![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
writergrl's journalCreate a LiveJournal Account Learn more
|
You are viewing writergrl's journal Create a LiveJournal Account Learn more | Explore LJ: Life Entertainment Music Culture News & Politics Technology |
 | |
|
Whew. It's been less than a month since Along for the Ride came out, and yet I feel like I have not stopped moving once. It's been such a fun, wild time, and ending it this weekend at ALA was great. (I will be doing one more local appearance, at McIntyre's in Pittsboro on July 25th. And we're hoping to add a DC date, and maybe one in New York eventually.) But for now, yes, I'm done. Which means I can (maybe) step back from the computer for a couple of days, catch up on my sleep, spend time with my family and all that other good stuff. I promise a better, longer entry later. But for now, I just have to share these few things. And because I AM so tired, I will do it with pictures. First, the view from my hotel room was freaking awesome: And this view, at Anderson's in Naperville on Saturday night, was equally great: I got to hang a LOT with Laurie Halse Anderson. We signed books for two hours (!) straight at Anderson's on Saturday, then did a pizza party/talk with very cool teens on Sunday. I love Laurie. She's, like, totally made of awesome: But the GREATEST thing about ALA, the thing that I still can't believe actually happened, is this: I have so many more stories to tell you, and things to say, but honestly, I just can't do it right now. I'm wiped out and my house is a mess and my daughter won't let me out of her sight for two seconds for fear I'll leave again. I'm putting away my book tour shoes and getting out my flip flops, trading sandboxes for boarding passes. It's been a great time. But it's really nice to be home. When I saw this when I arrived in the terminal late last night, exhausted, depleted, it just made me so happy: Have a great day, everyone! |
|
| |
|
1. Today, I leave for Chicago and ALA. I honestly cannot believe I am going out of town again. I counted it up and this is my sixth flying trip since the end of May. Which is a lot for anyone, but especially someone who normally tends towards a hermit-like status, like myself. I am doing my best to rally, though, and I know I will before I get there, because ALA is super fun and I'll get to catch up with so many people. Just a reminder, if you're going to the convention, you can find me at the Penguin cocktail party tonight and at Anderson's bookstore in Naperville with Laurie Halse Anderson at 7pm on Saturday (call 630-355-2665 for more details). Sunday, I'll be at the YALSA YA Author Coffee Klatch and the BBYA Pizza Party. I'm signing at the Penguin booth, #2120, from 10:30-11:30 on Sunday. Then it's back here to stuff my suitcase in the closet and collapse for a few days. I've never been to Chicago before, though, so I am hoping to get in some shopping, which I hear is great, as well as some deep dish pizza. Oh, and wind. I will be expecting wind! 2. Because of all this coming and going I am SO behind on my TV it's ridiculous. I mean, I have TWO episodes of Weeds to watch, a show I usually can't wait even five seconds to get to. While in Cape Cod, we had the most basic of basic cable, most of which was showing Michael Jackson coverage, so I was glad we'd brought along some DVDs for the few times we wanted to just relax for a little while. What really did the trick? The Office. Thirty minutes, season three, and it always made me laugh out loud. I loved it so much I bought season four to take with me to Chicago. If I have a free moment and am not sleeping (unlikely, but possible) I'll be all about the Scranton party. Ain't no party like a Scranton party, cause a Scranton party don't stop...... 3. I've written here off and on about our trials and tribulations with the deer and how they've made it SO hard to have plants and a garden. This year, we put up a fence, but I was hesitant to get my hopes up that they, and the rabbits, would not find some way to scale it and pick everything clean, as they always do. But it worked! We have had greens and beans and squash and now I have sunflowers and zinnias. It's amazing. Check out the latest bounty: 4. One of the results of all this traveling is that I have TOTALLY missed out so far on one of our serious summer rituals, watching The Tour de France. Normally we are in from Stage 1, but we were gone, and now we are trying to both catch up AND avoid spoilers because of the time difference, which is not easy. But Lance is riding again, which is SO inspiring, and by all accounts it's been really exciting so far. With me gone this weekend, I have a feeling my husband will watch nothing BUT cycling. Break out the red wine and blue cheese, we are touring! 5. Do you ever feel like so much has happened, and you wish you could just go back and SLOOOW it all down so you could enjoy it all over again? That's how I feel about the last month or so. I mean, taken alone, ANY of the stuff that happened---the book hitting number one, being on GMA and Today and in EW, me on NPR---would be huge. But altogether, with the traveling, it's just like a crazy big fun blur. But it has been fun, so fun, and I'm kind of sad to see this leg of it all end. I wonder if once I'm home, or even next month, it will be too late to try to still savor it all? Eli and Auden would say no, it's never too late. I hope they're right. On a sort of related note, I was reading US Weekly last night and there's Lauren Conrad, whose LA Candy came out the same day as Along for the Ride. First, she does NOT look all fried and exhausted like I do. She is cute and fashionable and fresh-faced (in my defense, though, she also does not have a toddler. Just saying.). But in one quote, she says, "I'm almost done with my second book!" And okay, I'm not trying to be competitive, but WHOA. I haven't even started my next book yet. Uh-oh. Guess it might be time to get back to work? Have a great day, everyone! |
|
| |
|
I'm writing this in kind of a daze, as we JUST got back this afternoon from Cape Cod. It was a long day of travel---car, rental car bus, plane, another car---but now, we are home. And while I miss my Cape Cod family already, as well as the gorgeous views of the bay and the river, it is really, really nice to be home as well. I want to savor it....at least until I leave again on Friday morning for Chicago and ALA. Yes! I'm heading out again, for my last event in awhile (still hoping to add a couple of book store dates, so I'll keep you posted). ALA, for those of you who don't know, is the American Library Association, and it's always a REALLY fun time. Because of pregnancy and then baby, I haven't been for two years or so, so I'm really looking forward to it. Also cool is that I'm doing a bookstore event with the amazing Laurie Halse Anderson at Anderson's Bookstore in Naperville, IL. It's on July 11th, at 7pm, and you can call the store at 630-355-2665 for details. It should be a really, really cool event. While at ALA, I'll also be doing series of conference events, including signing at the Penguin Booth (#2120) from 10:30-11:30 on Sunday the 12th. Plus there's a speed dating event (which I hope does not involve actual dating, as I'm married), a pizza party, cocktail parties, and so much else. But it looks like I MIGHT have time to shop, as well as eat some deep dish pizza. It's my first trip to Chicago and I'm excited to check it out. Meanwhile, though, I have two days to get my head straight, do a few more interviews, pull out my Nice Clothes (which I did not bring to Cape Cod) and get back into writergrl mode. I can't believe I'm getting on another plane so soon, but after that I get to stay at home for awhile. I think so, anyway. Okay, I have tons of laundry to do, and dogs to kiss up to (they always hold a grudge) and just kind of, you know, breathe and all that stuff. I'm putting it all on my list. That's right! My list. Gotta get on that, too.... Have a great day, everyone!
|
|
| |
|
1. I'm writing this from my dad's computer, as my parents try to corral my daughter and feed her a banana in the next room. It is family vacation chaos, which is a nice chaos, if a bit....chaotic. I wasn't sure I would even try to update while I was here, but it IS the weekend of the Fourth, so I felt I had to. I mean, someone out there is making deviled eggs this weekend besides me, right? It's a must. 2. Speaking of musts---love that transition, right?---I am hearing that Along for the Ride made EW's Must List for this week. Regular readers of this column know that I have subscribed to EW pretty much since they began, and seeing my book mentioned or reviewed has been a serious goal of mine and, by proxy, my publicist Allison. Thanks to Allison, we made it! I think. I have not seen it yet (I am sure my issue is sitting in my mailbox at home, but I am here) and I have learned to not believe anything until I actually see it. But a few of you have reported that YOU have seen it, and I trust you. I do! After all, we make deviled eggs together. 3. In other book news, Along for the Ride dropped to number two this week, bumped by Lauren Conrad's book LA Candy, which I have not yet read. I actually haven't even finished the magazine I started BEFORE I left....such is family vacation chaos. I am so tired that I collapse at the end of the day without even getting through an entire article (in US Weekly, no less!) which is just plain sad. But I am so happy the book had a number one debut, and is hanging in there. I mean, I'm not on MTV. I'm not an enemy of Speidi or super fashionable. I'm just some dork from NC, but I still managed to hang with the big guys. Or girls, in this case. It's all good. Also good? Lock and Key AND Just Listen were also on the paperback NYT List. Thanks again to everyone for the support, you guys rock. 4. This IS the weekend of the Fourth, one of my favorite holidays. I am surrounded by family---cousins, aunts, uncles, children running EVERYWHERE---on this little strip of land on Cape Cod, and I can't think of a better way to spend the holiday. Also I miss my Chapel Hill friends, with whom we WOULD be watching the beginning of the Tour and doing fireworks, if we weren't here. Maybe the Fourth is one of thos holidays you can stretch out, the way some people do Christmas? Or birthdays? I know Laurie Halse Anderson has been extending June, so I think maybe I can swing a two week holiday. Wouldn't hurt to try, at any rate. 5. Finally, a thank you. A woman came through my line at BEA to get a book signed, and I don't remember her name, but she said she read this blog and had small children herself, and she felt my pain at how much I hated Barney. She suggested Yo Gabba Gabba, a how on Nickelodeon or Nick Jr, and said her kids loved it. On a whim, at Target before leaving, I picked up a DVD of this crazy, trippy show, and it has TOTALLY saved me during the three straight days of rain we just had. Thank you, mystery mom whose name I can't remember. Thank you, thank you. I know you of all people can understand how hard it is to be trapped in a vacation house in a downpour with a restless toddler. Say it with me: Yo Gabba Gabba! I hope you all have a fabulous, fun and safe holiday weekend. Or week. Or two weeks! Have a great day, everyone! |
|
| |
|
I did not plan on updating so soon---I'm supposed to be relaxing, vacationing, and all that good stuff---but I just can't help myself. My book was just on the GMA teen summer reading segment! Regular readers of this blog know I am a total GMA nerd, so this was BIG. Even better, I watched it at my parents' house with about ten of my extended family in attendance. Last year, Lock and Key made the segment, but only in the background as set decoration. But Along for the Ride actually got discussed! I am just so, so happy. Oh and also, there's this: Which is just too crazy to even talk about. But I mean, WHOA. People will actually be riding in this thing, like, soon. They might be already! Holy crap, that's insane. Okay, I've got to go relax now. (No pressure, right?) We had a LONG day of traveling yesterday, a couple of meltdowns in the terminal (baby, not me) and then Elmo and Sesame Street got us through the flight. Landed in Boston, husband's cell phone went dead, detour to Sprint Store, and ensuing chaos. It's always something, right? But now, it's this thing, right here. Gotta go enjoy the view: |
|
| |
|
Is it really Monday already? I swear I am so turned around from all this traveling that I actually had to check before I wrote that. Honestly. So this blog is now spotlighted on the homepage of Livejournal, which is very exciting and flattering. So if you're reading this for the first time, hello! And also, I'd like to say that normally my entries are much more witty and interesting than this one will most likely be. I've been on book tour for the last couple of weeks, and I'm leaving tomorrow for a family vacation (why I planned them all so close together, I have no idea. I have no one to blame for my current chaos but myself). Now, though, for the first time in ages, I have a quiet moment to catch up and I intend to take advantage. So, yes. The book tour was so much fun. I want to thank everyone for your great comments, and for coming to my events, and just all the support during this crazy whirlwind. The book is at number one, which is insane, and it's because of YOU. (Okay, you and my fab publicity team at Penguin. Oh, and my husband, who has kept me sane during the tense parts. But mostly, it's YOU.) I cannot tell you how cool it was to see so many key necklaces, and Truth Squad T-shirts....that the books have their own life beyond me is something I can forget when I'm down here in NC, living in my own head so much. But then I get out, and see how you all have connected with them...it's a cool thing. Truly. Tomorrow, I head off on vacation, which I am both excited and nervous about. Excited because I get to see so much of my extended family in a place I love. Nervous because it's the first flight we've taken with my two year old in a year, and I am not sure how she will like the plane. She's talking about it all the time now, and I have stocked up on toys and snacks and DVDS. But if any of you moms reading this can offer up some suggestions for keeping her happy and calm for almost two hours in an enclosed space, I am all ears. I will try to update here and there when I can, but entries might be a bit sporadic. Which is hard, because we have so much to catch up on! Like Farrah Fawcett's death (I was never Jill when we played Charlie's Angels, I was always Kelly, but I still loved her) and of course Michael Jackson, whose music was basically the soundtrack of my middle school years. Plus there's the Real Housewives (still haven't gotten to that reunion show, either part, though I hear it is really something), Top Chef Masters and so many others. For now, though, I will just thank you all again and go back to packing. I have lists upon lists upon lists....but somehow, it will all get done. Right? Have a great day, everyone! |
|
| |
|
I'm writing this from the Miami airport, which is, in a word, total chaos. That's one thing I have been reminded of during this last couple of weeks of traveling: airports are NUTS. It just doesn't matter where you are or how big or small, there is just a sense of total wildness to the entire process of flying. And I don't even have a toddler in tow. That's NEXT week. But for now, I'm heading home after three GREAT events on this latest leg of the Along for the Ride book tour. First, I was at RJ Julia in Connecticut, which was FANTASTIC. So many people turned out, including several folks from my publisher, who braved, like, hours of traffic after a long work day, and I am so grateful to them for that. The readers were excited, the store was fantastic AND they served Fritos with their sandwiches. FRITOS! You know how much I like Fritos, and where are they the default chip accessory? Hardly anywhere. So this was especially awesome. Plus one reader brought me a cupcake, which I ate in the car on the way back to the hotel. Nice. The next morning, I was up at 4:30 am (!) to catch my flight to Orlando. I actually stayed at a hotel that was literally RIGHT at the Hartford airport. I don't mean close, or nearby. It was AT THE AIRPORT. I opened the shades in the morning, and right outside, there were planes and gates. You took a left from the hotel lobby and you were in the terminal. So bizarre. But handy, especially so early in the am when I was barely even functioning. I flew to Orlando, then rode with my fab media escort to Vero Beach, where The Vero Beach Book Center had planned a luncheon at this local burger place on the beach. It was SO cool: burgers and cool readers and a cake with the Along for the Ride cover on it. Plus, the best french fries I have had in awhile. (Do you sense yet that I am NOT going to fit into my bathing suit on my vacation next week? Yeah, me too.) After that event, it was back in the car for a drive to Miami, where Books and Books in Coral Gables had a Teen Band night with an afterprom theme, along with my reading. I got to hang out with the gals from YAthenaeum, who asked me random questions that of course threw me for a loop. Who would play me in the movie of my life? I blanked and said Kirsten Bell, and she doesn't even look like me. Then I said Mandy Moore, I don't even know why. Clearly, at the end of a book tour, I do not think all that well on my feet. The event, though, was great. PACKED and I got to meet so many cool readers, take pictures, and Books and Books is such a great store, I wish I'd had more time to hang around. Instead, though, I got to go out for a great sushi dinner with my cousin Michael. I can't think of a better way to wrap things up. Except for maybe waking up at my gorgeous hotel this morning and having a huge breakfast knowing I don't have to go anywhere but home today. For now, though, the terminal. Chaos. But I don't even care, honestly. I just have say again how grateful I am to ALL of you for your support of Along for the Ride. These last couple of weeks have been a mad blur, and I still haven't fully processed that the book hit number on the NYT List (with Lock and Key at #2 on the paperback list!). It's insane and wonderful and makes all this crazy traveling so, so worthwhile. If you didn't get out for an event, stay tuned. We're hoping to add a couple more dates, maybe on in DC, maybe one in New York City, if someone will have me. I will keep you posted! Okay, almost time to board. I hope you all have a great weekend. Thank you again.
|
|
| |
|
Along for the Ride is NUMBER ONE on the NYT Bestseller list!!!!!! I can't believe it. I mean, I literally can't. I've been on the phone talking to people for over an hour now and it still hasn't really hit me. I am SO, SO grateful to all of you for your support, for buying the book and coming out to events. My cup runneth over, truly. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I actually got the news via a conference call from my publisher. They were screaming and jumping up and down, I was screaming and jumping up and down, while my daughter watched me from the sandbox, confused. It's just....it's a dream come true. Really. Okay, I'll stop gushing now. Tomorrow, I head off for the Along for the Ride Book Tour, part two. Tomorrow night, I'll be at RJ Julia in Madison, CT. It's an event you have to have reservations for---I think---and you can get info by calling the store at 203-245-3959. Then, on Friday, I have TWO events in Florida. One in Vero Beach, at Mulligan's Beach House at 1pm (call The Vero Beach Book Center at 772-569-6650 for details) and then at 8pm at the Books and Books in Coral Gables (call 305-444-9044 for info on that one). Then it's back home. Until I head off for vacation next week. But that will be relaxing. Right? Anyway, for more info, check out my news page. In other news, I was SO TOTALLY pumped that my book was featured on EW.com's Popwatch. I have written here before about how I am pretty much obsessed with EW, and have been a subscriber for years. So this is pretty much a dream come true. Hooray! I wish I had more time to celebrate, but I have to pack. I swear I am so scattered these days I can't remember anything, so packing is like an extreme sport. I ALWAYS bring too much, and yet still manage to forget something. On the last trip, it was band-aids (always necessary when wearing new book tour shoes) and almonds (required when you sometimes don't get to eat for hours on end). This time, I will remember those things. But what will I forget? Something, for sure. OH MY GOD. Number one? Really? REALLY? More from the tour when I have time to update. Thanks again, everyone! |
|
| |
|
Just a VERY quick entry to say that I got home early yesterday morning, after not sleeping on the red-eye much. I honestly felt like I'd been hit by a truck I was so tired. But then we pulled up at the house, and there was my husband and the baby and the dogs and it was all good. More than good! Plus, thanks to super babysitters Erika and Krysta, I got to go back to sleep, Ah, sleep. It's a good thing. Now, I'm here for a few days before I take off for events in Connecticut and Florida. Which gives me time to....well, sort of get caught up. Or try to, anyway. What I really want to do, though, is have some tea parties and, um, sleep. Did I mention sleep is a good thing? I have to give BIG thanks to everyone who came out to see me in California. I met the coolest readers, and it was so nice to get some face time (even if it was fleeting) with people who love my books. So far, it seems like folks are really happy with Along for the Ride, and that makes me really, really happy. The trip was so hectic, I didn't have a chance to get many pictures. Luckily, though, other folks brought their cameras. You can see pics from my great Books Inc lunch event by clicking here and from my event at A Great Good Place for Books at Jake the Girl's blog here. You can also check out my Facebook page if you want to see the TON of photos readers have posted (including a couple of my book tour shoes). Now, I have to go and TRY to get some stuff done before I turn around and leave again. Grocery store, dry cleaning, tea parties, phone interviews, tea parties. SLEEPING. And repeat.... Have a great day, everyone! |
|
| |
|
I'm here in San Francisco, where it is VERY early but sunny and lovely, but I am really missing my husband. I mean, it's Father's Day. I should be there fixing him breakfast and helping Sasha make a big messy crayoned-up card and just kind of making the big fuss that he deserves. We will do it when I get back. Maybe even breakfast for dinner, which is his favorite. Yum! Yesterday was a long, CRAZY day, but so much fun. I was up super early in Huntington Beach, then drove down to La Jolla for what was supposed to be an outside beach party and fashion show for Warwick's Bookstore. But it was raining. Which is an anomaly, because it NEVER rains in California, apparently. My brother kept apologizing, as if he was responsible for his region: "It never rains like this here. Never!" It was not 100 degrees with 100% humidity, though, like at home (hello my sweltering NC peeps!) so I was happy. The event was moved inside, there was a fashion show (great wedge sandals I was coveting big time) and then I read and signed books. The only downside was that my schedule was SO tight I didn't get to talk to people as much as I wanted to. Which brings me to my next issue. In La Jolla, there was this girl named Nicole. She was 10, and adorably sweet, and had brought ALL her books for me to sign. Because everyone was so worried about me making my flight, though, I only had time to sign two and it was rushed and I just felt so, so badly I didn't get to spend more time talking to her, because she was clearly the biggest fan, like, ever. I even went looking for her after the event was done, in hopes of signing those books, but she'd already gone. I have NO idea if she reads this blog. But I hope she does. Nicole, if you're reading this, I am so, so sorry I didn't get to sign the rest of the books. Your enthusiasm was awesome and I was so touched. And thank your dad, too, for bringing you. You guys were the best. Then, it was off to the airport (rushing through a huge Southwest line, and security) and onto a plane to Oakland. I was hoping to just close my eyes and rest before my next event, but I ended up next to this kid who was traveling alone and of course we had to start talking. Spent most of the flight looking out the window with him at the cool scenery below. So, no rest until we landed, where I crashed out for the whole ride to Copperfield's in Petaluma. Power nap! Then it was out of the car and directly into this VERY cool event with pie and bike tricks and lots of great readers. (Side note: the boys who they brought in to do the bike tricks were so cool that I felt like a total dork talking to them. Seriously. I have video of them that I will post later, you will see what I mean.) Anyway, there was a GREAT crowd and everyone was so sweet. I love Petaluma and always wish I could stay longer because it looks like the most fun place to hang out. But instead, once it was done, it was BACK to San Fran, where I ate a huge plate of mac and cheese from room service and then collapsed. Whew! Today, I get some time this morning, then I'm off to a ticketed event at 1 at Books Inc (which I believe is sold out) and then an event at 4pm at A Great Good Place for Books in Oakland. Then, to the airport for the red eye flight. And then...home. To my husband and my girl and my dogs. ....at least until Thursday. When I head off again to do the East Coast leg of this tour. It looks like we couldn't work in a New York date (maybe later) but I'll be in Connecticut and then in Vero Beach and Miami in Florida. But I honestly can't think about that yet. All I can think about is breakfast. I'm in San Francisco, which is famous for its food. I have a feeling I can get a good pancake here. Off to look.... Have a great day, everyone! |
|
| |
|
Just a quick Saturday entry to say that I have been FLOORED by the amount of people that have been coming out to my events. At Quail Ridge on Thursday, I had close to 200 people. Last night in Huntington Beach, about 200 as well. WHAT? That is so crazy, I can't even tell you. And everyone is just so sweet and excited and WILLING to stand in this crazy long line to get their book signed. I feel so badly, like we should be providing entertainment or something while they wait. Jugglers? Fire-eaters? Dancing dogs? Maybe next tour. Truly, though, I am really touched by how into the books so many of these readers are. It's gets me kind of....verklempt, to be honest. To see how people have connected with characters and ideas that I came up with in my own head...well, it's really something. I've seen a LOT of cool stuff the last couple of days and heard some great stories. But this in particular just of blew me away last night:
This girl had JUST gotten this tattoo. In case you can't read it---it's a little blurry, totally my fault---it says "Don't think or judge. Just listen." Wow. Like I said, it kind of chokes me up. Yesterday was CRAZY, but so much fun. Up at 4;45, to airport, then landing and doing three events in a row before collapsing at my hotel at around 1am my time. I did get to see my cousin Rachel, though, which made it all good. (Nice to finally meet you, Rachelle!) But I got some sleep and am about to have some bacon (which really solves everything, at least where I am from) I am ready to tackle the NEXT phase: events today in La Jolla and Petaluma. Check out my news page for more details. Okay, time to eat. Gotta keep up my strength.... Have a great day, everyone! |
|
| |
|
So I'm writing this in the mayhem of several things: my daughter throwing a fit because I am not giving her my full attention, a sea of painters and cars outside crawling all over our addition, two dogs who cannot seem to EVER go outside at the same time (leading to me constantly opening and closing the back door) and a lunch that still needs to be prepared. Oh, and I leave for California tomorrow. And my daughter has been waking up at 3am for the last few nights for some ungodly reason, having decided she is ready to "Get up! Get up!" Suffice to say, the usual chaos. So I will try to keep this short, before something else gets thrown into the mix. Edited to read: oh, my God. It says something about my state of mind when I wrote this that I forgot to mention my reading TONIGHT, Thursday the 18th, at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh. 7:30 pm! You can see me in all my pre-traveling craziness! You don't want to miss that, right? So: California. Yes! I am starting my book tour in earnest, and I hope some of you can make it out to see me. I may have big circles under my eyes, but no matter. I am ready! Friday, June 19th: 7pm Barnes and Noble, Huntington Beach Saturday, June 20th 1pm The Lawn of the La Jolla Historical Society (sponsored by Warwicks) La Jolla, CA 7pm Copperfield's, Petaluma CA Sunday, June 21st 4pm A Great Good Place for Books, Oakland CA Then I am home for a little bit, then off to CT and Miami. Details on that to come when....I have another five seconds and actually have them. In other news, a BIG happening yesterday: after years and years of listening to National Public Radio on a pretty much 24-7 basis, I actually got to be on one of their shows---All Things Considered, no less!---last night. I read a piece I wrote for their "Three Books," series, and while juggling it amongst my pub day and all the other daily craziness of this household was a WEE bit stressful, it was so totally worth it. I mean, Robert Siegle said MY NAME! And our phone rang, like, the second it was over and kept ringing, people we know who had heard it. Very cool. If you want to read it or listen, check it out here. If you like it, pass it on. Okay, my daughter is now literally dragging me away from the keyboard. Guess that means it's lunch time. I will be Twittering from the tour, and trying to update as I can. Thanks again for ALL your support, and for the kind words about Along for the Ride. xlhosmao (Can you tell I am being DRAGGED?) Have a great day, everyone! |
|
| |
|
So I had, like, the best pub day ever. First, there were ALL the nice comments people posted here, about how excited they were to read the book. Then, I had a busy morning and a great lunch at my favorite Carrboro sandwich place, Neale's Deli. (Turkey sub, sweet peppers, potato chips=heaven, seriously.) Then it was a flurry of emails and phone calls and tea parties (gotta do the tea parties) before I headed out to the Regulator. I was nervous. I am ALWAYS nervous before readings, but with this one I think it showed, especially when I was trying to set up my reading. I went on too long and said "sort of" about a million times. (Can you tell I'm a little self-critical?) Anyway, the crowd was SO GREAT that hopefully they didn't mind. There were a TON of people there (thank God!) and a bunch of my friends and family, and seeing all those familiar faces just took the nerves away.
After the reading, I signed a TON of books (thanks to everyone who was so patient and waited in that long, long line) met a girl who had driven from Ohio (and was wearing a USWIM T-shirt!) and enlisted my assistant Parker, who thought she was just coming to observe, to take pictures for people. She jumped right in to help, which is why she rocks: When it was all done, I gathered up all my stuff, said my goodbyes, and drove home VERY slowly, as I saw about a million deer on the way. (Welcome to summer in NC!) Back at home, I walked in, pulled off my book tour shoes, and what was waiting for me? Before I went to bed, I was so thrilled to read the Twitter updates and comments here and on Facebook from everyone who had gotten the book and was already reading it. I am so glad you like it! That is a huge relief, and makes all this hard work so, so worth it. Thank you. Okay, another busy day begins. With cupcakes, though. CUPCAKES! Have a great day, everyone! |
|
| |
|
Along for the Ride is OFFICIALLY on sale! (I know, I know, some of you have had it forever, but today is the REAL pub day.) Hooray! I'm doing a lot of running around today before my reading (The Regulator, on Ninth Street, 7pm!) so I probably won't be able to do my normal routine of stalking bookstores and trying to be stealth to see where the book is and how it's doing. Which is probably a good thing. After all, there are deviled eggs to eat and coffee to drink and nails to bite. Okay, maybe just the eggs and the coffee. I wanted to post something kind of special to commemorate this day. I was going to wait to post the link to my Borders Book Club video...but I got too excited and put it up yesterday. So instead, here's a playlist I put together of music I was listening to while writing and thinking about Along for the Ride, with some explanation below:    1. "Love Me Like The World is Ending," Ben Lee. This song was pretty much my anthem while I was writing the book. In fact, Ben Lee's album Ripe could be the soundtrack to it, I listened to it so much. But this song in particular, to me, just really brought me back to that promise of summer. So much ahead, all that potential. Every time I hear it, I feel it again. THAT'S a good song. 2. "As Cool As I Am" Dar Williams. There's a lot of stuff in the book about feeling like an outsider, and then finding your way in. This song has always signified that to me, especially the line, "And then I go outside to join the others/I am the others." Nicely put. 3. "Stolen," Dashboard Confessional. A song about summer ending, and the price we pay when it goes. Sad and mopey, perfect for those bad writing days when you feel all emo. 4. "I See Monsters," Ryan Adams. I was really sleep deprived when I was writing this book (who am I kidding, I'm still sleep deprived, but now I am just used to it) so I felt an affinity for any song about sleeping, or not sleeping. Plus, I just love Ryan Adams. Even before he married Mandy Moore. That made him that much cooler, though. 5. "Let it Rain," Tracy Chapman. I think for every book you have that moment when you are just exhausted and feel like you can't go on. It usually happens around page 200 or so. I was also dealing with all this other major stuff, and feeling totally overwhelmed, and then I heard this song on the radio. It just....seemed perfect. Like the universe was listening, or something, and things were going to be all right. 6. "Breakable," Ingrid Michaelson. My husband can never remember who Ingrid Michaelson is when I play her music: he says she sounds like every other female singer-songwriter whose songs have been on Grey's Anatomy. But I love her stuff, and this song in particular just hit a chord with me. So to speak. 7. "No One," Alicia Keyes. Again, a song that will get you through a tough spot. I love any song that says repeatedly that everything will be all right, especially when you really need to hear it. Plus, this song makes me think of my daughter. "You and me, through the days and nights...." Indeed. 8. "People Who Died," The Jim Carroll Band. Sometimes a particular song will just mesh in my mind with a character. It happened with "Angels From Montgomery" and Ruby's mom in Lock and Key: I just saw her when I heard it. And this song makes me think of Eli. 9. "No Sunlight," Death Cab for Cutie. Another song about the night, or at least the lack of day. Plus Death Cab always gets it right, in my mind. 10. "Whatever It Is," Ben Lee. I started this list with Ben Lee in my head, and will end it with him as well. I actually just heard this song a few weeks back, and it just summed up SO much of what this book is about to me. "Awake is the new sleep." Yep. That says it better than I ever could. Okay, I have to go drink some coffee now. Have a GREAT day everyone!  |
|
| |
|
Book comes out tomorrow. Tons of stuff happening. You know what that means:  Some people bite their nails. Others eat junk food. Me, I make deviled eggs when I'm stressed out. It's better than smoking, right? The eggs above were from a cookout we had this weekend, where I also tasted friend green tomatoes for the very first time. I know what you are thinking. Aren't you from the South? And don't people there eat fried green tomatoes, like, all the time? Well, yes and no. First off, I am a Southerner, but my parents are not. Which means I didn't even taste grits until I was about ten years old and was offered them at someone's house for breakfast after a sleepover. And second, even while I have been here eating grits and barbecue and everything else, I haven't come across fried green tomatoes many times. But then on Saturday, my friends Jason and Blaine brought a full plate of them, still warm, and we DEVOURED them. They were so good. I think I may have to add them to my stress cooking repertoire. Mmmmm.... But I digress. The book! Right! So, yes. After all these months of waiting, it officially hits stores tomorrow. Tomorrow night, I'll also be doing my very first official event, at the Regulator Bookshop in Durham, at 7pm. I'll be at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh on Thursday night at 7:30, then I'm off to California for a bunch of rapid-fire events there. You can get the full list on my news page. Some are ticketed events, as noted, so call your local stores for more info. Okay, so I just HAD to edit this entry after I posted it because the Borders Book Club I did in Michigan earlier this month is NOW UP! Check it out by clicking here. (We do discuss a lot of the book, so if you don't want to know anything, wait until after you read it.) I am so happy that my bra strap is NOT showing. Hooray! In other news, there was a nice piece on Along for the Ride (and me) in Sunday's News and Observer. You can check it out here. I felt so bad for the guy who came to take my picture for this piece. I was crazy nervous, for some reason, and even more unphotogenic than normal. He tried to get me to relax by taking off my shoes: Also this weekend, after egg and tomato eating, we were all sitting on the couch surfing channels. First we watched a little Charm School---which is getting more ridiculous by the second, although I feel ridiculous saying that---and then kept surfing. Suddenly, there it was, on HBO Family: Airplane! Now, I twittered about this on Saturday night, saying that either you know about Airplane, or you don't. Which is to say, you either know all the jokes by heart, or you have no freaking idea what other people are talking about when they recite them. Jason and Blaine, our friends, are a bit younger, so they didn't know the movie as well as the rest of us, who were just going crazy laughing and rewinding and telling the jokes BEFORE they were even said (obnoxious, I know, but at least we were among friends). Sure enough, when I checked my replies on Twitter, there they were: "Don't call me Shirley!" and "I have a drinking problem," (not funny in most circumstances, but funny in this one) "Roger, roger," and on and on. I taped it on the DVR so I can watch it whenever I want, and I have a feeling I might be turning it on for the entire day tomorrow. So no matter how crazy it gets, I can still be laughing. While making deviled eggs and eating fried green tomatoes. The life of a professional author. Who knew? Have a great day, everyone! |
|
| |
|
1.  I'm hearing from more and more people that they are finding Along for the Ride at their local bookstores. But see? They're not supposed to be out yet! I know it stinks for those of you who have to wait, and for that, I apologize. Soon, though: 2. Speaking of Along for the Ride, my friend Susane Colasanti is having a contest over on her blog. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment. Which, now that I think about it, is MUCH easier than, you know, taking a picture and editing it to add text. Hmmmm. I think next time I run a contest, I will keep it simple. Susane has the right idea! Anyway, if you're interested, go check it out. 3. I'm into simplicity lately. Okay, let me rephrase that: I'm into TRYING to keep things simple. I have a natural tendency (and always have) to make things complicated. I am drawn to it, as if magnetically. If there is a clear straight line someplace, I will invent my own zigzag and, even worse, justify it completely to anyone who will listen. Let's say we're invited to a potluck but we're crazy busy and don't really have time to cook. My husband will say, fine, let's hit Whole Foods and grab something. But I feel like that's lame, and have that need for complication, so instead I'll either 1) go to Whole Foods, buy something to bring and, then, feeling bad about it, buy something to make as well, doing twice as much as I need or 2) not only buy stuff to make something, but make something ridiculously complicated. Why do I do this? I don't know. It's taken me thirty-nine years to realize the ridiculousness of it. I don't have to do EVERYTHING, ALWAYS. I can just do SOME THINGS and try to DO THEM WELL. (Can you tell I repeat this to myself, like, a lot?) There is no shame in bringing a pint of pre-made potato salad. Nobody cares but me! (I think. I hope. See? There I go again!) 4. So I'm not proud, but I've spent the last couple of days pretty much immersed in reruns of The Real Housewives. My husband's been too busy with other stuff to care what I watch, so I'm totally catching up on the Atlanta season, which I missed. All I can say, so far, is this: I didn't even KNOW there was such a thing as a "shoe stylist." Did you? Someone who comes to your house, with shoes, for you to try on and buy? And here I am feeling guilty that I have a regular weekend babysitter sometimes. I guess it's all relative. The shoes sure were cute, though. But whoa, $6500 for less than six pairs? Like I said: a different world. One thing you can say about these women is they are NOT into simplicity. But to each his own, and all that. 5. I've written here before about how I'm on an audio book thing, listening to various books on my iPod. There was the Columbine book (great but really heavy) then two by Michael J. Fox (incredibly uplifting) and now I've moved onto Tori Spelling's latest, Mommywood. Can I just say that I love Tori that much more since her books and reality show? When I only knew her as Donna Martin, I felt there was no way I could relate to her. But in her books, and on her show, she's so funny and self deprecating. And with this book, oh, my God. I've always said I love an honest Mom, one who will tell you that her days are hard and she has her breakdown moments, and Tori is one of these. The story in her new book about how she was out with both kids, in a dark parking garage, running way late, and could NOT fold up her double stroller to save her life had me laughing out loud. A lot of people wouldn't admit that they actually abandoned the stroller and just left. But she does, and for that, she wins even more of my respect. Donna Martin has graduated! Have a great weekend, everyone! |
|
| |
|
Okay, so things are starting to get REALLY busy. Like, the calendar on my phone is smoking it's working so hard busy. Which I guess makes sense, as we're coming up on less than a week until the official pub date. Suffice to say, I am working hard on taking deep, calming, yoga breaths. They may actually be more sort of gasping pants, but I am trying. I'm hearing from a lot of folks who are finding Along for the Ride already in their local bookstores. I don't know what to say, other than I guess the "strict on sale" date is not all that, um, strict? At any rate, it's really exciting to hear from people who are already reading it and liking it. WHEW! Okay, trying to breathe again. In other news, today is my wedding anniversary: nine years. NINE. Good God! Nine years ago, today, I was ALSO a nervous wreck for a happy reason, as a year of wedding planning came to its final culmination. I know some folks really enjoy wedding planning. They thrive on it, the way I thrive on pop culture. But I am NOT that kind of person. I am entirely too indecisive, and weddings are all about decisions. Fancy or basic cake? Champagne toast or no? Invite people you don't like but who invited you to their wedding, or not? And on and on. Now, all these years later, what I remember are the things I DIDN'T plan. Like me and Bianca, best friend and maid of honor, driving through town in our dresses, passing our old haunts. Dancing with my cousins and friends to our GREAT band, worth every penny I paid for them. And driving off after it was all over, looking over my shoulder to see my cousins and friends waving at me, and crying I was so happy to be where I was, right that moment. That said, I would not want to do it again. Once is enough! Last night, for various reasons, we celebrated early: thick steaks, green beans from our garden, potatoes. We had red wine and an artichoke for an appetizer and it was just, so, so nice. When you are planning a wedding, it's all about the event itself. But in a marriage, it's the little, simple moments that mean the most. Or so I have learned. On a totally unrelated note, I just have to share this. Remember when, on Sex and the City, Carrie and the girls took the jitney to the Hamptons for the weekend? I always figured that was about as close as I'd get to the Hamptons OR the jitney, but this week I learned that my publisher has bought ad space on a Hamptons bus for Along for the Ride. That's right: my name and my BOOK will be on the highway, en route, with passengers. It's so insane, I can't even tell you. I just wished I lived close enough to SEE it happen. Since I don't, I'm hoping one of you will, or one of my cousins or friends. I need documentation! Finally, I've been told by Parker that we've hit the friend limit on Facebook. (5000 friends, apparently.) Which means we can't add anyone else, so if you've put in a request and not been added, it's not you, it's us. I'm going to start posting all my status updates and news on my fan page as well, so if you become a fan you'll get all the same stuff. Promise! Check it out here. In fact, I think I'll go do that right now..... Have a great day, everyone!
|
|
| |
|
I write this at the end of a LOVELY birthday weekend, one full of family and friends and good times. And baked goods. LOTS of baked goods. My mother in law made me a gorgeous red velvet cake, my husband got me a supermarket birthday cake (I love me some supermarket cake, as non-gourmet as that sounds). My mother made me blueberry muffins AND gave me a supermarket cake sampler. Do they know me or what? What I know is that none of my cute book stuff wardrobe will fit if I eat even HALF of what I was given, even with the amount of calories pre-pub book stress can burn. So if you know me and are local, be prepared for a cake slice or muffin gift, soon. Spread the wealth, right? Although my birthday was wonderful, there was one bad moment. One of my mother's friends just got a new Macbook and wanted me to help her sync it with her iPhone. I said I'd try, and went over feeling pretty confident about my technical abilities. Until I, um, accidently erased ALL her phone contacts. Whoops. Double whoops. I was SWEATING I was so upset. In the end, I was able to at least find the file on her phone with a backup of the info, although it was all in some kind of coded gobbledy gook database language (I think that's the technical term, anyway). It's my hope I can go to the Apple Store with her and beg them to help us get it back on the phone. If not, I will just feel guilty for, um, eternity. Suffice to say I am out of the tech support business, except for my own machines. I have learned my lesson. To ease the stress, I decided to honor my 39th year with a new purse. (Don't look at me like that: I already admitted I love supermarket cake and stink at Apple stuff!) Anyway, I went to Nordstrom armed with birthday money, and found one I loved. It's big, roomy and has everything I need. And it is ORANGE. Yes! Me, who used to never be able to wear shoes that were not black or brown because of my matchy-matchy thing, is now the owner of a tangerine colored purse. I really liked it, but was wavering, and then the salesgirl came over. I said, "I don't have anything this will match. If it even matches anything." And she said, "Because it goes with nothing, it goes with everything." Which was deep, for Nordstrom at least. So I went for it. And you know what? It's kind of freeing, just outright clashing with everything. Not as freeing as losing all your phone contacts. But it is one less thing to worry about. Finally, here's a cool little thing Penguin put together for Along for the Ride. I have no idea what it's called---moving text? animation?---but then again, I am no technical genius. As we all know, now: Find more videos like this on Sarah-land Have a great day, everyone! |
|
| |
|
1. Tomorrow, I turn 39. THIRTY-NINE. My God, how did THAT happen? It seems like I just turned thirty. Or even twenty. Time flies when you're having fun, I guess, or maybe it just flies. I know that next year will be my year to really freak out, so this birthday seems like a gift already, even without the amazing blog series Adele is doing over on her site, The Sarah Dessen Diarist. To be honest, it's been a little hard for me to read all these nice entries from such awesome authors. I feel like it is entirely too narcissistic. But at the same time, it's so flattering, and I just want to thank everyone who took the time to participate. I wish I could send you all a cupcake, or something. I'll work on that for next year. 2. My life, lately, had involved a lot of tea parties. I bought my daughter a basic tea set as a gift early this week, on a whim, and now she is totally obsessed with it. It's not enough to just have a tea party. Oh, no. We have to have a tea party, on the deck, with EVERY SINGLE stuffed animal and toy she owns. Plus all her plastic food and books. It's quite a production, and she won't let me carry a single thing back inside until she's ready. Is this neurotic? Am I even surprised? Maybe, and no. And I have to say, with all the craziness of life lately---good craziness, but craziness just the same----sometimes an impromptu al fresco tea party with various plush animals is just what you need. Pass the sugar bowl! 3. Okay, so with all my favorite Bravo shows either on break or gone entirely, I'm forced to watch the watered down versions. So now, I'm all about The Fashion Show and Chopped. The Fashion Show I've already discussed---love Isaac, feel like everyone else is a bit too much like everyone I've already seen on Project Runway---but Chopped, on the Food Channel, is at least a little different. Four chefs, three courses, one left standing. All in one hour! I love to see what people can do with chorizo and cocktail onions under pressure. I'd panic, but these folks somehow make a risotto, or some saute, and call it gourmet. Wow. Plus, I gotta love a show about food. It's like, required. 4. I've discussed here before how I do not photograph well. It is only through luck and great skill of other people that I can EVER get a good shot of myself. Want proof? This morning, I'm scrolling through a PW roundup of BEA pictures, and am shocked to see one of myself signing at the Penguin booth. Not surprising? That I look like this:  I mean, really. I look like I'm about to lunge forward and consume fab YA novelist Robyn Schneider, who I am talking to. Oh, well. At least the book looks good. 5. Finally, I've been hearing from a few folks who, somehow, have already been shipped their copies of Along for the Ride. I THINK they're supposed to hold them until the 16th, but I guess a few are slipping through. So far, people have good things to say, which is a really good thing. I'm actually kind of glad for all the chaos of the birthday, and getting ready to travel, and just the regular craziness of my life in general. It means I don't have time to engage in my pre-pub rituals, like, um, middle of the night panic attacks, and obsessive Amazon ranking checking and lying on the floor, convinced I am about to fail globally, on every possible level. You know, the usual stuff. Not that I won't do some of this. It's unavoidable. But at least for now, I have other stuff calling me. Like a very important party, already in progress:  Have a great weekend, everyone! |
|
| |
|
Hello, and happy.....wait, what is today? Tuesday? No, it's Wednesday. I think. Yes. Wednesday. I'm a little scattered with all this traveling, clearly. Last night, I got home from a quick hop to Michigan, where I went to film a segment for the Borders Book Club, which is basically an online series where authors get to meet with their readers and discuss their work. It was REALLY cool: myself and ten great girls, at this awesome house, just chilling and talking about Along for the Ride. With, you know, cameras and lights and microphones and people watching on monitors downstairs. I was initially nervous---especially when the Borders folks told me how many people had watched the ones they did with Stephenie Meyer and Christopher Paolini---but once we started talking everyone was so nice I kind of forgot about the cameras and relaxed. The segment should be up on the Borders site by pub day, so stay tuned for that. I was having serious issues with my shirt, and can only hope my bra strap isn’t showing. My mother would NOT be pleased. In other news, thanks for all the nice comments about the Along for the Ride video I posted. In all the chaos of leaving, I forgot to mention, and totally thank, Jason from Back Alley Bikes, who was kind enough to let us film while he was trying to do business, as well as Ben, who literally had to work around us. They do not read this blog, I am sure. But a thank you still is in order. And for those of you who asked, my red shoes are by BCBG girls and they are very comfortable. Gotta love the wedge. I am convinced they are the only shoe, other than Danskos and flip-flops, for me. I have to say, all this traveling is fun, but man am I tired. It’s given me a taste of what is to come in the next few weeks, but I’ll be glad to get home and just kind of chill out for a little while. I am out of shape when it comes to traveling, I swear. Plus, every baby I see my heart pangs. But I also got to meet cool people, sleep in (sort of) and read almost a whole book in less than twenty four hours. So that’s a good thing. There’s so much excitement for the book, and it’s both wonderful and a little scary. One day at a time, I guess. And today, I intend to focus on tea parties with Sasha and sandbox time. Priorities, and all that. Finally, a quick heads up about a special promotion they’re running over on Sarah-land, my Ning community. They’re trying to get a total of 2000 members by Friday, and if they do, they’ll pick a couple at random to get advance copies of Along for the Ride. So if you haven’t joined and are thinking about it, go here for more details. You never know, you might get picked. Okay, time for some Sesame Street........ |
|
