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Monday, May 05, 2008

INFLUENCES

First of all, thank you to all of you who sent in your questions! The winners are all listed at the bottom of this post. Some of your may have won completely by accident! Please just send me your name and address, and a sleep mask (should you desire one), will come in your direction.

So, I heard that the Olsen Twins are making this big coffee table art book about their influences. The book will be called “Influences.”

I have to admit, I kind of laughed when I first heard this idea. But then I thought, “Maybe the Olsen Twins will each hide in a copy of the book, you know, like bookmarks! They are small enough! And they will jump out and surprise someone!”

That thought made me like it more.

And then I though that maybe I should tell you about just a few of MY influences. I have a long and time-honored tradition of bringing you things you didn’t ask for. Why stop now?

TODAY’S INFLUENCE: FLASH GORDON


When I was a tiny mj, we had HBO, and back in the day, HBO tended to show the same movies OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER again. One of them was Flash Gordon. I know there is a new TV series, but believe me, it can hold no candle to the shiny magnificence of the movie.

Don’t get me wrong . . . Flash Gordon is not a GOOD movie. Whole tens of dollars were spent on the special effects. The lead was a former Playgirl centerfold with all of the acting talent of a bag of hammers. However, it still manages to be TOTALLY AWESOME, and all the music is by Queen. In fact, to this day, when I am feeling very low-energy, I turn on the Flash Gordon theme REALLY LOUD and suddenly, I am writing up a storm!

I feel I am bound, in explaining my influences, to introduce you to this film. And if you do know it, I hope you will enjoy visiting it again. It never gets old.

Here is the original trailer, which captures much of the wonder of Flash Gordon. Rock out to the excellent theme song! Tremble at the scary zoooooinnnnng noises the weapons make! Most importantly, please note the way that Klytus (gold-faced monkeyboy of the evil Emperor Ming) pronounces the word “earth” right at the top of the clip. (Klytus is excellent throughout the movie for this kind of thing.)



The planet ehhhuuutttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.


Flash Gordon was notable for dressing absolutely everyone in the movie in spandex and lamé. That’s it. Those were the only two acceptable fabrics. (Except for Timothy Dalton, who for some reason was forced to dress like a stalk of asparagus.)



Would you care for a side of Timothy Dalton? He’s in season.


I have to think that my love of shiny was influenced by this movie, which has to be the shiniest movie ever made. Flash Gordon will blind you. The clothes, the walls, the props . . . every inch of the set is shiny. And also, vaguely Art Deco. Was this what I was thinking of when I designed the Hopewell Hotel? POSSIBLY.

To give you some sense of the drama and spandexeness of it all . . . here is a riveting clip of Flash returning to attack Ming’s base on what appears to be a flying treadmill. He is blocked by the deeply scary General Kayla. I loved General Kayla, and I wanted to dress like her every single day. I still do.



In rewatching that, it appears that the sequence of events is: Flash flies on treadmill toward baddies, baddies shoot, Flash runs away. Which is not very heroic. Then all the bad guys seem to be scratching their heads in bafflement over their next move until General Kayla suggests that maybe they should go after him and kill him with some Ajax.

I swear this movie was more exciting than this . . .

Nevermind. We'll look at my favorite clip of all.

Here is the scene in which Flash and the Gang meet Ming for the first time. You can get a fairly clear idea of what everyone is like from this little snippet. Flash is the kind of guy who has to have his name written in big letters on his shirt, possibly to keep him from forgetting it. Dale Arden is useless. Her major contribution to the battle is a chicken dance. And Dr. Zarkov (the guy who kidnapped them and took them into space by accident) proves that he is actually the dumbest of the bunch, which is really saying something.

Even the baddies are morons. It takes a squad of them to catch Flash, and even then, many errors are made. Klytus tries to get involved by giving them an inspirational non-speech with absolutely no instructions in it. The only person who comes out of this looking good is Brian Blessed, king of the Hawkmen. Watch his little moves throughout this clip.

(And for those of you who have read Suite Scarlett . . . Spencer could do a MUCH better job in this scene, don’t you think?)



I hope you have enjoyed this influence. Now, let’s answer some questions!

QUESTION TIME

nona leon said...
Hey, Maureen, my question is do you know just how many Starbuck places there are in New York? I envy you so much because you probably have one like a block away but for small townies as i have to travel THREE hours to the nearest Starbuck's.


MJ: There’s this one corner where you can see four of them at once. There’s literally a Starbucks across the street from a Starbucks, which is technically across the street from another Starbucks because there is one in Barnes and Noble. And then there is another one down the block. The day I realized that was the day when Starbucks truly made me afraid.

hillary! said...
Will Scarlett ever travel the tunnels of New York?


MJ: WHO TOLD YOU ABOUT THE TUNNELS? ABORT MISSION! ABORT MISSION! EXTERMINATE! BLOW UP PLANET!


kathleen said...
My questions are:

1. How many Suite Scarlett books are there going to be?



MJ: At least three.

2. Why doesn't Naked Lady wear clothes?


MJ: Because she has a roof patio and people with roof patios in New York think they are invisible when they in fact are not invisible at all.

3. Hey there Maureen, what's it like in New York City?


MJ: It’s excellent.

4. Are the sleep masks regular sleep masks, or are they dead ferrets?



MJ: These are regular sleep masks. I know the book talks about a fur collar/essential oil sleep pillow, but these are just made of silk and diamonds.

5. Why are they called "books?"



MJ: They aren’t! They are called algorithms of worditude.

6. Why doesn't the contest winner get to keep you?



MJ: Technically, I am owned by a Spanish candy company and am only being rented out for the contest.

7. Why am I asking so many questions?


MJ: I have no idea, but I LIKE it.

kate said...
Do you like Spencer or Eric better? Personally, I love Spencer, but my best friend is all fangirly over Eric. So I was just wondering who you'd rather hang out with.


MJ: I do have a very definite answer to this question, but I cannot reveal it, as it would give away events in book two.

PRIZES

Below are the winners of the 25 sleep masks! Today is a “random commenter gets a book day,” so fire away!

gretchen
blissfullydazed
leah
kayli
sarahbear9789
emily
fab
ellie
rosa
ohholyhorcrux
kate
softindierocker
reese
thenerddilettante
kiki
katlin seagraves
gwen
sarah w
magic rob
elainareads
book chic
alyson wonderland
namlhots
christina hicks
jessiegirl

Labels: , ,

107 Comments:

Blogger Breanna said...

Aww, I wanted a sleep mask.

But I definitely want Suite Scarlett more, so I'm definitely commenting this time!

Great answers to those questions =)

-Breanna
queenbloop@gmail.com

9:45 AM  
Blogger Juliene said...

I am commenting sort of randomly, but I am also wondering if your Hillary is my Hillary. If so, she is one of your biggest fans, as well as being my favorite library patron and a Nerfighter extraordinaire. It always thrills me when she comes in and reports that "Maureen answered me" or "Justine posted my question today."

9:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Can't wait for the next suite scarlett!!!!!

10:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Flash Gordon is my five-year-old son's favorite movie. "We owe everything to Flash!"

My husband loves it too. And I must admit, it's pretty entertaining. =)

10:10 AM  
Blogger Gretchen Alice said...

Woohoo! I'm so stoked I won!

11:02 AM  
Blogger Cassandra Mortmain said...

blerg. no sleep mask. and my room is so *sunny* in the mornings too.

I will try for a book though- if I get it, I'm going to send it along to my friend who is teaching English in Japan and positively languishing out there for lack of good YA.

11:18 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

WHOA! I'm going to show Flash Gordon to anybody who says to me next that Dr. Who is lame.

11:40 AM  
Blogger Tobias said...

SOMEONE CALLED DOCTOR WHO LAME? HOW DARE THEY!!!

I love Dr. Who!!!

Anywho, about Flash Gordon; I've seen episodes of the Power Rangers which had better acting and fighting scenes in them!

12:24 PM  
Blogger Olivia said...

do you send books to people from other countries?? because i would really like one =(

2:17 PM  
Blogger lightforms said...

I can't believe I missed this movie! James Bond in Asparagus?! Can't pass that up...

I now have a new appreciation for Spencer and I will now think he looks like Flash Gordon!

This certainly pre-dates power rangers. I wonder if this type of show/acting is required for each new generation.

Honestly, I would never have guessed about your influences...
I can't believe this book is related to that movie! *grin*
Keep up the good work!

btw thanks for the added excitement for checking the mail this week! always better than bills...

2:59 PM  
Blogger Timothy said...

Hmmm...hopefully winning the mask does not disqualify one from winning a book. I mean, sleep masks are cool, but books are awesome. Especially signed books. I know I already own a copy of Suite Scarlett, but I own two copies of all of your other books.... Well, maybe not all of them, but I do own at least three copies of Bermudez (paperback, signed paperback, and hard cover), so what I'm saying is, it's not unprecedented.

3:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I would adore a copy of your book. I really, really would. And thanks for the mask!

But I was wondering, if you had a pet hamster, would you name it after Zac? You know, for irony's sake.

Steffi

3:46 PM  
Blogger Rylie said...

I'd love a copy of your book. :-)

4:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The Flash Gordon trailer is really funny. Not sure I would really enjoy that movie. However, I do love my Queen. FLASH! AHH AHHHH!

Does this random commenter get any of your books, or just Suite Scarlett?

4:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I LOVED FLASH GORDON!!! (Being close to your age, I saw this when I was little too!)
I work at a library and every time someone puts their arm all the way into the book drop to return thier books, I freak out because all I can think about is the stump monster from that movie. Then I want to BECOME the stump monster and grab their arm to teach them a lesson...but I don't.

Flash Gordon is my hero!

5:39 PM  
Blogger JJ said...

I would love a book! Can I get one, even though at 22 I am technically slightly too old to be considered a young adult?

I think I know exactly what place in NYC you're talking about with the fifty bazillion Starbucks(es?). It is Astor Place, yes? Alas, I think the Barnes & Noble down there has closed because it can no longer afford the rent (when huge corporate conglomerates can no longer afford NYC rent, it terrifies me to the marrow).

5:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ohhh...also, I have a question...

Will you be coming to the Phoenix area to do book signings? (PLEEEEEAAAASSSSEEEEE!!)

:)

5:57 PM  
Blogger Carrie Harris said...

Okay. So now everyone is looking at me funny, because I'm running around singing the Flash Gordon theme song. Then again, they usually look at me funny anyway, so at least this time there's some musical accompaniment.

6:09 PM  
Blogger kait said...

i'm commenting with totally ulterior motives, although i currently don't even have an address to send a book to if i were to win one :) in your great stores of wisdom, do you have any advice on entertaining oneself while driving for 9 hours when moving to a different town? (there's not an audiobook of suite scarlett out yet, is there? plan is to work on learning chinese, but 9 HOURS!)

6:16 PM  
Blogger Namlhots said...

Yeah I won, I cheated, but I won!
Your readers may not realize that the prize winners were picked by attaching commenter's names to Abba songs in Maureen's Ipod and seeing who comes up during "random play".

I like being attached to "Waterloo (Swedish version)", but I am ineligible because I am family (sort of).

Please send my sleep mask to a deserving random non-relative, perhaps Cassandra Mortmain.

If I sneak into the Ipod again and win a book, do I get to pick any title?

Best,
SBTom

PS Old Flash rules!

7:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Flash! Aah-ah! I haven't seen that movie in a long time.

I just had the most brilliant idea: an Abba Flash Gordon musical! The combination will be unstoppable! The amount of spandex will be astronomical! Someone totally needs to make this movie.

I haven't really commented here before but the prospect of winning stuff motivated me.

8:00 PM  
Blogger Alysa Stewart said...

oh my word...that steamroller move was amazing! He knocked over like 8 guys just by rolling on the ground towards them!

9:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

book :]

9:48 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What? Be a random commenter and possibly get a book? A book titled SUITE SCARLETT written by the fabulous MJ?

Nifty!

9:51 PM  
Blogger Elainareads said...

YAY thanks for the awesome mask!! I would love love love a copy of the book i'm working really hard to finally get a copy. =D

10:01 PM  
Blogger Slade said...

I love when you answer questions. It is freaking sweet.

10:12 PM  
Blogger Alysa Stewart said...

What about that Taco Bell?

10:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Maureen,

Congratulations on making it to the very exclusive list of my favorite authors! You will receive your certificate via telepathy.

Best wishes,
Elaine

10:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love it when you answer questions! (I don't know why.)

Would you be willing to come to my school and talk?

BTW, the word verification is "dzoop". That's a fun word to say. *giggles to self*

10:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

yay for at least three books!!! =)

11:24 PM  
Blogger Ellie said...

Many questions. Three of which are:

Is this a movie musical? It looks like one. If it is not, why?

Are they using metal watermelons as weapons?

I love Brian Blessed. (Ooops. Not a question.) Ahem. Why does Brian Blessed get to be a flying viking without me?

Thank you. That's all for now.

11:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Run, Maureen, Run. Or send me a Book.

11:34 PM  
Blogger Erin said...

I'm afraid I don't have anything witty to say today, but I want to read Suite Scarlet soooo badly. :)

11:46 PM  
Blogger Alysa Stewart said...

I,too,think that at least 3 books deserves a hooray!

12:09 AM  
Blogger courtneylynne said...

A Mary-Kate and Ashley book? That's crazy! I'll probably end up reading it though. . . haha. Anyway, still haven't read Suite Scarlett, so, a book would make me super happy! =D

12:16 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Maureen! Just leaving a comment to get a book, because I am broke and have not gotten a copy yet. I read a lot of it at Barnes and Noble (which is my solution when I have no money for books) and it was really good so...I hope I get a book!
PS Sorry for the unwittiness of this comment... I don't think I have slept for three weeks.

12:35 AM  
Blogger Reese said...

OMC! I will never take it off. I will parade about crowded places with it proudly across my face. I owe it all to you.

Thanks!

12:37 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Spencer could do MUCH BETTER. And Doctor Who could just zap them all with his amazing screwdriver (which I want). There would be no unnecessary football sequence. I mean, REALLY.

I read Suite Scarlett yesterday after buying it only 24 hour earlier. LOVE IT.

12:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Flash Gordon certainly DOES seem shiny...

And I would be positively thrilled to have a copy of Suite Scarlett.

1:15 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Haha shiny things are indeed very interesting.

1:18 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

*sigh* I want a book. It would save my mom some money! :) (then I could get 'juno' yay..) another *sigh* 'cos tonight's Monday, which means 4 of my fave shows are coming on. 2 at 8, 2 at 9. I've decided to watch the CW shows, since they're not really showing them online &c, and that means I have to watch abc family ones online sometime! I'm catching up now, but am behind in 'greek.' I do have Dancing w/ the Stars though, which is my safety cover. Monday's are very complicated...

1:22 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I enjoy Flash Gordon's ridiculous hair. And also the sound effect that happens each and every time someone hits him.

Starbucks and the Olsen twins scare me though. I would love a Suite Scarlett :)

1:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Clearly, Flash Gordon needs to be a "special guest" in a Suite Scarlett book.

1:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

OMF!!!!!!!!!! JULIENE! IT IS ME! AND, I KNOW! ISN'T IT AWESOME THAT MJ POSTED ME! I MISS YOU SO MUCH JULIENE! YOU ARE THE COOLEST LIBRARIAN EVERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, MJ, just because I figured out the sekrit mission doesn't mean you have to abandon it. Does it.

2:04 AM  
Blogger Renata said...

I would like a book, pretty pretty please!!

And for the record, your blog is awesome.

And I find it amazing that I've been reading your books for like three years, Scott Westerfeld's for two, wanted to read John Green's (and had them recommended to me) for two, watched the VlogBrothers for a few months, and only yesterday associated everyone with each other. It was a remarkable day of nerdfighter enlightenment for me.

2:22 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i want a book! And i think the smartest person in that clip wasss the viking lookingish dude that kept hitting that indistrucable red dude.

2:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I would like a book very badly!

Those were intense clips. I asked my mom if i could rent Flash Gordon, and she said no because it scared her as a child and she doesn't want my little brother too freaked out. oh, well. in eighteen days i can drive and I'll be able to get it myself!

By the way, I wasn't allowed to read The Key to the Golden Firebird in class today because it had an 'inappropriate' cover, and I was wondering if you had any advice for me on what to do so I can read it in class.

Thanks!
~Elise

3:05 AM  
Blogger Liv said...

Ah Flash Gordon. The ridiculous and yet extremely satisfying movie. :D I loved your post for today!
-Liv

3:17 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

shoot. and btw, my last name is gordon! so technically, i'm related to flash! lol.

3:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

HAHAHA I still cannot get over that third clip!!!! You made my week, I think, MJ. Thanks for that!

3:40 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hey could i have a book! I thought the Flash Gordon movie was genious :D 'just kidding' youu know we all love spandex and cant't forget live asparagus, yum?
:)

3:43 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I like the "todays influence" thing, you should do that more often. Flash Gordon huh, ive never heard of it and now i have to watch it! The influence you have on us is very great, i now just have to watch a movie you watched.
Even though you said it sucked, but you did say the special effects were great :). No one should ever miss the sound of great quality butt kicking. :)
and i would love a copy of Suite Scarlett :)

3:52 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I really want to see Flash Gordon now. It seems hilarious. In that last clip-it looked like they were playing football with a metal watermelon! Crazy.

p.s. I still want a copy of Suite Scarlett!

4:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ACK! I WANT A BOOK! I didn't mention that last time.

4:08 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I need a book to go with my cookies (of the oatmeal-chocolate-chip variety)!!!!!!! pretty please? With my blue-furry-friend-on-top?
Ari :o)

4:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Random comment...random comment...I want Suite Scarlett!

So, question. You say that Starbucks scares you--what's your favorite coffee shop?

4:59 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I loved the animated Flash Gordon movie. I never saw the live one, but I loved "my" version. I even had an action figure.

I hope I get a book, but I'm not good at winning things. I can dream, though. My friend used to win TV give aways for video games and shirts and all that stuff all of the time. He was lucky.

5:19 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

RANDOM COMMENTER GETS A BOOK DAY!!!! YAYYYYYY!!!! i ♥ this day...

they should make t shirts like that, you know? I ♥ Random Commenter Gets a Book Day!!

anyway, i'd like a book, please! thanks!

~Miranda K

5:22 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I WON!!!! Me happy now. :) Maureen, may the shiny be with you.

And thank you Leah!

-Jacleen

5:31 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love it when you answer questions! I am so entertained. I will have to think up some interesting questions to ask you at a future date. I miss the pictures of Jimmy Stewart and the other movie stars though! Maybe they can narrate a future blog post of yours ... They help to further my cultural education, lol ...

5:48 AM  
Blogger YA Book Reviewer said...

Congrats to all the winners! I really want to read this book now from all the buzz!

6:02 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

In a fight to the death, who would win: Flash Gordon or J.K. Rowling?

7:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

random comment!!! (i want a book lol).. so.. i should think of something intelligent or interesting to ask.. sorry. my brain is fried (its AP week). thanks for introducing me to flash gordon!!! it looks AWESOME!

7:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

marie c., JK would win. DUH! I wouldn't put it past her to resort to cannibalism.

7:14 AM  
Blogger Carrie said...

“Random commenter gets a book day" makes me feel so hopeful, even if the odds are so slim!

7:53 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I want Suitte Scarlett so bad now. Sad, I had my Bat Mitzvah on Saturday so for like 1 month I couldn't go to a bookstore or Library. I seriously don't know how I lived but I did. So, MJ, now that I have 120 dollars to Borders I should go buy Suitte Scarlett. However, I have been lazy and am still hoping you'll give me a copy signed as a Bat Mitzvah Gift. Please.

Oh and because I have to be random I'll tell you this. Today at school there were these ducks walking around.(THey migrate to my school every year) and this moron ran up to them an yelled Hello, chickens.

That was Random right?

8:08 AM  
Blogger Beth said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

8:18 AM  
Blogger Beth said...

So...Flash over the Greatest American Hero? I understand the love of the shiny, but I don't think even Queen can beat the GAH theme song...!

8:19 AM  
Blogger Sarah Woodard said...

Thanks for the Sleeping mask. I love Flash Gordan. Anyways, I would love a copy of your book. I hope I was random. =)

9:16 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm so excited to read Suite Scarlett! My library hasn't gotten it yet, but hopefully it will soon (I would buy it, but I can't afford it right now. I DO own 13 Little Blue Envelopes though, and I plan on getting Girl At Sea, and probably Suite Scarlett after it comes out in paperback). Do we have to ask to be entered for a chance to win SS, or if we comment are we automatically entered? If we have to ask, I'm asking! :) Have a great week!

9:16 AM  
Blogger Meghan said...

Sadly, I finally bought myself Suite Scarlett yesterday, so I do not think I'm eligible for another copy. :-)

Have you seen that video where a guy goes to all the Starbucks in Manahattan in 24 hours? Pure madness, I tell you! http://www.171starbucks.com/

9:30 AM  
Blogger limeywesty said...

FLASH!!- AAHHAHA

I have never seen Flash Gordon *gasp if you wish*
but... now, after that exciting theme song, I feel I really should.
Movie Night this weekend!

woo!

3:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've never seen Flash Gordon....

So...tired...of...school.... *dies*

7:47 PM  
Blogger 100%honesty said...

I am a commenter and today is a day! I will cross my fingers and solve chemistry equations for luck.

10:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Found you via Scalzi's Whatever--I really liked your "Big Idea" post. And though I am older than your YA target audience, it sounds as if I would like Suite Scarlett.

12:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi,

Also an immigrant from Scalzi. Just had to tell you I was visiting a friend out in Hollywood in the late 80s who at the time was a member of the improv troupe The Groundlings. Lo and behold, so was one Sam Jones, previously known as Flash Gordon. And he WAS as dumb as a sack of hammers (here in Maine, we say "box of hammers). I shouldn't badmouth him, because at my request he sent a signed 8 x 10 to my (then) pre-teen sister--but though he was earnest and very nice, there were no lights on at home. I've never bothered to watch "Flash Gordon" the Movie. But now you've intrigued me...

Jeff P.

12:33 AM  
Blogger Hillary said...

I want a book!

12:35 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

JJ- I was also thinking of Astor Place as the location of the four Starbucks. I had my first job interview in New York at one of them and my interviewer and I had to specifiy which Starbucks we were meeting at!

MJ- How many times are you going to see the Mama Mia! movie in the theaters? I anticipate my friends and I being asked to leave because we are dancing in the ailses so we should wait until we've seen it once before we attempt that.

Jenn

12:45 AM  
Blogger Plucky the Dragon said...

Hi!

1:10 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hi, Maureen!
So...I'm not sure if you already read this article but I thought you might be interested (based on previous blog posts).
Apparently, a zombie apocolypse is very possible.

http://www.cracked.com/article_15643_5-scientific-reasons-zombie-apocalypse-could-actually-happen.html

(I'm not sure if the url works sorry...)

Have a good day!
Rosalee

1:44 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ha, this post made me laugh. Was it all the Flash references? no. Was it the diamond sleep-mask comment? no. (Though those were all appropriately amusing.) No, I laughed at the Naked Lady question, and your response... it almost made it seem that you have had experience in these matters...

2:21 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

sometimes i think...hmmm would I rather be drew's girlfriend or mj? and then my brain goes "DREW"S GIRLFRIEND DUH" but then i have second thoughts so i scratch my head for a while and then announce "BOTH!" because i can't decide

2:25 AM  
Blogger Caroline said...

FLASH, I LOVE YOU! WE HAVE TO SAVE THE WORLD! Ha. I love the Flash Gordon theme song, though I've never seen the movie.
I NEED SCARLETT!

2:29 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

maureen, awesome post. i would love a copy of scarlett.

2:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i want to read Suite Scarlett so bad its INSANE!!! unfortunately i am broke and therefore cant buy the book. and there are a total of 217 holds on said fawesomeness-filled book at my library, and i am only #149. its gonna be a while...

-Lizzy-wa OUT! :(

3:41 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

woo random comment winner! dododo.

So the Flash Gordon theme gets the writing juices flowing, eh? Should try that some time...

x

5:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Is it too late to enter the "random commenter gets a book day" because the day -- Sunday -- is over?

Oddly, I've been reading your blog through my Google Reader for a while and I've never read any of your books. (The same can be said for Meg Cabot.) I don't know how either of you got there. I must be adding authors to my Reader in my sleep.

But in any case, I really enjoy reading your blog and if I don't win a book I'll try to snag a copy from the library. ♥

5:28 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

*EPILEPTIC LAUGHTER FIT*

Your awesomely twisted sense of humour never fails to make a bad day better. <33

I still don't have a copy of Suite Scarlett, but this post very nearly makes up for the current dearth of mj dans ma vie as of currently...but even if I don't get it, even if you never read this, thank you so much.

5:30 AM  
Blogger Heather said...

I love your influences because I, in fact, have the Flash Gordon theme song on my mp3 player and whenever it comes on, I stop what I'm doing and sing along--with HAND GESTURES!!!
Yeah...good times

5:57 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just read your Big Idea piece - what an amazing theatre story. truly hilarious.hHave you ever watched Slings and Arrows? if not, I highly recommend it - a hilarious take on the completely absurd experience of trying to put on a play.

6:01 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I totally thought that I just one with,"sarah w", but alas, I'm sara w, without the h.

was flash gordon a real movie...? really? are you sure? people paid money to see it? wow. I did enjoy the flying treadmill and the queen background music whenever flash was in the frame though.

6:11 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So, here's the deal. Sunday was my 15th birthday and while I did get the camera I really wanted, I didn't get Suite Scarlet.

Lack of book = major disappointment.

Therefore, I'd love a copy. :D

6:14 AM  
Blogger Cat said...

Coffee table book. I have never had a coffee table book...but then again I've never had a coffee table, either. So it would be completely pointless. Whatever. Can't wait to read Suite Scarlett!

6:15 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

OMG my last name is gordon, and i run track, so i get called flash gordon myself (or i reference it to myself as a joke) :)

i want to read suite scarlett soooo bad!

6:43 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think every character in Flash Gordon would benefit from reading the Evil Overlord List, don't you think?

Still crossing my fingers for that copy of Suite Scarlett!

6:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi, Maureen!! :) I wish I was going to see you, Hank and John...but I'm instead going to a Stephenie Meyer signing. I know! I'm sorry. But I don't even live in Michigan!!

8:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm kind of a newcomer to your blog, but I've been ending up here more and more often since lots of other blogs I read keep linking to you. (Justine Larbalestier...) Plus I've recently become a vlogbrothers fan. Suite Scarlett does sound interesting. I'm going to be in a production of Hamlet next week- I should tell the director that we should do it on unicycles.

I'm afraid this post will be lost in the spate of others trying to win the book, but I thought I'd comment anyway.

9:02 AM  
Blogger Just a girl said...

Hi MJ,

Here's a thought; if the Olsens ever had some kind of book signing for their "coffee table book," they wouldn't be able to lift it.

Those have got to be some of the funniest film clips I have seen. I'm a fan of Queen (the musical didn't have much of a plot, but as with most, it is the music that matters!) and I've always love the Flash theme song. Now I can see I should watch the film just to enjoy the song! The clips remind me of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, which I recently saw and amused me no end.

I've started reading your blog since I read The Burmudez Triangle, which I adored, and can reread repeatedly with newfound pleasure. So thank you for this joy, and I look forward to more of your books!

The phrase "algorithms of worditude" cracked me up.

And finally, a question: have you read the Twilight series, by Stephanie Meyer, or heard about them? What do you think? I'm currently reading the third, having not been able to put down the first or second, and would rank them as one of my favourite books.

x
Just a girl

5:36 PM  
Blogger dd said...

Thanks for the competition! (And the sleep mask!) And you're right Timothy Dalton does look like an asparagus!
Ooh, I have a question about Flash Gordon. At the beginning when Emperor Ming asks for a plaything, then Klytus says there's a planet called 'ehhuutthh'. But why does Emperor Ming then call us (pathetic) 'Earthlings' if he has supposedly just heard about Earth? I wouldn't call aliens from Mars, Marslings or Uranuslings! (that sounds dodgy!) =)

~Lucy D

5:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Have you ever tried to cut your own bangs?

7:04 PM  
Blogger Summer said...

I read this on John's blog:

"Why on EARTH do all YA writers have Mac computers?!

Well, there are a number of reasons. They're faster, more stable, and better for video editing (which is important to me, obviously). And there are really cool Mac-specific writing project managers that people like Maureen Johnson and Scott Westerfeld swear by."

My question is.... OOOOH!!! What project managers?

2:11 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maureen! Let's say a you met a zombie who wanted to read one and only one of your books. Which one would you want him to read and why?

6:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i wanted to win... but alas i didn't. i never win. maybe i'll get a book... but im not gonna get my hopes up... oh well...

6:47 AM  
Blogger Mina said...

Hey MJ,
I would so love a Suite Scarlett. I have this odd instinct that I would really like Spencer, just like I fell in love with Keith :)
How is it that you are so brilliant? Is that why you like shiny things? Ha ha, anyways....

7:59 AM  
Blogger balexa said...

AHHHHH!!i want a book!I am extremely curious about Spencer because of his several marriage proposals and expressions of serious affection.Do you know when your second book will be coming out??IS Scarlett going to go on a tunnel adventure?(you don't have to answer that question if it involves spoilers)
Is there a starbucks visible from YOUR window?If so, do believe starbucks is slowly taking over the world?

8:21 AM  
Blogger Sana said...

There are 105 random comments here (this being the 106, I believe), so I really hope you get to read this:

kathleen's 3rd question:
3. Hey there Maureen, what's it like in New York City?
^^That wounds like the beginning of a well-known song, "Hey There, Delilah".
I was wondering if it was meant to be like that, or if that just happened to happen.

<3

1:08 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So Flash defeated them with . . . Dodgeball?

Sweet.

1:50 AM  

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