Bits 'n Pieces - Linda Gerber

Linda Gerber is the fantastic author of the YA novels Death By Bikini and Death by Latte. I'm sure many of you have read and enjoyed her books and I'm hoping to join your ranks in the near future! It's impossible for me to avoid books that have mystery, romance, bikinis, and coffee. They just call out to me! :P You can visit Linda's site here to learn many cool things about her and her books and even take a peak at her fantastic blog! I hope you all enjoy her fun answers!

This or that:
Rain or shine? 
Depends on my mood. I love days at the beach or pool -
sun. But I also love thunderstorms as long as I don't have to go out
anywhere and can just curl up with a good book!
iPod or mp3 player? 
iPod
Movies or TV? 
I don't get to watch much TV, but the shows I do see, I
get pretty passionate about. (LOST, Heroes, Mad Men, The Office, etc.) I
love the big screen, too, and wish I had time to see more movies than I do!
City or country? 
I'm a combo girl. Love the quiet and open spaces of the
country, but want the shopping and entertainment of a city.
Mountains or beaches? 
BOTH! I grew up at the base of the Wasatch
Mountains, so love for that kind of majesty is in my blood, but my idea of
a dream vacation includes lounging on a beach with a good book - and maybe
a very attentive cabana boy serving Diet Cokes with lime!
Dots or stripes? 
Am I seeing them or wearing them?
Dogs or cats? 
Dogs
Cooking or eating out? 
I love to cook, but I don't like the cleanup. Eating out has its advantages.
Coffee or tea? 
Neither. See Diet Coke above.
Books or magazines? 
Books!

Favorites:
Book- 
This changes all the time, depending on what I'm reading at the
time. And since I'm rereading Beast by Donna Jo Napoli, I'm going to go
with that one. She is such a beautiful writer.
Book store- 
Barnes and Noble at Polaris. Their staff is great! I love and
support indies, but sadly, there are none close to me.
Movie- 
So many! One of my all-time favorites to quote is Princess Bride.
Music artist- 
I'm in a Andrea Bocceli phase right now.
Website- 
lindagerber.com
Designer- 
My dear friend Barb Aeschliman of Jaleroro.com
Coffee chain- 
Starbucks
Guilty pleasure- 
Good dark chocolate
Restaurant- 
Hyde Park in Dublin Ohio = fabulous
Color- 
No clear favorite

Have you ever:
Lived abroad? 
Yes. I've lived in Finland and Japan.
Gotten a tattoo? 
No. Too scared of needles!
Stayed up for the midnight release of a movie or book? 
Absolutely! And I'm ready to do it again November 21st! [tomorrow! I'm with you there, Linda]
Disliked your job? 
Yes. I was less than thrilled with my teen job at a
family restaurant in Provo. Of course, the experience made me a good
tipper. Waitressing and bussing tables is hard work!
Cried during a movie? 
All the time!
Sang karaoke? 
Yes! One of our favorite things to do when I lived in Tokyo.
 
Questions:
If you were on a desert island, what 5 things would you bring with you? 
A trunk of books, sunscreen, a Chipotle chef, my computer - souped up with mad wireless capability (and really long battery life...), plenty of Diet Coke.
What’s on the list of things you have to do during your life? 
I believe with all my heart that being involved with service is the way to go. Helping other people puts your own problems into perspective, and nothing beats the feeling of knowing that you've done something worthwhile. So tops on my list right now is keep watching for ways to reach out, and then to do it.
If you could have one super power what would it be? 
I'd love to have super-knowledge. I don't want to know everything - there are some things I
would rather not have in my head, but I'd love it if when I wanted to know
about or understand a certain concept, I could just call it up in my brain
and it would be right there. If knowledge is power, imagine how crazy-powerful that would make me!
What’s your perfect music playlist? 
A real eclectic mix of genres and styles. I love exploring new music and discovering new artists.
What’s the one food you could eat day after day and not get sick of? 
Chocolate!
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? 
Next on my wish list is Greece.
What moment in history do you wish you could’ve experienced? 
So many of them! I'm looking for ways to be part of this moment in history as well.
We're on the brink of so many changes and innovations. This is an exciting
time to live.
What does your dream library look like? 
It's HUGE with floor-to-ceiling books lining the walls, plenty of overstuffed chairs to curl up in, a fireplace in the corner and an enormous window looking out over an ocean,
mountain, lake or forest.
When you walk into a bookstore, where do you head first? 
The YA section.
If everyone had to read one book, what would you have it be? 
I could never limit it to one book!
Thank you so much, Linda! 
Want to win a signed copy of Linda's newest book, Death by Latte? To enter, leave a comment with your answer to "City or Country" by next Wednesday. For an extra entry, follow my blog by clicking "follow" on the sidebar. ---> 
If you are already a follower, let me know that and you'll get that entry. :)
Also, the winner of a signed copy of Lauren Myracle's Bliss will be chosen this Saturday. If you haven't entered yet, click here for details.