Egads!

Looking at the date of my last post I was rather horrified, seeing as how it's been so long since my last post. Of course a have reams of excuses: it was the end of the semester, we moved, I had to go to New York - but really they are just excuses and I'm sorry I've been away.

I make amends with pictures! Of New York!

The primary reason I was in New York was that I needed to visit David Levithan to sort out some details of our collaborative novel - INVISIBILITY CURSE. Here is the moment in the blog where I do a I happy dance and say OMG yes I totally did get to crash at David Levithan's apartment all weekend. And it was awesome. It's a funny thing about becoming close friends with authors you long admired, cognitively I know that David is my friend but the giddy inner fangirl part of me never quite goes away.

New York - always a place I love - did not disappoint. I had wonderful meetings with my superhero agents: Richard and Charlie. I had more wonderful meetings with the Penguin family and particularly Editor Jill who is currently reading my fourth manuscript (cue nervous nail biting). Jill also gave me a present: a finished copy of Wolfsbane!!! In two months it will be in stores. Yay!!!

I particularly enjoyed my time on the subway and noted that the subway has become a great location for performing arts. On one of my trips the car was serenaded by a four piece mariachi band. And on another we had breakdancers.

I was also in town for the Teen Author Carnival, which was so much fun and I was finally reunited with my critique partner, Lisa Desrochers, who I hadn't seen for two years! Thanks to everyone who came to the event. Look here's a picture of you all!

Now I'm back in Minnesota and crashed in my quasi new home that is in utter disarray of moving boxes and randomly placed furniture. Given that the move still needs finishing I probably will still have some lags in blogging, but I promise not as long of a lag as this last one.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend.

I'm still unpacking boxes.

Taking Risks Contest

What are you afraid of? How can your fears hold you back?

These questions become very important as you make choices about life and who you want to be in the world. Fear keeps many of us from pursuing dreams.

Super Reader Girl just posted an interview where I discuss how terrifying it was to actually pursue my dream of becoming a writer. But if I'd never taken that risk I wouldn't have any of the joy I'm experiencing now with Nightshade's publication.Last week after BEA I did something else scary. Trapeze.

The Penguin offices in SoHo overlook the Trapeze School New York. When Editor Jill pointed the school out to me and I said "wow, I'd like to try that," she said "next time you're in town we'll go!"Editor Jill keeps her promises.Trapeze is scary. You have a little bit of practice.
But up on the platform you can see all the way to the Statue of Liberty.

Fortunately Abby is up there to reassure you -when you stretch your arm outand then both arms.The hardest part is right here, when you're leaning forward, toes over the edge of the platform and your heart is pounding.And that's when you have to jump. Yes, jump. Even though your blood is shrieking "no, no, no, no, no!" fueled by millenia of survival instincts.

But if you don't jump, you can't fly.And flying is worth the risk.
You just have to believe in yourself.And if you're like Editor Jill you can even fly upside down. Go Jill!! (I couldn't quite get the upside down, but next time I will!)
And remember there are people cheering you on - here's our teacher, Evan.
If you don't leap you'll never soar. And you need to remember that it's okay to fall. Everyone ends up in the net, but that doesn't mean you won't fly again.
It's June - a new month, leading us to summer. And it's time for a new giveaway. At BEA I had the joy of meeting so many amazing readers and writers all aspiring to wonderful dreams.

The characters in Nightshade face a number of their deepest fears to overcome obstacles. To win a signed Nightshade ARC leave a comment below describing something you'd like to try but are afraid to (like trapeze!) be it bungee jumping, writing a story, climbing a mountain.

The winner will be drawn randomly on Friday!

BEA: Day 3

Day 3 was really full and will take up a few posts.

But let's start with the morning. I snapped a few pictures of my favorite BEA objects

the Penguin mini

the giant Abrams typewriter

and the Vlad Tod steps!

Then it was on to the signing. Thanks to Editor Jill and Publicist Sarah for shuttling me around and getting everything set

Thanks to Agent Richard for cheering me on and letting me get him to pose with giant Nightshade. I am officially obsessed with giant Nightshade.
And a HUGE thanks to all the lovely BEA goers who came to say hello!

Signing was fun

I signed 150 books in 50 minutes - there was a line! Amazing!

But my hand didn't cramp up
And it was pretty much a hoot and a half :) Thanks, Jill Bailey, for the fabulous purple Sharpie - the perfect Nightshade signing implement!

I'll be posting more about BEA after I've had a chance to catch my breath. Also coming soon: I visit an aircraft carrier (yes for real) and do trapeze without dying (also for real).

BEA: Day 2

Wow! BEA is a whirlwind. I was so busy I haven't taken all the pictures I want, but promise more tomorrow. For now I'm happy to report that the Paranormal Panel was awesome. I met a bunch of book bloggers - yay!!! - thanks so much for coming to the panel guys :) I'm waiting for group photos to be emailed to me and then I'll post them.

Update - hooray: Agent Charlie posted a pic on his web site!

I think I even managed some coherent thoughts beyond "OMG I can't believe I'm on stage with Richelle Mead and Holly Black!"

And the Penguin Booth has a giant Nightshade!!! So of course I had to get pics of that.This is me and Don Weisberg - who I love - he's the President of Penguin Young Readers.

And here's Team Nightshade (or at least three key pack members) Editor Jill, me, and Agent Charlie. Agent Richard came to the panel too (thanks Richard!!!) but he'd ducked out before pics. Sneaky.

More to come - and remember, if you're around BEA on Thursday I'm signing ARCs in the Penguin Booth from 10 - 11 a.m.

BEA: Day 1

Arrived in New York this afternoon and apparently made a good impression on the hotel desk staff (the note says: Congratulations! Have fun! Enjoy! Go get 'em!)
Had a fabulous time at the ABC Not-a-Dinner and (Mostly Silent Auction), where Heather Brewer, me, and Ally Condie had a red carpet moment

And I got to hang out with my amazing editor Jill

and awesome publicist SaraTomorrow: to the Javits Center!

Wishes

So remember a few posts ago when I was wishing I could go to a book fair?
The universe was listening.

I've heard from Penguin that I'll be at the Book Expo America in New York City from May 25 - 27. Woo-hoo!!

I knew this trip was a possibility, but the reality of being their is more thrilling than I can say. Last year I posted about BEA and how much I hoped to be there someday. It's hard to believe that in a single year so much has happened. I'm filled with gratitude and joy.

For anyone who is attending BEA and wants to say hi, I'm on a panel with Richelle Mead (I KNOW can you believe it!!) at the Downtown Stage in the Jarvits Center on Wednesday at 11 a.m.
On Thursday I'll be signing ARCs in the Penguin Booth at 10 a.m. That's right - signing ARCs. Squeeeee!!!!

For the rest of the conference I'll be hanging out with awesome Editor Jill, meeting up with Tenners (woot!) and hopefully getting to know lots of other awesome book people ;)

I feel like a little kid who's so excited they run in crazy circles until they fall down. I'm falling down now. *faints*

10 Things I Learned in New York

10. Manhattan (sorry, San Francisco - if it helps, you came in 2nd) remains my favorite place to eat. They have everything and it is all so frickin' delicious.

9. The Algonquin has a luggage cat. Her name is Matilda and the only time I saw her leave the baggage cart was to leap on top of a suitcase and settle into her newly selected perch.
8. The New York Public Library is research heaven. I saw this exhibit while I was there.

7. West Side Story on Broadway was amazing, but I liked watching ice skaters in Bryant Park even better.My favorite moment: witnessing a man in a business suit skate around with his son, who looked about 8 and was sporting a Rangers jersey.

6. The Philomel offices at Penguin Young Readers Group have a brilliant view. (Like this, but a bit further away)
5. My editor is Carrie Bradshaw. (No joke, Editor Jill arrived to meet us in the lobby and I did a double take). I think if I lived in Manhattan she would be my BFF (see #4).
4. Next time I visit I will take trapeze lessons - the school is one more cool place you can see from the Philomel offices. (See #5, she promised we'd go!)

3. As I suspected, everyone at InkWell and Penguin dresses oh-so-stylishly (I hope they liked my outfit).Though garbed like fashionistas, everyone I met was really, really nice and super, super fun. And I happily discovered at InkWell - though I had guessed it would be so - Agent Richard is even more impressive and wonderful in person as he is on the phone and Agent Charlie would be my other BFF if I lived in New York. (More comics' chat soon, Charlie!)

2. I have the most talented, wonderful collection of people working on Nightshade. Thank you so much for an incredible visit!! I can't wait to see you again :)1. Going away for a week is much nicer when you have a wonderful husband and two ecstatic dogs welcoming you back. Even if the dogs took over the bed while you were gone. It's nice to be home.

NYC Play by Play

I'm here! I'll be updating this post as events transpire, but here's what we have so far:

Last night, arrived at JFK 30 minutes earlier than expected courtesy of a 'strong tail wind,' I guess Mother Nature knew how much I wanted to get here. Thanks, Mama!

Checked in at my hotel, the Algonquin, which I selected both for its proximity to InkWell and its storied literary heritage.

Had a lovely dinner with friend from childhood. He may be a corporate lawyer in Manhattan now, but I still have fond memories of gathering frog eggs and chasing through the woods with him when we were six.

Managed to get a good night's sleep despite the fact that Army of Darkness tried to tempt me to watch it at 1 a.m.
Headed out for a morning bagel, only to run into Agent Charlie at the cafe. Surprise!! So much fun to meet him unexpectedly and also, he bought me breakfast. Mmmm, delicious everything bagel with veggie cream cheese. Thanks, Charlie!

Now I'm realizing that one cup of coffee is not enough, so I'll be going out in search of further caffeination prior to my meeting at InkWell at 10:30.

More to come!

UPDATE: 3:03 p.m. EST

Wow. Okay, just wow. I am still too dazed from the incrediawesomfabulosity that was my meeting at Penguin. They took me out for lunch and toasted me (aaaaaaaaa!!!!!) What's more I can't imagine a more wonderful, fantastic, brilliant group of people to partner with on this book. They are amazing and now I consider them my extended family - big hugs Penguin family!!!
(Though I didn't have a camera, my agent kindly snapped this photo. Yay - me and Winnie-the-Pooh at Penguin! Ahem and that expression = me trying to smile and yet not scream whilst jumping up and down)


I didn't have to worry about running into my publisher's arms shrieking, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" because he immediately ran over and hugged me :)

I'm still floating a little too high above the ground to post coherently but I'll send more soon. For now: Hooray, hooray, hooray!

Oooh, AND they gave me a board of the cover (aaaaaaa!!!) and an ARC (aaaaaaaa!!!!)

Update: 10:05 a.m., Friday, January 15

Woke up this morning to discover that yesterday's blur of fabulous times was in fact NOT a dream. Hooray!

This morning - work beckons, research at the New York Public Library. Hopefully I won't run into any problems like this:



Have a great weekend everyone! A New York trip run-down will be posted Monday :)

Apples, Penguins, and Other Excitement

Thanks so much for the great questions in yesterday's Q&A. I had so much fun and I hope you did too! If you came up with a question that you didn't ask, have no fear. I'll host another Q&A on random Monday next month.

Tomorrow I will be in New York. I'm so excited I have a bad feeling that I won't sleep tonight because I'll be too wired about the trip.

I love New York. On my first trip at age 16, the city stole my heart. I try to visit once a year both to see friends and to spend time in the city itself. My favorite thing to do in Manhattan - just walk. Streets filled with people, shops, restaurants, the distinct character of each neighborhood. Manhattan is a feast for the sense.

Though I'm happy for any excuse to visit, this trip is particularly special. It's the first time I'll meet my agents at InkWell and my editor and publisher at Penguin. I've been practicing my 'calm' voice because I'm worried as soon as I see them I'll throw myself into their arms shrieking, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!" And then they will run away, which wouldn't bode well for my future as a writer.

Sadly I won't have a camera with which to document my trip, but I'll keep you updated via blog posts sans photos. Since I won't have a photo or video guide to share, just assume it will be something like this: