Help Someone's Dreams Come True

by Brittany Geragotelis

I'm a huge believer in people going after their dreams--and the bigger the dream the better! I also really love the idea that I have the power to choose who might become the next big thing! There's something really empowering in that....and I know first-hand how important having people believe in you can be to making your dreams come true. As many of you know, I got my start on Wattpad, where fans championed me into reaching 18 million reads of my book, Life's a Witch online. It was because people gave me their support that I ended up getting my book deal with Simon & Schuster.

And since my first published book came out Jan 29th, I've been asking my fans to continue to support me by buying my book. As much as everyone LOVES free stuff (music, movies, books, etc.), the bottom line is: it takes major time and money to create these things that you love to watch, listen to and read.

So I think that one of the coolest things a person can do is use their influence by getting involved in things they believe in. For some of us, that starts by believing in a person. Stephanie Lynn is a friend of mine who is both an awesome actress and a phenomenal singer. I met her when my fiancé was promoting his feature-length indie film, The Graduates, about five years ago. Stephanie played the "hot girl" in his movie (yes, she's hot, but don't hate on her) and when I first met her, I admit, I thought she'd be sort of mean or snooty. But she is nothing like that. She turned out to be as nice as she is pretty, and majorly talented....even outside of acting. I remember one of the nights we were promoting the movie in Ocean City, MD, and we were sitting around and Steph was singing a few songs she had been working on. And guys....she was SOOOO good!

Fast-forward five years and Stephanie Lynn is now working toward making her own dreams as a singer come true. I totally admire her dedication and love for music and would do anything to help her reach those goals. Including helping to fund her first album. Stephanie Lynn just launched her Kickstarter campaign and I've already donated $100 to her future career as a singer! I know you don't know her like I do, but take a listen to her music and decide for yourself if you'd like to hear more from her. You can donate any amount (and trust me, every little bit helps), and if you don't have the cash, you still have your voice. So, if you can't give, please post about this on your social media. You could help make someone's dream come true. And I think that's pretty awesome!

5x5,
B.

Celebrity Whore

by Brittany Geragotelis

Last night I ran into a celebrity. It wasn't one of those sightings where you spy that star from your fave show on the street while he's walking by in his unassuming outfit, all scruffy, with his eyes hidden behind a darkened pair of sunglasses and drinking an iced green tea from the Bux. Where you Tweet about them as soon as they've gotten far enough away from you that you can pull out your phone descreetly. Hell, maybe you don't care about decorum at all and you whip your phone out right in front of him and snap a quick pic before he can get away. No, this was different.

It was different because I know this person.

Now, we're not besties or anything, but this starlet, let's call her Penelope (and no this isn't even remotely a clue to her real name, so don't even start guessing. You won't get it, I promise), runs in the same circle of friends as me. We don't hang out, but I see her every once in a while, which is way cool--

--at least it would be if I didn't turn into a blithering idiot every time I talked to her.

For most people, this reaction would be understandable. Most people don't regularly find themselves standing face to face with celebrities. But me....this type of reaction is unacceptable. Because the truth is, for 10 years it was my job to do just this.

As an editor at American Cheerleader, I interviewed celebs like Miley Cyrus, Dakota Fanning, Kendall Jenner, Ashley Tisdale, Ashley Greene, Ashley Benson (there were lots of Ashley's), Debby Ryan and even Jamie Foxx. And being the celebrity-obsessed person I am, I was nervous to talk to each and every one of them. But I always pulled it together long enough to make a good impression and get a great interview, before going and freaking out in private.

So, why is it that every time I get around Penelope, I feel like such a loser? Suddenly, I start saying the stupidest things, ask the dumbest questions, get all tongue-tied and revert back to the uncomfortable nerd I was in high school.

It could have something to do with the fact that I'm not actually interviewing Penelope. See, when I was interviewing the other celebs, both of us were there to do a job. It was my job to ask a slew of questions that would allow our readers to feel like they got a chance to have a peek into that person's real life. And of course, it was the star's job to put forth the image they wanted their brand to reflect as well as highlight whatever project they were working on at the time. Neither of us was being ourselves...not really. We were both playing our roles, being on our best behavior. And that's what trips me up about my encounters with Penelope. My role becomes...just me. And just me is someone who geeks out when she meets celebrities. Just me is someone who cares what creative people that I admire think about me. Just me is self-conscious and not always polished and still that nerd in a lot of ways. Just me isn't always calm, cool and collected.

And if I'm really honest with myself, if Penelope wasn't famous, I have to wonder whether I'd really even care what she thought about me. The answer is: probably not.

So, what I realized about last night is that I need to start embracing my real self. And if someone doesn't like who that is, that's fine. Because the truth is....she's pretty cool, too.

5x5,
B.

Review Time: The Survivors by Amanda Havard

by Brittany Geragotelis

Review Time: The Survivors by Amanda Havard

The Story: In 1692, when witch trials gripped the community of Salem, Massachusetts, twenty-six children were accused as witches, exiled, and left for dead. Fourteen of them survived. The Survivors is the first installment of the tantalizing tales of the fourteen ill-fated Survivors and their descendants, who have been content in hiding for over three centuries. Isolated on a Montana mountainside, only Sadie, the rogue daughter, dares to abandon the family's sacred hiding place. But no matter how far Sadie runs, something always pulls her back.
     On a muggy summer night in Tennessee, she witnesses a shocking scene that will change her life forever. It is the first in a sequence of events that will drag her from the human world she's sought to belong to for over a century and send her back to her Puritanical family and into an uncertain future filled with cunning witches, mysterious nosferatu shape-shifters, dangerous eretica and vieczy vampires, millennia-old mythology, and the search for her own mortality. After all... HOW DO YOU KILL A SURVIVOR?
Why It's a Must-Read: A lot of research went into writing The Survivors. Besides the fact that it's loosely based on the Salem Witch Trials, the author Amanda Havard, really delved into the history of all monsters, supernatural beings, etc., which for someone like me who's intrigued by creepy-crawlies, was really cool. On top of that, she's created a world that's rich with interesting characters, and the story itself is beautifully written. Fans of Twilight will LOVE The Survivors....It's a much more creative and complicated book, but it will give you the love story you crave, along with all the supernatural elements that you loved so much from Bella and Edward's world. 
What a Character: I really gravitated toward Sadie, our main character, because she's a strong-willed and independent woman. But on the flip-side, she's also desperately looking to make a connection. She's constantly on the search to find a place where she fits in, even though she knows that she's unlike anyone else in the world. And there's something about that that's incredibly endearing. I also really liked Mark and Ginny; Mark because of his easy-going attitude but fierce loyalty to Sadie, and Ginny because of her sweet and caring demeanor. But really, there are so many characters in this series that you're bound to connect with someone!

Amanda Havard

A Little Something Extra: I've known Amanda Havard for over a year now and she's such a smart and talented person! Something that you should know about her is that she has a very creative mind and won't back down from her lofty dreams. When she first began shopping around her book, The Survivors, she had very specific ideas in mind for it. She wanted to go places that books had never really gone before, and publishers were really hesitant to go there. But instead of giving up or giving in, she found a publisher that was willing to do everything she envisioned, and because of it, she's pushing the boundaries of storytelling. 
      Namely, she's created a totally Immersive experience for her readers. If you buy her Immersedition from iTunes, you'll get extras that you can't find anywhere else. In this edition, you'll get links to documented moments in history throughout the book, that will give you more background info on specific parts. Amanda created a book soundtrack, both with existing artists, as well as singers/songwriters that she signed to her own music label, created specifically for this project (Some of her signed artists have been on "Glee" and "The Voice"). Amanda is an avid music junkie and felt very strongly that music was just another dimension needed to accurately tell the story. 
       On top of that, you can check out the cars the characters drive, as well as the clothes they wore, watch music videos for the soundtrack and link straight to the Twitter accounts for most of the characters, which date back to two years before the book was released. The Survivors is a truly unique experience and one that I see books heading toward in the future. Oh, and I had the pleasure of writing a blurb for the sequel, so you KNOW it's gotta be good!


Follow her on Twitter @AmandaHavard and then go out and buy her book!

5x5,
B.

I totally love Selena...

by Brittany Geragotelis

photo credit: CelebBuzz

...Gomez if you were wondering.

I'd never really felt strongly one way or another about the "Wizards of Waverly Place" star. I'd seen her when she first appeared on "Hannah Montana" and then watched as she became friends with former Disney star Demi Lovato. I thought she was a bit on the sassy side for the mouse network and always sort of preferred Miley to her.

But as the years have gone on, I've grown to really like the cutie. And not just because she's dating the Biebster (I can't say I've caught Bieber fever yet). Nope. It's a mixture of the projects she's done, the way that she never ends up in the tabloids for anything worse than dating a superstar, how she handles herself in interviews and most recently, the songs she sings. Namely, her latest single, "Who Says." The song's all about how every person's beautiful and that you should never let anyone else tell you that you aren't. I like a young person who can be a role model and try to bring the right kinds of messages to other kids.

So as of right now, I'm officially a Selena Gomez fan. Even though she's dating Justin (we totally saw them locking lips a certain awards ceremony on Sunday, didn't we?)...well, let's just say I won't hold it against her.

Thank God "Glee" is Back!

by Brittany Geragotelis

So, I'll start off this post by letting you know that I got another rejection (ominous duh, duh, duuuuuh!!!). A bit of a bummer, but I'm moving on....because "Glee" started back last night! I was so worked up about it being back on that I practically had a Glee-gasm. That's right, I said it.

Last night's episode did not disappoint on the music front. With songs like "Empire State of Mind" by Alicia Keys, "Telephone" by Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce, and "Billionaire" by Travie McCoy featuring Bruno Mars. But the act that really stole the show was a newbie on the scene, Sunshine Corazon (played by Charice). Man can that girl sing! She's like Christina Aguilera: tiny in stature, big in presence and voice.



And speaking of newbies, we've got three new faces walking around McKinley High. I already mentioned Sunshine Corazon and trust me, she's going to give Rachel a serious run for her money when it comes to the spotlight. Next, we have Hottie McStud-Muffin...errrr, Sam Evans (played by Chord Overstreet; yes, that's his real name. When I first read it, I thought it had to be his character's name on the show. Nope...real life.) who plays the new kid in school who has natural talent both in the music room and on the football field. Again, his voice is awesome and I'm looking forward to hearing (and seeing) more from him. Lastly, there's the very masculine yet emotional new football coach, Shannon Beiste (played by Dot Jones), whose heart is as big as her arms!

So, since they're new to the "Glee" world, I thought it was a good time to get to know them a little better. Here are some fun facts about our new favorite gleeks:

photo credit: FOX/Glee

Charice
1. Her real name is Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco.
2. She's a tiny thing, standing at only 4'11" tall.
3. It's no coincidence that her character, Sunshine, sang a song from the movie Dreamgirls for her glee club audition. Apparently a young Charice sang "And I Am Telling You" from the Dreamgirls soundtrack on "StarKing," a Korean variety show, which pretty much launched her career.
4. The first talk show Charice was ever on in the U.S. was "The Ellen Degeneres Show." Check her out back then in the video at the bottom!
5. After meeting her, Oprah called famed music producer David Foster who took her under his wing.

photo credit: FOX/Glee

Chord Overstreet
1. He got his name because his dad's in the music biz. He's the third kid in the family and there are three notes in a chord. And thus Chord was born.
2. His first instrument was a mandolin.
3. He's originally from Nashville, TN.
4. Songs he'd like to cover on "Glee?" "Losing My Way" or "Cry Me a River" by Justin Timberlake or T.I.'s "Dead and Gone."
5. Dancing isn't his strong suit, but he's willing to work on it, if they have him dance on the show.

photo credit: FOX/Glee

Dot Jones
1. She's a 15-time World Arm Wrestling Champion.
2. She's currently a towering 6'3", but she used to be 6'4".
3. Dot scored her gig on "Glee" after running into co-executive producer Brad Falchuk at a Whole Foods about four months ago.
4. She was first "discovered" at a body building tournament.
5. She worked at Juvenile Probation Services before making the switch to acting.

What do you think of the newbies? Like, Love, Hate? Let me know in the comments above!

5x5,
B.

Jay-Z's new girl

by Brittany Geragotelis

On Friday, I was lucky enough to spend the day with Alexis Jordan. This 18-year-old is the first female solo artist on Jay-Z's label RocNation and let me tell you, she's one cool character. I was excited but nervous to hang out with the former cheerleader, not because I thought she would be anything but sweet, but because this was one of the first times I've had the opportunity to shadow a celeb for an interview. I'm used to talking to stars over the phone, with my trusty list of notes and my recorder capturing our convo. But doing an interview face-to-face...that's a whole other thing entirely.

Nonetheless, I was excited for the opportunity. Over the past six months, I've been trying to challenge myself with my writing. My latest book, Painless, was darker and angrier than anything else I've written. I've taken some leaps with my features at work, really trying to stay away from what's comfortable and thinking outside the word document. So, pushing myself into a situation that made me a little nervous and meeting it head on was exactly what I needed.

To start out the day, my co-worker, Jess, and I met Alexis, her mom and her agent at Good Day NY to watch her play a bit of her first single, "Happiness" for a segment that aired on Sunday. A clip of it will even be shown in cabs from now until Labor Day. We got there just in time for her to tape the show, and had a chance to listen to her sing acapela.





All I can say is: The girl's got talent.


After that, the day went by in a blur of performances, sound checks, interviews, meet & greets and one very interesting lunch. It was really cool getting to know this talented girl and even more impressive that she's able to handle the crazy schedule that accompanies a singing artist on the RocNation label. It definitely got me thinking about whether or not I'd ever be able to handle that kind of life. You know....up at four, going from one thing to the next, being "on" all day, the public scrutinizing you all the time. By the end of the day, I was exhausted. And it wasn't even all about me; I was just along for the ride.

But that doesn't mean I don't think I could handle being a published author. Traveling around and doing book signings, author interviews, meet & greets—THAT I'm pretty sure I could get used to. Now all I need is that darn book deal....

5x5,
B.

Convo's with Celebrities...

by Brittany Geragotelis

photo credit: The WB/Roswell

Yesterday was an especially eventful day at American Cheerleader. It was announced that I was promoted to Managing Editor! Can I get a Woo-Woo! So, that was super exciting. But what had me a jumble of nerves was the fact that I was interviewing actress Shiri Appleby of "Roswell" fame!


I know! How jealous are you?!


Anyway, being the big WB fan that I was, I totally watched the alien-centric teen show when it was on in 1999 (this was back when Katherine Heigl wasn't winning Emmy's and starring in romantic comedies), so talking with Shiri about her acting career was a treat for me. Now she plays Cate Cassidy on The CW show "Life Unexpected," a 30-something who is reunited with the daughter she gave up for adoption back when she was in high school. In real life, Shiri is a 30-something actress who's dealing with a lot of the same issues that her TV counterpart is going through (minus the shocking teen lovechild).

photo credit: The CW/Life Unexpected

Shiri was really great to talk to! Her personality was totally laid back and she seemed really zen about life—but not in a wack-job kind of way. It was more like she's started to realize the kind of person she wants to be and is working toward it. During our convo, Shiri mentioned that she wants to be a woman of grace. She also said that she tries to take a step back with many things in her life, so she can see the bigger picture. That sometimes the fight isn't worth it, meaning, you've got to pick your battles otherwise you're wasting a lot of time and energy on things you can't control.

The only snag in our conversation was when I asked Shiri about her love life. It's always uncomfortable for me to ask anything too personal during an interview and it's rare for me to bring up a celeb's love life. Mostly because it's not really any of my business and I don't want people to associate me with the rag mag "reporters" who are just out to gossip and destroy. With so much smut being published where the entire point of its existance is to tear others down, I can understand why people would be wary of journalists. So, when I asked Shiri about her love life, she let me know that she wasn't talking. It was like a record scratched and the music turned to silence. Then, it was awkward for a few minutes, but eventually we were able to get back on track.

In the end, the interview went well! Shiri had some pretty amazing things to say; you can tell the girl is really intelligent and has her shit together. I can't wait to transcribe the interview and be able to put something together for the magazine!

photo credit: RocNation

Today I'm off to hang out with another celeb! Alexis Jordan is the first female artist on Jay-Z's RocNation label—and a former cheerleader! I'm super psyched to spend the day with the 18-year-old and get a chance to know her and her music better. We're starting off at Good Day NY, moving on to a sound check for the Arthur Ashe Kids Day Performance where she'll be opening for the Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato and David Archeletta. After that, we're heading to the J&R Music Festival for a meet-and-greet and then for a performance by Alexis. And all the while, I'm going to be interviewing her and listening to some awesome music!

What an exciting day!

5x5,
B.

Just a small town girl...

by Brittany Geragotelis

Before I get too far, did anyone watch the finale of "Glee" last night? I have to admit, that before I hit play on my DVR, I was already feeling a bit sad. Knowing that I'm going to have to wait several months to see another new episode...well, it put me into a deep GLEEpression. And though I loved a lot of the music in the ep, I wasn't all that impressed with the finale. Don't get me wrong—I loved the show—I was just expecting a little more, you know? But still...incredible singing (and great choice of music)!

courtesy of: Stephanie Lynn

Now, speaking of singers...I met my friend, Stephanie Lynn, through my boyfriend when we first started dating. She played the unattainable hot girl in the movie Matt and his brother shot called The Graduates. And after getting over the shock that she was, in fact, gorgeous in person, I realized that she wasn't a threat (admit it, us girls tend to get threatened by other hot girls), and that she's a REALLY cool girl. Very low-key, fun, sweet and super talented.

courtesy of: Stephanie Lynn

Anyways, on a trip to promote The Graduates, I was able to spend some QT with Steph and learned that the girl can sing! And she writes her own music! With a slightly-deep, breathy sound to her voice, and soulful lyrics, hearing her is a soothing experience.

courtesy of: Stephanie Lynn

Don't believe me? Well, check her out for yourself. Stephanie Lynn just submitted her demo song "Broken Before" for MySpace's Rock The Space contest and every play she gets helps her chances of winning. So, go ahead and take a listen. The song is catchy and beautiful and sure to brighten your day!

5x5,
B.