools. I've also spoken with several Girl Scout Troops and am working on a big Boy Scout meeting.

Boo-ya! I'm in my element. I love talking with groups that still think the word, "poop" is something to giggle about.

Cuz we're just having fun, y'know!

Norm

http://fangface.homestead.com

Where am I?

Wow, it's been ...like three weeks since my last blog.

Shame, shame.

(slap of wet noodle on wrist)

Well, there's a reason for my absentness (is this a word ... don't care ... call me Webster, I just make 'em up).

Anyway, I've been somewhat inspired by NaNoW...whatever it's called. That thing where writers try and write an entire novel in a single month.

Now I'm not that inspired... not nearly ... but I have gotten off my duff and been kind of creative with WereWoof, the followup story to FangFace.

And speaking of FangFace, I posted an excerpt of Fang Face on my monthly Pop Syndicate blog. Come check it out:

http://www.popsyndicate.com/books/story/fang_face_..._as_if_being_a_teenager_doesnt_suck_enough

I've also been busy setting up speaking events at schools. Seems like kids want to talk about vampires with wacky authors who aren't afraid of speaking in public.

See you and all that. I promise it won't be three weeks.

(more like two)

(shaddup, self!)

Norm

Girl Scout Halloween cookies

"They're just little girls," my wife said. "You don't want to scare them."

"Yeah, you're right," I said reluctantly. "I won't do anything to frighten them."

So I packed my stuff and headed off to the Girl Scout meeting which was taking place a couple nights before Halloween.

Sandy's right, I thought to myself. As fun as it would be to scare the snot out of some little girls, they were just that ... little girls. And having raised a couple of them myself, would I want some old fart showing up and trying to scare them out of their cookies?

Of course not.

I resigned myself to just relaxing and toning it down a notch.

Pity.

I'd been thinking of coming in, turning off the lights and coming in all bedecked in my vampire costume and ... well, trying to scare those cookies.

But no, it was not to be.

So I showed up at the church where Girl Scout Troop #384 would be planning their next year's cookie sales plus doing their secret handshakes and all the other stuff they do when there aren't any guys around.

When I pulled into the parking lot, it was empty, except a lone minivan.

Oh, no, I thought to myself, I came the wrong night, or to the wrong church ... or, well, something else.

With trepidation, I went to the back door and pulled the handle.

It was open. I figured someone would be there and maybe this someone would know where the actual meeting was. Or they could give me some of those really yummy caramel coconut cookies to help me cookie my sorrow.

Instead, I heard some sinister music from some scary movie where the chick always tries to escape a bad guy by backing up and tripping over a root. The meeting room was partially closed, dark with a strobe light and a hand made sign on the door threatening, "Enter at your own risk!"

Boo-Ya! Fun scary critters!

So I ducked into the Men's room, changed into my vampire uniform, and entered the dark room with with glee.

No, I mean, I was scared ... as far as they know.

Norm

http://www.fangface.homestead.com

Happy Hallopalooza!

Welcome scavengers!

You’re visiting the blogspot of humor author Norm Cowie, who just published his third book, Fang Face, a vampire young adult book.

Fang Face, is a lot like Twilight, and … well, no, it really isn’t.

The only thing they have in common is they take place in school and they have vampires. Otherwise, there’s none of the forbitten, er forbidden love, there’s a lot more fang and way, way more humor.

Bestselling author James Rollins said, “I loved this book, fangs and all.”

Check it out at http://fangface.homestead.com

Leave a comment on this blog along with your email address to enter a drawing for a free signed copy of Fang Face (signed by both me and the cover artist!)

Anyway, the commercial break is over. Back to your hunt:

***

Fang Place – post #18 http://fangplace.blogspot.com

Detective Fletcher Jones looked at her like she was some swamp creature who had crawled in the passenger side of his car and squatted on his upholstery.

"Rough night? Got to hand it to you, when you say you're going to do a little digging, you really mean digging."

It was almost dawn. She'd been unconscious longer than she'd thought. After she'd freed herself, she'd looked for the Bangkok Blue orchid. She'd found it and a large hole. The file was gone. Either she'd led the killer to it or he/she had taken it after killing Carla.

The police had checked the greenhouse for clues, but holes in a flowerbed didn't make the cut for unusual items.

Milla glanced down at her wet, muddy clothes. The floor of a greenhouse, no matter how expensive, was filthy. Her nails were broken and dirty from scratching around on the floor and in the flowerbed. Her clothes were ruined. Good thing she was staining Fletcher's car seats instead of her own.

"Fletcher, I want to re-interview Liza Barrymore and Sonya Reyes. And I'd like to do it at the police station, if you don't mind." She'd had her fill of playing nice with G. Winston Howard's guests.

"Liza Barrymore, the makeup artiste, no problem. The mayor's wife, well that could be messy." He chuckled, opening his glove box and handing her a package of wet-wipes.

"Sure, I'm game. The union will protect me from his Honor's wrath. But you're going to need to hose off first. We just got new furniture in the interrogation rooms."

"Swell." Milla grabbed her extra clothes from the trunk of her car and motioned for Fletcher to open up the trunk on his patrol car. She dropped her bag inside, noting the evidence sacks containing the costumes from the party. The killer's clothes were probably in there. "Let's go."

She glanced at Fletcher as they drove off the property. She still needed to mention to him that her attacker had taken her gun. He wasn't going to be happy.

Next Clue Location - http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

Dave Barry, Ridley Pearson & WGN Radio

Big week for me.

No, not big.

More like BIG!

Huge, ginormous ... heh, I said 'norm'.

Anyway, it was my week to brush with stars. First I get interviewed on the Rick Kogan "Sunday Papers" program on WGN radio.

38 states!

And Canada!

especially Canada.

My brother in North Carolina even heard the program.

Boo-ya!

Then, through Disney, I get an interview with Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, who just released their new Peter Pan book.

Dave Barry! Pulitzer Prize winner!
Ridley Pearson! Best Seller!

How cool is this?

If you want to read the interview, go here: www.popsyndicate.com

Anyway, I have a problem with the WGN thing. They sent me a tape of the program on MP3, but they sent one hour of the show. I only need my ten minutes of fame.

Anyone know how to cut out just a bit of an MP3?

Where's a teen when you need one?

Norm

http://www.fangface.homestead.com