Welcome Wednesday: Double your listening pleasure with Sara Dailey and Staci Weber

By: Sara Dailey
 

Soundtrack of my High School Days

“Girls Just Want to have Fun” by the one and only Cyndi Lauper

“Built this Way” by Samantha Ronson

“What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes

“The Dance” by Garth Brooks

“The One that Got Way” by Katy Perry

“Unanswered Prayers” by Garth Brooks

 “Photograph” by Nickleback

If you found me walking the hallways of my high school in 1998, you would find the typical mean girl. Yes, I was a mean girl, who ran with the in-crowd, tortured under-classmen, you name it.  An easy excuse for it might be “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” but there were times I found myself wondering if I was just “Built This Way.”  It just took graduating and growing up a bit to realize that I wasn’t and that there was a nice girl inside me.

Looking back, I realize what an uber-witch I was, and often find myself thinking “What’s Up” with that.  But, there is one good thing that came out of it; it’s easy for me to tap into that mean girl persona when writing YA, and the same goes for the female protagonist, as well, because beneath my mean girl exterior, there was a good person hiding in the shadows.  If I could go back and change things, I don’t think I would.  A wise country singer once sang, “Our lives are better left to chance.  I could have missed the pain, but I'd of had to miss the dance.”  “The Dance” made me who I am today.  I’ve loved and lost, had my heart smashed into a million pieces, not only by a very close friend, but by “The One That Got Away” too.  However, I ‘m thankful for those “Unanswered Prayers” because they led me straight into the arms of my husband, who I’m so lucky to have met.  I haven’t kept in contact with many of my high school friends, so I’d say the song that resonates most with me when I think back to those days is “Photograph” by Nickleback:

Every memory of looking out the back door
I had the photo album spread out on my bedroom floor
It's hard to say it, time to say it
Goodbye, goodbye.
Every memory of walking out the front door
I found the photo of the friend that I was looking for
It's hard to say it, time to say it
Goodbye, goodbye.

By: Staci Weber

I had a somewhat unique high school experience.  I went to an all-girl’s private school, but before you freak out, let me just say it wasn’t as bad as it sounds, and boys were never too far away.   I absolutely loved my time in high school.  I had a great group of friends, who all loved to have fun.  One of my fondest memories is of a bunch of us girls cruising up and down Westheimer in Houston blaring Dr. Dre’s “Nothin’ but a ‘G’ Thang.” 

When I look back at pictures from my teen years, I hardly recognize myself.  I’m definitely not the same person, but that is what high school is all about.  It’s about changing, finding out who we really are, and what we are all about.  We have to make mistakes, get into a little trouble, and date the wrong guys.  That’s just part of growing up.  All of those mistakes made me who I am today.  Today, I am married to the man of my dreams, the mom of two gorgeous girls, a teacher, and a writer.  At 17, I would have died if you told me that one day I would be a SUV-driving soccer mom, but today, I love it.  I do have one thing is common with my high school self.  I still love to jam out to a little Dr. Dre when I’m driving.  I just have to ignore the dirty looks from my kids in the back seat.

Questions for readers - What is the first song you think of when you think back to your high school days?  For those of you who may still be in high school, what song do you think will remind you of your high school days 10 years from now? 

Pack of Lies by Sara Dailey and Staci Weber –

The last thing Allison Wright ever expected when she moved to Red Ridge, New Mexico was to come muzzle to muzzle with the wolf of her dreams.

Seventeen-year-old Allison Wright is convinced she’s losing her mind. Uncontrollable mood swings, hot flashes, and the urge to punch anyone who gets in her way are suddenly becoming everyday occurrences. Before her erratic behavior gets out of hand, Allison’s mother finally comes clean about her dark secret. Mom is a werewolf, and soon Allison and her brother Aiden will suffer the same fate. When Allison reaches her breaking point, the family leaves their life in Texas to move to Red Ridge, New Mexico where they rejoin the pack that Allison’s mother left behind almost 20 years ago.

Unfortunately, not everyone in Red Ridge is thrilled about Allison’s arrival, especially when she attracts the attention of the very handsome, very taken, soon-to-be alpha, Cade Walker. Little does Allison know, her mere presence is causing a rift in a once unified pack. Not only has Cade been forbidden from being with Allison by his father, the pack’s alpha, Cade’s girlfriend, Kendall Stuart, will stop at nothing to get Allison out of the picture. Well on her way to becoming the next alpha’s mate, Kendall expects to rule the pack by Cade’s side even if it means teaming up with a rogue werewolf with an agenda of his own. Determined to get rid of Allison permanently, when Kendall and the rogue join forces, all hell breaks loose and no one in the pack is safe, especially not Cade and his true mate.

Contact – To learn more about Sara Dailey, Staci Weber, and their YA paranormal novels, Pack of Lies and Sinful, visit their website and blog at –

http://saraandstaci.com

http://saraandstaci.blogspot.com 

You can also on “like” them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter at - 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sara-Dailey-and-Staci-Weber/102330932229?ref=tn_tnmn

https://twitter.com/#!/srdailey80

https://twitter.com/#!/WeberStaci

Thanks so much for stopping by Staci and Sara. And congratulations on the new release! Now I'm going to go listen to some Cyndi Lauper. -Carey