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09:31 am
4/29/08

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writergrl
In the last week, a few people have written in about finding signed copies of Lock and Key at their local bookstore, wondering if it's an actual signature, or some kind of stamp. Let me tell you: it is the real deal. And I know, because I spent a LOT of July and August and some of September signing my name over and over again on these little sheets of paper which were later put into the books.

I saw one of the signed copies the other day at The Regulator, and it got me thinking. I believe I signed about 6000 of those sheets at least. Maybe a lot more than that, actually. It was really mindless activity, so I was always doing something else at the same time: watching Friday Night Lights or House on DVD, or any number of Bravo shows, or talking to people on the phone. I was big and pregnant and it was incredibly hot outside, so to have an excuse to stay in and "work" (flexible definition, hence the quotes) was a very nice thing. But when my mom got sick and was in the Intensive Care unit, my mind was always racing, scared to death, and doing those sheets was a great distraction. Just something I could focus on, begin and finish, have some sort of control over. I remember one night when things were really bad I signed sheets for two and a half hours straight with the TV on, just one right after another, even as my hand cramped up, then went numb. I signed some after the baby came (which seems insane to me now, but I have this thing about finishing projects, or trying to), when I was on this weird sleep deprivation-motherhood joy high, scribbling away while she slept beside me.

Of course, just looking at the books I have no way of knowing what was happening with each signature. Whether I signed in a happy mood, or a scared one, or while I was totally muddled. But I guess that really, it's like the book itself. There's always a story behind every story, something else going on within each page or paragraph. So those tip-in sheets just add a little bit more of me to each book, and maybe that's not a bad thing. I'm heading out to a bookstore today, I might actually look for one. Since I can't tell, though, I think I'll just assume the signature was from a day I was on my bed, FNL on my laptop, eating a cookie with my other hand, the AC cranked. There are always more good days than bad days, right? At least, there should be.

Have a good one, everyone!
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On April 29th, 2008 01:42 pm (UTC), [info]kath_travrox23 commented:
Aww.. I wonder what the story behind the signature of my copy is. ;)

Have a great day :-)

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On April 29th, 2008 02:03 pm (UTC), [info]chickenbus commented:
I SO admire how you are juggling everything.
thats it

thats my comment

:)

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On April 29th, 2008 02:25 pm (UTC), an anonymous reader commented:
Lock and Key
Friday was a bad day--wasn't able to meet you in DC. Today is a good day--finished LOCK AND KEY. Am about to hand it to my teenage daughter. You are one of the few YA authors I consistently recommend to her. Thanks for conveying through your work what I've been trying to convey to her throughout her lifetime. That life is good and bad, but she has the strength within her to choose her own perceptions and to make her own way. Congrats on yet another wonderful novel and best wishes on your journey with your new little girl.
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On April 29th, 2008 02:45 pm (UTC), [info]not_dissonant commented:
I wonder if any of those signed copies made it to Canada! I'll be on the look out.
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On April 29th, 2008 03:33 pm (UTC), [info]benbabe101 commented:
This is a non sequitur to your entry, but I just wanted to say I finished "Lock and Key" last week and I loved it. It made my week so much better knowning that the book was there waiting for me to take my lunch break or my bus ride home.
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On April 29th, 2008 04:16 pm (UTC), [info]briel commented:
I got a signed copy! Thanks for the little backstory about those. It's always fun to hear about "behind the scenes" stuff. :]
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On April 29th, 2008 05:10 pm (UTC), [info]kyokun703 commented:
I usually don't like buying autographed copies, since it's not the same as meeting the author and having them sign it for you, but since I keep up to date with your journal, it's almost like I've met you, so I figured that was close enough. :) Thanks for sharing the back story.
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On April 29th, 2008 05:13 pm (UTC), an anonymous reader commented:
A Note From Ali
I think it is really awesome t be able to get autographed copies!
I need one now!

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On April 29th, 2008 05:16 pm (UTC), an anonymous reader commented:
So weird
Sarah-
I had a dream about you the other night.
It was strange. I was in some kind of theater and you walked by and I said
"Sarah! I loved Lock and Key, I loved it so much! it was so so so so good!"
and you said "thank you" and you looked really stressed out.
then you went and sat with two other women.

Weird, huh?

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On April 29th, 2008 06:21 pm (UTC), [info]midrangemoan commented:
Well, now I'm sad that I've had to order it online because there is no Borders/Barnes&Noble/ANY bookstores where I've chosen to go to college in Vermont for the past few years.
Thank you for another incredibly insightful entry. :)
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On April 29th, 2008 06:44 pm (UTC), [info]my_soul__ commented:
Over 6000 sheets?
Wow. That's...I appreciate your dedication.
I think having control over something in your life, just one little thing helps you get over everything that's going wrong in your life at that particular moment.
Basically, I get what you're saying and I dig it.
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On April 29th, 2008 07:32 pm (UTC), [info]bookgirl12 commented:
Oh I hope I can get a signed copy at my bookstore!
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On April 29th, 2008 07:32 pm (UTC), [info]rhea123 commented:
Wow. Finding one of those books must be like getting a present. Heehee. It may cheer someone going through something yucky, so those hours of signing were preobably worth it :)
Sounds like a lot of work though O.O 6,000!
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On April 29th, 2008 08:58 pm (UTC), an anonymous reader commented:
Ur right
I belive that aout books too.
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On April 29th, 2008 10:27 pm (UTC), [info]drea12301994 commented:
Wow Sarah!
Wow! How many of those do you think you signed? LOL! A lot I bet. That's cool that signed copies are out.
I was just wondering if you knoew when the prizes for the winners of the Penguin Young Readers Marketing Sarah Dessen Lock and Key contest were going to br sent out?
Have a great day Sarah!
Much love!
%%
Drea♥
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On April 29th, 2008 10:49 pm (UTC), [info]purplekat99 commented:
i love it when i find signed books at my library!

makes me feel dorkily special.

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On April 29th, 2008 10:58 pm (UTC), an anonymous reader commented:
hello
hi, i just want to say i love all your books and you have made me want to become a writer myself! I was wondering,do you ask for ideas or opinions about your books? i believe you would make a very good writer for a book about interracial couples. i have heard that it's hard but worth it and i was just wondering how you would explain life like that in your heart warming books. well just something to think about. Happy days coming your way!!!
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On April 29th, 2008 11:21 pm (UTC), an anonymous reader commented:
Lock and Key
I looked for Lock and Key the first day it came out and found it at KMart!

That may not seem like a big deal, but the KMart in my very very little town only has two or three young adult books...it made me soo happy! I can't wait to read it!

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On April 30th, 2008 12:05 am (UTC), an anonymous reader commented:
Dear Sarah,
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On April 30th, 2008 02:55 am (UTC), an anonymous reader commented:
Thanks
I love your books and I can't seem to stop reading them! Lock and Key was especially great because I felt Ruby's negativity and always with her guard up is similar to how I view things, and how I sometimes act. Seeing her change, even though she is a fictional character, was so real that it gives me hope in being more positive myself! So many thanks, you're a great author!!
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On April 30th, 2008 04:04 am (UTC), an anonymous reader commented:
EEK! I got one of the signed copies! It was *such* a surreal experience (because DH and I were lost when we stumbled across the bookstore) that I wrote about it on my blog.
http://leighbrescia.blogspot.com/
I finished reading it in 48 hours. So Amazing! Now I'm reading it again, then I'm going back to read Just Listen (for the millionth time).
~Leigh~
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On April 30th, 2008 07:21 am (UTC), an anonymous reader commented:
Roxi
I hadn't realized the new book was out. I'll have to maybe pick it up tomorrow since I'll be meeting a friend at the local bookstore (Chapters, the Canadian Boarders) I like Boarders more <3
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On April 30th, 2008 07:23 am (UTC), an anonymous reader commented:
duh, I put my name as the subject, I was a thinkin'... haha
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On April 30th, 2008 03:13 pm (UTC), [info]dragoniris218 commented:
I got one of those signed copies
: )

I LOVED this book; I was expecting something different but I was definitely pleasantly surprised when it turned out the way it did.

And I LOVE it when you reference your other books/characters in your stories. I think it's neat that you're building a community.

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On May 1st, 2008 12:35 am (UTC), an anonymous reader commented:
That was really interesting to think about; I have never really thought about it before - what mood(s) the author might be in when signing the books. I hope that your mom is doing well now, and that there really are more good days than bad days!

I am still really excited to read Lock and Key!

:) Sarah

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On May 12th, 2008 12:03 am (UTC), [info]heartonfilm commented:
I was very excited to find a signed copy and once I finished the book it was that much more exciting- I think Lock & Key may just be my new favorite. I can't wait to pass it on to my friendds :]
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