All about IT CHICKS!!

Hi Girls!!
I’m hyperventilating with excitement--and no, not because Search for the Next Pussycat Doll is so good (go Asia!). Guess what’s happening in two weeks? The first book in my new teen series, IT CHICKS, is hitting bookstores (it's available for pre-order at Amazon)!! Woo-hoo!! Here’s some back story: There’s a huuuge trend in teen fiction called “chick lit-lite,” which refers to series’ like Gossip Girl, The Clique, and A-list, all of which are dripping with fabulous clothes, juicy love stories, and spicy-hilarious dialogue (and these books don’t sanitize the teen experience, either—they’re very frank about sex, drugs, parties, etc., but in a cautionary-tale sort of way). The problem is, none of these books were written expressly for girls of color. That is, until Hyperion/Disney approached me about a year ago about creating the VERY FIRST “chick lit-lite” series for brown girls (black, Latina, Indian, Filipino, bi-racial, all of us!)! You can’t imagine how wildly thrilled I was about creating smart, sassy, fabulous characters for our teens to relate to. Now, being a child of the 80s and a practically psychotic “Fame” fan—especially the Nia Peeples years, my goodness—naturally I pitched a series based on a group of kids that go to a New York City performing arts high school. And thus, IT CHICKS was born!

IT CHICKS is a dishy peek inside 15-year-old Tangie Adams’ first few weeks at Louis B. Armstrong School of Performing Arts, and honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of anything I’ve ever done (and not just ‘cause the cover’s so dope..but more on that, below). Now, obviously this book’s targeted for teens—but IT CHICKS also happens to be a total adult guilty-pleasure. Especially if you’re the kind of gal that finds herself hopelessly addicted to shows like The Hills, Laguna Beach, My Super Sweet Sixteen, So You Think You Can Dance, and Dance Life (R.I.P.). Oh, I cannot wait to hear what you think of the book! For now, though, you'll have to be satisfied with a quick look at IT CHICKS’ cast of characters:

THE DREAMER: Hip-hop dancer Tangie’s the only one who doesn't know how fly she is…will her insecurity be her undoing?
THE DRAMA QUEEN: Fame runs in Skye’s family, but she’s about to discover that the superstar doesn’t always get the guy!
THE BAD BOY: Grafitti-artist CJ is a little rough around the edges, but diamonds eventually find their own shine...don’t they?
THE BOMBSHELL: Eden is Armstrong's top actress; will attention from a platinum-selling rapper help or hurt her career?
THE WILD CHILD: Izzy’s hot and her rhymes are, too...but her scandalous past might threaten everything she’s worked for.
THE SILENT THREAT: Aspiring filmmaker Regina caters to her idol’s every whim, but every sidekick has her breaking point.


Cute, huh? And how fun is the cover? Our shoot budget didn’t allow for real models, so I found these three cutie-pies (from left, Candice, Melines and India—would you believe she’s Charli Baltimore’s daughter? And why is Sanjaya stealing her 'do?). Since they were working for free, I wanted to treat them to a celebrity-style makeover…so, I pulled together a totally A-list glam squad: Penguin’s womenswear designer Kibwe Chase-Marshall styled the fab outfits; celeb makeup artist Sam Fine worked his makeup magic (and he wants to slap whoever cut off the girl’s faces on the final cover); and genius Pantene celeb hairstylist Tippi Shorter worked-out the hair. Check out my photo page for more shoot outtakes (um, just as soon as i update it)!

Now, since it’s me, you know the pages of IT CHICKS are riddled with beauty product plugs (I could be writing a George Foreman Grill instruction manual and still find a way to work in a Maybelline Great Lash mascara). So here, I give you my five favorite plugs. Enjoy…and pick up a copy of IT CHICKS! Or two! And pass on the IT CHICKS love! I mean, do we really want our kids reading something called HOMO-THUG? Yep, the last time I spoke to a high school class, three kids revealed that this classic was the last book they’d read. Hell, at least they’re reading.

Big love,
Tia

THE TOP 5 BEAUTY PRODUCTS FOUND IN MY NEW BOOK, "IT CHICKS!"

1.) Cover Girl Cheekers Bronzer in Copper Radiance ($2.71), page 33: Here, we find out about Tangie's very simple makeup regimen: "The only makeup she ever wore was a touch of Cover Girl Bronzer on her cheeks; sometimes for performances at dance camp, she would put some glittery stuff on her eyes. Generally, Tangie thought eye makeup made her look slutty." I picked Cover Girl Cheekers Bronzer because, even if you wear nothing else, you can look totally fantastic with just a sweep of this shimmery, sun-kissed blush swept over cheeks and eyes. Of course, I would add a hint of mascara and gloss, but I'm not fifteen.


2.) Urban Decay Midnight Cowgirl Eyeshadow ($16, on right), page 34: In this scene, Tangie's ultra-sassy, mysteriously mature new friend Izzy gives her a makeover in the girl's bathroom at school. Izzy says, "I used this bronzy Urban Decay shadow, Midnight Cowgirl...it really pops on deep brown skin, like yours. You look so good, you should be performing onstage with Kelly and Michelle!" And Izzy's right. Ladies, Midnight Cowgirl is SUCH a classic neutral for brown skin—the twinkly, golden-beige shade is really so flattering on all complexions, from golden-tan to the richest dark tones. If this one's not in your makeup drawer, it's time to update, Sugar.


3.) MAC Lip Pencil in Chestnut ($12.50), page 99: Here, Eden and her best friend Marisol are sitting in front of her bedroom mirror, getting ready for a night of underage partying at Marquee. Hovering over them is Eden's crazy, drunken former TV-star mom, Alexa, who's reflecting on her life in the most annoying, self-helpey terms. Totally fed up, "Eden slams her MAC Chestnut lip pencil down on her thigh and says, 'Please! Two more seconds of this 'Lifetime For Women' drama and I'm vomiting all over the floor.'" Eden's totally glamorous and into makeup, and I thought a girl like her would definitely have MAC's iconic lip pencil on hand, right? Seriously, the pencil looks good on everyone...and it's great to have on hand if you're rocking a paler lipcolor. To add depth to a shade that's too light, simply line and fill in lips, first. Simply the definition of "beauty no-brainer."


4.) Clarins Extra-Firming Facial Mask ($44), page 102: Here, Eden's bummed-out sister Skye is applying the mask before she goes to bed. "Her tears were softening the thick armor of her Clarins Extra-Firming Facial Mask, which she'd applied twice a week ever since Alexa had told her she had a double chin in photographs." Awful, right? Alexa is a truly evil mother (but I love her 'cause she played a bitchy black supermodel on a fictional 80's nighttime soap, "Shoulder Pads"). Anyway, I've used Clarins mask for years, though admittedly not for its firming benefits. Packed with good-for-you botanicals, the cream-gel mask is PERFECT the morning after a fabulously late night, or when you've just recovered from a sucky cold. I don't know the science behind it, all I know is it instantly wakes up your complexion, giving you rosy cheeks and the dewiest, most radiant skin.


5.) Revlon ColorStay Foundation for Combination/Oily Skin in Caramel ($12.99), page 115: In this scene, one of the main characters--it's a surprise!--is attending a secret support group for gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered teens. During group, one of the girls is discussing how, when she had chicken pox, her very needy girlfriend was mad that they couldn't hang out as much. When the leader invites the group to respond, a tall freckled boy named Paris offers the following non sequitur: "Did you know that Revlon Colorstay Foundation is BRILLIANT for covering chicken pox scars?" It really is, actually. Revlon's Colorstay line gives amazing coverage and is formulated to stay put for up to sixteen hours (absolutely no smudging or rubbing off on your clothes)! And comes in great shades for darker skin--try Golden, Caramel, Toast, Rich Ginger, Cappuccino, Mahogany or Mocha (I'm a fan of Caramel, myself). Definitely try it if you have oilier skin that tends to cause foundation to smear.