J.Yang has slummed it in the valley with the Wakefield twins; slumber partied with Huey, Dewey and Louie; joined Krakow in stalking Angela; and climbed every mountain with the Von Trapps.
Originally from San Diego, he's lived and traveled the world (okay, not all of it) in pursuit of that most elusive of targets -- inspiration.
He's authored and published a book, written for online and offline publications, and maintained a variety of popular blogs on subjects ranging from movies and technology to personal stories and amateur musings. He's just wrapped up his second book, a fiction novel for teens, and is hard at work on his third one.
You can reach him at digitaljon@SPAMgmail.com. He is BFF with his iPhone so he should answer promptly.
Here's a little life tip that I don't think enough people take enough advantage of. For the places where you eat often, always call and order ahead. I eat out a lot so I've got every restaurant's number programmed into my phone.
Sometimes I'll be staring at a long line but I'll call in my order from the back of the line -- and then I feel like a proper genius when they take my order immediately and have it ready by the time I get up to the front.
Other life tips I couldn't do without:
Set various clocks around you to different times. The clock in my car is set twenty-four minutes ahead, my alarm seven minutes ahead, my cell phone two minutes, etc. It's amazing how often you'll forget that your clocks are off and you'll rush someplace thinking you're late but then arrive early. Works like a charm.
Double up on your toiletries and pre-pack them in your travel bag. Nothing's more annoying than forgetting your toothpaste, eye solution, or deodorant. Buy two of everything and pack it in the bag for when you're ready to go. Same thing with a cell phone charger. Never be caught with one bar again.
Keep a log of significant facts about acquaintances and likeable near-friends. That way you can refresh your memory before you see them again. Significant facts include: name, siblings, where theyr'e from, what they do, what you talked about. Then stun them with your impressive memory of your last five-minute conversation. People will like you, promise.
My soon to be released book for teens is called "Exclusively Chloe," it's all about a normal girl who gets adopted, quite literally, into the celebrity life. It's my first fiction work and I'm super excited about it.
It's set to come out May 14, 2009, from Puffin/Speak and I could tell you all about it but then you'd just wish you'd read it. As the release date nears, I'll have more information, some contests, and maybe a secret or two. Everyone loves secrets, you know you do!
I also wrote this other book called "The Rough Guide to Blogging" and it's the ultimate reference for all things Weblog. Whether you want to start your own blog or just explore the blogosphere, this guide will teach you everything you need to know.
Chapters include: Creating a Blog, Blog Design, Advanced Blogging, Audio and Video, Podcasting, Blogging for Money, Corporate Blogging plus much, much more. Whether you're an experienced blogger or just getting started, this is the right book for you. Check out the book's blog!
I'm available for television appearances, library talks, relationship advice, general counseling, and all-expenses paid trips to Europe. If you have questions, concerns, or rants, you can reach me at digitaljon@SPAMgmail.com
