sarah dessen

Fri, 09 May 2008 11:53:05 GMT

The Friday Five!

1. Yesterday, I was out in the afternoon when I passed one of our local farmer's markets. I pulled in, got out of my car, and within minutes was holding a bag of organic, locally grown strawberries. They were SO GOOD. So good that I ate six of them in a row, in my car. So good that even though I get a rash on my face whenever I eat strawberries, I did it anyway. Every bite was like tasting summer, and after the last couple of crazy weeks it was just what I needed. Yum.

2. Question: why can I not seem to stop watching Work Out on Bravo? I don't have a lot of time. I'm trying to be a deeper, more intellectual person (stop laughing!). And yet, whenever I see those episodes sitting on my DVR I just....well, it's kind of like the strawberries. Bad for me, but I can't resist. So sad.

3. This weekend is Mother's Day, and of course I've been so preoccupied with getting my own mom and my mother-in-law gifts that I keep forgetting that, for the first time, I'm a mom too. (You'd think the constant time with the baby would hit this point home, but apparently not.) Anyway, it's kind of bizarre. My husband asked me what I wanted for my first mother's day, and I said, without even thinking, "To sleep in!" Sure, a diamond necklace would be nice. But not that nice. Seriously. That's the bizarre part.

4. I have 27 Dresses on Netflix and can I tell you I am almost too excited to even watch it? A good chick flick, for whenever I want? It's even better than sleeping in. (Okay, not really. But you get the idea.) Don't even tell me if it's not that great a movie, I don't even want to know. I think I might even eat strawberries and breakout while I watch it. As Juno---a movie I re-watched the other day, loving it even more than the first time---would say, "Dream big!" Thank you, I think I will.

5. Blogging will be a bit more sparse or even non-existent next week, as I've realized that I really need a break. Like, a turning-off-the-computer-not-looking-at-my-Amazon-BN-reviews-watching-Work Out-and-playing-pattycake-with-my-baby-endlessly kind of break. I worked really hard leading up to Lock and Key coming out, and I'm so glad it's been so well received. But it's just now hitting that I'm kind of...well, exhausted. Like, totally. Also I have that constant buzzing in my head, so many thoughts, worrying about things I can and can't control, which always means it's time to step back and breathe for a little while. So I'm going to give myself permission to do that. Or at least try to. Ideally, when I return, I'll be back to my old self. Here's hoping.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Thu, 08 May 2008 13:18:12 GMT

So I FINALLY got around to watching the Oprah with the Sex and the City cast, and it got me even more excited about seeing the movie. I figured it had to be coming out this weekend, or maybe next. But NO. May 30th! That's THREE WEEKS from this Friday. Now, I get that Oprah has her show schedule, and the season is ending, and all that. But it seems kind of cruel to get us all pumped up and then make us wait. What makes it even harder is that I am trying my best to avoid all spoilers, so the plot can be a surprise. Which means that as the release date DOES get closer, I'm going to have to go into media blackout mode, which is challenging when, like me, you are pretty much addicted to the internet. We'll see how I do. In the meantime, I guess I'll just bust out my DVDs of the entire series and start watching my favorite episodes to get myself pumped up. Not the same, but it will have to do. And there are worse things, right?

(At least there's a really good website for the movie. Not that I've fully checked it out, thanks to the media blackout.)

Meanwhile, my daughter is now a total speed demon with the crawling. Just a week ago she was still kind of tentative, making her way slowly across the floor. Now, it's ON. She slaps her hands on the carpet, grunts, and makes a beeline for the most dangerous thing in the room, every single time. I had no idea our house---and the world---was so perilous until I got down the floor with her to check things out from her level. Hard table edges! Gates where fingers can get stuck! Rolling chairs that can...well, roll! I mean, good gracious. I feel like unless I put her in a plastic bubble or a Nerf suit, there's no way to keep her totally safe, but I guess that's life. I can't protect her from everything. I wish I could. I wish I could protect everyone I love from every single bad thing out there, pack them all into plastic bubbles and Nerf suits and know they were okay, every moment of every day. But that wouldn't be much of a life. So I guess you just have to sit back and cringe, and bite your nails, and just hope that somehow everyone's able to negotiate those hard table edges and sticky gates and big wheels rolling all around them. You have to because that's all you CAN do. It's as simple as that.

*reads over entry*

Whoa, that got a little deep all of a sudden, didn't it? Sorry about that. Maybe it's because I've been up since 5:30? Hmmm....

Have a good day, everyone!

Tue, 06 May 2008 13:37:59 GMT

Today is Election Day here in NC, and while I have already voted---did not want to deal with long lines with baby in tow---I am still finding myself getting a bit caught up in the excitement. Especially because never before in my lifetime (that I remember, anyway) has North Carolina's primary had ANY importance as far as the nominations go, as they are usually all sewn up by this point. So it's been kind of crazy to see both Hillary and Barack all OVER our fine state, courting us like crazy. Yesterday Barack was in downtown Durham; a few days ago, Hillary did a speech from Graham, which is just a little ways up the road from us. Not to mention that Bill Clinton seems to have hit every single town around us. So crazy! If you are an NC resident and registered to vote, I urge you to GET OUT and DO IT TODAY! For all the regular reasons, as well as the fact that this may be the last time anyone cares about us like this. We need to take advantage!

In other news, I've been so caught up with the release of Lock and Key that I have neglected to mention the fact that The Truth About Forever is now available in the UK! Sporting a jazzy new cover, as well:

The people at Penguin UK have done SUCH a great job with Just Listen, and I'm thrilled to see TTAF now in their hands as well. You can buy it here from Amazon, or check out your local bookseller.

Finally, it is really beginning to feel like summer. Warm days, everything blooming, flip flop weather and.....the annual summer cold. The baby and I both have it. I was thinking it might be allergies, but no. Still, I guess it is a kind of rite of passage. I always get a little sick RIGHT as summer begins and at the end of a book tour. It's tradition! Although not the best one. But oh, well.

Off to blow my nose. Again.

Have a good day, everyone!

Mon, 05 May 2008 12:54:43 GMT

So here we are at Monday, and things have (finally) kind of calmed down a bit. I've had such a blast doing all my promotion stuff---emergency room trips and babysitter crises aside---but it is nice to finally be at home and know I don't have to go anywhere, at least anytime soon. This weekend, I did a lot of laundry, hung out with my baby (who has learned to clap AND crawl really fast) and tried to catch up on my sleep. And somehow, it is now May. How did THAT happen?

I've mentioned here before that I feel that I used to be oh so organized and together, and now....well, not so much. Case in point: on Saturday, I was at Quail Ridge Books in Raleigh, getting ready to go out and speak, when I realized that 1) I had a Banana Republic security tag and 2) a dry cleaning tag both stuck to my dress. Which I have owned for, like, years. Sigh. There was a time when I would have planned my outfit out days in advance, tried on multiple pairs of shoes to find the Perfect Ones, and devoted ample time to Looking My Best. Instead, I threw on what was clean, and found myself grabbing some nearby scissors in the Quail Ridge back room to clip off my tags. But oh, well. The people that came out didn't seem to mind. And that's all that matters, right?

I also used to be really good about taking pictures at all my events. But this time, I kept forgetting, although I did still manage to get a few.

Here's the line at my signing in Alpharetta, where the staff took SUCH good care of me:

and signing books:

And here's me with Micah, Paige, Catherine (not Cat!) and Emma, who came out to see me in Decatur:

Finally, my crowd at Quail Ridge on Saturday (not bothered by lack of Looking My Best, at least I hope not)

Thanks again to everyone who has come out to see me, especially those of you who have traveled great distances, like Elizabeth, from Florida, and Robyn, also from Florida, and the girls from South Carolina and Massachusetts, as well as the adults who trekked along with them. I can only hope it was worth the trip. Security and dry clean tags and all.

My daughter is clapping at me. We all need a hand now and then, right?
Have a good day, everyone!

Fri, 02 May 2008 11:54:31 GMT

Hello from the Atlanta airport, where I have only 6 minutes before we board. So I'll just tell you quickly that
1) Thanks to everyone who came out to my two Atlanta events! More about that (and pictures!) to follow.
2) I'll be at the great Quail Ridge Books tomorrow, Sat, at 3pm. I love a hometown event, so come if you can!

Oops, we're boarding!
Have a great weekend, everyone!

Thu, 01 May 2008 11:07:52 GMT

The Thursday Three!

1. Yes, I'm posting early and two less, as I'll be in Atlanta tomorrow morning. I'm doing two readings there today: one at 3:30 pm at the Barnes and Noble on the North Point Parkway in Alpharetta, and then one at the Decatur library, in Decatur, at 7:00 pm. Check out my news page for full details and information. I also want to thank the person who wrote in awhile back when I first posted these dates who was very concerned about traffic and me getting from one event to the other. Because of you, there have been many conversations and plans about my transit, so hopefully I will have no trouble getting to either event on time.

2. I didn't get to see Baby Mama last weekend---too busy being a mama to my own baby---but I heard from my cousin Barb, whose opinions I trust, that it was funny and worth seeing. I have said here before how much I love Amy Poehler, and maybe it's new mom intuition, but a few weeks back I was watching SNL and I thought, "She's pregnant." It wasn't like she was showing all that much, or maybe even at all. But something was different. But then the weeks passed, and she was doing all this press for the movie and never mentioned it, and then I saw her on SNL again and she didn't have a bump or anything, so I thought, maybe I'm wrong. But I wasn't! So yay for Amy. Can you see her and Tina Fey at the park together with their kids? I SO can. And, um, yay me for getting something right these days. (On a related note: to the person who wrote in---I think it was you, Carla?---saying they admired so much how I was juggling everything? It is AN ILLUSION. Trust me. If you were here in my house, you'd see stuff falling EVERYWHERE.)

3. Finally---which seems weird to say, after only three entries---can I just say how nice it is to have fresh episodes of all my shows again? When I finally settled in to watch the new Grey's from last week, I'd forgotten how much I LOVED that show. Five minutes in, it all came back. Same with The Office, which had me totally verklempt, I can't even stand it! It's kind of like you're friends with someone, see them a lot, and then they go away. You're sad, but then you adjust over time and don't miss them so much. When they come back, there's always that fleeting moment of awkwardness, like, will it be the same again? Sometimes it is, sometimes not. I am happy to say that me and my shows are still BFFs. Hooray!

Now I'm going to grab my suitcase and head off to the airport. Again. Wheeee!

4. Okay, QUICK add of a number four: after writing this entry last night to post today, I found out that Lock and Key will hit the NYT Bestseller list a week from Sunday at NUMBER TWO! YEAH! Thank you SO MUCH to everyone for all your support and making this possible. You guys are the best. (Also, Just Listen remains on the paperback list at #3. Double yeah!) My cup runneth over. Seriously. Talk about verklempt. I better go before I embarrass myself.....

Have a good day, everyone!

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:31:58 GMT

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!

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:28:05 GMT

I want to give a big thanks to everyone who came out to see me at Politics and Prose last week. It was a GREAT event, and I was amazed at how many people turned out on a beautiful Friday afternoon. I especially was impressed with Jaclyn, who came from NJ---and Jaclyn's dad, who drove her from NJ---and these two boys who waited in a LOOONG line to get signed copies of Lock and Key for their girlfriends. They also got their pictures taken with me, which was so sweet I could hardly even stand it. I wish I could remember the names of the girls they bought books for, but suffice to say they have, in my opinion, the best boyfriends ever. And they were SUPER cute, also. Not that I notice such things, of course....

I don't have any pictures from Politics and Prose (I am so slack these days, I swear) but I did find these shots from the party for Viking Children's Books I attended last week in New York. To the left is my superfab editor, Regina Hayes, during her speech. On the right, that's authors Lizbeth Zindel and Laurie Halse Anderson, Doug Whiteman, president of Penguin Books for Young Readers, me, and author Susane Colasanti.

Thanks to Susane, who pointed me to this picture, which I would have otherwise totally missed because I am so behind on my email. Whoops!

Anyway. Now I'm back and resting up for Thursday, when I'll be in the Atlanta area doing two events, and then back home to do Quail Ridge books in Raleigh on Saturday. (Info on times and locations are here.) Kind of a whirlwind, but we are managing pretty well, thanks to the help of our families and babysitters and friends. I was so wiped out from the last week that I decided there was only one thing I could do on Saturday:

The first of the season! Got a little heavy-handed on the paprika, but no matter. They were delicious.

It was my intention to take Sunday as a rest day. Catch up on my sleep, get organized, take a few deep breaths to get ready for the week ahead, and finally get around to watching the new Grey's Anatomy from Thursday. I was just about to climb into bed for a LOONG nap when I got a call from my husband. He'd done a header off his bike and was en route to the emergency room, where we then spent the next five hours or so waiting around, getting Xrays, and, thankfully, finding out nothing was broken. Whew! Still, it's one thing to watch a show about a hospital, another to spend an entire day there. No fun. And no McDreamy, either. Which would have made it much, much better.

All's well that ends well, though, as my dad (and Shakespeare) would say. Now it's Monday and a new week, and I'm turning over a new leaf. And, um, drinking another cup of coffee. Or two.

Have a great day, everyone!

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:45:37 GMT

The Friday Five!

1. Today, I head out to DC to read THIS AFTERNOON, Friday, at 4:30pm, at Politics and Prose. It's my first reading in DC, and I'm really excited, so please come out if you can! I spent yesterday afternoon unpacking and then repacking, which, if you are totally anal retentive about packing like I am, is both very enjoyable and very stressful all at once. I have lists upon lists upon lists. I am convinced I will forget something major, like my lint brush. Or my copy of Lock and Key. Or my pants. You know the drill. I know there are people who just toss a few items into a sassy carry-on, throw it over their shoulder with a jaunty smile, and then head off to the airport. Of course, I don't KNOW any of these people, because I would probably hate them. But they must exist, right? Somewhere?

2. In other book news, I did an interview over at Book Chic, where there is also a contest you can enter to win signed ARCs of Lock and Key and some other prizes. I believe there is a guest blog coming soon, as well. That's right: I'm blogging freaking EVERYWHERE right now. Here, on my Amazon pages, other people's blogs, you name it. The blog tour is more exhausting than the real one! (Okay, not really. But you get the point.)

3. Serious nerd alert: when I was in NYC, I came down into baggage claim, where all the hired limo drivers stand around with signs so their passengers can find them. I was just walking along---probably obsessing about what I'd forgotten to pack--when one sign caught my eye. It said CUSACK. And okay, so there are probably a million Cusacks out there, but since I was in New York, I was convinced it was John Cusack. So much so that I seriously considered just, you know, hanging around for awhile to see if he came strolling by, and probably would have if 1) I wasn't late already and 2) was a little bit nervous airport security would find me suspicious. So, I never found out if it was him. But can you imagine if it had been? Best.Celeb.Sighting.Ever. Sigh.

4. Also in NYC, I had some time to kill in the airport, so I went into a little store that sold toys and stuff for kids, thinking I'd bring something home for the baby. I picked out a book---it's about peek-a-boo, her favorite thing right now---and plastic car that pops when it rolls, and was on my way to the register when I passed an entire rack of Sesame Street characters. Now, we haven't really watched any TV yet (I'm sure you're shocked, but it's totally true) but I do love Sesame Street, so I figured I'd pick her up something. But then I had to choose. Bert? Ernie? Big Bird? Grover? Elmo? I mean, how can you even decide? In the end, I went with my favorite: Bert. I know, most people like Ernie better. But Bert is so my type. A little nervous, a little controlling. He'd never forget his lint roller, but would worry endlessly that he might. I would like Sasha to grow up to be more like, say, Big Bird, all happy and wise, but for now I just feel a little bit of comfort whenever I see Bert hanging out in her toy box. Is that totally selfish of me? Probably. But there it is.

5. Finally, for a number five, another five things: My Shortlist. Regular readers of this blog will know how hard it was for me to pick ONLY five things to recommend. I was getting all High Fidelity about it, freaking out that I would leave out something major and then not be able to sub it back in. (Hello, Bert!) Anyway, in the end I just picked the first five things that popped into my head when I thought about stuff I was really loving right now. Also, I have this feeling that if I keep mentioning Ben Lee in interviews and blogs and stuff like this, he might JUST somehow stumble across it and find out how much I love him. Which is so stalker-ish it's creepy. Still, worth a shot, right?

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:43:37 GMT

Whew!

Okay, so I'm back from New York City, where I flew up for a quick twenty four hours to attend a party in honor of my publisher, Viking Children's Books, turning 75. It was kind of insane, doing a reading Monday night, then racing home, grabbing a few hours of sleep, then going to the airport, flying North, running around the city catching up with friends, then hitting the party, a quick dinner afterwards, back to the hotel, up at crack of dawn the next am to come back home. Yikes! Factor in leaving my baby overnight for the first time and we're talking serious whirlwind. But it was REALLY fun, I got to see so many of my favorite authors and publishing folk, and my baby seems to have missed me, well..not at all. If anything, she and my husband are now even more of BFFs, which is really great but also made me a little sad. I wanted to be missed at little bit, at least. Is it so much to ask to be to be indispensable?

Thank you to EVERYONE who has written in about Lock and Key. I'm so excited people are finding it and reading it and (most importantly) liking it. I went into a Barnes and Noble near my hotel yesterday, and sure enough, there it was front and center, which was VERY exciting. And in the little mini-Borders at Newark Airport this am, it was out as well. Which means I have achieved one of my lifetime dreams: to be in an airport bookstore. I know, super lame. But I have been waiting for this moment! Too bad it was, like, 7:15 am and there was no one to really share it with. Still. Super exciting.

One request: if you HAVE already read Lock and Key and leave a comment about it, warn us if you're giving out plot spoilers. I know a lot of people haven't had a chance to read it yet and want them to get all the surprises when they do. Thanks!

Because my trip to New York was crazy-fast, I was yet again denied the pleasure of doing ANY shopping. That's two trips in a row! I've got to find a way to fit in an extra day (or even a couple of hours) next time. At least I got some good food. The best? The little appetizers available at my hotel during cocktail hour. My best friend Bianca and I were blown away that they had both Tater Tots AND Pigs in a Blanket on the menu. Super gourmet Tots and Piggies, of course, because this IS a fancy hotel in New York. But it was still kind of hiliarious. I mean, look at these pigs in a blanket:

Courtney, can you even believe this? We clearly need a fancy plate and sauce next time we make them. Regardless of appearance, though, they were delicious, as were the tots. It would have been nice to buy a new dress or some shoes while I was away, but if I had to get only one thing, Pigs in a Blanket is a pretty good choice.

Thanks again to EVERYONE for your kind words and support. I'm going to go collapse now, before doing it all again on Friday in DC.....

Have a great day everyone!

Lock and Key is here!

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:33:47 GMT

Thanks to EVERYONE who came out to the Regulator last night to help me celebrate the release of Lock and Key. I also want to apologize for being late---which I never am, I swear!---but between my babysitter getting in a car accident (she's okay, thank Goodness) and then getting lost on the Durham Freeway (went south when I should have gone north) I honestly felt like I was lucky to even get there. But in the end, I raced up to the bookstore entrance, tossed my keys to my friend Barrett, who went to park my car, and tore into the bookstore. It was 7:03. Whew!

In other news, the winners to my little sweepstakes drawing have been notified, so if you didn't hear from us, I'm sorry! Hopefully I'll be able to run something like this again. Thanks to everyone for entering.

Finally, a lot of you know that music has always been a part of my writing process. I don't actually play it while I'm writing, like a lot of people do---it's too much of a distraction, to be honest---but while I'm writing a book, there are always certain songs that I'm listening to that I later relate to the story and characters. Others I keep playing to help me get through the harder stretches. With Lock and Key, there are a few of both kinds and I figured on this, the pub day, I'd share them, and why they are important. Just click Pop Out Player below to listen:

1. Angel from Montgomery, Bonnie Raitt and John Prine: This song is specifically mentioned in the book, and it really helped me when I was trying to picture Ruby's mom and figure out what her story was. We had to get permission from John Prine's publishing company to quote a couple of lines from it, which is a complex process, but so worth it in the end. I just love this song.

2. We're All in This Together, Ben Lee. I've written here before about how this song was pretty much the soundtrack to my life last year. Lock and Key is a book about connections: making them, breaking them, how they affect us in the ways we understand, and especially the ways we don't. Plus, I have a serious married girl crush on Ben Lee. Sigh.

3. Misty Mountain Hop, Led Zeppelin. This one is also mentioned in the book, continuing a long tradition of me name checking either a Pink Floyd or Led Zep song in every novel. What can I say, I listened to a lot of classic rock in high school. And Led Zep is always in fashion, I don't care what anyone says.

4. The Swimming Song, Loudon Wainwright II. My friend Courtney gave me this song on a mix CD a couple of summers back, and it really just struck me. It's a good song to listen to when you're feeling discouraged about anything, and it gave me the idea to incorporate some swimming into Ruby's story.

5. Gravity, John Mayer. Okay, total honesty: this song pulled me out of some VERY dark places during the writing of the book. I always have those days when I feel like I can't go on, there's too much pressure, I'll never make it, etc, etc. That's when I'd pull out my iPod, put on this song, and just try to breathe. Thankfully, it usually worked.

6. On Your Porch, The Format. I got this song from a free ITunes sampler years ago, and had never really listened to it until right when I started Lock and Key. It reminded me of certain elements of the story---which I won't go into here, to avoid spoilers---and always got me to that place when I was having trouble.

7. Square One, Tom Petty. I love Tom Petty. American Girl is one of my favorite songs of ALL TIME. But you know how for certain times of your life, there's a song that just captures exactly where you were, and what was happening? Right when I started Lock and Key I had a couple of rotten things happen to me, and I was really sad. But this song was just so sweet and quiet and lovely, that every time I heard it I'd feel a little bit more hopeful that everything would be all right. And you know what? It was.

8. Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town, Cake. Because I had to have a song with a Ruby in it on this list, and while the Kenny Rogers version is nice and all, I just love me some Cake. Especially at the end, when he's yelling after her. Priceless.

So there you have it. The songs, and the stories. Thanks again for reading, and for listening.

Have a great day, everyone!

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:09:37 GMT

*takes deep breath*

Okay, so starting today things are going to get a little crazy around here. Not the regular crazy---early morning feedings, teething issues, dogs killing small furry animals, learning to crawl, drowning in email---but book release crazy. It's a whole different animal. But I am starting today with a happy positive attitude (thank you, caffeine!) and a strange sense of calm that I don't want to write about for fear of scaring it off. So enough about that.

First off: TONIGHT I will be reading at the Regulator Bookshop in Durham, on Ninth Street, at 7pm. Come out, and you may win a Lock and Key necklace! We will be giving one away at each of my readings. Exciting, yes? I am very thankful to the Regulator for having me tonight, and it's especially fun because we got permission to sell the book early, so you don't even have to wait until Tuesday to get your hands on one. Then, this coming Friday, the 25th, I'll be at Politics and Prose in DC, and next week, in Atlanta for two events. You can check out my news page for a complete listing of places and times.

In other news, can I just say that I am SO excited for new movies that are coming out? It's been ages since there's been anything I've wanted to see, but now I have both the Sex and The City Movie (YAY!) AND Baby Mama to look forward to. I love, love, love Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Just the preview for that movie is funnier than some movies I've seen lately, no joke. Also, with all this traveling, I realized I will have more time to read than I have in, like, ages, which is a good thing because I discovered last night that Suzanne Finnamore, whose books I ADORE, has a new one out. It's called Split: A Memoir of Divorce, which honestly sounds like a bit of a downer, but I guarantee that if anyone can make a sad story wry and worth reading, it's Suzanne Finnamore. I adored her Otherwise Engaged and just reread The Zygote Chronicles while I was pregnant. Now I just have to find time to get to a bookstore in the frenzy of the next few days.

Wait! I WILL be at bookstores! D'oh! (Note: this is not a joke. I am actually so tired and foggy headed that I was really wondering how I was going to fit in a trip to the one place that I am REQUIRED TO BE THIS WEEK. Good God. See what I mean about crazy?) I honestly keep waiting for my brain to come back. Everyone said, "Oh, when you have the baby," then "Oh, when you start getting more sleep," and then, when I was still forgetting my own name/car keys/what I was saying in the middle of a sentence, "Oh, it'll come, don't worry!" But I am seriously beginning to wonder if this is just how I am going to be forever, now. So absent minded that I can't walk from one end of the house to the other without forgetting what I was going to do when I got there. On the flip side, though, the constant absentmindedness is sort of a blessing. If I get a bad review, or someone sends me a nasty email, I can't dwell on it for more than about ten minutes. Then, just like...it's gone. Along with my keys and everything else. Oh, well.

Okay, time for more coffee. Have a great day everyone!

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 12:41:08 GMT

The Friday Five!

1. Okay, so clearly you guys know the books really well. So much for me thinking my questions were hard. D'oh! At any rate, here are the answers:
What is the name of Ashley's ex boyfriend in That Summer? Sumner
What is the name of the catering company in The Truth About Forever? Wish Catering
In Someone Like You, what does Halley's dad do for a living? He is a DJ at a local radio station.
In Just Listen, what is the name of Owen's radio show? Anger Management
What kind of car does Rogerson drive in Dreamland? Black BMW
What is the name of Dexter's dog in This Lullaby? Monkey

2. I have a dog named Monkey as well, and this week he---gasp!---caught and killed a rabbit in the backyard. I know, I know. Like I don't have enough stress right now! Even worse, my husband was not here, which meant I was left to deal with situation. It was dark, thankfully, but I could see he clearly had something, it was alive---and then not---and that he was not going to drop it no matter how many times I yelled at him to do so. Finally he came back to the house, but then I had to do something with the departed rabbit because I couldn't leave it out there for him and Coco to go mess with again. So I got my flashlight, braced myself, went out on the porch and....completely freaked out. I couldn't do it. I knew I should, that I was capable of it, but I just froze up. So I called my neighbor, who said, "Be right over!" and then appeared with a flashlight, a shovel and a hefty bag, a few minutes later. Thank God I have such great neighbors. I mean, really. He is my hero. As for Monkey, I just don't even know what to think. I know dogs will be, well, dogs. But now whenever Sasha and I are reading Pat the Bunny (her favorite book right now) I find myself looking over at him warily. I know people with cats deal with this fairly often, but bunnies? Fluffy ones? Good God.

3. I think I mentioned that I am such a nerd I signed up for the Lock and Key mobile club a few weeks back, which means I've been getting text messages about myself and my books. It's the height of narcissism, right? But also totally surreal. This week the message was "Lock and Key is out in one week. Are you ready?" and I was like, "God, I hope so!" Although I think I am the only one who had that reaction. Hopefully.

4. Speaking of the new book, the contest to win a Lock and Key necklace and other fun stuff ends on Monday, so if you haven't entered, jump on over here to throw your name in the pot. One entry per person, please, and good luck!

5. Finally, something I just can't even begin to wrap my mind around: there is now a children's book about Mommy Having Plastic Surgery. As Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler would say, really? Really? But apparently the author--- a plastic surgeon---says there is a need for a book like this, to explain to kids what it means when Mommy has a tummy tuck or a boob lift. All I can say is, well...I don't even know what to say. So I'll just say...

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:34:17 GMT

Yesterday, I went back to Chapel Hill High School during the lunch hour to hang out in the library. I did a little talk, answered some questions, and then did this super-dorky trivia contest, with magnetic poetry sets and galleys of Lock and Key as prizes. I had three what I thought were easy to difficult questions, and three really hard ones. And the girls there---and yes, it was all girls---knew them all! I was amazed. Then again, I'm so forgetful these days from lack of sleep that if you asked me three hard questions about my books, I might not get them. Or even get close. Sigh.

Want to test your knowledge? Here are the questions:
1. What is the name of Ashley's ex boyfriend in That Summer? (pretty easy)
2. What is the name of the catering company in The Truth About Forever? (not that hard)
3. In Someone Like You, what does Halley's dad do for a living? (This one was the hardest, as it turned out. But someone did get it!)
4. In Just Listen, what is the name of Owen's radio show?
5. What kind of car does Rogerson drive in Dreamland? (extra points if you know the color!)
6. What is the name of Dexter's dog in This Lullaby?

I can't do prizes---sorry!---but I will provide answers in tomorrow's Friday Five. If I remember. Sigh.

Have a good day, everyone!

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:57:35 GMT

We're at less than one week until Lock and Key's pub date, and I am trying to stay busy and distracted so as to hold off the pre-publication freakout as long as possible. Distracting activities so far have included eating sushi, downloading entirely too much music from iTunes and organizing my junk drawer. Stay tuned for continuing updates!

In other news, one of my cousins was visiting for the last couple of days. We were hanging out, the baby was asleep, and we decided we needed some chick flicks. We really wanted to see 27 Dresses, but since it is not on Pay Per View or out on DVD, we were forced to turn to my collection of movies. I was ticking through them, shouting out the options to her as she sat in the other room. Notting Hill? Seen it recently. How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days? Not a fave. Center Stage?

"What's that?" she said.

I froze. Stepped back from the cabinet and looked at her. "You've never seen Center Stage?" I asked. She shook her head. I shut the cabinet door. The choice was made. She'd never seen Bring It On, either, so we did a double header, and it was OH so much fun. But hello, how can you never have seen either of these movies? Are they not on TBS or Oxygen just about every day, at some point? I was thinking she was such anomaly, until one of my friends called and asked what we were doing. I told her and she said, "What are those movies about? I've never heard of them."

(I know what you're thinking. How can these people even BE my friends? The mind boggles.)

Finally, the fab Mitali Perkins sent me this link to her blog, where she's posted some excerpts from the Readergirlz chat I did a few weeks back. So if you missed it, check it out here. The Readergirlz are also doing a very cool event for Teen Lit Day, which is Thursday, where they are donating books to pediatric hospitals AND asking authors to release their books "into the wild" by leaving them in teen gathering places in their community. I am planning to participate, although, like my friend Sara Zarr, I am not entirely sure where teenagers hang out in Chapel Hill these days. But as I am popping in to speak at Chapel Hill High tomorrow, I may just call on someone there to drop a book for me. At any rate, a great cause. You can find out more on the Readergirlz site, or by clicking this icon:

Okay, back to my favorite distraction, who is now hollering for me from her crib....

Have a great day, everyone!

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:06:00 GMT

Good morning.

So it appears that Lock and Key is popping up in a few bookstores here and there, leading loyal readers to ask---understandably---what happened to the release date being the 22nd? Truthfully, I am not sure. I was told the book wouldn't go on sale until then, but I guess if some stores are getting it early they are going ahead and putting it out. Which is not necessarily a bad thing. Honestly, I'm just happy people are excited it's coming out at all. But I'm going to keep going with the 22nd date, because that's what Allison the Super Publicist says, and I listen to her above all else.

In other, completely unrelated news, this weekend I met some hairless cats. Have you ever seen one of these things? They are VERY unusual looking. See?

Truth be told, I am not really a cat person, as my mom is allergic, so we never had them growing up. Cats totally know this, apparently, because anytime I am around a cat, it immediately comes over and winds around my legs, or jumps in my lap or, in the case of my friend Courtney's cat Loretta, attacks my foot for no reason. These hairless cats I met this weekend, though, sort of fascinated me. They were so unique looking, almost eerie, like they weren't cats at all, but some other kind of creature. I was still a little freaked out, though, I must admit, although whether it was just my general Cat Uneasiness or a new Hairless Cat Uneasiness, it was hard to say.

Finally, my baby is so close to crawling it's just crazy. She went from doing push ups to pulling herself forward with her hands to a combo of both, which looks a lot like she's doing The Worm. Before, she got around with a mix of pushing, pulling, and these wild one-handed rolls which always seemed to happen right on the edge of the carpet, leading to her bonking her head on the hardwood, ouch. But now, she's all about the straight line. Up on her toes, revving up, then down on her tummy, inching forward. Yesterday, she started moving one hand while on her hands and knees, which means there's only one more step and then it's ON. It's pretty amazing, I have to admit, watching the progress of all this. It makes you think about all the little steps involved in any big event, most of which we probably take for granted. Nothing ever really happens all at once: it just seems that way. All along, these little changes, tiny adjustments, mistakes and corrections, getting you closer, and then closer still, to the end result, whether it be a book coming out, or dealing with your fear of hairless animals, or simply learning to move all on your own.

That said, I think it's time to do some babyproofing. Stat!

Have a good day, everyone!

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:12:13 GMT

The Friday Five!

1. Did you hear that Project Runway is moving to Lifetime? This is VERY exciting news, if only because so many of my friends don't have Bravo (including everyone in Chapel Hill, just about) which makes it difficult to do my Tim Gunn impression without getting a lot of strange looks. I think PR will be HUGE on Lifetime, personally. They should put it on right after that new Carson Kressley show How To Look Good Naked, which is actually not as disturbing as you might think.

2. In related news, I read in the paper that Tim Gunn himself is going to be in Raleigh next week, appearing at a Liz Claiborne fashion show. How much do I want to go see him? PLEASE! But next week is nuts, with all this pre-pub stuff, and then there's the issue of the baby, who also loves Tim Gunn (who doesn't?) but cannot be counted on to be quiet and appreciative at a fashion show because she is, you know, only seven months old. Why couldn't Tim be coming in the week AFTER, when I might have had the chance to spy him at the airport? Or even share a plane? How great would that be?

Why am I asking so many questions? I have no idea. Sorry!

3. Here's yet another thing I've realized about being a mom: Target is now mandatory. Used to be, I'd blow in there, grab a basket, and idly cruise the aisles, picking up some shampoo, maybe some mascara, a nice salad bowl, whatever. Now when I go, I'm on a mission. Diapers, wipes, baby food, formula, onesies, and that's just in the first five minutes. At least I know I am not alone. My husband ran into Target the other day to buy something mid-morning and was blown away by the number of moms there. "You look out in the parking lot, and it's like an invasion!" he said. "Just mom after mom after mom after mom...." We are a force. Prepare to be reckoned with.

4. In related news, I have also become one of those people who smiles at pregnant women. When I was pregnant, this completely puzzled me. I'd be out, waddling along, and pass some woman, who would give me this sweet, knowing smile, and I'd immediately think, "Oh, crap, I must have spilled something on my pants I can't see because my belly is in the way," or, in the later, very-uncomfortable-stare-or-smile-at-me-at-your-peril days, "What are YOU looking at? Huh? HUH?" (I was hormonal, what can I say.) Anyway, the point is I totally didn't get it. But now, I do, because when I see a pregnant woman, it immediately makes me think of how excited I was when I was expecting, and how fun it was getting ready for the baby, and all that. So I smile, and they either smile back or glare at me (which I understand: see above). What I really want to say when I see pregnant women, though, is this: "Why aren't you sleeping right now? You should be sleeping. Sleep! Sleep!" Clearly, smiling is better.

5. Finally, I was watching Top Chef this week when they mentioned deviled eggs. Yes: it IS that time of year again. I haven't made eggs in ages, but it's kind of a tradition that I whip some up to commemorate 1) the beginning of spring/summer and 2) the release of a new book. Considering both are happening at the same time this year, I think it's almost imperative that I do the egg thing. There's just something great about that first trip to the store to buy eggs, mayo, mustard, relish and paprika. I always get the large sizes (except for the eggs, of course) so that I have plenty on hand the next time the urge strikes. It's been a long, cold winter. Okay, this is NC. So maybe not. But still: it's deviled egg time!

Have a good day, everyone!

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:57:37 GMT

In the last couple of days, I have heard from many fans in Australia that Lock and Key has already been released there. Which is, honestly, news to me, albeit good news, as I am always excited when a book finally comes out. Usually they get books LATER than here, but I guess this time it's different? At any rate, thanks to everyone for letting me know.

In other news, April 22nd, the day L&K is released HERE, is a big day, and not just for me. It is also Earth Day, and the day of the Pennsylvania democratic primary, the day the second season of Friday Night Lights is released on DVD AND my cousin Elise's sixth birthday. (Okay, so that last one isn't big news to everyone, just me and my family.) I'm also traveling that day, taking my first trip away from my baby (sob!) since she was born. Isn't it weird how sometimes everything seems to literally be happening at once? At least all these things will serve as some sort of distraction for me, as between the pub date and the baby separation I may be a total basket case. I guess we'll find out, right?

Finally, we spent much of the weekend adjusting to our new DVR system, which was installed on Friday. Our old Tivos were on their last legs, literally, so we switched over to this entirely new system which, among other things, gives us a ton more channels in High Definition. Can I just say that I was not entirely prepared to see EVERYTHING quite so clearly? I mean, on Discovery Channel when they're showing tropical fish, it's amazing. But the close ups of the girls on Rock of Love? A bit much. To be fair, I wouldn't want to see myself in HD either,with every wrinkle and crow's foot right there for everyone to see. I think for now I should just stick to the fish. It's probably best for everyone.

Have a good day, everyone!

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:09:25 GMT

Oh, I don't even want to talk about it.

*sigh*

So, yes, my Tarheels went down in flames on Saturday night. The game was literally painful to watch. Despite all my various mojo workings---putting the baby in her UNC gear, like we did for every game this year, having the same people over we've had for other big games we've won---it just wasn't going to happen. I was still so bummed out at the crack of dawn when the baby woke up that I told her first thing. She did not seem nearly as affected. Ah, to be young. Oh, well. There's always next year.

On a brighter note, thanks to EVERYONE who came out on a very early and dreary Saturday morning for my reading at UNC. I had a great crowd, great questions, and even though I was REALLY nervous I don't think it was totally obvious. Except maybe for when my microphone suddenly started squealing with feedback and I couldn't get it to stop and had to take it off and put it on the floor, where it continued to make noises until someone came and took it away. Yikes! All in all, though, I cannot think of a better way to start all this publicity for Lock and Key. There was even a really nice story in the Chapel Hill Herald on the front page (!) along with a really big picture of me. I didn't even look that weird, which is rare because we all know I do not photograph well. I was actually thinking, hey, this isn't so bad, and then my husband---helpful as always---pointed out the headline directly to the left of my face, which was MEETINGS EXPLORE HUMAN, SEX TRAFFIC. It almost looked like a caption to my picture. Sigh. It got your attention, at any rate.

Speaking of Lock and Key, don't forget about my first ever contest! (You can find out how to enter by following that link.) For those of you who asked, we are only allowing one entry per person: any more than that from any one address will be deleted. Good Luck!

And finally, a book recommendation. I have been a HUGE fan of Jennifer Weiner ever since her first book, Good in Bed. And now, tomorrow, her newest book, a sequel to Good in Bed, is finally going to be released. It's called Certain Girls, and I can tell you that it is FABULOUS because I got an early copy, and read it immediately, pretty much ignoring all else in order to do so. (Okay, not ALL else. My baby was still getting everything she needed. But the laundry and cooking took a hit, for sure.) It's like getting to spend a long day with an old friend, and when it's over you're so sad to see them go. Seriously. I think I may have to read it again just to hold me over until her next one.

Okay, time to start the week in earnest. And, um, get that laundry and cooking. Maybe.

Have a great day, everyone!

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:03:13 GMT

The Friday Five!

1. Hey, you! Want a chance to win this?

That's right. In honor of Lock and Key coming out on April 22nd, I'm doing my first ever giveway. First prize is a lock and key necklace, made personally for me by my good friend Travis at William Travis Jewelry, as well as a signed copy of Lock and Key. I'm also giving away two second prizes of a signed book and a Sarah Dessen magnetic poetry set. To enter, send an email to yrmarketing@us.penguingroup.com and you will automatically be entered to win! Make sure the subject line of your email reads: Lock and Key.

From all eligible entries received, three (3) winners will be chosen in a random drawing held on or about April 21st, 2008 by the author (that's me) whose decisions concerning all matters related to this Sweepstakes are final and binding. Winners will be notified by email on or about April 22nd. (That's what we call the legalese, in case you were wondering.) Good luck!

2. Whew. That last one was so exciting I think I may have to take a little breath here to recover. Okay. Better now.

3. Speaking of exciting, what about this news from NBC? Not only is Friday Night Lights returning (yay!) but there's going to be a spinoff of The Office, premiering after the Superbowl. I have to admit, I'm both nervous and intrigued about this last one. I mean, I love, love, love The Office. But spinoffs sometimes don't work. In fact, a LOT of times they don't. If anyone can buck the trend, though, I know it's the writers behind Michael Scott. Fingers crossed!

4. This is a BIG weekend for basketball, with my Tarheels playing Kansas on Saturday night for a chance at the national title. The first game, between UCLA and Memphis, is at 6:07. Ours is at 8:47. To which I say....ARRRGUGH. I could barely keep my eyes open for the last one, even when it got close, and you KNOW I have to stay up for this one as well, even if it does go way later than my bedtime (which, I admit, it mighty early, then again so is my wakeup time these days). Still, you must make sacrifices for the things you love, so I will have some extra caffeine and do some jumping jacks and hopefully make it to the final buzzer.

5. Finally, something that's a little bit awkward but I have to say it anyway. I've been getting a lot of comments suddenly this week from people who have been assigned my book to read and can get extra credit if I comment back. Regular readers of this blog know that I don't usually respond to comments---although I do read them, every single one---because it would be really time consuming and I'd rather put that time towards, you know, writing more books. So please don't get mad or hostile with me, or call me names. It's not personal, it's just my policy. And I thank you very much for reading my books. Maybe if you show your teacher this entry he/she will find another way for you to get the extra credit?

Have a great day, everyone!

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:09:07 GMT

I studiously avoided the internet as much as possible yesterday, as it was April Fool's Day, and I always end up getting suckered. But now it's April 2nd! Time to start trusting again.

One thing that I am hoping is NOT a joke: that Rob Thomas, the amazing mind behind Veronica Mars, is indeed writing the Beverly Hills, 90210 spinoff. At least that's what it says here. Elsewhere on the web, I have read lots of other fun rumors which are probably not true, including that they are hoping to bring back Jennie Garth to play a teacher at the high school. Can you imagine if it WAS true, though? Because Kelly ended up with Dylan in the final ep of 90210, so they might still be together, and then, he might ALSO make an appearance, which would pretty much be all I have ever dreamed of in my life. I mean, aside from world peace. Which is definitely more important. But still. You get the idea.

In other news, I am busy getting ready for my first public reading in a LOOONG time, on the UNC campus this coming Saturday. (You can find out more here, if you're interested.) While I've done some interviews, and shot two videos, this is the first time I've gotten up in front of people in awhile, so it should be fun. Or nervewracking. Or both. I'm planning to read from Lock and Key (out in less than three weeks now!) and from Just Listen, as well as take questions. Preferably about writing or my books, but I could also tackle queries about diaper changing, the works of Sandra Boynton, and, of course, 90210.

Finally, thanks to everyone who gave such good suggestions about my efforts to find a good calendar and get organized. I am working on various options. And also, working to Just Calm Down For God's Sake, which is the advice my husband offered up (capitals used to make clear it is not the first time, either). Someday, I will find a way to juggle everything that really matters, and let the rest just fall away. Perfectionism just isn't really working for me anymore, if it ever did. If I can accept that, I think I'll be a much happier person all around. And that is no joke.

Have a good day, everyone!

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:54:58 GMT

How is it already the end of March? Am I in a time warp or something?

It would make sense, as I've been pretty much focused on nothing but basketball lately. My Tarheels made it to the Final Four, which means next weekend will be equally nerve-wracking and exciting. I think I better start resting up now.

In other news, we've been watching a lot of cooking on TV lately: Gordon Ramsay, Top Chef, the occasional Emeril segment on GMA. I think that for most people, watching cooking makes them want to cook, but I am not like that. Watching cooking just makes me want to eat, and because I have neither the time or the inclination, the food I am watching being prepared is pretty much out of my realm of possibility. As is eating out, which these days involves a complex process of procuring babysitters, which pretty much rules out any kind of, "Hey, let's go out and eat sushi!" impulsiveness. So really, I'm just frustrating myself by continuing to watch all these shows. It's like watching the Home Shopping Network when you're broke. And yet, still, I'll sit there and watch a big segment on preparing lobster, then sigh and head off to make manwiches. Again. Oh, well.

Due to the aforementioned total lack of time or organization, I decided I was going to really try to streamline my schedule. Step one: writing out a calendar for every week, with set time segments dedicated to specific tasks. (Geralin, are you proud of me?) So I sit down and begin, but I make the days too narrow to write in anything. So I rip it up, and start over. This time, my writing is too messy. Try again. Now, I smear the ink and there's a big blotch over Tuesday, and by then I was too frustrated to even keep going so I quit. I mean, could I BE any more of a mess? I can't even complete the task that's supposed to help me complete all my tasks. Sigh.

Oh, well. At least I got out of the house on time to do this video! (I tried to embed it, but for some reason it's not working.....) I actually think I look a little orange. Maybe it's time to hit Sephora....

Have a good day, everyone!

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:08:39 GMT

The Friday Five!

1.
2. Yes, that is the man himself, last night, one of only three shots I got before my camera battery died. Still, you have to appreciate a man who can wear a sparkling jacket like that. Impressive! The concert was SO MUCH FUN, although I am paying this morning because I went to bed VERY late and still had to get up at 5am, because six and a half month old babies don't really care if you were out at Barry Manilow till all hours, they just want to be fed when they are hungry. We did have a blast, though, and even got moved to better seats by basically making a spectacle of ourselves and begging when someone from Team Barry came around with tickets. (Okay, I was the spectacle. Dana and Courtney just sat there, looking embarrassed.) The only thing I regret is not getting a T-shirt, but the line at the booth was REALLY long by the end of the show and by then I was already thinking about how I was going to have to get up in about six hours. So oh, well. But who needs a T-shirt when I have pictures?
3. In other news, my Tarheels won last night, advancing to the Elite Eight. My friend Courtney's husband, who is a State Fan, graciously agreed to text us scores and updates, so we knew what was happening even while losing ourselves in the magic of Manilow. Now, we play Louisville on Saturday, and hopefully I will be able to give it my FULL attention.
4. Thanks to everyone who came out for the live chat I did yesterday at Readergirlz. I was kind of nervous, and then the server froze up so I couldn't answer questions for a few minutes, which almost gave me a nervous breakdown, but it all worked out in the end. I was typing as fast as I could, but there were still a lot of questions I didn't get to. So if you posted one and I didn't get to it, I'm sorry. Maybe next time...
5. Finally, the Ben Lee song I spent pretty much all of last year listening to, "We're All In This Together," is now in a Kohl's commercial. Which is kind of weird. I feel like it was the soundtrack of my life for so long, and I think I got a little proprietary about it. Which is just crazy, I know. But isn't it weird when a song means so much to you, and then you have to see it in a different way? Then again, it is a great song, and this can only mean more people will hear it. Music is meant to be shared! Just ask Barry Manilow.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 12:48:49 GMT

Just a quick reminder that I'm doing a live chat today, Thursday, at 3pm EST, at the Readergirlz site on MySpace. I have never done a live chat before, and am just hoping I can type fast and not look like too much of a dork.

In related news, Barry Manilow is TONIGHT, and I am entirely too excited. The first concert I went to was back in 1984 (!): I saw Billy Idol at Cameron Indoor Stadium on the Duke Campus. Since then, I've been to a few more, mainly in high school, when I saw Pink Floyd TWICE as well as Yes and Sting. The last show I went to was Dar Williams a couple of years ago. So, it's been awhile. I know people, like my friend Cameron, who live and breathe music and go see live show as often as their time and budget allows. Clearly, I am not that kind of person. But come tomorrow, I will be a person who has seen Barry live TWICE. Step back!

Finally, the other day the phone rang, and it was a number I didn't recognize. I answered anyway. "Is Colin there?" this kid's voice asked. I said he had the wrong number. He said, "No, I don't. This is Travis. Is Colin there?" I said, "No, sorry, there's no one here by that name." He said, "Yes, there is, this is Travis." He was really determined that I was wrong, which made me wonder what kind of person thinks someone wouldn't know who, exactly, was living in their house. Still, I was trying to be nice, so I told him our number and asked him which one he was trying to call. At which point, he hung up on me. Which annoyed me more than him thinking I was an idiot. So much so that I almost called him back---had the number on the Caller ID!---to ask if Shirley was there, and then argue the point when he said no. But because I am thirty-seven, and not seven, I did not.

Although it was hard to resist. Truly.

Have a good day, everyone!

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:11:39 GMT

So riddle me this: why is it that I go for MONTHS with no exciting evening plans whatsoever, and then, I have two big things happening at the VERY SAME TIME on the VERY SAME NIGHT? Tomorrow night, I'll be at Barry Manilow while my Tarheels play in the Sweet Sixteen. I mean, honestly. What are the chances? How do you choose between Tyler Hansborough and The Showman of Our Time? You can't. You just can't. Which is why I am hoping that one of my friends will agree to text me the score periodically, so I can keep up while rocking out to "Copacabana" and "Mandy." (Rocking out may be the wrong word. Or maybe not?) At any rate, it should be an exciting night.

In other news, it's that time again, when the reviews start to come in for Lock and Key. So far, most have been really good, which is wonderful, but occasionally you get a not so good one, which kind of knocks the wind out of you. I won't post it here, as that's just too masochistic even for me, so I'll just do like the song says and Accentuate the Positive by posting the best line: "Dessen’s tone, however, is invitingly non-threatening and will reward patient readers." That's nice, right?

I have always been entirely too invested in reviews, all the way back to when Someone Like You got slammed in the Daily Tar Heel, the student paper at UNC. It got zero stars (or feet, I think, was how they measured them, but you get the picture). I carried that review around with me for months before my best friend Bianca seized it from me at a wedding and flushed it down the toilet. I like to think I'm a LITTLE bit better now, if only because I have that much more experience. Now, I get a not-great review, or a nasty comment somewhere, and I feel that initial twinge. It still hurts. But it doesn't last as long, and I move on faster. There's also the fact, these days, that between the hormones and ongoing sleep deprivation I cannot remember ANYTHING. It stinks when I forget my keys or lose my phone, but in this case, it's kind of nice. Again: a positive!

Okay, I'm off to think about what to wear for the Barry Show. Should I go Copa casual? Dress for a Weekend in New England? Hmmmm...

Have a good day, everyone!