And today, at 4:55pm, I handed in chapter book revision to my editor at Little, Brown.  I've been working on this book for 2-3 years now.  Well, actually longer because it's a project I started in college.  So I've been working and reworking this draft for FOREVER, and last week, after much thought, I decided to pretty much change the whole thing.  I started from near scratch.  Not total scratch, a few scenes survived, but the bones of it were brand bony new.  At first I was scared, but once I got going, it just felt right.  Hopefully my editor agrees!  I'm so excited, I cannot wait for the illustrations!   The illustrator is someone super-special.  I've been a fan of hers for a few years now, and I even have one of her pieces framed and hanging up in my apartment.  I will tell you who she is as soon as my editor gives me the green light!  

Raise your hand if you can't believe it's already the end of July!  The end of July = end of summer, practically.  I've had a busy July so far-- I just got back from Virginia and North Carolina-- I went to a couple of weddings, did a couple of book signings.  It's good to be back in NYC, but I do miss home.  When I am in Richmond, I ride around with my sister and go to Target and the mall, and I walk my dog Jack, and I eat fried chicken and yellow cake.  I can't do any of those things here in NYC.  I could eat yellow cake, but it's not the same.  Here in NYC, I order Vietnamese sandwiches from Nicky's and bubble tea.  I eat sushi twice a day.  I meet friends for writing dates.  

Speaking of writing-- I took a mini-break while I was at home, but now I am back to work on my revision for Pretty 2.  But I do have good news to share.  I finally, finally have a title!  It's been soooo hard coming up with a good title for this sequel.  But at last, I have one that I actually like!  It will be called, IT'S NOT SUMMER WITHOUT YOU.  I hope you like it too!  

xoxo

I've been having that Sunday night feeling for the past couple of weeks.  You know, that feeling of dread because even though it's technically still the weekend, you have a ton of homework for Monday that you haven't even started on yet?  It's like, you can only 20% enjoy Sunday because of that feeling.  Pit of your stomach dread.  

I've been on summer vacation, and I've done some fun stuff.  I went to my friend C's house in the Hamptons, and it was actually supposed to be a writing retreat.  While I didn't get a ton of physical writing done, I sure thought about stuff a lot and got ideas.  While I was tanning, or in the pool, or eating blueberry pie.  Hmm, I should put a farmstand in the new book!  My little sister came to visit last week, and that was fun too.  We went to see Our Town and it was AMAZING.  If you have the opportunity to go, I urge you to see for yourself.  It really did feel like life.  

I also went to Atlantic City for a quick trip to "write by the pool" and also eat at the Borgata buffet.  You know what I realized?  I hate buffets.  It's just so wasteful and it makes me feel gross and glutinous.  And the food is never as good.  The exception to this rule is probably the dessert buffet at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond.  That's gross and glutinous in the best way possible!  Anyway I lost a few bucks at the blackjack table (not much, mind you but still enough to get my goat) but we went dancing one night and DJ AM was the headlining dj, which was cool!  My sister and friends and I danced on the little "stage" in front of his booth and so we were face to face-- and let me tell you, he is not only talented but also cute.  I just never knew djs did that much work!  Not for one second did he rest or stop messing with the turntable or the Mac or the whatever buttons he was pushing.  A real slight of hand that guy has.  Random fact: did you know that DJ AM was a part of that group Crazytown who sang that lame Butterfly song?  "Come come my lady..."  

And that's where I'll leave you, as I get back to work on The Sequel That is Breaking My Back and My Spirit.  --xoxo.

PS. OMG, I picked the "frustrated" mood tag for this entry, and the picture that came up is Buffy in her coffin!  About to claw her way out!  I don't know that I'm quite at that level just yet... but I'll prob get there soon!  

Happy rainy Friday!

1.  I am going to be doing signings in DC this weekend, on Saturday at 2pm at Aladdin's Lamp in Arlington and on Sunday at 2pm at Hooray for Books in Alexandria.  I hope to see you there!  

2.  I think I might need one of those shoe closets like Carrie Bradshaw has.  I've bought more shoes in the past week and a half than I have all year!  I have just never been a shoe girl.  This is because I am like Bambi in heels, can barely walk, and I am also not good with pain.  But I could not resist the shoes I bought.  I simply could not say no.  Nude 4.5 inch heels with a cross stitch along the bottom and down the heel, satin 5(!) inch platforms, and black sandals with a little heel and a little bow.  And beige gladiator flats that cut my big toe.  No more shoes for me.  

3.  I've rounded up all my edits from my editor and from my friends, and now I just have to dig in to this second draft.  Easier said than done!  I have a huge mountain of work ahead of me, and it's just so daunting.  I think I have written the beginning like, eight times.  For reals.  I like this most recent beginning, we'll see if it keeps.  Still no title.  Titles are HARD!  

4.  Last night, I dreamt that I met Prince Harry and Prince William.  They were in town, visiting as royals do.  I gave them a book of photography as a gift, and then I was really embarrassed because there was a section on Princess Diana's funeral.  Whoops!  Prince William didn't seem to mind though, he was very gracious, and I said, "Wow, you have really good manners.  It must be because you're a prince."  We really hit it off.  In the dream, he didn't have a receding hairline either.  

5.   I have to pack for my big DC trip, and as always, I am torn.  There is a gym, and I'd love to give it a whirl, but I just know that if I bring sneakers, I won't end up using them.  They'll just be one more thing in my fancy new travel bag.  (Another recent purchase.  I may not be a shoe girl, but I do like buying suitcases and weekend bags.)  My rule is, no more than two pairs of shoes--one nice, one casual.  I am actually a very light packer.  I can do a bookbag for a weekend.  When I go out for the day, I always check my bag to see if there is anything I can get rid of to make my load a little lighter--ie a lip gloss, a pen, etc.  

Have a great weekend, yall!

1.  I am gearing up for a weekend of writing with my buddy Siobhan.  I've just gotten preliminary notes from my editor the Pretty sequel and also a trusted writing friend and I am raring to go.  I'm like a pony at the track, chompin at the bit.  You know what's fun?  Horse names.  I love horse names, the long and fancy ones and the short and sweet ones.   Like Sweet Revenge, or Never Say Never, or Nibbley.  I wouldn't mind being Sweet Revenge or Nibbley.  

2.  Let's talk TV for a minute.  Summer is here which means a few things.  So You Think You Can Dance!  True Blood!  Entourage!  Weeds!  

3.  Now let's talk books.  Or one book in particular, the book I cannot stop thinking about.  CATCHING FIRE.  Read it, loved it, am obsessed with it.  Peeta is my dream man.  Peeta, you can bake bread or ice cookies for me anytime, now and forever.  I can't wait until the book comes out and so I can discuss it with everyone and also buy it for everyone.  Makes a wonderful gift!  I bought so many copies of Hunger Games, you don't even want to know.  

4.  School is almost out FOR SUMMA!  School's out FOREVA!  Well, not forever exactly, but for three months.  I love this time of year, with the whole summer stretching out in front of you.  It feels so... decadent.  I plan to be at the beach as much as possible so I can work on my book (Pretty 3!!!) as well as become golden.  

5.  Do you live in DC?  Because I am doing two signings in DC!  Come and see me, won't you please?  I will be at Aladdin's Lamp on Saturday June 13th at 2pm, and I will be at Hooray for Books! in Alexandria on Sunday June 14th at 2pm.  I hope I see you there!  

I'm audi 5000.

1. I just found out Shug is gonna be published in Germany!  I love my German publisher Hanser Verlag!  Germany is now my new favorite country.  

2. You know what sounds so delicious?  A white cake with bittersweet chocolate that has been dripped over it and hardened into a shell.  Doesn't that sound good?  A long time ago, Seventeen magazine used to have a short story section that teens would submit to-- and there was once a short story about a girl with an eating disorder and she makes this cake for her father's birthday.  It was called "Teddy's cake" or something.  Anyway, I want a slice of that cake.  

3. Going shopping today.  On the horizon: flat, fancy sandals that can transition from day to evening.  Also, a pair of high heels that will sit in a box in my closet because I never wear high heels.  I am not one of those wundergirls who can wear heels shopping and dancing and to work and they just walk through the pain.  When I am in pain, I want everyone to know about it and that can be tedious for those having to listen.  

4. Have sent in the sequel to Pretty to my editor.  Am waiting with bated breath for notes.  But am also enjoying this down time.  

5. I often ask people this question.  I want you to play along and answer it.  Would you rather have a personal chef, a driver, or a personal trainer?  For me, it's easy.  I say DRIVER.  I hate to drive.  I am a very anxious driver.  I love having people drive me around.  While I would really like a personal chef, I can cook and also there is always takeout.  A trainer would be lovely because it is, after all, summer-- but I've tried that out before and I just ended up avoiding the gym so I didn't have to run into him and explain why I hadn't come in so long.  Maybe if I had one of those bootcamp people who come to your house-- my house by the beach in LA, with a workout room.  A bootcamp person could not come to my NYC studio apartment.  I would not want to disturb my neighbors with all that.

1.  My throat is hurty.  Hurts to swallow, hurts to talk.  Happened over night!  Drinking hot honey water now.  

2.  We just sold more foreign rights for Pretty!  Hebrew and Portugese to be exact.  Which brings our grand total up to (drum roll please) SEVEN!  More than I could ever hope for.  Besides my sore throat, I feel like the luckiest girl in the worl'.  (the dropped d is intentional, so as to rhyme.)

3.  My little sister graduated from graduate school-- with straight A's!  So very proud of her.  Watch out world, Babe is on her way!  (I call her Babe.  Also Roon, short for Babe-a-rooni.  What can I say, she is my little sister.)

4.  Terminator Salvation is out!!!  For those who don't know me like that, I am a huge fan of the Terminator franchise, with the exception of T3 which I choose not to recognize.  T2, however, I love and can recite to you all day long.  ("I order you not to go!"  "I know now why you cry, but it is something I can never do.")  I was supposed to watch Salvation tonight but I AM SICK and thus cannot.  But y'all go and report back here!  But only if you have nice things to say... I can't allow people to bash the movie if I haven't at least seen it because then it will color my expectations and I wish to go in with a hopeful heart.  John Connor 4ever.  

5.  I don't think I even have a 5.  I'm too sick to have a 5.  

peace out yall!   

So.  The Summer I Turned Pretty is finally, officially out!  (You can't see me, but I am high-fiving myself.)  Last night, I had a really great event at RJ Julia in CT.  It's the sweetest bookstore, so charming, with cupcakes and black and white photos and the best staff ever.  (The best next to Books of Wonder, my other favorite indie.)  The best part was (other than all the adorable girls that came out), they gave me a gift!  I got to pick out any book I wanted in the whole store!  I waffled between The Help by Kathryn Stockett and The Selected Works of T.S. Spivet.  I ended up going with T.S.  

Tomorrow night, I have a reading at the New York Public Library, Jefferson Market branch at 6pm.  I am reading with Emma McLaughlin, Nicola Kraus, Kieran Scott, Susane Colasanti, and Nick Burd.  Come out and say hey!  This Thursday, I will be signing books at the Lincoln Center Barnes and Noble at 3:30.  And, this Sunday, I will be reading AND signing at Borders at 2pm in Glen Allen, Virginia.  

And now, I am going to eat some Cinnamon Toast Crunch and call it a night.  

Before I tell you who won my arc contest, I will share with you, my precious readers, a haiku my editor wrote for the occasion.

Mama always said

Pretty is as pretty does

In the summertime

Isn't that lovely? Isn't that just so sweet? And in keeping with the theme?
And now for the winner of the contest! The signed arc and mix tape go to... (drum roll, drum roll) ANDREA of Mode a la Pie!  

Here is Andrea's haiku:  

long bike rides with friends
bugs a-glow in clear glass jars
slurping otter pops

Andrea, I will be in touch shortly!  And I hope you enjoy your prize.  :)  A big thank you to everyone who participated.  Yall are such good sports!  

First things first. The results of the haiku contest will be coming very soon! I am still sorting through my entries. Patience, my pretties!

In the meantime... here's one of my favorite commercials.