2011

Hi, friends.

I've missed you. It's been a long, long month for me as I've been working around the clock to make sure that I would remember 2011 as the year I published my first novel, not as the year I lost my best friend. And I am able to (cautiously) say that things look like they're looking up for her--she is still extremely high risk, but she feels GOOD and happy, and that makes ME feel good and happy as she runs around the house looking for (even more) food.

Which means that I'm able to finally have some time to think about other stuff. Like the last twelve months.

This year, I:

Turned 29
Published a book
Finished another one
Saw the first one go into a reprint
Watched it sell in 12 countries
Was floored to have five brilliant authors say wonderful things about it very publicly.
Was reviewed in the LA Times
Watched Lainey Gossip tweet about it
Saw my name (and my book) in Star magazine
Was interviewed on a stage at BEA by a kind and generous blogger
Listened to my editor speak more eloquently about my book than I ever could to a packed room
Signed with the literary agent of my literary idols
Speed dated with librarians at ALA
Discovered the Fudrucker's veggie burger with two geniuses at 2AM in New Orleans
Went on a book tour
Flew to a state I've never been to with two awesome authors I'd never met before
Fought with the bestselling living poet in America over Twilight 
Watched dolphins swim at night with a wildly talented author (and fellow Gollum fan + demon baby aficionado)
Saw my 11th grade AP English teacher at NCTE, where I was invited to talk about my book.
Was told by an author I've admired for a decade that she's been looking forward to my book for months
Was interviewed on NBC in Chicago 
Found out my love of Marilyn Manson is shared by a YA author I have a girlcrush on.
Saw the most amazing T-shirts in the history of T-shirts
Toured (and had a midnight room service + pajama party) with an author I greatly respect whose books I adore

In 2011, I made so many new friends. I've had wonderful times with many old ones. I watched my brother and one of my best friends marry his perfect match. I watched my other brother and best friend launch his second kickass business. I've seen my mother find the happiness she truly deserves. I've watched my family grow. I've been blessed to share more holidays and birthdays with my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins. I've spent 80 days traveling and have been blessed to be able to buy Maggie some extra, good time (literally).

In 2011, I watched dreams come true that I never knew I had.

In 2012, I hope all of yours come true, too.

Cassie & Michelle Do Long Island

Heyyyyyyyy you guys! How have you been?

I have been WONDERFUL. I have been doing Lots O' Stuff. And I've been tweeting about the stuff, but realized I haven't been blogging about it! That ends now.

Earlier tonight, I had a signing with Cassandra Clare. Her newest book came out yesterday. It's effing phenomenal. It's called CLOCKWORK PRINCE. You might have heard of it?

That's what I thought :)

We were at the Carle Place in Long Island, which shall henceforth be recalled as the place where THE COOLEST THING EVER happened to me: 

 

 

The SPECTACULARLY AWESOME bloggers from @readwriteramble made T-shirts. WITH QUOTES FROM MY BOOK. 

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH *breathes* AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA 

AND THEY ASKED ME TO SIGN BOXES OF ANIMAL CRACKERS. 

But seriously. Did you see those shirts? Click to embiggen. Because I am telling you, they were made with puff paint. By hand. And the amount of text was heavy and detailed and...I just can't even. I CAN'T because...really.

Ladies? Thank you forever. Forever forever forever. FOREVER. 

There were other amazing, phenomenal people there tonight, too:

That would be Casey, who was ALSO wearing a MARA DYER T-shirt, of the "Who is Mara Dyer?" variety, and her friend Ari. They are both smart and lovely and wonderful. Also, Casey is Mara's advocate in the YA Sisterhood tournament. Mara's first match is on December 15th, and Lori from Pure Imagination & Casey have resurrected Mara Mondays to lead up to it. Speaking of which, in case you'd like to ALSO show your love for Team Mara? Grab a button here!

Despite the gross drizzly rain, so, SO many people showed up to say hi and have us sign their books. I do not have pictures of all of them, because this is about 1/4 of the crowd.

But because the event was in NY? Some of my most beloved NY people came out:

Those are my family people in the green room place. They have a sixth sense and they can find me WHEREVER I am and they found me in there signing books, and gosh, I love them so much.

They love each other, too. Above picture is my cousin with Jeremy, the littlest bro. This one.

And, like I said, I was there with Cassie. I have only this picture to show for it, though. You're just going to have to trust me:

Other cool stuff that happened recently?

 

That's MARA DYER. In the December 5th issue of Star Magazine. 

And this happened, too. 

 

I'm positive I tweeted about it, but realized I never mentioned it here on the blog: Lainey (as in Lainey Gossip) read MARA DYER. 

Her blog generated one of my favorite lines in the book. Go visit, and see if you can figure it out. In other words, I am a big fan. A HUGE FAN. I will forever be proud of having given her a sunburn in the Maldives. 

Tomorrow, Cassie and I head to DC, where we'll be signing at the Bethesda Library.

I CANNOT WAIT to see more of you. And to everyone who came tonight?

Thank you.

The Heidi Klum gorilla incident. Yes, really.

So, yesterday I posted about my youngest brother's latest in a string of ridiculously age-inappropriate achievements because I'm a proud sister and this is my blog, so I'm allowed. It's a law. At the bottom of that post, I included an email from him to me. Casey asked in the comments whether it was real.

Yes. Yes it is. And because it is so crazy (and so hilarious), I'm including my inquiry about the incident here for your amusement. PS: Lest you not get our weird sibling humor, I'm informing you now that he talks this way to me on purpose so that I may or may not have more fun caricaturing him in fiction.

me: Um:   "Just got back from the Dream Hotel. Made it into the Penthouse where Heidi Klum was hosting the party. She and Seal were both dressed as gorillas. Wait until you hear the whole story-it's crazy."

  SO WHAT IS THE STORY?

4:17 AM Jeremy: I had an earlier meeting and a midterm that day so I was in my suit already. I was sitting with two friends eating sushi in the lounge. I said, "how crazy would it be if we just went down to midtown now to hang out?" One friend agreed and got another friend to come along.

4:18 AM me: Who are you?

 Jeremy: I'm me

 me: Nevermind. Go on.

4:19 AM Jeremy: After they changed, we got into a black car and we went to the Empire Hotel first because people compare me to Chuck Bass a lot so I said 'why not'. We went and it wasn't great, so we went to another bar on 30th and 3rd and that was alright and we stayed for about 45 minutes.

4:20 AM me: I...don't even know what to say about "people compare me to Chuck Bass a lot so I said 'why not.'" Go on.

 Jeremy: We then got into a taxi and I asked the driver what's hot tonight and he said the Dream Hotel. So we go and and there's a HUGE line outside of the lobby. A real mob. We're waiting in the cold and we hear that Heidi Klum is having a party on the 'rooftop'.

4:21 AM me: Two things: "A real mob" sounds like a legit Gbob quote.* Just saying.

  And: "what's hot tonight?" Really?????!!!!!!!!

4:22 AM Jeremy: well I get compared a lot to Gbob too so wtvr. And yeah-taxi drivers and I always get along well.

  So we decided to wait on line for a while (which we would never do in Sobe) because it was Hedi Klum's party-so of course. The line is moving pretty well but by now it's 1:45 AM and we're getting pissed because the bouncer isn't letting us in. Only models are going to the party, basically.

4:24 AM So they suggest that we go to another entrance for a different lounge within the hotel. We go and it's really really really bad. Like really bad. We're about to call it a night but then A. (one of the two friends) says that he's going to the bathroom and to meet him outside the lounge.

4:25 AM We all meet outside the lounge (but in the lobby) and D. (the other friend) points to an open elevator. "Let's just go in and see what happens. What's the worst that could happen?"- he literally said that.

4:26 AM We go in and there's a room service guy in there with us. We need a key to get to a floor, so we pretend like we lost ours and ask if he can push the 8th floor (thinking that we would then walk 4 flights up to the rooftop).

4:27 AM He does, and we're on the 8th floor and we walk to the roof (and we're hearing the music). We get on the rooftop but there's no party. It's one floor down (the penthouse-not the actual rooftop of the building like it is at the Gansevoort in Miami).

  However, when we try and get back in, the door is locked.

4:28 AM First thing we all think of is The Hangover. Next we're trying to figure out how we're going to get back inside. We lean over the railing to the party happening below us and yell to a group of people to ask if they can come let us in

  They were all drunk but one guy answered yes as long as we buy him a drink

 me: OMG

4:29 AM Jeremy: I immediately agreed. He comes back a second later with a bouncer who shouts up to us asking how we got up there and what's wrong with us. I say we're from Florida and just wanted to see the view

  They disappear from view to come get us, and we quickly take off our wristbands showing we got into the bad lounge and not into the Heidi Klum party.

  They open the door and we walk down to the party with them. A bouncer tried to stop us because we were

4:30 AM *weren't stamped or wearing a bracelet, but bc we were walking in with another bouncer and a guy from the party, he let us through

  Heidi Klum was in a gorilla costume dancing a few feet away from us

4:31 AM me: "We're from Florida and just wanted to see the view." That is the best thing I have EVER EVER heard.

4:32 AM Jeremy: Well it was a really nice view

4:33 AM It was only the next day that we realized how many celebrities were actually at the party

4:34 AM me: That is insane

 Jeremy: Welcome to my life

4:35 AM me: Priceless.

 Jeremy: I just liked how it started out in the lounge of our dorm saying let's go to Midtown, and we ended up at Heidi Klum's party until 4

4:36 AM you're so lucky to have me as a brother

4:37 AM me: Truer words were never spoken.

4:38 AM Jeremy: so was the story what you expected?

 me: It's awesome. So did you recognize anyone there? Besides Heidi?

4:40 AM Jeremy: everyone was way too dressed up. They take halloween really seriously. So I don't really know who they are, but I saw them and found out afterwards

  Doutzen Kroes-victorias secret model

 me: oh my.

4:41 AM Jeremy: Austin Scarlett

  from some fashion show

 me: Project Runway you fool.

 Jeremy: Idk. And there was one more. Trying to find his name.

4:43 AM amber rose

  idk who she is either

4:45 AM me: You are...

  something else. 

Isn't he just? Look at him.

PS: If you're coming to next Wednesday's Carle Place signing I'm doing with CASSIE CLARE JUST SAYING, he'll be there. You know, in case MEETING THE AUTHOR OF THE INFERNAL DEVICES AND THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS isn't enough. More about those events forthcoming :D

*Gbob is our grandfather. Yes.