DiVa TooK oVeR My BLoG: SiSTeRS eiGHT

Diva is turning out to be a little writer herself and when I had the chance to talk with one of my favorite author pals who has just come out with a new series of tween books written with the help of her own young daughter ... well, Diva said, "I want to ASK THE QUESTIONS!" So she came up with all of the interview questions and we sent them off to the authors of the new series SISTERS EIGHT, which Diva is reading and LOVING now!

But first, some background!

The Sisters 8 is a family affair written by mom Lauren, dad Greg, and wonder daughter Jackie and is a series of eight books about OCTUPLETS (created WELL before Nadya the freak mom came along, I can ASSURE YOU!).

Anyway, these octuplets are mysteriously abandoned by their parents at the age of 7 on New Year's Eve but are each left with a unique gift.

This series is great for kids of all ages, and is stuffed with "suspense and hijinks!" The first two books have been out for a while and are titled: Annie's Adventures and Durinda's Dangers. Book three in the series, Georgia's Greatness, is available today, March 23!



To learn more, head on over to Lauren's website or just read this great interview between Diva and authors Lauren Baratz Logsted, her amazing daughter Jackie, and a few of the Sisters 8!

DIVA: How did your family come up with the eight names?

Jackie Logsted: Well, I thought of all the names except for Petal and Zinnia. My mom thought of Zinnia but no one knows who thought of Petal.

Petal Huit: Oh no! Who named me? Did a meteor name me? Will it crash to Earth? Oh no! The world's going to end!

Lauren Baratz Logsted: Petal freaks out sometimes.

DIVA: How long did it take you to write the first book?

LBL: Twelve days for the first draft.

Marcia Huit: That was Annie's book. I'll bet mine will take longer. I'm more complex. (I'm not usually this aggressive, but I do have Annie issues.)

DIVA: Do you like the first book better or the second one?

JL: I think I like the first one better, because it's the beginning and I really like the ideas in it.

Durinda Huit: How can you like Annie's book better than mine? I cook! (OK, maybe we're all a bit aggressive about Annie.)

LBL: It's hard to choose, but maybe the second book. How can you not love a book with a romance between a robot and a talking refrigerator?

Annie Huit: What??? I think a book where the oldest seven-year-old learns how to drive and gets to wear a fake mustache is much better.

Durinda Huit: It's all part of the human mind and human minds like mine better.

DIVA: What’s your favorite book in the series?

JL: Of what we have written so far I think it would have to be........ GEORGIA'S GREATNESS.

LBL: I happen to like JACKIE'S JOKES of those written. That title just has a certain ring to it.

Zinnia Huit: But mine hasn't even been written yet! For all you know, it could be the best! Why do I always have to be last???

DIVA: Did your family fight about the topics in the books?

LBL: No, but it looks like the characters do.

Rebecca Huit: I resent that!

DIVA: Why did you use 8 as your topic?

JL: It's just random.

LBL: There was no Octomom at the time. We thought we were being original.

Jackie Huit: Eight is a perfect number.

DIVA: Do you have any advice for parents who want their kids to read the books?

JL: Buy the books!!!!!!!!!

LBL: Read them with your kids. We're told adults enjoy them too.

Georgia Huit: You should definitely buy them because they're great, and I should know - I'm the star!

DIVA: Do you enjoy writing books with your parents?

JL: Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Eights: We would like to, if only we could find our parents. In the meantime, please visit us at www.sisterseight.com where you can even take a quiz to discover: Which Eight Are You??? If you come, that would make us very happy. It would almost be as good as a can of pink frosting.

DIVA: When I was reading I figured out that their birthday is on August 8th and August is the eighth month of the year.

LBL: Yes, and the Eights all will turn 8 on 8/8/08, that date not having occurred yet in the series even though it may have in your crazy world.

Manic Mommy: If you're looking for some great reads for your kids, for birthday gifts, for Easter baskets, check out this series! We're on our way out later this week to pick up Georgia's Greatness, and then the FOURTH book will be out April 20, and that's titled, Jackie's Jokes ... hmmm, wonder where they came up with that GREAT NAME?

Thanks for your time everyone! And of course, thanks to Diva for a great interview too!