Julie Kraut (C'04, Bloomers)'s new book SLEPT AWAY comes out today and if you went to sleepaway camp, I'm sure you'll relate to/appreciate this.

This is Julie's second book since HOT MESS: SUMMER IN THE CITY and it fits into that "chick lit" category I covered with another Penn alum author HERE.

Check out the synopsis below and note that the camp in her book "Camp TimberTrails" sounds like a conglomerate of camps "Camp Timberlake" and "Trails End"...2 very popular sleepaway camps for Long Islanders like myself..(although I went to Camp Wayne!):

"Laney Parker is a city girl through and through. For her, summertime means stepping out of her itchy gray school uniform and into a season of tanning at rooftop swimming pools, brunching at sidewalk cafes, and—as soon as the parents leave for the Hamptons—partying at her classmates’ apartments.

But this summer Laney’s mother has other plans for Laney. It’s called Camp Timber Trails and rustic doesn’t even begin to describe the un-air-conditioned log cabin nightmare. Laney is way out of her element—the in-crowd is anything but cool, popularity seems to be determined by swimming skills, and the activities seem more like boot camp than summer camp.

Splattered with tie dye fall out, stripped of her cell, and going through Diet Coke withdrawal, Laney is barely hanging on. Being declared the biggest loser of the bunk is one thing, but when she realizes her summer crush is untouchably uncrushable in the real world, she starts to wonder, can camp cool possibly translate to cool cool?

Summer camp might just turn this city girl’s world upside down!"

What inspired Julie to start writing?  How did the Kelly Writers House help her?  And what advice does she have for you...?  Find out from her HERE!




Get SLEPT AWAY

Other Penn alumni authors and their advice! HERE




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Check out this position posted by Michael Brawer (C'04), one of our alumni out here in Los Angeles.

The position is to be the assistant to the president of a major production company...

More here!


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Penn is being represented in the Olympics in more ways than one.

Yesterday, Susan Francia (C'04) was one of the eight who won the gold in rowing for the United States.

There's also news of another Penn alumnus who has been part of the Olympics stage as well.

If you've been watching the Olympics, chances are you've seen Gabriel Mann's  (C'95, Off the Beat) work...or maybe tivo'd right through it.


Gabe wrote music for a big McDonald's Olympics commercial, which  per Gabe is "the one with the breakfast chicken sandwich and a bunch of olympians talking about how awesome mcdonalds breakfast chicken sandwich is".  Check out in the clip above!

Besides this, Gabe also shared with me that he produced Sara Bareilles' first album, "the one before the big one on the big label".  It's called Careful Confessions, and it's being released by her label.  

Check it out here 

DT CATCHES YOU UP ON GABRIEL MANN:

• Click here to check out exclusive videos from Gabe's CD release party from this past summer
• Check out my other Gabriel Mann posts

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So far, my #4 and #3 picks for my "Penn videos that will give you the chills" have been beautifully made films combining stylized photography, use of music and special effects.

Today I bring you an engaging video from one of our alumni jam packed with emotion and truth.

Click here for my #2 pick.

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Moving on from my #5 picks (a and b), our widget pick #4 (what is a widget?) is something that was developed by a Penn alum that is useful for the many Penn people I see on facebook who tend to lose their cell phones.

Click here to see my #4 pick.


#4) "Styky Phonebook" Widget
I've seen many people here on Facebook lose their cell phones and post messages to have their friends help them rebuild their phonebook.

With Penn alum Kunal Gupta's (C'04) Styky Phonebook application, you now can use your existing friend network on Facebook to quickly and easily build or rebuild a phonebook. This application puts a form on your profile which lets people give you their number or any number (your choice). This information is then given to you for approval and, once approved, it is added to your Styky phonebook!

See my past Facebook widget picks!

Click here to add this to your profile!

See all my Facebook widget picks!

If you haven't already, add yourself as a friend to my profile!

Check back tomorrow for my #3 pick.

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Not only does Martha Stewart employee Jill Goldberg (C'04, Dischord A Cappella, Penn Choir, Wind Ensemble) have great new songs and a video of her own out, but this ambitious alum also now has a new licensing/publishing business to get the work of you musicians out there on TV and film!

Click here to check out Jill's new "Travel On" music video

Listen to Jill's music below:


Click here for more about Jill's new business!

Have you taken a peek at the 600+ Penn related videos we've got (divided neatly into categories? :)

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Carlos Andrés Gómez (C'04), award-winning NYC poet and actor, has a voice. ...And it's channeled through his passion for the spoken word. After checking out his videos, the best word to describe this guy is captivating!

At Penn, Carlos was the founder of The Excelano Project one of the nation's premier spoken word/performance poetry collectives.

You may have seen him earlier this year on the cover of the February issue of Brass Magazine and on the most recent season of HBO's Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry.

His passion for this art form has opened doors into the acting world as well.

Click here to watch Carlos in action as he discusses his craft and his involvement in the film The Inside Man and HBO's Def Poetry.

Click below to watch his other captivating performances:
"What's Genocide"
"Tipping Point"
"All We Have"

Click here to check out Carlos' website

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Writer/Producer Mikaelyn Austin's (C’04, Women's Basketball) feature-length documentary film The Palestra: Cathedral of Basketball, premieres next week on ESPN Classic and ESPN-U.

For those of you who haven't heard about this film, it traces the evolution of college basketball through the rise of one of the most historic basketball arenas in the country. The film traces the storied history of Big 5 basketball at the Palestra and features former Penn players and coaches including: current Penn Athletic Director Steve Bilsky, C’71, David “Corky” Calhoun, C’72, Chuck Daly, and Fran Dunphy.

I met Mikaelyn about 5 years ago when she was first starting this project and it's fantastic to see what such hard work and persistence can do. Congratulations, Mikaelyn!

Click here to see an interview with Mikaelyn

Click here to preview the film and learn more about the Palestra documentary and ESPN airings


ESPN Airings:

ESPN CLASSIC
Thursday, July 5th @ 10pm EST
Saturday, August 4th @ 8am EST


ESPN U
Wednesday, July 11th @ 10pm EST
Monday, July 16th @ 9pm EST
Friday, July 27th @ 9am EST

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Penn alum Jill Goldberg (C'04, Dischord A Cappella, Penn Choir, Wind Ensemble) and Martha Stewart employee (rights and clearances dept.) got her 15 seconds of fame last fall. (recently opened DuelingTampons.com is catching up on stuff and wants to make sure you're still in the know!)

Jill wasn't crafting or cooking in this segment. ....But singing!

Click below to read more and watch Jill sing for Martha! (at minute 1:35)

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