April 5, 2009

I moved to NYC.

Picked out my tattoo font for the occasion.

Sparkles, hearts and love to JRA and KAA.

weekend wrapup

Where did the weekend go, seriously? *scratches head*

Mine was busy with fun things, a little bit of work and hanging with BFF while we went to Macy's and got our nails done. It was kind of an we're (including R)-all-waiting-for-Monday couple of days. R was actually the one who convinced me to replace my ridic sneakers. So, Kate and I went to Macy's and petted shoes we couldn't afford if we combined our bank accounts. But we did find some killer heels and sneakers for K and two preeettty pairs of walking/exercising shoes for me. Kate and I decided we're going to start walking around our park soon (under the strict ruling that I'm somehow supposed to protect her from ALL nature.) and I sooo needed shoes. Pink and gray and pink and white Pumas. I heart them!

We hopped the train back home and later got our nails done. Now, this is soo picture worthy. I got mine done in honor of ALICE IN WONDERLAND in a shade called "Mad as a Hatter" by OPI.

Yes, it is an explosion of sparkles. Love. Love.

Must start writing now though I'm super distracted, so "working" might mean cleaning or mindless organizing. Or rewriting my to-do list for this INSANE month. But it's insane in a good way because it's something I'm really excited about--going to Florida (hello, 75 degrees!!) and presenting at a conference. Plus, BFF's coming and we're going to have fun. :)

Happy Monday!

Happy Friday!

Last night was awesome! Went to Madison Square Garden with Editor K and J.R. Angelella to see Kathy Griffin. I totally heart her show and it was the coolest thing to see her in person. Pics are on my Twitter feed and Facebook.

Back to writing now and prepping for a day-long writing marathon tomorrow. I'm superexcited about this book--it'll be the introduction of a new character, Brit, and there will be DRAMA! :)

Turned in one of my two articles, so I've got to finish the second one soonish and hand that in. The next few months are going to be a blur--going to Florida, Oklahoma and Utah for conferences. I'm not speaking in Utah--it'll actually be like a vacay! *gasp* Do not want to think about the last time I took an actual vacation. Ummm...? No clue. But the Florida trip gives me an excuse to shop--I need a swim suit as the fab hotel has an outdoor pool (likely going to be too cold), BUT there's also a whirlpool. Love.

Back to writing! Happy Friday everyone!

My friends know me well...

(PG, you are awesome!)

(Julia-thank you!!)

Woke up to these pics from friends for my birthday. PG obvi knows my love for RPattz and Julia must have had ESP and known I hadn't seen the Canterwood books on display on the Favorite Series shelf at B&N. Oh, snap!! That's sooo cool!

Today/tonight is going to be *awesome.*

Lunch in Midtown and then...likely live Tweeting as details unfold. :D V v excited to spend my first birthday in my apt with Team Awesome. <3

Bye, 22!

Wow. Today's my last day as a 22-year-old. I feel waaay older. But also very immature in some ways. (Like, my addiction to every flavor of lip gloss I can find...and, um, my love for all things Twilight...) :)

I'm superexcited about my birthday. Plans are set and I'm sensing an Epic Weekend.

Thanks so much to everyone who's already wished me happy birthday on Facebook, Twitter, etc. You guys are so sweet! <3

Halloween is almost here! Let's talk costumes.

Sooo...my fave holiday is almost here! Halloween!
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I'm into to cutesy, fun Halloween stuff. I *adore* IT'S THE GREAT PUMPKIN, CHARLIE BROWN and HOCUS POCUS. It's hilarious to watch Sarah Jessica Parker before she became SJP. Love. I DVRd those and also set mine to record INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE. I've always been too scared to watch it, but I think I'm ready. Trying to build up my tolerance for horror films. I also realllly want to see SLEEPY HOLLOW with Johnny Depp (my pirate-boy!) and Christina Ricci. Again, I was too scared to see it when it came out. I did have the soundtrack that I played on Halloween and that was freaky.

I was thinking about past costumes when I was a kid/teen. One year, I was a cowgirl with a (*cringe*) fringe skirt and button down pink shirt and cowboy hat. I also had a pair of killer cowboy boots and a belt that had a horse on the buckle.

Another year, I was Snow White. That was fun. Then I was Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

I was also (shocker) an English rider. I wore that to school for costume day.

One of my faves was a black cat. Ears, whiskers, black pants and a tail. Very fun!

Anyone dressing up this year? If so, what's your costume? If not, what was your fave costume?



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Rival Revenge is complete! Woo!

Oooh, yay! The final draft of RIVAL REVENGE is in Editor K's hands. Yaaay! Book #7 is a wrap. Well, till copyedits anyway. But by then, I'll be loong into HOME SWEET DRAMA.

Now, to tackle the to-do list that seemed to come out of nowhere and become quite long. It involves lots of vlogging. And video making. And Website updating. I like. :)

Uh, but first...I might watch the NEW MOON trailer. Just one more time. One. As a sparkly (haha--it's true!) reward.

Happy birthday, R!

Another day of crazy. Gotta write a zillion words (or my Excel sheet will continue to tell me that I will not finish RIVAL REVENGE until July 2010 (!!!). And if I don't pick up my laundry, the cleaners will probably keep it. I'm about to have to wear BFF's clothes that she left here the other night.

Usually, I'm very OCD about keeping things neat and clean. But empty boxes from Fresh Direct haven't moved since Monday morning, my sink is piled with dishes and I'm ignoring cleaning. Too focused on book.

BUT

Tonight is supersparkly because it's RA's birthday!!! There will be amazing food, drinks and fun--we *never* have a boring night out.

So, happy birthday, Ross! *throws confetti*

Got questions? Ask away!

I posted this over on the Canterwood Crest forum, but wanted to repost it here. If you've got questions about the Canterwood books, writing, publishing, whatever--ask 'em here! Leave your question in the comments section and I'll answer all of them in a YouTube video.

You've got until August 4th to leave your question(s) here. I'll post a video soon after I compile all of them.

I think it'll be fun! :)

Don't forget to check out yesterday's post and enter to win a signed copy of Triple Fault!

PS- I hope to start replying to e-mail tomorrow! Sorry, guys!

Win an early copy of Triple Fault!

I just gave away a signed copy on the Canterwood Crest forum, but I think it's time for a blog giveaway! Triple Fault comes out on August 11, but I know some of you JUST can't wait. :)

So, to enter, leave a comment here, on my LiveJournal or in both places. Tell me why you want a copy of Triple Fault! :)

You have until Sunday, July 26 to enter.

Boring rules:

I'll ship only to US addresses and you must e-mail me within a week to claim your prize. I'll have all of that info when I announce the winner. Good luck!

Super Sparkly News!!!

Right now, I feel like I've consumed ALL of these:


Because...

My amazing editor, Kate Angelella, who is a total , has decided that she's willing to put up with my overly caffeinated phone calls, Twittering in her presence and my obsession with R Pattz and has asked me to write books 9-12 in the Canterwood Crest series!!

Dance party! :)

This means Sasha and friends get to ride on for four more books!

To everyone who made it happen (again!!) I'm so, so grateful and am thrilled to have all of you on Team Canterwood! Aladdin MIX = awesome.

I'm in total shock right now and can't even find the words to express how happy I am to be able to continue the stories of Sasha and her friends. I *never* thought I'd have twelve books. Never. And it would not have happened without the amazing, continued support of people who've backed me all the way.

I looked back through my blog and my last book deal was in December. So many things have changed since then, but my intense love for my books hasn't. If anything, it has grown because of the wonderful fans who love the books and show it!

And this time last year? I was squeeing on the phone with EK when she sent me the cover for TAKE THE REINS, my first book.

Insane.

*breathes*

The books will continue on the bi-monthly pub schedule, so stay tuned for dates, covers and all of that fun stuff coming soon.

Again, I want to thank Kate for working side-by-side with me on this crazy schedule, for loving the books as much as I do and for listening to all of my insecurities and being the first one to know that I can do this. I'm beyond grateful to you for everything.

HorseGirlTV--yay!

When I got an e-mail from Angelea Walkup, I was sooo excited! Angelea is the host of HorseGirlTV and it's one of the coolest, most innovative programs for people who love horses.

To explain about HorseGirlTV, I'm borrowing this directly from Angelea's Website:

HorseGirlTV® is a forward thinking online series focusing on the positive aspects of the equine industry.

Mission
The mission at HorseGirlTV® is to educate the equine community while simultaneous entertaining and educating kids, families and mainstream audiences exposing the wonderful world of horses to the world thus enriching and expanding our industry. HorseGirlTV’s goal with is to continually create unique, quality equine entertainment for the wired generation! Tune in. Tack up.®

About Our Host
As a life long equestrian, Angelea (HorseGirlTV’s CEO or Chief Equine Officer!) has not only ridden and trained but she has successfully competed in Dressage through Grand Prix earning both her USDF Silver and Gold Medals. Angelea’s post university career found her behind an illuminated computer screen working in Internet technologies with online communities. She turned in her full-time keyboard with her companies successful acquisition by a major Internet brand and is now focusing her energies on maximizing the emerging world of new media for horse lovers.

I've been a fan of the show for a while and am thrilled that Angelea has asked me to come on and talk about my journey from rider to writer. I'm going to her farm in North Carolina in August to shoot and I'll be vlogging from there. :) We'll probably *both* be vlogging, LOL, since Angelea is as into technology as I am.

When the show airs, it'll be available online and as an iPod download, which is super cool. I'll be sure to let everyone know when we get an airdate.

Thanks in advance to Angelea and yay for HorseGirlTV! :)

GALLOPnyc--I'm volunteering, are you?

(7/5 note--this is a pre-scheduled post for today and I just wanted to add that I hope everyone had an amazing 4th of July. I'll share details from my sparkly weekend (with pics!) this week. But my first 4th in NYC? Total win.) :)

Hey guys!

So, I found out about this super cool equestrian program on a neighborhood message board and wanted to share it with everyone.

Read this first:

~*~

Hi! We are offering an EAP/Therapeutic Horseback Riding group in conjunction with GALLOPnyc (www.gallopnyc.org) for 7-10 year olds from August 24th through August 28th, 9:30-12 PM. This is an innovative (and FUN!) form of therapy for kids and can benefit many, including those who are simply shy, or anxious, depressed, struggling with divorce, ADHD, issues with peers, or could could otherwise benefit from learning horseback riding and socializing with peers in a therapeutic, non competitive environment. This group will be 1/3 riding, 1/3 grooming, and 1/3 group activities.

The group will take place in Kensington Stables, adjacent to Prospect Park.

For more information, questions, and to sign up for the group, please feel free to contact Susie Gersten, L.M.S.W. at EAP.BKLYN@gmail.com.

~*~

All right, so if you live in NYC or close by, they need volunteers to lead horses, help with the kids, etc. You do NOT need experience with horses to help. If you don't want to work with horses, then there will be plenty to do with the participants. I'm going to be volunteering at least one day to lead, groom, tack up and work with the horses and I'm so, so excited.I just sent an email for more details about volunteering, so I'm waiting to hear back to find out what I'll be doing. If you want to come and volunteer with me that would be GREAT! Shoot me an e-mail and we'll coordinate a day. If you've never been around a horse, I can teach you my skillz. ;)

If you don't live nearby but want to support the program, they're also accepting donations since some kids need sponsors. Contact Susie about that.

Happy (almost!) 4th of July!

Hot Myspace Comments / Adultfriender

Happy almost 4th of July, everyone! I'm out for a blog break as of today, but will be back next week. :) Unless, you know, something crazy happens that I HAVE to blog about. I'm so excited that it's my first 4th in NYC. Last year, I was sitting on the trunk of my car with my brother watching neighborhood fireworks. This year? Who knows!

Tonight, I'm hitting Stir with friends and I'm beyond excited.

Have a fab holiday weekend!!

Everything and nothing

I started writing LITTLE WHITE LIES (Canterwood Crest #6 (SIX! *falls over*) yesterday. I Tweeted (stupidly, LOL) that I was going to stay up all night writing and hit 5k before I went to sleep.

Didn't happen. I wrote 500 words and stopped for the night. I needed a few hours to absorb outline changes and just think about where I needed to go with the book.

Today, I got started late and hit my stride. I had one of those rare "OMG" writer moments where I sat back and actually said, "Oh. Whoa. Wow. Um." out loud. One of those crazy-talking-to-yourself writer moments where you actually start to cry like an idiot for no reason.

But a few things hit me full force:

* I'm writing book freaking six. S-I-X. There was a time when I thought I wouldn't be able to write one book. Not one. Just short articles, nothing book length. And I'm not saying this to be like, "Oh, wow. Look. You've written five books." I'm saying this because so many writers e-mail me and say they're sure they can't write a book but so want to. That they can't write past a few pages. I used to think that too.

* I'm in love with a character. A character that I didn't fall for until twenty minutes ago. And I'm hard core crushing. (And man, I'm sooo gonna regret posting this part 'cause EK will read it and never let me forget it when I tell her my new love interest. As if she needs another thing to hold over me, LOL.)

* This is the first book I've ever written in New York and it'll be my only first book in NYC. It feels sparkly just for that reason.

* I'm not the writer I was when I wrote BEST ENEMIES. Not better, not worse (I hope!). Just not the same.

* Everything and nothing has changed. Everything in my life has changed. Nothing in my character's lives has. They were all there--waiting for me to come and move things for them. I'm almost annoyingly giddy to be back to Canterwood (I sound like a student, LOL) and into writing.

And not just writing.

Writing that I love.

There's a difference.

And it took a while for me to find it again. But I have.

Okay! Sappy much? Seriously. :) As you were.

I heart the park

Street lamp = pretty!

This trail makes me want to have a dog to borrow just to walk. Any takers?

(When I took this pic, "real" people were playing baseball and I was like, "Aw. Sigh. It's not vampire baseball. LOL.)

Yesterday, I got stuck on my YA WIP and needed a break, so I headed to the park. I've only ever been on the edge of it and who knew there were MILES of trails--like, shaded trails with signs so you don't get lost--for exploring and walking. I looove it there! It's rained so much that some of the trails were flooded, so I hopped around puddles (read: lakes) and enjoyed the squirrels, grass and trees. Very pretty.

I love that I can either walk down my fave streets in town or head out to the park if I want to be alone and need quiet. It's cool. I love, love the streetlamps. I wouldn't walk around the park alone at night, but I'll prob try to talk Roy and Kassie into walking around with me one night 'cause I really want to see the street lamps on and it would be fun.

Flatiron Lounge taken over by MIXers

I went to the Flatiron Lounge yesterday to meet the lovely and awesome Taylor Morris and PG Kain. While I was waiting...

I watched two guys set up a camera and then those two people (newscasters) showed up minutes later. They got directions from the camera guy, "Just walk straight, talk to each other and smile! But start over if someone walks in front of you."

Newsguy and Newsgirl walked a few yards away, then walked back doing their thing. I, of course, took a cell phone pic. They did this four times before they got it and left.

I wonder what THAT segment is going to be about...?

Taylor, PG and I had so much fun and it's so cool to be able to go out with other authors and not talk about writing or books. Oh, no! We had topics of utmost importance to cover, including but not limited to reality TV and Speidi.

Happy weekend!

Shocking...literally

**Warning: People who heart me and worry about my survival should stop reading now. You've been warned!**

Last night, around 8:30ish, I looked up at my ceiling fan (see below) and realized, "Oh. Hey. I never cleaned that!" So, I got out that step ladder and cleaned the fan blades and then the glass shade things. They were pretty dirty and def needed to come off and be washed. There were three screws per shade and I was all, "Yay!" when I got them off. I washed the shades and started to screw them back on.



I got this far and was screwing in the third shade when ZAP!

Shocked. I was turning the screw and got shocked. Not strong enough to knock me off the ladder, but strong enough to make me sit on the floor for half an hour, stare up at the fan and mutter awful things about it. I was scared to finish putting up the rest of the shades! I waited for a while and finally tried again. I got all of the shades on and I'm never touching them again. No matter how dirty they may get. :)

Herald Square pics

I spent the afternoon here. Here being Harold's Square in Manhattan. I thought I had my BEA clothes set. But no. No. It required trips to: Macy's, Forever 21, H&M and a 3.1 second visit in the Gap before I was like, umm, sorry but no. Just not my style. FINALLY found what I wanted at the very last store, Forever 21, (thank you, Aly!!) and now have clothes. Still deciding how to pair them. Being a girl is hard sometimes, LOL. Am hauling said clothes over to Kassie's in the morning to be like, "Help. Me. Pick."

I'm working on getting my thoughts/general notes together for the BEA panel on Saturday. Am also working on sending a few emails here and there to New York and New Jersey schools about visits for the fall. If you know of any schools who are looking, please send them my way!

My list of authors to stalk is growing by the hour. Plus, um, I heard that a certain superfavoriteOMGIhearther author is attending a party that I'm going to. What if I fan girl out and squee or fall at her feet? Seriously. I have to be cool. Ahem.

Tomorrow, I've got the carnival (sooo packed with big authors that it's making me super nervous!) and a quick trip to pick up my BEA badge. Friday, it's BEA all day. Or until my arms fall off from too many books. There's also a Friday night party, but I'm not sure if I'm going. Saturday is my panel and two parties. Very exciting!

Off to bed to read NIGHT WORLD.

NYC Teen Author Carnival is tomorrow!

Tomorrow...is the NYC Teen Author Carnival! It's hosted by Devyn, Mitali and Korianne. I'm so excited!

Here's the final line up of authors:

Melissa Anelli - Author of Harry, A History
Website / Twitter

Pam Bachorz - Author of Candor
Website / Twitter

Lauren Barnholdt - Author of Two-way Street
Website / Twitter

Jennifer Lynn Barnes - Author of Fate
Website / Twitter

Coe Booth - Author of Tyrell
Website / Twitter

Libba Bray - Author of Going Bovine
Website / Twitter

Jessica Burkhart - Author of Canterwood Crest Series
Website / Twitter

Cinda Chima - Author of Demon King
Website

Cassandra Clare - Author of City Of Glass
Website / Twitter

Tish Cohen - Author of Little Black Lies
Website

Susane Colasanti - Author of Waiting For You
Website / Twitter

Sarah Cross - Author of Dull Boy

Website / Twitter

Aimee Friedman - Author of Sea Change
Website

Linda Gerber - Author of Death by Denim
Website / Twitter

Claudia Gray - Author of Hourglass
Website / Twitter

Jenny Han - Author of The Summer I Turned Pretty
Website / Twitter

Maureen Johnson - Author of Scarlett Fever
Website / Twitter

PG Kain - Author of The Social Experiments of Dorie Dilts: Dumped by Popular Demand
Website

David Levithan - Author of Wide Awake
Website

Carolyn MacCullough - Author of Once a Witch
Website

Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - Authors of The Real Real
Website

Sarah MacLean - Author of The Season
Website / Twitter

Taylor Morris - Author of Total Knockout: Tale of an Ex-Class President
Website

Greg Neri - Author of Surf Mules
Website / Twitter

Michael Northrop - Author of Gentlemen

Website

David Ostow - Illustrator of So Punk Rock
Twitter

Micol Ostow - Author of the Bradford Novels
Website / Twitter

Elizabeth Scott - Author of Something, Maybe
Website

Robyn Schneider - Author of Better Than Yesterday
Website / Twitter

Brian Sloan - A Really Nice Prom Mess
Website

Melissa Walker - Author of Lovestruck Summer
Website / Twitter

Robin Wasserman - Author of Skinned
Website / Twitter

Sasha Watson - Author of Vidalia in Paris
Website / Twitter

Beckie Weinheimer - Author of Converting Kate
Website /Twitter

Michelle Zink - Author of Prophecy of the Sisters

Website / Twitter

We're all divided up into teams and I'm on Team Caramel Apple with:

Libba Bray
Jenny Han
Sarah MacLean
Melissa Walker
Sasha Watson
Pam Bachorz
Greg Neri
David Ostow
Micol Ostow
Sarah Cross
Tish Cohen

The other teams? Cotton Candy and Funnel Cake--they're going DOWN! Team Caramel Apple is made of awesome and it'll be fun! Can't go? The event will also be streaming live, so you can check out the feed.

But if you're in the city, here are the details one more time:

NYC Teen Author Carnival
May 28th, 2009
4:00 - 6:00 PM

Location:
Jefferson Market Branch Library
425 Avenue of the Americas [at 10th St.],
New York, NY 10011-8454.

See you there!

PS--Got an invite to the YA/MG drinks night? Ask Robyn Schneider, Julia DeVillers or Bennett Madison about it for Saturday night. :)