With a Little Luck: A Novel

My good friend Caprice Crane's new book, With a Little Luck, is out today. Yay, Caprice!

It's gotten great reviews:

"Crane is one of the funniest writers of popular fiction around. The dialog (inner and outer) is laugh-out-loud, snort-inducing hilarious . . . Readers will want to cross their fingers and spit while throwing salt over their shoulders if it helps Berry reach her dreams. Highly recommended."

Library Journal

"Fans of Stacy Ballis and Cara Lockwood will appreciate Crane's effortlessly funny style, which is often attempted in popular fiction but is rarely this well executed...Lighthearted and charmingly honest."

—Booklist

"[A] satisfying romantic comedy...[with] real character growth."

—Kirkus Reviews

And even better blurbs:

"Romantic, poignant and funny—this book is a lucky find for lit fans. Caprice Crane is a nimble and gifted storyteller."

—Diablo Cody, Academy Award-winning screenwriter of Juno

"A hilarious romp that oozes charm and giddy fun. Caprice Crane is a true talent."

—Molly Jong-Fast, author of The Social Climber's Handbook

"Witty, fast-paced, and sheer fun. Caprice Crane is a master of dialogue. Half the time I was reading this book I was smiling, which made me look like a crazy person on the subway."

—Jancee Dunn, author of Don’t You Forget About Me and Why Is My Mother Getting a Tattoo?

"Absolutely charming and hilarious."

—Missy Peregrym, star of the movie Stick It and ABC's Rookie Blue

"With a Little Luck scores in humor, head, and heart. In other words, it’s a perfect trifecta."

—Karyn Bosnak, author of 20 Times a Lady (soon to be the major motion picture What's Your Number?)

(Omg, who is that last fantastic blurber?) (I meant every word of it.)

And most importantly, she has the cutest dog ever (who likes to video chat with Bev):

Anyway, check it out, buy it—it's fantastic!

Source: http://www.prettyinthecity.com/blog/2011/7/26/with-a-little-luck-a-novel.html

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Justin Bieber's Next Album Is 'Ridiculous'

Manager Scooter Braun tweets from studio where singer is working on Believe.
By Jocelyn Vena


Justin Bieber performs during his "Home for the Holidays" concert special in Toronto
Photo: George Pimentel / WireImage

<P>With Justin Bieber in full-on album recording mode, his longtime manager, Scooter Braun, has heard just what the teen star is up to and wants everyone to know that <i>Believe</i> is a game-changer for the singer. "Wow!! In the studio with @justinbieber and #Believe is going to be ridiculous!!!" he tweeted about the 17-year-old's 2012 release. Braun's message came the same day that Bieber announced that he's officially working on the project. "Start recording full time for #BELIEVE today. let the fun begin! #newMusic," he tweeted on Tuesday, hours later adding, "#studio." <center></center> But it seems that he'll take a break to hit up the Consumer Electronics Show, which is currently under way in Las Vegas. "Gonna see what is coming next. #gadgetNERD," he proclaimed. While Bieber has said that he wants his next release to recall Justin Timberlake's Future Sex/Love Sounds sonically, in a recent interview with <i>V</i> magazine, he noted that what he'll be singing is a bit more PG than the topics Timberlake covered on that album. "I'm not going to try to conform to what people want me to be or go out there and start partying, have people see me with alcohol. I want to do it at my own pace," Bieber says in the issue. "I don't want to start singing about things like sex, drugs and swearing. I'm into love, and maybe I'll get more into making love when I'm older. But I want to be someone who is respected by everybody." Bieber may not want to get too graphic on this album, but vocal producer Kuk Harrell did note to MTV News that he will be maturing on it in his own way. "The only conversation we've had about Justin's album that we're about to do is it's really important that it's the proper transition because we've seen him [with] 'Baby,' now we're watching him grow up," said Harrell, who also worked with the singer on <i>Under the Mistletoe.</i> "And we can't just throw him into the adult game right away. It has to be the proper transition. There's a record in between." <center></center> <i>Are you looking forward to Justin's next album? Tell us on our Facebook page!</i></p>

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First Look: Garbage Frontwoman Shirley Manson Featured In ?V? Magazine

Okay, one more offering from the amazing new Music Issue of V magazine to share today … as some of you may be well aware, the FANTASTIC band Garbage are readying the release of a NEW album this year which, naturally, means that V magazine wanted to feature them in their annual Music Issue. BUT, [...]

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Chris Brown Is The Male Beyonce, Fat Joe Says

'You know, he's a sex symbol,' Joe Crack tells MTV News.
By Rob Markman


Fat Joe
Photo: MTV News

<P>When it comes to Fat Joe's "Another Round" collaborator, Chris Brown, the Bronx MC holds the singer to a high standard. Breezy doesn't just bring his soulful vocals and soothing melodies to Joe's track, his appearance in the Colin Tilley-directed video also provides some eye candy for the ladies. "You know, that guy, he's like the 'guy Beyonc&#233;,' " Joe joked to MTV News last week. In the clip, CB and a slimmed-down Joe Crack serenade a number of bikini-clad beauties on a golden beach. "Don't you be holding back your love," Breezy sings on the hook before assuring his lady that after making love with him she's sure to want "another round." <center></center> Brown really gets into it on the song's bridge and final hook. The blond (again) lothario splashes around in the ocean, tearing off his shirt as he puts more emotion into his vocals. Joe likened Brown's performance in "Another Round" to Queen B's performance in her 2006 video for "D&#233;j&#224; Vu," where she runs through a cornfield while singing for her special someone. Like most Beyonc&#233; videos, the visuals were particularly exciting to her male fanbase. Joe said Breezy's "Another Round" appearance has been evoking a similar reaction with the rapper's female following. "This guy takes his shirt off &#8212; I played it for a couple of chicks before we released it and they just start goin' crazy and buggin' out like, 'Oh my God, yo,' " Joe laughed. "You know, he's a sex symbol." <center></center> <i>Do you agree with Fat Joe comparing Chris Brown's sex appeal to Beyonc&#233;'s? Tell us in the comments!</i></p>

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Watch: Madonna Calls Britney Spears ?A Good Kisser?

Over the past few days, we’ve been getting some preview video (HERE and HERE) from Madonna‘s upcoming interview with ABC News (which will be spread over 3 shows — Nightline Thursday night, Good Morning America Friday morning and 20/20 Friday night). Today we get to check out newly released preview video that features Madonna reminiscing [...]

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Jillian Michaels Has Been Matched With a Girl to Adopt

Jillian Michaels' journey to motherhood is nearly complete. The former Biggest Loser star announced on Access Hollywood that after more than a year of waiting, she has finally "been matched with a little girl" to adopt.

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/jillian-michaels-has-been-matched-baby-girl-adopt/1-a-417621?dst=iv%3AiVillage%3Ajillian-michaels-has-been-matched-baby-girl-adopt-417621

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Obama Backers In New Hampshire Ask: 'Why Are You In?'

'I'm in because he brought the troops home,' read one poster in the Obama campaign office in Manchester.
By Gil Kaufman, with reporting by Sway Calloway


Obama supporters in New Hampshire
Photo: Getty Images

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire — "I'm in because we are the change we've been waiting for."

"I'm in because I want my grandchildren to know what polar bears are."

"I'm in because the power is in the voice of the youth."

Those are a few of the handwritten signs penned by volunteers for the Obama 2012 re-election as part of a "Why Are You In?" wall aimed at inspiring them to get out the vote during Tuesday's (January 10) primary. While most of the attention has been focused on the squabbling among the Republican White House hopefuls in the Granite State, as in last week's Iowa caucus, the Obama team here has been hard at work training volunteers, making calls and reaching out to the state's legendary independent voters and committed Democrats to remind them to come out on Tuesday.

It's part of an effort to keep the president's supporters fired up and ready to go for the general election in November, and 19-year-old volunteer Kathieya Odiah said the chance to see how a campaign works has been eye-opening. "The Obama campaign is basically about having volunteers and having a grassroots campaign, so when we have volunteers come in, we always have them make posters and notes about why they come here for Obama," said Odiah, one of a number of Quinnipiac University students who will spend several weeks of their winter break working for Obama 2012.

She pointed to one of the signs she wrote, "I'm in because he brought troops home," explaining that she felt strongly about the president ending the war in Iraq.

The Manchester office, the largest of seven such locations around the state, has housed hundreds of volunteers over the past few months, and during a visit from MTV's Power of 12 team on Tuesday afternoon, young volunteers were sprawled on couches, on the floor and across several rooms as they clutched their call sheets and reached out to remind voters to make it to the polls before they closed at 8 p.m.

Odiah's friend and fellow volunteer, Long Island, New York's Morgan Farra, 20, said she's in because the president has helped make college affordable for students like her by increasing the number of Pell grant recipients by 3 million so far. "It's really important to me because if you don't have an education, you're missing out on one of the greatest experiences of your life," she said.

Inspired by the unprecedented grassroots campaign run by Obama in 2008, 19-year-old Natalie Deduck said she has been putting in the 10- to 12-hour days at the Manchester office because she knows the importance of starting early and strong in order to rally the troops again. Jameson Cherilus, 22, is typical of the office's volunteers. He started his day around 8 a.m. outside an elementary school, where he held up signs for the president and reminded primary voters that Obama was on the ballot before hitting the office for a long day of phone calls.

"I'm here because President Obama supports small business," read another sign that shouted out Flanders Fish Market in East Lyme, Connecticut.

"It's been pretty hard getting my ... friends involved in the campaign [because] they honestly don't understand how important it is to start now even though it's only January," said Odiah about the challenges she's faced while making calls in Manchester and speaking to her peers about what she's doing. "We have to explain to people that we need to start now.

"[Once] Republicans choose who they're going to have for their candidate, they're already going to have half of the votes. ... Yeah, [Obama's] going to win the primary, but this is a dry run. This is our way of knowing this is what it's going to look like in November. It's hard."

MTV is on the scene in New Hampshire! Check back here around the clock for up-to-the-minute coverage on the primary caucuses, and stick with PowerOf12.org throughout the presidential election season.

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Taylor Kitsch Talks 'All-Or-Nothing' 2012

Roles in 'Battleship,' 'John Carter' and 'Savages' make the 'Friday Night Lights' alum one to watch in 2012.
By Kevin P. Sullivan, with reporting by Josh Horowitz


Taylor Kitsch in "John Carter"
Photo: Disney

Kids are growing up fast these days. One day, they're playing fullback for the Dillon Panthers. Next thing you know, they're saving Mars, selling weed and fighting aliens on a battleship.

For Taylor Kitsch, 2012 is the year he grows up. A fan favorite from the "Friday Night Lights" television show, Kitsch makes the transition to full-on action star with "John Carter" and "Battleship." If that weren't enough, later in the year, he'll star in "Savages," a crime film helmed by one of Hollywood's most formidable directors, Oliver Stone.

And Kitsch knows exactly what he's getting into: "It's a pretty all-or-nothing year, right?"

"All-or-nothing" is about as close as you can get to properly describing the year Kitsch has in front of him. Aside from starring in "FNL" creator Peter Berg's next film, "Battleship," Kitsch is smack-dab in the middle of Disney's big-budget sci-fi epic "John Carter." When it comes down to it, the fate of "John Carter" may rest firmly on Kitsch's abs.

"Of course, there's the physicality," said Kitsch, explaining his revealing wardrobe, comprised mostly of a glorified loincloth. "You're pretty out there, not going to lie." Kitsch insisted that the fashion choices never bothered him because it was true to the character. "It felt right, so it wasn't such a big deal," he said.

Despite the film's special effects and high budget, Kitsch said there is something much deeper to this story of a transported Civil War captain. "There's kind of that stigma with big movies that it's just action," Kitsch said. "But with this, it's really just the core of this guy and his journey of reinventing himself and finding himself again."

With such a full plate, Kitsch said he feels a whole mix of emotions, both good and bad. "I think it's a bit of everything," he said. "I'm excited. I'm nervous, but I'm also super proud of it, and I can't wait to show. Especially from 'John Carter' to 'Battleship' to 'Savages,' that's such a different landscape of a character."

It's not just you, Taylor. We're excited too.

What are you waiting for? Your must-see movie needs your support. It's time to show character, poise and heart. Vote for your picks now at MTV Movie Brawl 2012!

Check out everything we've got on "Battleship."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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