Before Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Patsy Cline, there was Kitty Wells. I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know too much about this kick-ass lady until I hit the The Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, where they have an entire exhibit detailing her legacy. Kitty was the first woman to have a number one Billboard country hit. The song was “It wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels,” which was written as a direct response to another hit of the time–Hank Thompson’s “The Wild Side of Life.” Hank sang about a woman who tossed aside her wifely duties for cheatin’ and drinkin’:

I didn’t know God made honky tonk angels
I might have known you’d never make a wife
You gave up the only one that ever loved you
And went back to the wild side of life

Kitty wasn’t having any of this double standard nonsense. She called it as she saw it:

It wasn’t God who made Honky Tonk angels
As you said in the words of your song
Too many times married men think they’re still single
That has caused many a good girl to go wrong

Oh, snap! And now, I give you the original battle of the sexes…country-style!

Have you read Good Enough by Paula Yoo? No? I suggest you put it at the top of your to-read list pronto! It’s one of my favorite book of 2008.

Patti has a full plate with her SAT prep, an All-State violin competition, and a massive crush on Cute Trumpet Guy. She works hard to please everyone and get everything just right, until she figures out that trying her best is good enough–and it’s a whole lot more fun.

Although Good Enough is fiction, overachieving Patti’s story certainly sounds like a lot of real-life stories I’ve heard. The girls I interviewed for You’re Amazing! talked about how they feel many of the same pressures to be perfect in their lives.

Bonus: Check out author Paula Yoo rocking some Zeppelin on her violin. It is a seriously impressive performance.

I was pretty excited to find out that Stephanie at Reviewer X is dedicating this entire week to celebrating strong female characters and feminism in YA literature. It’s only Tuesday and so far she’s got quite a lineup of guest posts, reviews and contests. I was especially blown away by I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone author Stephanie Kuehnert’s post about what it felt like to be labeled a “slut” (and later to have her lead character labeled in exactly the same way). All the Girl Week content will be cataloged here. Check back every day this week for more!

The giving spirit is in the air!

Head over to my other blog, 5 Resolutions, to find out how you can win an advance reader’s copy of Does This Book Make Me Look Fat? This collection of stories, poems, and essays about body image features some stellar writers including Wendy McClure, Sara Zarr, and Coe Booth. Enter now!

Last chance to request your FREE autographed bookplate. If you’re giving You’re Amazing! as a gift this holiday season, email me with your mailing address and I’ll send you an autographed sticker for your book.

And finally, check out The Story Siren’s Thank You Contest and enter to win a copy of You’re Amazing!

Good luck!

The super talented arbiter of teen taste Melissa Walker (author of the Violet series and vinyl enthusiast) has just launched a new venture along with her pal and former ELLEgirl editor Anne Ichikawa.

I Heart Daily is a blog and email newsletter dedicated to all the things they heart. And I think you’ll heart them, too. Today they’re featuring a teen fashion blogger whose style is inspired by one of my favorite books, Weetzie Bat. I’m sold. Go sign up now.

Need some gift ideas for the girls in your life? Check out my holiday gift guide.

And if you’re buying You’re Amazing! as a gift this year, don’t forget to request your free autographed bookplate before December 15th!

Call me a sentimental sap–I get all warm and fuzzy during the holiday season. Yes, I did watch Elf tonight (for the fifth time, but who’s counting?). And I caught White Christmas in all its fake snowy glory last night. Watch out, I’ll be roasting chestnuts on an open fire before you know it.

Here’s how I would like to share some holiday cheer with you: Send me an email with your mailing address between now and December 15th and I will send you a free autographed bookplate to stick inside your copy of You’re Amazing! If you’re giving the book as a gift to someone special, just tell me her name and I’ll write her a personalized message.

1. A family who builds me up

2. A husband who makes me laugh

3. All the amazing girls and women who have shared their stories with me

4. The opportunity to write and tell those stories

and deliciously new to the list this year…

5. Orange Vanilla Swirl Rice Dream

Happy Thanksgiving!

Momstyle News is giving away two copies of You’re Amazing! this month. Read my tips for empowering girls and join the discussion for a chance to win.

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for the five-star review of You’re Amazing! You can check it out here.