Which delights in YA authors sharing the great and awkward of being a teenager.
Today I invited YA author C. J. Omololu to share what she was like as a teenager. Her book Dirty Little Secrets debuted this month from Walker Books for Young Readers. It’s getting some great reviews. I ordered it immediately and cannot wait to read it.
From the author:
See that girl there? That’s the summer of 1984 in San Diego. See her rockin’ on that bass? She bought that bass from the pawn shop herself with the money she earned at the café where she was slinging cappuccino’s way before Starbucks dominated every street corner. Is she rehearsing for an upcoming show? What do you think she’s playing?
Even though this photo was taken a few years ago (ahem) I know exactly what I’m playing. Nothing. Couldn’t play a note. I wanted desperately to be in a band, except I skipped the vital step of ever learning how to play any kind of instrument. Not being able to fulfill my own musical dreams, I did the next best thing – I dated guys in all the other bands. Oh, to do it over again!
A million thanks to C. J. Omololu! (I would like to please borrow that t-shirt.) And remember, if you’re a YA author and would like to do a guest post here on Self-Deprecating Sunday, please contact me jody.mugele(at)gmail.com. It’s more fun than Church.
Jody Sparks Mugele 
That hardly counts as deprecating. She looks so freaking cool! Even if she doesn’t know how to play.
I mean, here I was a jazz cowboy pretending to play sax in marching band & CJ is a hip chick pretending to play bass in some sort of alternative rock band! It’s not even close really. BERK WINS. ONE TO NOTHING.
A direct quote from our email exchange before I posted the photo: “Nothing the rest of us do with beat Josh B’s post however. That one is legendary.”
I object, and agree heartily with Berk! This is not the slightest bit deprecating, she looks freakin adorable, like a dark-haired Watts (Some Kind of Wonderful). Hell, this photo makes me want to buy her book even MORE, she looks so cool. (Plus, her little ploy for snogging actual instrument-playing boys worked like a charm, apparently, which just proves my point!)
I always wanted to be Watts! She was my all-time fave character from the 80’s. “Ray, it’s 1987. Did you know a girl can be whatever she wants to be?” P.S. Your self-deprecating day is coming…uh huh.
That’s an awesome picture!