Library Lovin’ –NOW CLOSED. Thank you so much for your comments!
**If you’d still like to comment, go see susanwrites who is still open for business!**
Why is life suddenly so crazy? I haven’t even had time to tell my birthday story. I’ll be 50 before I get a chance!
Anyway, my friend Jen Hubbard writerjennasked me to participate in the Library Lovin’ challenge, how could I say no to such an awesome cause?
For every comment I get, I will donate 25 cents to the local library! Please leave comments~!
Also, go visit kellyrfineman and leave comments because she is donating to local library AND to Books for Africa!
Happy commenting and thanks!
Thanks so much!
I’ll add them up and post tomorrow how much I’ll be donating to our local library!
I still have to choose which one, and will probably go with the Children’s Library. =D
Wintergirls party
As halseanderson says in today’s blog, I saw her not once yesterday, but twice! As we were saying goodbye, she told me she was heading down to Kepler’s Books (near me) next. Why not squeeze in two signings? Lucky lady=me.
Not Your Mother’s Book Club hosted another fabulous event. This time a yummy-chatfest in a dimly lit atmospheric Bistro basement near Golden Gate Park yesterday afternoon. My bud Debbie drove us up, braving fierce S.F. winds (sand-tossed Highway 1!), and tight parking spots.
It was so worth it.
I met many writing friends there. Fellow agent sister Kristen Tracy, a couple Debs, and more peeps I know from the blogosphere. It’s always a treat to chat with literaticat and her NYMBC partner in crime Shannon. (The elusive Kristin Tracy is not pictured. Like the yeti, she’d rather remain a legend.)
Laurie cruised from table to table of admiring teens and teens-at-heart eager to grasp her memorable words.
She spoke of her inspiration for writing Wintergirls the difficulty of the topic (eating disorders) and how she wanted to make this book fresh and unique for herself as a writer as well as for her loyal readers.
After my 10 odd starts on Jade it was so validating to hear Laurie herself does the same thing with her first drafts, but once the voice clicks she gets in the zone and takes off. First drafts are the hardest, and she loves revision–perfecting sentences and craft.
I admire so much about her; her writing obviously, but her warmth as she connects with her readers is amazing and the honest way she goes about it, touching. I admire that she wanted to change things up with her novel this time and do something different–in this book, she spoke with tingling excitement about experimenting with various creative devices and magical realism. It’s so awesome when a popular, award-winning writer dares to shake things up–I was so so impressed.
Last tour she was wearing a red Gap INSPIRED t-shirt, and this time she inspired me all the more.
The cover image is stunning and it sounds like what’s inside is even more powerful. I can’t wait to dive into Wintergirls.
Thanks again Not Your Mother’s Book Club (PS. Apologies for further delay on the Mystery Birthday trip post. It’s coming, it’s coming!)
and Laurie Halse Anderson halseanderson for visiting S.F. and Menlo Park on such a magical afternoon.
!!!!
So rushing around this morning to get E off to school and Princess B fed etc. no one remembered to say happy birthday to me until I reminded them. I was convinced my day would be a repeat of Molly Ringwald’s sweet 16 Candles, (except add 20 years to the number) but then? D hands me a card and says, “Open this 5 minutes after I leave.”
What?!? A mystery!
So I waited. Maybe 2 minutes. Then tore that sucker open. It read and I quote:
My love, Happy Birthday. But don’t get too excited yet. Remember, before Cinderella gets to go to the ball she first has to do the stepsisters’ chores. So do you. You MUST pack the suitcase for kids/mommy and get-ready-for-bed bag. This MUST be done THIS morning! Also pack any reading material or recreation items you think you might enjoy without knowing where you are going. Be in the house and ready to go at 2 p.m. DO NOT BOTHER CALLING ME. I will not be available to answer your questions. Just pack. Everything MUST be done by 2 p.m. (this he highlighted in a giant square), or, like Cinderella, your Great Birthday Surprise turns into a big pumpkin. Dig?
Do not expect to see the dog return after breakfast this am. ANd remember 2:00 p.m. (again framed in another big square.
So squeee!!! And double squee! But what to pack? Where are we going? I don’t know, but I’m doing my best!
And I got THIS from my step-mom
I was so excited to see the trunk that I didn’t read the card. I was guessing all kinds of things. From editor? Are my notes in this SEA pirate trunk? Turns out its from my step-mom! She found it at a specialty gift shop–so now I have the perfect thing to tote my bookmarks and seashells and authorly signing pens to my signings! Thank you, Noni!
And my prince of a dad made me a Shutterfly book of last year. From pregnancy with Princess B, writing my book, her birth, and this whole year through now. It’s such a treasure. And with it came this card:
I am one lucky birthday girl after all!
Oh, this just in: My little sister bought us Coldplay tickets! Woot!
Sigh. Today is my last day of my early twenties…
Hah.
I’ve never been a meh birthday girl. I’m a Letshaveahugepartyandgoallout or Letsjustletthisonepassover kind of birthday girl. This one, i’m trying to just let pass by. But then, this morning I had a dozen odd so-sweet happy bdays on my facebook wall, and then I went to Yoga. Where I was met my dozens of shamrocks and…bananas.
Since when do bananas scream Happy St. Patty’s Day?
Green beer? Check.
Shamrock shakes? Check.
But bananas? They weren’t even green. They were ripe. And yellow.
Whatever.
So I hurt my knee on Saturday, it still hurts. But my yoga teacher helped me moderate the positions–and I told her it was my birthday tomorrow and I didn’t really feel like celebrating that I’m a year older. And she, wise She-Yoda-esque sage responded thoughtfully, “We don’t celebrate birthdays to celebrate age, but instead, to celebrate your birth. To celebrate you and the way you contribute to our world.”
And I was like, wow. That’s a much better way to think of it then, “Pass the Botax, I’m shriveling up here!”
So, anyways. There you have. Yoga is a gift that keeps on giving. And apparently so our birthdays.
But my knee still holds a grudge for Yogalates, in a very big way.
BTW, I sent Super Agent S. the *new and improved and hopefully shining* revision of JADE, this morning with its shimmery new this-makes-much-more-sense ending.
Get it. Jade. Green. St. Patty’s Day?
Okay, I’ll shut up now and get back to soaking my sore knee in green milk.
Sunday Stuff
1. Thanks for all your awesome cover thoughts. Seems like iconic=win. I like that best too. I found a cool image that may work for SEA (matches the iconic looks other people seem to like teen librarians, book buyers etc.) so we’ll see! I’ll definitely pass it on to my editor. Also will ask my local indy branch which covers they prefer too and which jackets teens seem more drawn to. Stay tuned, and thanks! If you have more ideas, pls. leave in comments.
2. I tweaked my knee out bad in Yogalates yesterday. Yogalates is a mix of Yoga and Pilates. Basically, it mauls you beyond recognition. But in a good way.
3. debut2009 is having a HUGE GIVEAWAY! Includes a $50.00 bookstore gift certificate! Run don’t walk to sign up!
4. Team Castle is over. Now I can go back to being jealous of Lila for getting to make-out with Riggins.
5. Speaking of…how awesome is that Wolverine preview? I’ve been blessed with numerous viewings on Super E’s Clone Wars episodes. Commercials. Sometimes you woo me you dirty dogs.
Cover Art! SEA’s Going to Get Some!
SEA is up next at Putnam for cover art! And I’m getting my final notes!
My editor sent me a lovely email last night. She wants me to start thinking of concepts that match thematically with my book. I’m thrilled beyond that I get some input! It’s finally here! It’s real!
My husband and I were just sort of staring at each other teary eyed. A cover. A real cover.
So…asking y’all because you know what’s best.
What are your favorite all-time covers?
Do you prefer iconic, like red apple in white hands TWILIGHT
or full faces?
Or…
I want to convey the sultry romance of the novel, but also highlight the lyrical/mysterious and bittersweet/tragic elements of their story. A wave would also be good.
Thoughts?
Thanks!!!
Debreviews presents: Shine Coconut Moon!
Did you know Kirkus compared debut author Neesha Meminger to Judy Blume?
Yes THAT Judy Blume.
Read more about it here:10_ers
Shine Coconut Moon is now available at bookstores everywhere!
Congratulations, Neesha, on your full-of-heart novel!
A Quiet Bestseller
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/10/books/10why.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
YA in NYT.
I like the idea of a quiet bestseller.
The book isn’t topping the charts because of a huge glossy campaign and a shimmering cover but because of word of mouth. Teens are reading this book. I like slow success stories like this.
Weekend Fun!
1. http://www.authorsnow.com/the-tenners-2010-debut-mg-and-ya-authors/
Click on this! Tenners site up on AN!
Thanks, Tara Kelly! You made our site sparkle like E.C. only bettah!
2. Team Castle has its own Twitter. Seriously? Of course I’m following them. It’s fun. The same way it was in 6th grade watching a video recording of a slumber party I wasn’t invited to. KIDDING! Happy Book Birthday Jen and Carrie!! What a wonderful way to celebrate! http://twitter.com/TeamCastle
3. Sometimes turning off the computer is a good thing. We had our lovely friends visiting from Alabama. Super E’s best buddy–I mean best best best I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU best friend. And we spent nearly the whole three days outdoors. We went here:
And I rode on the swing ride that flies you right over the beach! It was so awesome!
Even indulged in a chocolate dipped ice-cream cone!
And we drove across the Golden Gate bridge and hiked through wet, echoey caves and braved the salt-air wind to catch this view:
Except ours was a clear sky. No fog. Just brilliant blue.
And of course, we had to eat here:
Best Burgers, fries and shakes in the west!
I love it when they come not just because we love them, but because I see my home again from their eyes. And remember to be so grateful that we live in a place of such wonder and enchantment.
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