You Had to Be There

~ You love them. You’ve read their books or articles. You follow them on Twitter. But how well do you know them and their wicked sense of humor? Play The Twizzy and find out. ~

Happy Monday and welcome back to another game of The Twizzy! Thank you for all your responses.

Are you ready for Game 13? Get it? THIRTEEN! *squeal*

OK, enough of that. I have an announcement. There’s a new Twizzy Star. Ken Davidoff, the national baseball writer for Newsday has now signed up. Thank you, Ken!

Now, the rules… Remember, each of you is allowed 1 guess per day.

I’ll give a recap for those of you who haven’t played yet:

In my quest to keep you all entertained, I thought up a quiz. But not just any quiz. That would be boring. This is a quiz where Twitter Stars answer 30 questions. As you’ll see, these aren’t your run-of-the-mill questions. That, too, would be boring. As far as I’m concerned, this is the first time something of this scope has been done on Twitter. If it isn’t, I’m sure someone will let me know (but I won’t believe them).

Originally it was just to be the published authors I interact with but this plan grew and grew. Everyone I asked said yes! So what you have here is a lovely mix of writers – from New York Times Bestselling authors to newly published ones. From sportswriters to freelance journalists. I didn’t stop there though. I asked literary agents and editors, and then it extended to all aspects of publishing – from business development to public relations. I’ve even been lucky enough to snag one British celebrity.

Below is the list of the participants with their Twitter bio and handles. While you go through, you may consider following them, and buying their books or newspapers. These people are awesome, truly. As busy as they are, they took time out to play “The Twizzy” and they answered the questions with such flair that I was laughing each time a new email came in.

Once you’ve gone through the list, take a look at the question and answer session below. You will laugh. The questions will be the same every Monday. Your job is to figure out who from the list answered the questions that week. Include your guess in the comments section here on my blog. I will not post your comments until the winner has been announced. This is because I want you to guess on your own. If by Thursday there is still no correct answer, I’ll give 1 hint. The first correct answer wins a prize. Yes, a prize. They consist of: Seven Souls A Leaping co-written and donated by Kellyann Zuzulo (while supplies last), 1 copy of How to Sew a Button written and donated by Erin Bried, 1 copy of How to Build a Fire written and donated by Erin Bried, and $15 Barnes & Noble gift cards (with 1 donated by the wonderful Kellyann Zuzulo). You will have until Friday to guess. Then I will reveal The Twizzy Star of the Week. If you’re not on Twitter, you can still play because you’ve likely read their books or articles, and, as the weeks go on, the list will narrow.

If you have any questions, Tweet me at www.Twitter.com/SunnySoCal and please use “#TheTwizzy” in your question.

Have fun and good luck!

~ Denise

The Twizzy Stars List for Game 13 (If you’re interested in who my past Twizzy Stars were, please scroll to the bottom of this page. Believe me, I’ve hit the jackpot. The Twizzy Stars have all been AWESOME! Check them and their answers out!)

Nichole Bernier @NicholeBernier: Writer (Conde Nast Traveler) & mother of 5 trafficking in humor, Twizzlers, occasionally wisdom. Novel THE UNFINISHED WORK OF ELIZABETH D, Crown/RH 2012.

http://www.nicholebernier.com

Erin Bried @NiftyButton: Mod girl looking back. Pie baker, storyteller, collector of old timey wisdom. Author of How to Build a Fire & Sew a Button (Ballantine). Self mag staff writer.

http://erinbried.com/

Pete Caldera @pcaldera: Bergen Record Yankees beat writer/occasional band vocalist with the Stan Rubin Orchestra.

www.northjersey.com And http://blogs.northjersey.com/blogs/pinstripeposts

Marc Carig @ledger_yankees: Real-time coverage of the New York Yankees by The Star-Ledger and NJ.com

www.nj.com And http://carig.wordpress.com

Brenda Copeland @BrendaCopeland: executive editor, teacher, reader, friend, cheese lover

Ken Davidoff @kendavidoff: National baseball writer for Newday

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/ken-davidoff-s-baseball-insider-1.1278117

Catherine Delors @CatherineDelors: Writer, historical fiction (For the King, Mistress of the Revolution.) Loves Paris, history and the 18th century.

Mark Feinsand @BloggingBombers: The Yankees beat writer for the New York Daily News.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/yankees

Jenny Gardiner @jennygardiner: Author of Sleeping with Ward Cleaver, Winging It: A Memoir of Caring for a Vengeful Parrot Who’s Determined to Kill Me, & Slim to None. Also a laugh ho.

http://www.jennygardiner.net/blog/

Jennifer Gilmore @jenwgilmore: Author of the new novel Something Red, and the NYTimes Notable novel, Golden Country.

http://jennifergilmore.net/

Jane Heller @janeheller1: Novelist, Screenwriter, Blogger, Author of Confessions of a She-Fan, Yankees diehard, movies/books fan, pop culture maven

http://www.janeheller.com

Sean Kennedy @slicksean: Writer/journalist/media consultant. Tweets are 20% each: current affairs/culture; writing/media; LGBT topics; food/food systems; personal.

http://www.sean-kennedy.com/

Bob Klapisch @BobKlap: Baseball columnist for The Bergen Record and foxsports.com

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/baseball/klapisch/ and http://msn.foxsports.com/writer/Bob_Klapisch

Ann Leary @annleary: Author of OUTTAKES FROM A MARRIAGE and An INNOCENT, A BROAD

http://www.annleary.com/

Holly LeCraw @HollyLeCraw : Writer, reader, southerner far from home. My first novel, The Swimming Pool, is out in paperback from Doubleday this April.

http://hollylecraw.com/

Georgia McBride @Georgia_McBride: YA author of the PRAEFATIO series. Represented by Mark McVeigh of The McVeigh Agency. Founder of #YAlitchat. Mom to 2 humans + 3 Chihuahuas. Hopeless Romantic.

www.georgiamcbride.com

Susan Orlean @susanorlean: Writer, writer, writer. Oh, I also write.

www.susanorlean.com

Karen Palmer @karen_palmer: Writer, editor, teacher. If I had to choose between reading and eating I’d be dead in a week.

www.karenpalmer.com

David Pomerico @DelReySpectra: Del Rey and Spectra are two of the biggest SF, fantasy, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance imprints in–and out of–the world.

http://www.bantamspectra.net

Jerome Priesler @YankeesInk: New York Times bestselling novelist and regular contributor to YESNetwork.com.

http://www.yankeesink.com

Drew Sarver @mypinstripes : Database Developer, Blogger, BaseballDigest.com writer, Beagle lover, Husband

Kathleen Schmidt @bookgirl96: A bookish broad, PR superhero, mother of two, lover of sports, and wife of @Rockpappa.

http://kathleenschmidt.tumblr.com

Jayne Sharp-Vitty @jaynesharp: Mummy, wife, voice over & telly gal x

http://andsowtobed.blogspot.com

Alyssa Smith @booksandcorsets: Editor, reviewer, convention organizer, avid costumer, and owner of several demanding parrots. Non-official feed. Tweets about her interests: cooking, sewing

Allison Winn-Scotch @aswinn: Novelist, NY Times best seller (yeah, I had to get that in), celeb profiler, diaper changer, dog walker, ass-kicker, pop culture junkie, superwoman.

www.allisonwinn.com

Laura Zigman @laurazigman: Writer, branter, complainer, mom, recovering publicist.

http://laurazigman.wordpress.com/

The Twizzy – Game 13

1. How hard was it to break into your line of work? Do you enjoy it?

I love my job, it combines my only two skills in life: writing and understanding baseball. As for getting my first job, the interview was critical. I’d listed on my resume that I’m half-Brazilian. The editor looked me over and said, “you know, some of the hottest women I’ve nailed in my life were Brazilian.” I was hired the next day.

2. Have you any advice for people who would also like to do your line of work?

Run away as fast as you can. There’s no growth in newspapers. Anyone who’s lucky enough to have a job is treating it like a Supreme Court appointment – it’s their last gig.

3. Are you known by any nicknames?

Freak Daddy. You can assume the worst.

4. What song’s your tearjerker?

“Now We Are Free” by Lisa Gerrard. It’s the theme song from Gladiator. Crushes me every time.

5. Do you like capers?

Not only have I never eaten a caper, I had to Google it to understand the question. (***Note from Denise: This is disappointing…***)

6. Any food you must have?

I’m not particular. Food is fuel. Taste is irrelevant.

7. Pet?

Have always had dogs. My favorite was a Rhodesian Ridgeback I owned right after college. His name was Jake, a real stud. Women used to leave messages for him on the answering machine.

8. How do you feel about the word “carbuncle”?

About the same way I feel when I listen to Bud Selig speak.

9. Favorite stroll?

Walking on an Aruba beach at sunset, chilled Rolling Rock in my hand, waves crashing softly in the background. Actually, I just made that up, I’ve never been to Aruba.

10. Most embarrassing memory?

You mean besides getting the inning wrong when Mark McGwire hit his 62nd home run in 1998 (and seeing it in the paper the next day)?

11. Biggest pet peeve?

People who write YOUR when they mean YOU’RE. It’s a plague.

12. Who would you like to meet (in any time period)?

I’d go back in time to meet my parents on their wedding day. After that: Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemingway.

13. Who bugs the crap out of you?

Sarah Palin (and I’m a neo-con).

14. Favorite book?

Of all time: Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand). Most recently: Lone Survivor (Marcus Luttrell)

15. Do songs by Nickelback make you want to stuff hot pokers in your ears?

Just awful, a latter-day REO Speedwagon (*** Note from Denise: YES! That’s exactly right!***)

16. Favorite movie?

The Godfather, although Deer Hunter is a close second and I have a place in my heart for The Natural.

17. Is marmite the singular form of marmosets? More importantly, does marmite make you want to vomit?

Is this some kind of CIA mind control test?

18. Favorite quote?

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On! has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” — Calvin Coolidge

19. Favorite swear word?

(Expletive).

20. How do you feel about capybaras?

Now you’re seriously (No. 19)’ing with me, aren’t you?

21. Guilty pleasure?

Any zombie movie (Dawn Of the Dead is first on that list).

22. Favorite character?

Tie between Jack Bauer from “24” and Omar Little from “The Wire”

23. Do people who say “sammich” make you want to kick them in the crotch?

Anyone who says “sammich” should be wearing an orange jump suit, pleading for their life with a rifle pointed at their head.

24. Which character would win this smackdown: Peter Venkman, Jack Donaghy, Stay Puft, Dwight Shrute, George Costanza, Basil Fawlty, Mortimer Brewster, Hyacinth Bucket, Mr. Whipple, or the Maytag Repairman?

I’m thinking Mr. Whipple, the classic passive-aggressive.

25. Phobias?

In-flight turbulence. I start sweating when I hear the pilot say, “we’re expecting a few bumps…..” (***Note from Denise: Ditto. This tends to be when I order more beer.***)

26. How do feel about cheese? Be specific.

I’ll give you the Disney-rated answer. I love cheese, because saying it gets my two kids (8 and 7) to smile when I’m taking their picture.

27. Which 1980’s comedy film is this from: “Where’s the rest of this moose?”

How about Raging Bull? Of course, that answer has no chance of being right, but it allows me to say DeNiro is my favorite living actor.

28. Foods you refuse to eat?

Lobster, shrimp, clams.

29. Where do you stand on Justin Bieber?

Mmmm, on his head would be a good place to start.

30. Finish this quote from a 1980’s comedy: “Generally you don’t see that kind of behavior in ____________________________.”

Tough to say, since I missed most of the Eighties due to beer and meaningless hook-ups.

________________ Past Twizzy Stars ____________________

***The lovely Bethanne Patrick was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 1. You can find and follow her at @thebookmaven. http://bookmavenmedia.com/

Bethanne is responsible for #fridayreads on Twitter and the Friday Reads Facebook page. By all means, stop by every Friday and share what you’re reading.

***The charming Caroline Leavitt was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 2. You can find and follow her at @leavittnovelist. http://www.carolineleavitt.com/home.htm

Caroline has been on the New York Times Bestseller List for 2 weeks in a row now with her book PICTURES OF YOU. Why not buy it today?

***The hilarious Wallace Matthews was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 3. You can find and follow him at @ESPNNYYankees . http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/yankees

Wallace is the Yankees Beat Writer for ESPN New York.

***The adorable Julie Klam was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 4. You can find and follow her at @julieklam . http://www.julieklam.com/

Julie is the New York Times Bestselling Author of You Had Me At Woof: How Dogs Taught Me The Secrets of Happiness and Please Excuse My Daughter (Riverhead)

***The fabulous Colleen Lindsay was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 5. You can find and follow her at @colleenlindsay http://theswivet.com

Colleen is a former literary agent who is currently part of the Business Development team at Penguin Group (USA).

***The wonderful Veronica Brooks-Sigler was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 6. You can find and follow her at @getlit_erate http://www.brookssigler.com

Veronica is the author of Five Finger Fiction. She is working on a sequel. Yay!

***The witty Brett Sandusky was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 7. You can find and follow him at @bsandusky and http://brettlikesstuff.tumblr.com/

Brett is a digital publishing professional, innovator, strategist, marketer and writer.

***The funny Elana Roth was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 8. You can find and follow her at @ElanaRoth and http://www.elanaroth.com

Elana is a literary agent at the Caren Johnson Literary Agency. She’s also second-to-none in quoting Ghostbusters.

***The delightful Gesine Bullock-Prado was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 9. You can find and follow her at @closetmastrbakr and http://www.gesine.com

Gesine is a pastry chef, the owner of Gesine Confectionary, and author of Confections of a Closet Master Baker/My Life from Scratch and the recent Sugar Baby.

***The captivating Laura Strachan was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 10. You can find and follow her at @StrachanLit and www.strachanlit.com

Laura is my literary agent. She represents literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. She loves books, art, theatre — compelling stories, well told.

***The talented Joe Wallace was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 11. You can find and follow him at www.josephwallace.com @joe_wallace

Joe is an author of nonfiction books, noir stories, and a novel, DIAMOND RUBY.

***The sweet Kellyann Zuzulo was The Twizzy Star of the Week for Game 12. You can find and follow her at www.kfzuzulo.com @kfzuzulo

Kellyann is a former journalist, author of tales, word laborer, stirrer of soup.

They are no longer choices for the remaining games in The Twizzy.

________________