Busy Days Ahead!

Hey, guys!

The Politics and Prose event was huge fun. Unfortunately, I went a little late, due to both of the dogs in my house being real you-know-whats at various times (Big dog stole bone from little dog, wouldn’t give it back, and then woudln’t even give it to me, which was shocking because she’s usually such a sweetheart but I think she realized that as I was not her master, I woudln’t punish her the way my best friend would under similar circumstances, and I didn’t really want to stick my hand in her mouth at that moment.

Anyway, long story short, I got to P&P a half hour late, so I missed Jodi Lynn Anderson reading from her latest Peaches book, Love and Peaches (sad face). However, I did get to participate in a fascinating roundtable discussion about the store’s brand new YA section for older teens with the store managers, employees, and a bunch of teenagers. Politics & Prose is doing something very innovative with their teen section. They separate new books out from old books, and they have an older teen section as well as one for younger teens (like middle schoolers). I was fascinated by what they were choosing to put in each section. In the older teen section they had classic and adult novels as well (such as REBECCA). Must do some more investigating. I loved meeting all the booksellers, and I was so impressed by their dedication to YA and teen reading. They’ve got some exciting stuff planned for that section!

Today I’m going down to Richmond for a baby shower for my soon-to-be new nephew. I’ve never been an aunt before, so this is all very exciting. I may, possibly, have gone overboard in preparing for this event. Last night, my mother in law and I were stirring up big batches of M&Ms in the babyshower-theme colors for treat bags and peeling the labels off baby food jars to prepare for baby shower games. I guess this is how it works. A few years ago, it was all weddings, all the time. Now it’s all babies.

Tomorrow — tomorrow! — I’m going to New York City to meet Carrie Ryan, who is kicking off her pre-publication tour for her book, THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH (March). We plan to: visit book stores, drink wine, and plot world domination. You know, girl stuff.

And then on Monday, I’m meeting with my Harper Collins editor and the publicity team to discuss the release of Rampant which is, oh, not too many days away. Two hundred and twenty, to be exact. (Which means Tap & Gown is 213). I’m sure I’ll have all sorts of exciting news to share when I return. Maybe even a cover and blurb of the book! (I’ve seen them both and I love them!)