gabrielleqlnm: About Making Money

In the last week, I have been asked three times to give away significant amounts of my time and expertise to people who are putting on programs or putting together materials for a good cause. In two out of the three cases, the people asking were actually fairly rude and demanding about what they wanted from me. And by the third request-- which came this morning -- I snapped.

Why is it that so many people think authors can give away so much of their time for free? Where do they suppose we get the books that they ask us to donate? How do they expect us to fund the time that it takes to prepare for their event, to get to their event, to perform at their event? It's the craziest thing! I would never ask my dentist to work for free, or my lawyer, or my hairdresser, and yet people seem to think that it's part of an author's job to do programs and events for free. Maybe they mistake all authors for best-selling authors. Maybe they think that because Dan Brown and J.K. Rowling make so much money, all authors are raking in the dough.

I like it that people want me to show up. I think it's wonderful that they think I have something to offer. I appreciate that they are trying to support worthy causes.

But for the foreseeable future? I'm saying no. I am, after all, trying to write a novel....

I feel we need to support films that send powerful messages to kids about courage, values, and being true to yourself.

If we don't get behind them and support them Hollywood won't make them.

Last summer I had the incredible opportunity to be a part of Rob Reiner's new film, Flipped. It's a story about two 13-year-olds in the early 1960s -- Bryce and Juli -- who live across the street from each other and how they find themselves and each other through the trials of love and friendship.

The story "flips" between the viewpoints of these young characters and, as they grow, their perceptions of each other "flip" as well.

I play Juli's mom in the film, alongside a fantastic ensemble of actors: Madeleine Carol & Callan McAuliffe (the kids), Aidan Quinn, John Mahoney, Rebecca De Mornay, and Anthony Edwards.

Flipped is not just about first love, but about how a young girl teaches a young boy about what's important in life. It's a movie about courage, character, and standing up for what you believe in.

Juli comes from a warm, tight-knit family that's low on money but rich on love while Bryce's family is wealthy but repressed. Bryce learns over time from Juli that life is not about where you come from but what you do and the choices that you make define who you are. Bryce really starts to grow into a young man of character because of Juli and her family.

Based on the beautiful novel of the same title by Wendelin Van Draanen, the film stays true to the story, humor, morals, and life lessons that made the book such a huge hit with adolescents. While the book takes place in present day, Rob chose to set the movie in the early 60's to capture that pre-Vietnam, pre-Twitter/Facebook time of innocence. It makes the film a very nostalgic experience for those who grew up in that period, as Rob did, remembering your first love and how it changed your life. It's also relatable to kids today who are experiencing that now.

Flipped was a real passion project for Rob and he was the perfect man to bring this story to the screen. He tells stories about human beings. You won't find explosions, aliens, or vampires in this movie.

From my experience working with him and counting him as a friend, Rob is a man that really appreciates and respects women and values the immense impact they have on men's lives.

I wanted to reach out through HuffPost's amazing network to all the mothers and grandmothers who want to take their children and grandchildren to see a movie this summer with a message that will surely inspire.

And if you love it, tweet about it!

Flipped is playing now in Los Angeles, Austin and Sacramento. On August 27th it will open in New York, Chicago, Boston, Toronto, and San Francisco. And then, hopefully, in theaters across the country.

This post originally appeared at The Women's Conference.

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