I am home for a few days and not drowning in the backlog of mail, thanks to the gloriousness that is Queen Louise. Plus, she'll totally organized the office in my absence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Yes. I would take a bullet for La Queen.)

The, erm, somewhat frantic news is that I have to repack my suitcase because I leave again THIS FRIDAY, at 6am, for LIMA PERU.

Right.

Another country. Another continent.

Right. I should have my head examined. I think Queen Louise is organizing that.

So I am in triage mode, trying to make sure that the things which Absolutely Must Be Done get done by Thursday night. And there are a couple more interviews I have scheduled, not to mention an itty-bitty basketball game tonight.

(Which, btw, I can't lose. IF UNC wins, I'll be happy for Sarah Dessen and cheer on her boys. I already lost our bet, so what's another loss? If Michigan wins, I'll be even happier.)

If all the critical things can get done, I'll post a tour recap to the blog, and a couple of fun pictures. This was hands-down the most fun and the busiest tour I've ever had. Thanks a million to all who made it such an adventure!!!

And thanks to all for buying WINTERGIRLS - it has been on the New York Times Bestseller List for two weeks in a row!!!! W00T!!!!!!

As part of the 10th Anniversary of SPEAK, I wrote a poem that shares some of the reader reaction I've received in the last decade. Below is the video of me reading the poem at NCTE/ALAN last November.



You can find a higher quality version of the video on the "Speak Up About Speak" page that Penguin has created.

If you want to be a part of this effort, Uncle Penguin would love you to contribute your comments about how the book has affected you on that blog.

On a completely unrelated note, this story of compassion and sportsmanship shown by two basketball teams in the Midwest is guaranteed to make you happy.

I'm off to get ready for my trip to New York and, one hopes, write many more pages.

Scribblescribblescribble...

Readers questions are pouring in!

Many folks are asking about one of my responses to Katrina's questions earlier in the week about majoring in Creative Writing in college.

I wrote: Don't major in Creative Writing, but take some of the classes if the professor has a good reputation with the other students.

This made some people - those majoring in Creative Writing - nervous. So I expanded on my opinion:

My concern is that too many colleges give students the impression that a degree in Creative Writing will nearly guarantee them a lifetime of publishing contracts and a life of ease.

It does not work that way.

If you are fortunate enough to have great professors, your chances of developing your writing skills to the point where you could be published are increased, there's no doubt about that. But there are a lot of terrible creative writing professors out there. Lately, I've talked to several 20-somethings who are bitter and disillusioned because the degree has not translated into anything but rejection letters.

So if it makes you happy, go for it. But do so with your eyes open.

I'd like to add something else to all the high school students out there who want to become authors. I think the single most important thing you can do for your writing career is to spend time living in a different country. Take a gap year and volunteer your services abroad. Or just travel and talk to people. And then come home. You need to get away from the world in which you were raised in order to gain some perspective on your experiences there. Your writing will be stronger and more interesting once you gain that perspective. IMHO.

Were any of you Creative Writing majors? What's your opinion about this?

On MySpace, a reader asks: "Are you sure you didn't write symbolism and themes into your books? Because My english teacher seemed pretty hung up on the fact that I could read Speak three times in two weeks without finding some deep, hidden meaning. In fact, I had to write Not one, but two essays about it.
Well, I know I really Love your books.
I don't search for deeper meanings, becase frankly, I like the Message at the very top.
Can I print Out your myspace and Give it to my English I teacher?"

By teaching you about the uses of symbolism in literature, your teacher is giving you a couple of extra tools that can make reading more fun. I think the symbolism that is important is the symbolism a reader finds in the story. It doesn't matter what the author tried to stick in there. I'm sorry that the essay writing was painful, but I'm glad you liked the book.

K saw the SPEAK movie on Lifetime this weekend and wrote: "All I really have to say is... you're my freakin hero! Well, not really... but that's my way of saying I enjoy the small taste of your work that I have sampled. I've honestly never heard of you or your books before, but Speak came on the TV just now and is probably about halfway through and I love it.

It's everything I think but can never say... Because... people just don't get it. It's good to know I'm not the only one with a bitter, sarcastic, cynical look at society's stupid unwritten rules of communication.

So I haven't read your book, so I don't know if these quotes are in there, but they are in the movie and are awesome.

"All that crap you hear on TV about communication and expressing feelings... is a lie. No one really cares what you have to say."

"Why couldn't he just say what he meant? Would they pin a scarlet letter to his chest? 'S' for Straightforward?"

"Once you get through this "life sucks" phase, I'm sure lots of people will wanna be your friend. But for right now, I don't think we should have lunch together."

That's enough, I guess. You wrote the book, you know what you said, you get the point.

You don't have to answer me back. You're busy. That's cool. But I pretty much had to tell you I love Speak."

I've had some great letters about TWISTED recently - I think I'll share them tomorrow.

In closing, many congratulations and all the respect in the world to the Lady Vols of Tennessee and Coach Pat Summitt (whom I adore) for winning the NCAA Women's Basketball Championship last night.

Many condolences to all my Tarheel friends... That was hard to watch, wasn't it?

Following my decision to support the team that beat the team that beat my team, I only have one thing to say:

CHALK BOARD!

No, that's not right.

ERASER HEAD!

No.

FRUITY PEBBLES!

Where are my notes? ...... Ah.

ROCK CHALK! ROCK CHALK! ROCK CHALK, JAYHAWK, KU!

I love my kids, just love them.

We snuck off to PA for the weekend to see Daughters #1 and #3, as well as do some research and speak to some college classes. We ate a lot of good food, hung out with the girls and their friends, and laughed until our sides ached. They were a blast when they were babies and little kids, but I had no idea how much more fun they would be when they grew up. Life is very good.

Thank you to all the students and professors at Millersville University who made my day there so much fun. (if you are looking for a college, gentle reader, you should take a look at M'ville.)

And so.... Davidson.... ::wipes tears from eyes:: ... I guess I have to say "Rock chalk!" and summon new-found love for the Jayhawks. Let the Madness continue!!

What is the whole "rock chalk" thing, anyway? Can someone please educate me?

It's been a while since I updated my resolutions. I've had to cut back on running a little because of a very sore hamstring, but it's healing nicely. Might try to run outside today - I am really sick of the treadmill.


2008 Resolution Tracker
Week 13 - Miles Run: 10, YTD: 258.25
Week 13 - Days Written: 7, YTD: 91

Back to revision!

Kitties DO rule over Badgers!

Go Mr. Cat!

Here, birdie, birdie, birdie.....

Thank you very much for all the comments yesterday. I fasted, I slept, I looked to the stars for guidance and I have decided to support....

Davidson College: "Where Hoops and Books Coexist". Even though they are located in you-know-where.

And if, by some strange chance, they get beat, I'll support whoever beats them, and whoever beats them, etc.

(Really I just want to make muffins for my Hoyas. Maybe some chicken soup, too.)

One question: the Davidson mascot is a guy named Mr. Cat. (I did not make that up.) So am I supposed to yell "Go, you Mr. Cats!"? Are they Hep Cats? Ferocious Felines? They sure as heck beat the tar out of the Georgetown bulldog. Here is my first official taunt as a Davidson Cat: Hey, Barry! Your Jayhawks? Going down, man! Kitties rule over birdies every time!

(OK, that was a little lame, but I'm new at this.)

Wait - we have to get past Wisconsin before we sink our fangs into Kansas. Do kitties rule over badgers?

Tab closing time: check out author Anne Bustard's Anneographies blog which highlights picture book biographies by the birthday of the central character. My hero, Sarah Josepha Hale is there on October 24th - so is the book I wrote about her! (I'm pretty sure I got the link from Cynthia Leitich Smith, another great Austinite.)

Want to know why people go into the high-paying, glamorous world of bookselling? Check out the ABA's March Carnival of Bookselling.

I am officially back in the Cave of Revision (have been all week), so pardon me if the posts for the next couple of weeks get a little weird.

Sharp-eyed readers will notice that I have not been able to bring myself to post about my beloved Hoya's loss to Davidson in the NCAA basketball tournament this weekend.

::chokes back sob::

That's because it HURTS! They lost! My boys lost! Oh, they tried so hard!! And to Davidson? Where is Davidson, exactly?

Hang on.... I need a moment here...

::flings self on floor, pounds fists, scares dog::
::gathers self::

God, I hate reality sometimes.

OK. Georgetown lost. North Carolina continues to steamroll the opposition. (Yes, Sarah Dessen's library gets a free copy of my new book when it comes out because, sigh, her team is clearly superior to mine this year. There. I said it.)

So here's my question for you: which team do I cheer on now? I am teamless. Help!

The lung dragon is threatening to attack again, I'm having trouble sleeping, and I have doctors' appointments today. It snowed again yesterday. Just a little, but it was still snow.

I am officially Miss CrankyPants.

So instead of whining, I will give you fun links.

Stephanie Anderson writes Bookavore, a hell of a good book blog. She works at an independent bookstore and reads faster and more critically than anyone I know. Including me. And yes, she's my oldest kid. So read her blog and link to it, OK?

Stef and Editorial Anonymous both pointed out an awesome site for writers in need of shirts.

At what age does childhood end?

Georgetown made it. Syracuse didn't. I suspect that Sarah Dessen is itching to make our bet again and I'm so there. LET THE MADNESS BEGIN!!!

More good news? TWISTED was named as a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age. If I could breathe, I'd be jumping up and down about this.

Last but nor least, today we celebrate my Irish ancestors who hopped the boat to escape the Famine.Thank you, Grandpa Donovan. It turned out well for us, didn't it?

Quick thoughts:

A 6am diner breakfast with my dad is a nice way to start the day.

Sarah Dessen's North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team is still dominating. Sadly. But my Hoyas don't completely suck.

Yesterday's run was long, slow, and lovely. And I woke up with a sore right knee. I checked the mileage and sure enough, I've put in 325 miles in this pair of running shoes. The last time I had knee trouble, it was when the previous pair of shoes got to 325. You are supposed to only have to get new shoes every 400 miles, but I think I have a snobby knee. (Think Princess and the Pea. Or Knee.) So it's off to the store we go. Thank you, darling children, for the gift certificate at Christmas!

Along with working on my book and keeping various family plates spinning in the air, I am preparing for my workshops at Kindling Words next week. Are any of you going to be there? If you are, help me out: this is my first KW (I've been wanting to go for years). What is your favorite part of KW?

Writing note - I keep circling around the description of a character's room, putting stuff in, taking stuff out, walking into it, walking out of it, etc. Why am I struggling with this? Because I am still trying to understand this (secondary) character. Hmmmmmm.