02/05/09
Author Tales: Beth Fantaskey
Posted In: Author Interview
Beth Fantaskey is the author for this Thursday’s Author Tales. Beth is the author of Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, which is her debut novel. If you would like more information about Beth and her debut novel you can visit her website: http://bethfantaskey.com/
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Beth Fantaskey (1/27/09)
The underpants that I wear say something about me.
It’s not that they’re extra lacy, or “athletic cut,” or “granny panties,” even.
My underpants literally say something about me.
I have this seven-pack that I bought at The Gap, a long time ago, and each pair is printed with a – pun intended – “brief” affirmation.
I am beautiful. I am smart. I am creative.
I purchased these panties because they were phenomenally cheap, piles of unwanted packs lingering in one of those wonderful Gap blow-out sale bins. I didn’t even like the words. Like most women, apparently, I didn’t think I needed that kind of boost from my underwear.
But the funny thing was, as I started to wear my verbally supportive undergarments, I realized that some days I felt like a hypocrite. Some days I didn’t think I was beautiful. Or smart. Or creative.
And yet, there was one pair that I always felt physically and psychically comfortable in.
I am funny.
As time went on, and laundry cycled through, I came to realize…
I REALLY AM FUNNY.
“So what,” you are probably asking, “does this have to do with… anything?”
Well, it has to do with writing, and succeeding, and understanding oneself.
I wrote two novels before I sold my third. The first two were aimed at a specific publisher, and while neither was bad, both were… blah. I guess I wasn’t even really surprised when the rejections came. I wasn’t writing true to me. I was writing to fulfill a goal of getting published. Pandering.
And then one day, I had this idea for a story about a very rational girl who learns that she’s destined to be a vampire princess, and soon I was writing the character of Lucius, the vampire prince.
Lucius seemed to spring to life, fully formed, and when I heard his voice in my head, he wasn’t just dark and sexy, like I anticipated. He was sarcastic, and witty, and sometimes downright funny.
A part of me rebelled: Publishers won’t want a funny vampire! Vampires are… serious!
But Lucius was who he was, which was part of me, and I let him show humor. And soon Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side sold to a publisher.
I trusted myself, and my underwear, and I went for it.
Of course, the novel, itself, is ultimately about a girl who learns to accept a core truth about herself – that she is a vampire, not just because an old document says so, but because she IS.
High school, the setting of Jessica’s Guide, is a crucible where we start to comes to terms with the truths of who we are – the good and the bad. In my case, though, the process hasn’t ended since I became an “adult.” Sometimes realization is still dawning when I’m standing in my bedroom and pulling on my underpants.
Heck… I still don’t understand aspects of myself. In large part, I’m a complete mystery to me.
When an epiphany does occur, though, it’s a beautiful thing. I like to have a few solid things that I know about me. (I am shy. The very atoms that compose me are shy.)
I also know that I should get rid of my now-ragged Gap underpants. They’ve outlived not just their elastic, but their purpose on other levels, too. But the fact is, I still like reminding myself, now and then, that I am funny. Some days, that truth – along with a worn-out pair of panties – is enough to carry me through the day.
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Thanks Beth for that inspiring guest post!! If you’d like to read Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side, here is your chance! Leave a comment on this post to gain an entry to win a signed copy of Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey! Entries will be accepted until February 12, 2009! Good Luck! This contest is only open to residents of the U.S. and Canada.
Related posts:
- Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
- Author Tales: Beth Fehlbaum
- Calling Beth!!!
- Author Tales: Jen Calonita
- Author Tales: Cherry Cheva
49 Comments
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OMG I love that story! Haha. That was a great guest blog.
Oh…and I used to have Days-of-the-Week panties..Can’t wait to read her book! -
Funny vampires are better anyway.
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Well, Beth now doesn’t need a ratty old pair of underwear to tell her she’s funny; thousands of readers around the world will let her know that. Great guest post. And I’d like to be entered for this contest, thanks!
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Great Author Tales! Can’t wait to read this book!
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Haha, awesome Author Tales! I like how Beth’s panties played a major role in her writing career! It better be washed and then framed
Please enter me, thanks!
cecilia
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I love this post.
One of my favorite Author Tales. Please enter me. Thank you!
hope.
hopesblog(at)hotmail(dot)com -
I haven’t read this novel yet but having a vampire with a personality like that makes me interested!
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What a great story! Please enter me. Thanks!
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I love this post and I love funny vampires. I definitely want to read this book. Thanks.
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Awwww a Funny Vampire; this book sound so amazing.
I do would love to read it and review it.Amazing Post.
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I’m not a big vampire boook reader, but something about JESSICA caught my attention (other than my name in the title) I really want to read it.
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oohh, please enter me
stephanie
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Great Post! I’ve heard great things about this book and I’m looking forward to reading it!
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Haha! Loved the panties story! And I definitely love dark, sexy, witty guys, mmmm.
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I love this story-everyone needs some positive panties!:)
-Sarah -
LOL, funny post!
This has been on my wish list!
Deidre
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There are too many books about serious vampires. It’s nice to have that’s funny. =)
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lol great story!
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I love funny. This guest post was great!!! I really want to read this book.
-Lauren
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Ha! I’ve gotta get me some more inspiring underpants.
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Thanks so much for this guest post Beth! I usually don’t read the whole guest post, but yours really intrigued and, as a writer, inspired me. I can’t wait to read Jessica’s Guide!!
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Thanks to everybody who’s posted so far and liked the story… I hoped it wasn’t TOO personal!
Good luck winning the copy! -
that was an awesome guest post! it’s about time for a good funny vamp book. please enter me in the contest! thanks!
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Maybe I should start channeling my Nightmare Before Christmas boyshorts. Although I’m already pretty demented.
Seriously, the more I learn about Beth, the more I see myself in her (I did my own interview with her that I need to transfer from one blog to the one on this name). She really is an awesome lady.
And how I love living so close to the Barnes and Noble warehouse. I ordered my copy middle of last month, it shipped yesterday and I got it today. If I actually still lived in NYC (where the warehouse is) if I ordered it by 11 and it was in stock, I would have gotten it by 4 the same day. All praise the courier service!
And PS–I’m slowly working my way through your archives. I’m somewhere in the middle of October now and dammit all my TBR is just growing!
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I’d love to read it!
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This is so great! and funny I love how she talks about underwear haha
I LOVED Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side it was so AWESOME! I miss Lucius
I’m looking forward to reading more from Beth Fantaskey -
Haha that was hilarious!
I’d so love to read this book. Enter me please.
mishtakes AT gmail DOT com
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what an amusing “behind-the-scene” post. heh!
(not entering the contest)
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Enter me please.
Peace
Doxys -
Enter me!
Diana from goodreads
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I love the cover of this book and would love to win it!
romancebookaddict(at)hotmail(dot)com
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This one has been on my list for a while now– I’d love to win a copy!
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if there is anything better than bargain bin pantie packs, i haven’t heard of it.
thanks for the contest!
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That was great and really funny.
I love the Cover. -
Hey you! I’ve got a Regency Contest going…take a pic of The Season somewhere (anywhere!) and send it to me for my map…and you win a fun Regency goodie!
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That was an awesome post and the book sounds great!
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This book looks really good. This is my wish list enter me
Megan
bookworm8675309@yahoo.comI love the cover
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Enter me, please!
bball11kt@sbcglobal.net -
Sounds like a great book. I can’t wait to read it.
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Okay..I’ll admit I’ve never read a vampire book so please enter me!
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You know it really was true when someone was quoted, “It’s the small things that make us.” It is true with all of us, we all have things that give us the boost that we need to be who we are. For me it’s my cat, I know I’m crazy. My cat is always there when I need him. Anyways we all have it in us to be the best with who we are. I love this story. I would really love to read Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side. Thank you for the funny underwear story.
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I have seriously fallen IN LOVE with Beth.
She is a really talented writer and unlike *cough* Stephenie Meyer *cough* She shows humor in her book. And I love how she’s willing to take chances, becaus ethey really paid off!. -
The underwear story is hilarious. And I totally understand where it’s coming from. I loved the book. There are so many great things to say about the story. I really hope that there will be a sequel!
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Ah! I’ve been waiting for this book!! It looks like a book written just for me!!!!!!!!I know it came out on the 5th but I haven’t got the cash for it yet. It would be PERFECT to win this contest!
-Marie
-thekbseries@yahoo.com -
The book looks great ; can’t wait to read it.
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I LOVED the book!! It was SOO much better than I ever expected. One of my favorites. I hope there is a sequal!!!
-Allie-
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I been anxiously waiting to read this book. It sounds like a humorous vampire novel. Thanks.
Sue
okibi_insanity[at]yahoo[dot]com -
I saw this book come in the other day and it looked pretty good, but I definitely think I need to read it now! Yay for vampires! lol
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