Give Me A Gabriel Sneak Peek

I confess that my Facebook fans make my day sometimes! They are loyal, supportive, and participatory every time I introduce a new Phantom Island contest or activity. Not only did they avidly invite hundreds of people to "Become A Fan" of Krissi Dallas on Facebook (raising my fan base from the 600's to currently at 825), but they have no qualms about sharing their opinions of the characters in Phantom Island - particularly the two heroes involved in Phantom's love story.

I asked for 800 followers and agreed that when we reached 750, I would release a "juicy" quote from a character in the sequel. So I started asking for votes over which character the fans wanted to hear from. It was astounding how evenly divided people of all ages were over Caleb and Gabriel. Yes, I had votes for Whitnee, Amelia, Morgan, Abrianna... but not even close to what came in over my Hot Island Boy (Gabriel) and my Loyal Best Guy Friend (Caleb). My husband and I looked at each other as one vote would put Gabriel ahead and then another would come in for Caleb, and he said, "Wow. You really have created a believable love triangle here."

(To which I say HOORAY for REAL love triangles... sometimes a love triangle boils down to the main character's CHOICE. We don't always have to set up the "bad guy" and the "good guy" in a love triangle because real life just isn't like that. Love and choices go hand-in-hand and, in Phantom Island, I didn't want it to be clearly defined who Whitnee should or shouldn't be with. Just like a real person, she will have to figure that out for herself... both choices are probably good. But just like in real life, either choice will dictate what the future holds for her.)

ANYWAY... a juicy Caleb quote ended up winning by a few votes at the last minute, which left my Gabriel fans wanting more. So I started another contest: "Give Me A Gabriel Sneak Peek," in which fans were encouraged to describe Gabriel to me in one word. After 20 suggestions, I would select my favorite word, find a way to use it in the sequel somewhere, and then release a juicy Gabriel sneak peek from the sequel.

Here were some of the suggestions (from both Gabriel and Caleb fans... you can tell which ones came from which... lol.)

Sexy (and all variations of this word, including "freaking sexy" and "sexy-licious")

HOT (He is a Pyra, after all.)

Brotherly

Exquisite

Annoying

Mysterious

Enigmatic

Misunderstood

Suave

Unscrupulous

Annoying

Pestering

Defiant

Enthusiastic

Arrogant

Protective

Strong-Willed

Gorgeous

Luscious

Beautiful

Breathtaking

Mesmerizing

Dark

Exotic

Amazing

Intriguing

Confusing

Obnoxious

Unreadable

Brooding

Fiery

Frustrating

Sizzling

Solid

After considering all of these... and there are a LOT up there that I REALLY like... I believe DEFIANT is my favorite, because it does seem to go with some of the themes in the sequel, Water. So, thank you, Ryan Neal, for suggesting that one! When you read the sequel and find the word "defiant" in some form to describe Gabriel, you can know that you contributed it! :)

And now... the long-awaited Gabriel Sneak Peek.. I'm a little nervous about sharing this one, but I think it works because it does not necessarily give away setting or plot. However, I love when the two worlds between the Island and the Mainland intersect culturally. This is one of those scenes. All I will tell you here is that Whitnee is trying to teach Gabriel the game, "Truth Or Dare." (NOTE: All sneak peeks are subject to change before final publication, of course.)

I sighed, “Okay, Gabriel, truth or dare?”

“I choose truth.”

I thought for a moment. What did I want to know about Gabriel? Oh, so many things… but I decided to start out easy on him while he learned the game. “What’s your favorite color?”

“Pink.” He said without hesitation. That made me sit up a little more and stare at him skeptically.

“Pink?” I repeated. That couldn’t possibly be true. But a smile spread across his face as if I wasn’t in on a joke. That was when I glanced down at my dress… and remembered I had pink highlights in my hair. “You’re supposed to tell the truth!” I accused him.

“I am.”

“There is no way that pink is your favorite color—”

“Okay, then I will change it to… what is it that Mainlanders call it? Blonde?” His smile had turned wicked now.

“Gabriel…”

“Gray?”

“Stop it!” I was really trying not to smile at his attention. “I get your point. But if you’re not going to play by the rules—”

“I am being perfectly truthful, Whitnee. My favorite color is whatever you are wearing.”

Paper, Pranks, & Pandemonium

I confess I like a good, tasteful prank or two... especially when it is for the purpose of motivating students! As Student Council sponsor, I was organizing a paper recycling drive where all 2nd period classes competed to bring in the most pounds of paper. To make things more interesting, my 7th grade students and I selected Mrs. Chesney's 8th grade class to personally challenge in this competition. (Mrs. Chesney teaches Advanced Math for both grades and I teach Advanced English for both grades, so we share the same students. In essence, I was going up against my own 8th graders and she was coming up against her own 7th graders.)

So, my class delivered the following letter to her class one day during 2nd period:

To General Chesney's 2nd period Algebra Class:

As you know, a competition is underway to see which 2nd period class can collect the most recyclable paper. Because you are seen as a worthy opponent, you have been selected to participate in a one-on-one challenge with General Dallas's 2nd period class. As the rules of war dictate, you are given the option to surrender up front and not participate. However, be warned. Annihilation is imminent. Should you choose to accept this challenge, we request a response immediately. Please send a messenger to Room 101, but remember that is enemy territory. We cannot promise that he/she will be returned to your room.
Please have General Chesney sign below and return to Room 101 to accept the challenge. We look forward to demolishing you.

General Dallas and the Soldiers of Room 101

And accept Chesney's class did! They came down and brought a piece of paper with the note "BRING IT! YOUR CLASS IS GOING DOWN!" One of my students looked at it and said, "Recycle THAT." This reminded us of our real goal here - and any communication over this competition could no longer be done on PAPER... lest we help the other class out. So, Mrs. Chesney got cute when she went to our principal and convinced him to put a message on our brand-spankin' new digital scrolling marquee outside. My students and I stood at the window as the marquee scrolled through announcements and then there it was - a message for us. "MRS. CHESNEY ACCEPTS THE CHALLENGE AND WILL WIN THE PAPER DRIVE CONTEST!"

This was war, indeed. Sevies vs. Crazy Eights... English vs. Math... Me vs. Chesney

The following Tuesday, several of my Sevies stayed after school to pull our first prank. After succesfully (and quite sneakily) stealing a master key from a friend, we launched an attack of toilet paper on Chesney's room. We braided, tied, knotted, and made bows out of toilet paper and arranged it nicely all over the room - providing space for class instruction to still take place. I will confess, we had several moments in the dark where we were hiding from other teachers in the hall... we didn't want anyone blowing our cover! Then we posted a sign outside the door that said "THE SEVIES ARE GONNA FLUSH THE CRAZY 8'S!"

Chesney was shocked and her students were indignant that we had taken such a stand against them. From the moment we returned to my room after our escapade, I told my students that the Crazy 8s were vicious and they would attack me personally... with something fishy! Ever since Phantom Island came out with Whitnee having a fish phobia based on my own, my students have been bent on bringing a live fish to class just to freak me out. I knew I had just invited the perfect opportunity for their best laid plans to come to fruition.

And I was right. A few days later, the Crazy 8s stayed after school trying to prank me. They were so obvious that I pretended to leave school and locked myself inside a dark classroom, waiting patiently at my desk to catch them. Sure enough, they came running with another master key (no thanks to Palmarchuk for supplying it!!) and opened the door and BAM! There I was. They froze in fear and then ran. I felt kind of bad so I intentionally showed up a little later to school the next day - giving them time to pull their prank.


But, OH. MY. GOSH. I had NO IDEA to what level of artistry they would go just to prank me! I got to school and my room was an UNDERWATER haven with foam sea creatures and seaweed hanging all over my ceiling. (They used our pretty toilet paper, dyed it green and red, and that was the seaweed.) My desks were overturned with CAUTION tape and there was a pond in the middle of the room - and yes, a real live beta fish in a bowl in the center. They even brought the sounds of ocean waves and the room was covered with fishy paper cutouts and stickers. (I'm still finding them in places I didn't know...) Anyway, I was SO IMPRESSED with the creativity of my students that I couldn't tear it all down. We still have seaweed and stickers and the foam creatures up everywhere...

As for the fishy, we sent them an email saying that my room had to be cleaned up after school OR...

After that, we halted pranks and focused on bringing in the most paper... And the results were announced today! Over two days, our school weighed (and dumped across the street) 7,348 pounds of paper (Over 3.5 tons!)

Our band kids brought in 3389 pounds of paper, averaging 67 pounds per person.

My class came in 2nd place with 875 pounds, averaging 51 pounds per person.

And, yep, Mrs. Chesney's class brought in 801 pounds (with the help of another class pitching theirs to the cause against my Sevies), averaging 50 pounds per person.

WE BEAT THEM!!! Makes all the fish drama worth going through. But, really, the pranks were worth it to see such participation... Special thanks to Chesney for having "fun" with us and to my Principal for trusting us to not interrupt the learning process in the name of pranking!

Straight Out of the Mouths of Teenage Boys

Ever wonder what teenage boys REALLY think about reading and books containing romance? Check out my guest author blog on Tina's Fantastic Book Review website where I address and quote some of the very cool teenage boys in my life.

Don't forget to leave your comments at the bottom of the guest post on Tina's site!

http://fantasticbookreview.blogspot.com/2009/11/guest-post-krissi-dallas-backstage-pass.html

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do (Unless You're In 8th Grade)

This post will feature the confessions of a certain entertaining group of 8th graders I have the privilege of teaching this year. THE ASSIGNMENT: Write 2 letters breaking up with your soon-to-be ex-boyfriend or girlfriend. Use the same reasons for breaking up in both letters but change your diction and style so that each letter reveals opposite tones. THE RESULT: Hilarity.

My students have given me permission to share some snippets from their writing and I will preface it by saying I learned two things. One, they all took this as an opportunity to say the completely psychotic and ridiculous things they would never say in real life. Two, I learned that most boys "broke up" with their fictional girlfriends for being annoying and suffocating, while girls "broke up" with their fake boyfriends for cheating - usually with best friends. I mean, could we BE any more stereotypical in middle school?!

So here they are... the best snippets of the 8th Grade Break-Up Letters... (Girls are in purple, boys in blue.)

"Dear Jack, Although we have been together for a long time, I think it is time we break up. I wanted to let you know that it's not me... it's YOU." -Jessica

"You are a worthless, good-for-nothing midget. I will always remember AND REGRET this dreadful time we had together." -Tyler

[Addressed to Meagan Fox] "My tall, beautiful goddess, you are a very special woman and did I mention you were beautiful?? But this long-distance relationship is not working out. I cannot physically touch you and feel your emotion over the phone." -Kolyn (Yes, he went there! I about died.)

"Being unable to see your face everyday will put a bullet in my heart. I love your personality, but I had no idea who you became when you were around your friends." -Caleb

"I feel like what we had is no more - we are two different people. I definitely didn't feel a connection to you when you dumped soda on my lap because you were staring at the girl at the movie theater so hard that you missed your mouth." -Jocey

"You're a nice guy and all, but you're a pig. When we go out, you eat all of my food and don't even pay for it. I'm broke because of you!" -Cynthia

"Dear Boxxy, why do you talk so much? Your opinion is somewhat annoying and rarely wanted. Also, for whatever reason, you have a smell about you, and it is, in one word: BAD." -Jonathan

"You know what hurts the most, Buttface?! YOU STOOD ME UP AT PROM! You stood me up so you could eat taquitos with your grandma. Well, you know what? I'm done. DONE! We are OVER." -Chloe

"I wish you wouldn't be so jealous... like at the movies when the girl handed me my popcorn? You flipped her on the counter and poured salt in her eyes. That made two restraining orders in one day. This is why I think we should 'take a break' and this is also why I'm moving to Istanbul, Turkey." -Josh

"There is no way it would work in a million years between us. I hope I forget you." -Mitchell

"Dear Antonio, what the french toast is UP with your FACE?!" -Amy

"When you run for Student Council, I am going to make a pinata of your face and beat it with a wooden bat." -Sebastian

"I really hope we can stay friends. It would mean a lot if we did... after all, my pet fish just died. Poor Mr. Whiskers! Well, I have to go have a funeral now." -Kearby

"I have been secretly planning to push you off a building for the past 8 months, but I didn't do it ONLY because I don't want to go to jail because of you." -Nina (This is one of my sweetest, quietest girls in class - again, I almost died!!)

"I feel no hope in resolving our issues. There is no solution to your stupidity that involves ME with YOU." -Shay

"I know we have been together for three months now, but I can't go any further. It is too stressful having to worry all the time about whether or not you're okay." -Jacobie

"You cheated on me with Makenna, Lexi, and worst of all, MALLORY! You know I hate her - why would you even go there?!" -Savannah

"Dear Cinderella, I saw you cheating with Romeo. Almost two days ago, Juliet send me a letter saying that you two were going to dump us on the same day. I just want you to know that you really hurt my feelings." -David (Prince Charming?)

"We are over, you insolent little petty smushed fly on someone's window! Yeah, you must have thought that little benevolent Bethany was at home knitting a dress while you were out with some tight-skirted, cheaply-lipsticked, high-heeled, IQ-of-2, giggly, little, clueless, moronic idiot of a girl date. Well you broke my heart so now my army brothers are going to break your FACE. You disgust me, you unwanted pimple on the face of humanity." -Bethany

"You are the most controlling, neat freak ever!! I just pray that the next idiot who thinks you're hot or whatever is smart enough to get out of there before you show your true colors!" -Ashton

"Why would you smooch and climb all over other girls when you have ME?" -Kaytlin

"P.S. I want my jacket back! P.P.S. WASH IT FIRST!!" -Colten

"Dear Allen, I liked you way more before I knew you. I know I'm being rude, but us? It's just not right. And by US, I mean, YOU." - Shelbi

"Dear Harry Potter, I am writing this letter to tell you how SICK I am of hearing about how great you are. Who cares if you can fly on a broom or do tricks with your fancy wand? I know I sure don't! You're like the itch I just can't scratch." -Jessica

"You are so backstabbing. And you copy me on everything! When I like the color purple, you like it. When I love pants, you love pants. Sorry, but I'm just so disgusted." -Shelby

[To Ferb from Disney's "Phineas and Ferb"] "Dear Ferb, Whenever you asked me out, I only agreed because I felt bad for you with your huge eyes and green hair. But now, I don't think I can stand for my name to be associated with yours. We never did anything together because you were ALWAYS playing with your brother... Guys who wear purple pants up to their belly buttons have something wrong in their brain. I'm sure you understand." -Madison

"You smell like a million dying wet dogs. You're so ugly, you could kill someone by looking at them. Your teeth are so crooked, you could open bottles with them. You can't shut up for five seconds and your voice is like an old man's. P.S. SHAVE YOUR LEGS." -J

Award-Winning Finalist In National "Best Books of 2009" Awards!

So I am very excited to announce (if you haven't already seen it on my website, Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace) that my first novel Phantom Island: Wind came in as a Finalist in TWO categories of the National "Best Books of 2009" Awards. It came in under "Fiction & Literature: Young Adult" and "Fiction & Literature: Cross-Genre"... very cool! This is a huge accomplishment - being a finalist out of so many is quite an honor!

You can see the listings of the winners and finalists in each category here: Best Books of 2009 Awards

Thank you for your constant support and the continued interest in this journey! I feel like each of you is a part of the adventure with me!

Middle School Mental Pictures

I confess that my classes of middle school students make my days enjoyable and challenging all at the same time. When I think about my time as a teacher coming to a close (as it very well could after this year...?), I grow apprehensive and sad. After all, my reasons for writing YA novels, as well as my writing itself, is so inspired by my interactions with my students. I keep wanting to take "mental pictures" of every moment in here (like Jim and Pam on The Office Wedding) so I can save up a huge mental album of memories.

For example, as I'm writing this, there are several funny things happening... I gave my students a writing assignment - determining that when I make them write, I will also make myself write - and the assignment goes with our Author Tone study. I thought they'd really get into this prompt:

"You are writing a break-up letter to your soon-to-be ex-boyfriend or girlfriend. Use the same reasons for breaking up with him/her in both letters, but change your diction to show two opposite tones."

So, now I'm sitting back and taking mental pictures of my room... like, I just took one of the boy balancing a book on his head as he writes. And then there's one boy giggling over the fact that he addressed his "break-up letter" to Michael Jackson. (I'm about to make him change it, but I'll let him enjoy his mirth for a moment longer.) One girl shoots dirty looks across the room at the boy giggling to make sure he's not laughing at her. Another girl recognizes "Clair De Lune" playing on my iPod, which causes another student to utter distaste for the movie, Twilight. A couple of other students have now propped up binders and folders around their work so nobody else can see their TOP SECRET letters. One boy is living out his fantasy of breaking Britney Spears' heart. Another is finished early and stretched out on the bean bag reading his library book. I have one boy leaning back in his chair, and I'm contemplating either pulling him all the way back and watching him land hard on the floor in front of his peers... or taking away his chair privileges for the day and making him sit on the floor. Hmmm... the former would be more fun for me...

Middle school is just one big, quirky experience and I love it. I can't imagine not having this kind of insane and unpredicatable routine (intentional oxymoron) in my world every day. There are certain jokes I can make, certain silly things I can do in a middle school that I can't do anywhere else. Here are some of my favorite experiences from this week...

1. When Savannah and I saw each other in the hall this morning, we both shouted dramatically "BALLOOOOOOON BOYYYY!!!" at the same time. (This was after watching the footage on my Smart Board after school yesterday and then texting about it last night.)

2. Madison was walking down the hall to PAL class and I heard her say to her friends, "Wait, I think I'm forgetting something." "YOUR BRAIN." I called out. She looked around, trying to figure out who said it and her friends pointed to me. "Oh, it is so ON, Mrs. Dallas!" She yelled back before entering her classroom down the hall.

3. I was trying to explain how the word "intimidate" had a different connotation than saying "threatened" or "scared the pee out of" (which made the kids laugh). Then I confessed that my mom used to tell me in middle school that I didn't have a boyfriend because I intimidated the boys with my intelligence. (Ha!) Chloe said, "So you scared the pee out of them, huh, Mrs. Dallas?"

4. We're kicking off our recycling program and we are doing Weekly Wednesday Dumps where teachers send a dump delegate after the announcements to walk across the street with their paper recycling. So, yes, over the entire school's PA system, I announced, "It's ti-i-ime to take a DUMP!"

5. Only in middle school can your Student Council select a t-shirt design with the slogan, "We're Tight Like Spandex." And then your National Junior Honor Society members agree unanimously on having a PINK shirt this year. Yes, all the boys campaigned for pink...

6. We have a Smart Word of the week - every week - and this week, it is "finagle." And the kids keep trying to finagle their way into winning the Smart Word contest for which class used the word the most in discussion this week. Those little finagling fanatics...

7. I read a book written from a nerdy middle school boy's point of view (Word Nerd by Susin Nielsen) and, while reading it to myself during the students' silent read time, I would laugh out loud or get really embarassed. When asked about why, I just told the students, "I don't think I need to know any more about how middle school boys think... icky." Now that I have finished the book, most of my boys have put a hold on it in the library and are currently sharing with each other the parts that must have grossed me out as it passes around my room... But, hey, at least they're reading??? Gah. They have assured me that they DO NOT think like that... but, yeah right.

Snap, snap, snap... so many mental pictures to take around here. I know I could keep going with these stories, but this entry has gotten long enough. I so enjoy my life - as crazy, as busy, as unpredictable as it is... I'm in this adventure for as long as it lasts.

To My Favorite Sunglasses - A Farewell

Dear Favorite Pair of Sunglasses,

When I first lay eyes on you that one fateful post-Christmas December shopping spree at a kiosk in the mall down in San Antonio, Texas, I knew our story would be one for the history books. Prior to your existence, I had never owned a pair of sunglasses that were both hugely oversized for my face and sported a bright white frame. But, oh how fate knew that I would need you for these last nine months!

Not only did you shield me from many makeup-less days and protect my expressions when I didn't want someone to know I was staring, but you also joined me on many adventures. You were there in my first photo shoot as an author. You went on school field trips, long commutes, a mission trip to Argentina, author appearances in over nine different cities, camp with over 100 teenagers, Schlitterbahn visits. You survived the dark recesses of my purse (suffering some battle scars from gross neglect, I know - for that, I am sorry). You had the power to make me feel like a superstar - or at least a local celebrity hiding behind oversized glasses - or at least a wannabe something important. You brought me compliments from many teenagers and friends and you never asked for anything in return. You were there to hide my tears, my fears, and my insecurities - not to mention blocking out a sun so bright at times that I could barely see the road.

Deep down I have always known that our time together would be short. Maybe because I only paid five dollars for you or maybe because I have a high turn-over rate of cheap sunglasses. Either way, you were worth every penny I spent and then some. If I could go back and do it all again, I wouldn't trade one memory spent with you. I'd like to think you were in a better place, but I know that my kitchen trash can is pretty stinky and gross. Therefore, I will choose to remember my favorite place for you - on my face.

Love,

Krissi

RIP Favorite Sunglasses - December 26, 2008 - September 16, 2009