Abby Savage’s One True Love Plan

Rule #1: Find someone new.

Abby Savage created her One True Love Plan based on two things: the soap operas she loves to watch, and the family she can’t believe she’s a part of. Living in a house of five girls, one guy, a baby or three on the way, and one bathroom has taught Abby a lot about life, love, and how not to be fancy white trash like her mother and sisters.

When Jackson, Abby’s First Love (and first heartbreak) reappears in her life, he threatens to turn her Plan on its head. But the only thing Abby wants more than True Love is to be different from the other Savage girls, even if that means walking away from the possible Love of her Life.

Will Abby stick to her Plan, no matter the cost? Or will she discover that some Rules—even good ones—are made to be broken?

From first-time author Marjetta Geerling comes a tale that is funny, fresh, and, of course, fancy.

Selected by the American Library Association for their 2009 Best Books for Young Adults List

Praise for Fancy White Trash (Viking Children’s Books, 2008)

“…an enjoyable weekend read that teen chick-lit fans will devour.”
–– Voya

“The humor bubbles consistently;"

–– Publisher’s Weekly

“Like the best (and worst) of daytime TV, Fancy White Trash is utterly addictive while living up to its title.”

–– ElleGirl

“…The novel moves breathlessly from one family drama to the next…the likable main character and fast-paced storytelling will appeal to fans of Aimee Friedman’s The Year My Sister Got Lucky (Scholastic, 2008) and Meg Cabot’s Pants on Fire (HarperCollins, 2007).
––School Library Journal

“An honest view of a broken family, as Abby learns that understanding and love are possible even in her "trashy" life.” –– KLIATT

“Cute, humorous, and very scandalous, FANCY WHITE TRASH is the next guilty pleasure.”

–– teensreadtoo.com

My new novel, Rapunzel Shaves Her Head, is scheduled for release in 2012. It is the story of Zan, the daughter of two soap opera stars, who is shipped off to a clinical boarding school for an eating disorder she doesn’t have. Here’s a sneak preview of the first page:

RAPUNZEL SHAVES HER HEAD

by Marjetta Geerling

            My parents may be the king and queen of daytime drama, but I’m not the princess of anything. Not anymore, anyway. Not since seventeen days ago when I found out that it doesn’t matter how many fan emails you get applauding your “real body,” when it comes down to it, no one wants to see a real girl on TV. Everyone’s looking for a princess.           

          Sure, I have plenty in common with all those happily-ever-afters. For one, all princesses have long trailing tresses— usually flaxen-gold with the exception of a few notable brunettes and that aquatic redhead—and I’m no exception. The Moments of Our Lives stylist insisted my long blonde hair was a trademark feature of my character, Cassi, so aside from regular trims to keep my locks healthy, I haven’t cut my hair since I was three years old. How long does hair get when it has thirteen years to grow? Long. Really, really, past-your-butt long. Which is why it took so much Manic Panic to turn it Enchanted Forest green.

Fancy White Trash

Rapunzel Shaves Her Head

Setting the Mood

Playlists: One of the things I do when I'm in the beginning stages of writing a book is put together a playlist of music to listen to while I write. I let my main character "choose" the music.

Abby chose the songs for FANCY WHITE TRASH. Although as I got to know everyone in the book better, I think Abby's musical tastes, like her fashion sense, was heavily influenced by Cody.

Here's Abby's playlist:

Listen to the playlist on Grooveshark.

Fergie
Finally
Losing My Ground
London Bridge

Jesse McCartney
I'll Try

Nickelback
If Everyone Cared
Savin' Me

Panic! At the Disco
But It's Better If You Do
I Write Sins Not Tragedies

Christina Aguilera
Ain't No Other Man

Colbie Caillat
Realize

Nelly Furtado
Powerless

The Fray
How to Save a Life

Avril Lavigne
Keep Holding On

Anna Nalick
Breathe (2 AM)

I listened to this playlist whenever I worked on FANCY WHITE TRASH. The songs instantly transported me into Abby's world. Music helps me concentrate, makes it easier for me write, and influences the flow of my writing. There's a rhythm to language that I try to capture when I write and music somehow helps me access that.

Did I get sick of these songs? Nope, although I did shuffle a lot. I'm the kind of person who wants to eat for dinner whatever I had for lunch, so the more I heard these songs, the more I loved them. Now, I can't hear FINALLY
without picturing Cody at the Homecoming dance.

Setting the Mood

Here’s what I’m listening to as I write:

Drops of Jupiter by Train

Give Me the Meltdown, Ever the Same, I Am an Illusion by Rob Thomas

Giant, The Different by Melissa Etheridge

Mt. Washington by Emily Wells

Basketcase by Green Day

Bring Me to Life by Evanescence

Time to Dance by Panic! At the Disco

Falling Slowly by The Frames

Unwell by Matchbox Twenty

Strong Enough by Sheryl Crow